How to Set Up a Planted Nano Tank, Step by Step

Setting up your first planted nano tank is an exciting project, as long as you follow a few steps in the right order. Here is the method we recommend for a 10 to 30 litre tank, from choosing the spot right through to welcoming your first livestock.

Step 1: pick the right spot

A full aquarium is heavy: a 20 litre tank weighs well over 25 kg once you add substrate and décor. Choose a sturdy piece of furniture that is perfectly level.

• Avoid direct sunlight, which encourages algae.
• Keep the tank away from radiators and draughts.
• Make sure there is a socket nearby for the filter, light and heater.
• Place the included mat under the tank to spread the weight.

Step 2: prepare the substrate

The substrate is your plants' pantry. The simplest option is a nutrient-rich plant soil, laid 3 to 5 cm deep. You can cover the front with a thin layer of sand for a more natural look.

Tip: create a slope, lower at the front and higher at the back. That simple gradient instantly gives your aquascape more depth.

Step 3: build the hardscape

The hardscape is the non-living part of the layout: rocks and wood. It is the backbone of your landscape.

1. Choose a focal point, usually about a third of the way along the tank rather than dead centre.
2. Place your centrepiece, such as a piece of spider wood that has been soaked beforehand.
3. Add a few stones to balance the composition, sticking to a single type of rock.
4. Step back two metres and take a look: the whole scene should feel natural.

Remember to soak your wood for 3 to 7 days before setting it up, so it sinks and releases some of its tannins.

Step 4: plant it up

Mist the substrate with a spray bottle before planting: it is much easier than working in a full tank. Using long tweezers, like the ones in our stainless steel aquascaping tool kit, push each stem 2 to 3 cm into the soil.

To start with, go for easy plants that do not need much light:

• Anubias and Java fern, tied to the wood rather than planted in the substrate.
• Java moss, perfect for dressing up branches.
• Cryptocoryne, for the foreground and midground.
• Fast-growing stem plants, which soak up nutrients and help outcompete algae.

Plant densely from day one: the more plants you have, the less room algae have to take hold.

Step 5: fill up and start the filter

Lay a plate or a plastic bag on the substrate and pour the water gently onto it so nothing gets displaced. Use a water conditioner if your tap water is chlorinated. Then install the filter, the heater if needed, and finally the light.

Step 6: cycling, the step you cannot skip

A new aquarium does not yet contain the bacteria that break down fish waste. They need time to build up: this is called cycling, and it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks.

• Keep the filter running day and night, never switch it off.
• Limit the lighting to 6 hours a day.
• Change 30% of the water each week to keep early algae in check.
• Test the water twice a week with 6-in-1 test strips.

Nitrite will rise at first, then drop. Once it stays at zero for several days in a row, the cycle is complete.

Step 7: welcome your first livestock

Add livestock gradually: a few shrimp or a small group of fish suited to the tank size, then more two to three weeks later. Acclimatise them by slowly mixing tank water into their bag over 20 to 30 minutes.

Follow these steps and your planted nano tank gets off to a solid start. The rest is down to patience: an aquascape really comes into its own after two or three months.