I'm busy with a new tank right now. I've chucked my spider wood in a bucket to waterlog them so I don't have to glue them to the rocks. If I'm going to dark start the tank, must I add the wood to the hardscape and then fill it, or can I exclude it and add ot after the 3 weeks?
@@marcel5427 This is usually a fungus (but sometimes bacteria) and is harmless to you and your fish. You can remove it with a toothbrush, but it may return a few times before disappearing permanently. This is not only during the dark start!! It can happen anytime! My fishes try to eat it!
Dark start is perfect! The owner of aquarium design shop in Zaandam also recommended me this. Aquarium is super stable and plants grow very healthy after a dark start of 4 weeks. Also one more benefit: it’s easy to tweak your hardscape layout during the dark start 👍
Each time I see an interesting video here the algorythm shoots me another one that makes me learn new things. Since budget is a bit tight for me since I'm starting. A dark start seems like the best thing to do before buying plants! Thank you so much for all the content you are posting
Hey, I have been binge-watching your channel lately and just want to thank you for all the information! It was a long time ago that I started my aquarium hobby but ended it because of failures. Now I have been excited again and starting up the hobby. I am currently in the last days of my dark start with aqua soil. I measure no ammonia anymore and can't wait to get started. Also thanks to your channel I have upped my game and bought everything I need to get a good start. Hope my big investments (new gear, co2 etc) are going to pay off. Let's hope!
Hello everybody. I already did, and still do this. And I only got to know your channel a few days ago. It really is the best method for cycling, and without any work. Just be patient. Thank you.
Hey man since you have a picture of a Betta,I was wondering do you own 1? I have a community tank with a male Betta,6 Neon Tetras and 4 Albino Cory Catfish,and I was wondering when I put the aquasoil in and put my sand over it,I put my filter in,do I also go ahead and put in my Tetra Safe Start?? Ot says Cycles New Aquariums, start up,removes Ammonia,starter bacteria, freshwater Aquariums,I've actually never used it yet!?? And the 2nd question would be do I also add my heater,and let it cycle through with both the filter running 100% of the time and the heater running 100% of the time,because my tank will indeed have to end up having a heater,and I don't want to throw anything off by adding anything I don't need to at the beginning and I really don't want to throw anything off after it's Cycles!!?? Please Help
@@michellebreeden4962 Hi... Sorry for the delay in replying. ... It was in my work .... For your two questions, I didn't understood very well. As I understand it, you already have your tanks working, and you've never used the products you should ... I did not understand. Some questions for you. - What is the size of your community aquarium? - How long has it been active? - Do you have plants? I have a tank with 26 liters, and with only 1 Betta. ( a girl ). All my tanks have heaters (26 degrees Celsius), filters working 24 hours a day, And in my cycling process: Fertile substrate covered with river sand + Rocks + water treated with Prime + Biology accelerator + filter and heater on 24 hours a day, and no lighting... None. It's a very long process...about 50 days. But, I don't have algae, from start to finish. Afterwards, I place the plants, and turn on the lighting. And then I put the fish. I apologize, but I didn't understand very well.
@@michellebreeden4962 Hello ... again ... In order for an aquarium to be able to have the little fish you want, it must have a filter, a heater with a thermostat, and if it has plants, adequate lighting. If you live in a cold place, depending on the plants, if you have a constant temperature of 25 degrees, I think it would be ideal. If you don't have plants, I think a temperature of 26 degrees would be ideal. I think you mixed acid water fish with alkaline water fish ( Betta ). Research your fish's needs before you buy. Here in my city, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, it's very hot, and in summer, the heater with a thermostat, is almost not turned on. And the problem is trying to cool the water. Hope you do an Ammonia and Nitrite test to check your tank's water condition. If you still have any questions, I'll answer them, or other people, too. Good luck. Jorge Luiz
I've already done the DSM!!! It's amasing result😃 I knew this method from Juris Pro Tipe. I think He mentioned Your case. After I planted the tank and put a lifestock in, fish (Ramiresi) started to lye their eggs. This is a "must have (or done)" process to start a helthy tank🤗💯💯💯
How I wish I had found this video three weeks ago!!! My current tank is cycled but I lost a LOT of plants to melting. This would have been a much better option and one I will definitely be trying in the future!!
Same here, my 5-gallon tank is already covered with algae (green and brown)... and my 12 neon tetras died last month and some of the plants are starting to melt / die 😔😔😔. But i'm still doing my best to keep it running.
I had read that some of the plants I wanted to use in my first tank were sensitive to ammonia and I knew that the parameters could be pretty weird in the beginning. That is why I did exactly this. It took about four weeks. I had a fair bit of hair algae after planting, but nothing a little maintenence and a shrimp colony couldn't deal with.
Yes , the Dark Start is definately the wiser way to start an aquarium! After the Dark Start , it is also beneficial to start the Bac Start , where we drained the tank & filled up with treated water plus the plants , lighting , filters & healthy bacteria but minus the fishes for another 3 to 4 weeks with weekly water changes before adding in the fishes species , group by group! Thank You So Much for the Valuable Tutorials! Stay Safe & Stay Grateful! 🇨🇭 p.s. Becareful with the DeChlorine , it is colourless & many fishes died from DeChlorine over dose! Sunning the water for a day , will lessen the Chlorine in the water , and is Safe to use without the need to add the colourless but corrosive DeChlorine! 🕯🌷🌿🌍
Fabulous information! I've avoided "fish in" cycling, so I'm used to waiting for weeks to put fish into a tank, so this 3 week wait wouldn't bother me a bit. I've dealt with the plant melt issue with new tanks, and doing this will help me avoid that. Thank you for sharing this!
Well, this changes things! After awaiting LFS to get plants and therefore not wanting to set tank up, it's now set up and ticking over as of an hour or so ago. I will accelerate it slightly as a neighbour is giving me some of his mature water to add to my little tank. Tank is covered too, just to make sure. Luckily it's small! Am using a small layer of Fluval stratum on the bottom, then flourite black as the rest. I aim to have no substrate visible. Establish plants and cleanup crew first, then add stock once plants have taken hard. Nice video - mind, I learn a lot from all your content - thnaks for taking the time to make them.
Just came across this and will use it with my next tank. It means I can spread the cost of tank, equipment, substrate, etc. over longer time .... much easier.
So I'm in the process of doing the dark start and I found something out that might help other folks here. Consider the temperature of the water. Beneficial bacteria grows best around 72 to 75 degrees. So consider using a heater if you can. Also, I have placed an air stone in the tank as well. It provides the bacteria more oxygen so they can grow even more rapidly. Currently I am at 2 weeks and my tank still has plenty of ammonia, some signs of nitrite and a plenty of nitrate. Which tells me it's working just fine. I might consider doing a water change because too much ammonia might hinder the bacteria. I might be a bit late to that game. Ah well. Good luck to all!
Im only a week in and my ammonia is at 8ppm and 0 NO2 and NO3... I dont have an airstone but do have a heater. Was expecting to see at least a few NO2 and NO3 ppm to show the cycle is at least started but I guess my bacteria are lazy.
@@drhee9 thats a good start bud but I highly recommend an air stone. All living things in that tank, including bacteria, requires oxygen. Good luck and cheers!
I'm almost 3 weeks in. I caved and did water changes because I wasn't using a skimmer, and it was driving me nuts. I installed one tonight after a water change. I hope to plant this weekend. Thanks, MJ. I'm always down for an experiment.
I did this with my first aquascape but I put the soil in 3 different buckets for about 3 weeks in a dark room. I had literally no algae. Dark start is the best method for sure man, very clear explanation! Thanks
@@kalbekanani2279 hi did you just let the soil sit in the water? no filters in the buckets? i'd like to try too as i've got a bag of aquasoil ready to cycle and use buckets first before scooping into the tank.
I just started a dry start trying to grow moss on driftwood but just saw this dark start method. I added soil into my dry start so I should remove the soil and put them into a pail, fill with water and cover it up for 3weeks for dark start?
Already started up my 15 gal, using the dark start method, and I am setting up my 46gal the same way. After 4 weeks and water testing is good, I will plant. Plan on going fishless for another month or so, while the plants are getting establish and filling out. During this time, I will feed the tank a little fish food daily, to keep the bacteria fed. Can't wait for the results!!
Going to start a new tank with plants, going to try the dark start method this time. Had been struggling so much with algae and didn’t know the reason.
On 28th December 2023, I have setup an aquarium following dark start method. But I followed my method which I tweaked according to my understanding. I started the light on 5th February , 2024 after 40 days but I have done four 90 percent water change in between, I have also added fish food and bacteria after each water change. The first water change was on 21st January, 2024. I have added plants on 7th February, 2024. 4 different varieties of rotala, hygrophila polysperma, reckini mini, ludwigia purple and mini sp red. I have also added DIY co2 on 9th February with liquid fertilizers and liquid carbon. I have not encountered the diatoms or any kind of algae. But for the last 10 days, green algae and some filament algae started growing, so I cut down my fertilizers and light and added alganil solution for 2 days and every algae disappeared. My dutch style aquarium is growing without any issues. It is a low/semi low tech dutch style aquarium. I have used fatherfis tweaked walstad setup combined with dark start method and I think I am successful with this one. Only key thing was the patience. I have continued with 50 percent weekly water change and from this week will start by dosing diy powder fertilizer with chelated iron and pgr1 and pgr 2 dosing.
So much useful info. You really know your stuff. Use a sheet of bubble wrap instead of tissue as it will float. Use a heater at 28*C to speed up growth of beneficial bacteria.
Very instructional video, straight to the point, as always. I'll be using this method as well for my new tank. I think it should be the new standard in planted aquariums.
I am so so glad to have come across this video, it might just save me a ton of headache :) Thanks for making this method well known to everyone in these types of videos, It helps a lot!
I've just done this. Due to a house move I set up the tank with the hard scape and it was left to cycle for nearly 6 weeks ( also did a few water changes and used Seachem Stablity). Finally added plants last weekend and look to add my first fish this weekend.
I love your method of sharing your experience with a CO2 reactor. Super concise and to the point. Pros and Cons were excellent!!! Thank you for taking the time to share.
I am in week 2 of my dark start. So far so good. It is a conversion from a salt take to fresh water aquascape. Will put the video up on You Tube when complete.
Great video, straight to the point! My aquarium is cycling for a week now, i'm going to wait a month after adding plants and fishes... The only doubt left about it is: after the cycling is over shoul'd i change the water for a new one after drained? Or should i use the old one? Thanks a lot for the information.
@@MJAquascaping started this on one of my cubes on the 16th December, and just tested the water parameters. It would appear to be cycled … is this possible in 13 days? I think I will leave it for the full three weeks anyway. Better to be safe than sorry, as the saying goes. 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
this is awesome :) do you recommend dosing your tank with beneficial bacteria? i'm just wondering if that helps get the right bacterial colonies forming.
Hi everyone! How does colony of beneficial bacteria colonise your filter and aquarium if there's no amonijum to feed bacteria. Does soil like Tropica soil contain organic materials that would start to break and feed aquarium bacteria with amonijum during dark period. Thanks.
The dark start method seems to be the best way to start! Thanks a ton for sharing! 🙏🏽😇 I love your videos! They are clean, crisp and to the point! Appreciate all the time and effort behind sharing such invaluable pearls of wisdom 😇❤🙏🏽
I used this a few months ago and found it to work very well. I was starting up the tank in the winter and it was too cold to order plants (we had about 2 weeks straight of sub zero fahrenheit temps). It ended up working out great because by the time I could order plants the tank was fully cycled and I was able to add my clean up crew at the first sign of algae growth. Will definitely use this technique again.
@@Rycraft5v8 I have a 280 lt tank which is not easy to keep it running. But the small fish tanks, I can do it. They are only 30 lts. So I will start them with the dark start (small ones) and the larger tank with the dry start. How´s that Ryan? Thanks so much for replying so fast.
@@marcel5427 I have never done a dry start but have read dry start should really only be used if you plan on injecting CO2. Dry start is good to let the plants take root but eventually you will flood the tank with water and if the plants are not getting injected CO2 when the tank is full of water they will have to likely go through the conversion process to emersed growth.
Thank you so very much for your dark Start Method!I am planning still for my new 450 l and 54 liter Aquariums. Now I can look much more forward,as I'm 65 and my tanks are all in de kelder.Much lesser work for me this way!Danke!
Very interesting setup. I'm going to do another tank soon, I'm going to try this method. Should test my patience because I hate to wait for anything. Thanks
great video man. I think I am gonna do it. as a new aquascaper there is a lot of options and opinions out there on how to start and set up a planted aquascape but this makes since to me. i'll use bacteria and just skip the water chances for 3 weeks even tho I bought nice stuff you help with that. this method seems like it's a better way for the new scaper. I dont want plant meld from my TC plants.
Shame my new plants are turning up tomorrow for my new tank hopefully i may be able to fit them in a tiny nano tank to keep them whilst i do this method
Thanks to this video I am wanting to use this method, it seems very practical. I am also wanting to use the Aquasoil substrate, tell me what is your opinion of this substrate, is it good? Do you need to add nutrient tablets? Does the granule compact or remain over time?
Thank you for this update... Im doing a dark start as well for my first low tech planted tank with no co2. Question i have is in your video you mentioned no need to change water... However when i see at 4:10 you are adding plants and there is no water in the tank.. is this the time after 3 weeks you change 100% water or you would be adding the same water back?
Yep indeed! This was after 3 weeks when my dark start was completed :) I drained the tank completely, planted it, and filled it back up with fresh water :)
Great information Learned a couple of things I didn't know and will definitely put it to good use. Thank you for the heads up and the very informative knowledge you shared with us in this video.
Great video Mark! I’m about to try this method for my first time! I’m looking forward to not having tons of water changes at the beginning I am already a busy guy!
Man I wish I knew about this a month ago. Just started and planted a 125 gallon. Almost all the plants melted and algae went nuts. Unfortunately I also didn’t know about daily water changes so it was only changed about every 4 - 7 days. Hopefully my cleanup crew can take care of it.
thanks for all your advice, i have recently had an aquarium fail, came home and 125ltr water all over the lounge floor. So buying a new set up and looking to have real plants co2 etc, so you have given me so much info so far. One question, you seem to fill your tanks using a hose from the sink tap, ive always added a neutralising chemical into a watering can to fill mine, can you use just tap water?
Hi, I'm planning to do this method. Last time I had a lot of problems with algae and the white fungus. I used Dennerle Scaper's soil. However I have some questions about water changes. You said we dont need to do it, but I'm a little doubtful, can you tell me more about your experience?. Maybe 2 water changes per week will be ok?. Thanks anyway. Cheers.
What a great explanation! I was going to cycle with plants, but given the costs of starting a new tank (and returning to the hobby after many years) an option to cycle without stressing plants or fish sounds good to me. So if you're using an aqua soil there's no need to feed because of all the nutrients in the soil, right? You'd only need to add fish food if you were doing an inert substrate? Excited to return to a hobby that brought me a lot of joy years ago. A lot of advances since then :)
How many times should you 'feed' your tank during a dark start with an inert substrate? :) I would like to try the dark start... I really like to avoid algea! But is adding the sand at te bottom, my wood and my stones and some water really enough to cycle my filter?
Hi, great video thanks . I did a 5 week dark start and then fully planted my 80 gal tank. Today is day 3 after plantitng: 2 wrgb2 lights (4hours day) , nutritive substrate. Water parameters are no3 =0 and po4=0.2. Should I start dosing the water column? It make sense to balance No3 and Po4. Aquarium plants are mainly fast stems, and also lots of epiphites plant. So should I dose more nutrients to the water colum?
Thanks so much for this video. Exactly what I'll do this time. Will use a CO2 reactor too, but as with a sump tank will use the reactor with its own dedicated pump... not the return pump. Enjoying your videos.
So, if i planning to use bacteria starter, should i put them in the start, or after the darkstart end? If i put it in the start, should i put fish food everyday to make bacteria growth faster? From what i learn that the beneficial bacteria eat amonia from left over food. Anyway, thanks for give us insight about this method. I do really like this video! ❤❤
Excelente tus vídeos estoy suscrito a tu canal xq e aprendido muchas con tus vídeos te felicito 🤗 me puedes aclarar una duda ? Que es más seguro el método oscuro o el arranque en seco .?
"Diana Walstad Method" her book " Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist" books explain how to make DIY without any high tech system or aqua soil self-cleaning planted aquariums, without changing the water for 6 months. She said it takes 2-4 weeks for garden soil to reach a stable state after submerging into water.
@@MJAquascaping Yes 👍, It is an amazing book all the things you mentioned are exactly like she wrote in her book. Plus all the facts are backed and checked by scientists and experts of respective fields like soil, plants, water, lighting, microorganism, fishes, algae, etc.
@@MJAquascaping Please pin my comment so all the people who want to make DIY planted aquascape without aqua soil or high-tech equipment will know about this book. 😊
Hi & thank you for this video. It was very comprehensive. I have a question though. Can we add floating plants during a darkstart if our room has some significant ambient light
MJ I am sorry I do not wish to manipulate your time, but I have done a few questions which will help me a lot. I will condesate them here: If I do a Dark Start Mode, can later, before planting the plants and after I empty the tank to start filling it up again after the 3 weeks in the dark, to prepare the three types of moths, that you blend together, and brush them on stones and branches and then wait till they germinate? with lights, and just spraying water? and then.. only then start filling up the tank? In resume, do a dark start mode and then a dry start for the plants? How´s that? Can any bacteria survive the 2 weeks period without water? or I could leave just a slight bit of water?
Hey Marcel! No I don't think it's possible to do a dry start after a dark start. The beneficial bacteria will not survive the drystart, so it's a little bit pointless
@@MJAquascaping that's what I thought. I will have to.manually insert all the plants not as you instructed on the dry Mode. Oh well. Can't have it all right? Dankeee
Think i will do this when rescape, so just filter and heater working for 3 weeks and no water changes 😁 one thing, after plants go on do you have to do daily water changes ? Due to plants transitioning from emersed to submerged to get the waste organics out of the water column or is it weekly ?
Is it recommended to change out the regular materials in the filter during these first 3-4 weeks? Much appreciated and thanks for educating us on this method!
Thank you very much for the video. I love Iwagumi. Did you use Eleocharis Vivipara at the backgtound ? How was the experiencie wirh this plant ? It looks like a nice plant for the background.
Yeah Vivipara! I removed it actually, it didn't really work in this shallow tank. And I thought this plant propagates through runners, but it grows new plants from the tips which makes it look very messy...
No more water changes! What to do with all that extra time? How about smashing that like button?
I'm busy with a new tank right now. I've chucked my spider wood in a bucket to waterlog them so I don't have to glue them to the rocks. If I'm going to dark start the tank, must I add the wood to the hardscape and then fill it, or can I exclude it and add ot after the 3 weeks?
Would you happen to know what´s a white thin layer of hair sort of, on top of my branch inside of a dark mode going fish tank? Wd it be algee?
@@marcel5427 This is usually a fungus (but sometimes bacteria) and is harmless to you and your fish. You can remove it with a toothbrush, but it may return a few times before disappearing permanently. This is not only during the dark start!! It can happen anytime! My fishes try to eat it!
@@ranjanghosh4321 Thank you Ranjan. I am patiently waiting. On my second week now. 2 more to go. Wish me luck.
you said "no lights" during the three weeks, what about natural lights? should i black it out?
Dark start is perfect! The owner of aquarium design shop in Zaandam also recommended me this. Aquarium is super stable and plants grow very healthy after a dark start of 4 weeks. Also one more benefit: it’s easy to tweak your hardscape layout during the dark start 👍
Joris, I am thinking you do not turn your filter system on, like Sump or Hang ons, right?
Joris do you or have you run any citric acid c02 systems and if so how do you find them?
@@marcel5427 Did you get an answer regarding the filter needing to be on or off?
@@kevinb1155 need to turn on the filter
Dark start finally.. very well explained.
I've always wanted a planted tank I'll definitely use this method. It's exactly what I do for my reef tanks when I first set them up.
Each time I see an interesting video here the algorythm shoots me another one that makes me learn new things. Since budget is a bit tight for me since I'm starting. A dark start seems like the best thing to do before buying plants! Thank you so much for all the content you are posting
Hey, I have been binge-watching your channel lately and just want to thank you for all the information! It was a long time ago that I started my aquarium hobby but ended it because of failures. Now I have been excited again and starting up the hobby. I am currently in the last days of my dark start with aqua soil. I measure no ammonia anymore and can't wait to get started. Also thanks to your channel I have upped my game and bought everything I need to get a good start. Hope my big investments (new gear, co2 etc) are going to pay off. Let's hope!
Well it has been a few months and my scape does so well! I love it. Aaand now I have 5 tanks running :D hahahaha
Hello everybody. I already did, and still do this.
And I only got to know your channel a few days ago. It really is the best method
for cycling, and without any work. Just be patient. Thank you.
Hey man since you have a picture of a Betta,I was wondering do you own 1? I have a community tank with a male Betta,6 Neon Tetras and 4 Albino Cory Catfish,and I was wondering when I put the aquasoil in and put my sand over it,I put my filter in,do I also go ahead and put in my Tetra Safe Start?? Ot says Cycles New Aquariums, start up,removes Ammonia,starter bacteria, freshwater Aquariums,I've actually never used it yet!?? And the 2nd question would be do I also add my heater,and let it cycle through with both the filter running 100% of the time and the heater running 100% of the time,because my tank will indeed have to end up having a heater,and I don't want to throw anything off by adding anything I don't need to at the beginning and I really don't want to throw anything off after it's Cycles!!?? Please Help
@@michellebreeden4962 please ... Wait some minutes ...
@@michellebreeden4962 Hi... Sorry for the delay in replying. ... It was in my work .... For your two questions, I didn't
understood very well. As I understand it, you already have your tanks working, and you've never used the products you should ... I did not understand. Some questions for you.
- What is the size of your community aquarium?
- How long has it been active?
- Do you have plants?
I have a tank with 26 liters, and with only 1 Betta. ( a girl ).
All my tanks have heaters (26 degrees Celsius), filters working 24 hours a day,
And in my cycling process: Fertile substrate covered with river sand + Rocks + water treated with Prime +
Biology accelerator + filter and heater on 24 hours a day, and no lighting... None.
It's a very long process...about 50 days. But, I don't have algae, from start to finish.
Afterwards, I place the plants, and turn on the lighting. And then I put the fish.
I apologize, but I didn't understand very well.
@@michellebreeden4962 Hello ... again ... In order for an aquarium to be able to have the little fish you want, it must have a filter, a heater with a thermostat, and if it has plants, adequate lighting. If you live in a cold place, depending on the plants, if you have a constant temperature of 25 degrees, I think it would be ideal. If you don't have plants, I think a temperature of 26 degrees would be ideal. I think you mixed acid water fish with alkaline water fish ( Betta ). Research your fish's needs before you buy. Here in my city, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, it's very hot, and in summer, the heater with a thermostat,
is almost not turned on. And the problem is trying to cool the water.
Hope you do an Ammonia and Nitrite test to check your tank's water condition.
If you still have any questions, I'll answer them, or other people, too. Good luck. Jorge Luiz
I've already done the DSM!!! It's amasing result😃 I knew this method from Juris Pro Tipe. I think He mentioned Your case. After I planted the tank and put a lifestock in, fish (Ramiresi) started to lye their eggs. This is a "must have (or done)" process to start a helthy tank🤗💯💯💯
How I wish I had found this video three weeks ago!!! My current tank is cycled but I lost a LOT of plants to melting. This would have been a much better option and one I will definitely be trying in the future!!
Hi sorry its a bit late but may I know how are your plants doing after the initial melts?
Same here, my 5-gallon tank is already covered with algae (green and brown)... and my 12 neon tetras died last month and some of the plants are starting to melt / die 😔😔😔. But i'm still doing my best to keep it running.
I had read that some of the plants I wanted to use in my first tank were sensitive to ammonia and I knew that the parameters could be pretty weird in the beginning. That is why I did exactly this. It took about four weeks. I had a fair bit of hair algae after planting, but nothing a little maintenence and a shrimp colony couldn't deal with.
Most importantly we save a lot of time changing the water.... Wish I knew this when I started... Thanks for the video ... Peace
I have been starting my tanks this way for 25years. I didn't know it had a name and I just thought everyone did it this way.
Yes , the Dark Start is definately the wiser way to start an aquarium! After the Dark Start , it is also beneficial to start the Bac Start , where we drained the tank & filled up with treated water plus the plants , lighting , filters & healthy bacteria but minus the fishes for another 3 to 4 weeks with weekly water changes before adding in the fishes species , group by group! Thank You So Much for the Valuable Tutorials! Stay Safe & Stay Grateful! 🇨🇭 p.s. Becareful with the DeChlorine , it is colourless & many fishes died from DeChlorine over dose! Sunning the water for a day , will lessen the Chlorine in the water , and is Safe to use without the need to add the colourless but corrosive DeChlorine! 🕯🌷🌿🌍
Fabulous information! I've avoided "fish in" cycling, so I'm used to waiting for weeks to put fish into a tank, so this 3 week wait wouldn't bother me a bit. I've dealt with the plant melt issue with new tanks, and doing this will help me avoid that. Thank you for sharing this!
Well, this changes things! After awaiting LFS to get plants and therefore not wanting to set tank up, it's now set up and ticking over as of an hour or so ago. I will accelerate it slightly as a neighbour is giving me some of his mature water to add to my little tank. Tank is covered too, just to make sure. Luckily it's small! Am using a small layer of Fluval stratum on the bottom, then flourite black as the rest. I aim to have no substrate visible. Establish plants and cleanup crew first, then add stock once plants have taken hard.
Nice video - mind, I learn a lot from all your content - thnaks for taking the time to make them.
See if your neighbor can give you a dirty filter sponge. Squeeze it out in your tank and you will be miles ahead already!
Just came across this and will use it with my next tank. It means I can spread the cost of tank, equipment, substrate, etc. over longer time .... much easier.
Just setting up a new tank at the weekend, what a suprise! I was worried about water changes, now I'm not!
So I'm in the process of doing the dark start and I found something out that might help other folks here. Consider the temperature of the water. Beneficial bacteria grows best around 72 to 75 degrees. So consider using a heater if you can. Also, I have placed an air stone in the tank as well. It provides the bacteria more oxygen so they can grow even more rapidly. Currently I am at 2 weeks and my tank still has plenty of ammonia, some signs of nitrite and a plenty of nitrate. Which tells me it's working just fine. I might consider doing a water change because too much ammonia might hinder the bacteria. I might be a bit late to that game. Ah well. Good luck to all!
Im only a week in and my ammonia is at 8ppm and 0 NO2 and NO3... I dont have an airstone but do have a heater. Was expecting to see at least a few NO2 and NO3 ppm to show the cycle is at least started but I guess my bacteria are lazy.
@@drhee9 thats a good start bud but I highly recommend an air stone. All living things in that tank, including bacteria, requires oxygen. Good luck and cheers!
No heater please
I'm almost 3 weeks in. I caved and did water changes because I wasn't using a skimmer, and it was driving me nuts. I installed one tonight after a water change. I hope to plant this weekend. Thanks, MJ. I'm always down for an experiment.
I am doing a dark start and it is my end of the first week. Waiting for another 2 weeks. Thanks MJ for encouraging me to go with this method....
I did this with my first aquascape but I put the soil in 3 different buckets for about 3 weeks in a dark room. I had literally no algae. Dark start is the best method for sure man, very clear explanation! Thanks
That is awesome!
Did u add water or anything else in the buckets?
@@Joshua-uq9zw yes of course, only water
@@kalbekanani2279 hi did you just let the soil sit in the water? no filters in the buckets? i'd like to try too as i've got a bag of aquasoil ready to cycle and use buckets first before scooping into the tank.
I just started a dry start trying to grow moss on driftwood but just saw this dark start method. I added soil into my dry start so I should remove the soil and put them into a pail, fill with water and cover it up for 3weeks for dark start?
Already started up my 15 gal, using the dark start method, and I am setting up my 46gal the same way. After 4 weeks and water testing is good, I will plant. Plan on going fishless for another month or so, while the plants are getting establish and filling out. During this time, I will feed the tank a little fish food daily, to keep the bacteria fed. Can't wait for the results!!
Going to start a new tank with plants, going to try the dark start method this time. Had been struggling so much with algae and didn’t know the reason.
On 28th December 2023, I have setup an aquarium following dark start method. But I followed my method which I tweaked according to my understanding. I started the light on 5th February , 2024 after 40 days but I have done four 90 percent water change in between, I have also added fish food and bacteria after each water change. The first water change was on 21st January, 2024. I have added plants on 7th February, 2024. 4 different varieties of rotala, hygrophila polysperma, reckini mini, ludwigia purple and mini sp red. I have also added DIY co2 on 9th February with liquid fertilizers and liquid carbon. I have not encountered the diatoms or any kind of algae. But for the last 10 days, green algae and some filament algae started growing, so I cut down my fertilizers and light and added alganil solution for 2 days and every algae disappeared. My dutch style aquarium is growing without any issues. It is a low/semi low tech dutch style aquarium. I have used fatherfis tweaked walstad setup combined with dark start method and I think I am successful with this one. Only key thing was the patience. I have continued with 50 percent weekly water change and from this week will start by dosing diy powder fertilizer with chelated iron and pgr1 and pgr 2 dosing.
I'm still waiting for my plants, and every video is so helpful. Thank you.
I have tropica soil and they say change water twice a week for 4 weeks.
Yeah this is a good solution while you are waiting for plants!
My last tank set up resulted in a lot of melted plants, esp my MC. The next one is definitely going to be DSM. Thanks for the video!
So much useful info. You really know your stuff.
Use a sheet of bubble wrap instead of tissue as it will float.
Use a heater at 28*C to speed up growth of beneficial bacteria.
I'm going to apply this method following your instructions. I'm sure I will get a very good result! Many thanks MJ!
Very instructional video, straight to the point, as always. I'll be using this method as well for my new tank. I think it should be the new standard in planted aquariums.
thank you bros! I always have problems with algae at the first two weeks.
I am so so glad to have come across this video, it might just save me a ton of headache :)
Thanks for making this method well known to everyone in these types of videos, It helps a lot!
I've just done this. Due to a house move I set up the tank with the hard scape and it was left to cycle for nearly 6 weeks ( also did a few water changes and used Seachem Stablity). Finally added plants last weekend and look to add my first fish this weekend.
That is awesome!
I love your method of sharing your experience with a CO2 reactor. Super concise and to the point. Pros and Cons were excellent!!! Thank you for taking the time to share.
Can be done without co2
I am in week 2 of my dark start. So far so good. It is a conversion from a salt take to fresh water aquascape. Will put the video up on You Tube when complete.
MJ: all you need for this method is patience
Me: …Damn.
😂
Great video, straight to the point!
My aquarium is cycling for a week now, i'm going to wait a month after adding plants and fishes...
The only doubt left about it is: after the cycling is over shoul'd i change the water for a new one after drained? Or should i use the old one?
Thanks a lot for the information.
It'll be good to drain the water and use new conditioned water. I hardly had any plants melt with this method. Gonna do this for a new tank again!
How do you know that the Cycling is over? Did you have only rock and soil in your tank for a month waiting the end or the Cycling ?😊
Nice explanation, thanks for considered the FAQ that lots of people would like to know,
I can see you spend much effort on your channel, keep going 😁
I'm going to give a dark start a try with my next set up. Thank you for sharing this with technique.
Definitely going to try this … I have 2 x 45cm cubes sitting there waiting. Way to go! 🤗
Good luck!
@@MJAquascaping started this on one of my cubes on the 16th December, and just tested the water parameters. It would appear to be cycled … is this possible in 13 days? I think I will leave it for the full three weeks anyway. Better to be safe than sorry, as the saying goes. 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
what a coincidence, I am going to start a planted tank in about a week
SAMEEE
this is awesome :) do you recommend dosing your tank with beneficial bacteria? i'm just wondering if that helps get the right bacterial colonies forming.
Yeah that always helps
Hi everyone! How does colony of beneficial bacteria colonise your filter and aquarium if there's no amonijum to feed bacteria. Does soil like Tropica soil contain organic materials that would start to break and feed aquarium bacteria with amonijum during dark period. Thanks.
The dark start method seems to be the best way to start!
Thanks a ton for sharing! 🙏🏽😇
I love your videos! They are clean, crisp and to the point!
Appreciate all the time and effort behind sharing such invaluable pearls of wisdom 😇❤🙏🏽
I used this a few months ago and found it to work very well. I was starting up the tank in the winter and it was too cold to order plants (we had about 2 weeks straight of sub zero fahrenheit temps). It ended up working out great because by the time I could order plants the tank was fully cycled and I was able to add my clean up crew at the first sign of algae growth. Will definitely use this technique again.
Perfect!
Ryan Plunkett, did you turn the filter on or you kept it off?
@@marcel5427 I kept the filter running the whole time to start the cycling process.
@@Rycraft5v8 I have a 280 lt tank which is not easy to keep it running. But the small fish tanks, I can do it. They are only 30 lts. So I will start them with the dark start (small ones) and the larger tank with the dry start. How´s that Ryan? Thanks so much for replying so fast.
@@marcel5427 I have never done a dry start but have read dry start should really only be used if you plan on injecting CO2. Dry start is good to let the plants take root but eventually you will flood the tank with water and if the plants are not getting injected CO2 when the tank is full of water they will have to likely go through the conversion process to emersed growth.
Hi from Thailand I use this method to setup my tank it perfect! Thank you very much.
Great idea! Starting up a new high-tech 29 gallon now, will use your dark start. Thanks.
I loved the back sont !
ill probably do this method on my next (1st) planted aquarium! thanks MJ killing it as always
Just begun 3 week Dark Start. 1st ever aquascape. Hopefully after removing it's covering, I'll still like my hardscape design. Thanks from: PA-USA
Hi, you have some kind of perls in 0:21, what is this? Thank you so much for your advise! I'm going to follow this cycle in the upcoming days. Cheers
Thank you so very much for your dark Start Method!I am planning still for my new 450 l and 54 liter Aquariums. Now I can look much more forward,as I'm 65 and my tanks are all in de kelder.Much lesser work for me this way!Danke!
Very interesting setup. I'm going to do another tank soon, I'm going to try this method. Should test my patience because I hate to wait for anything.
Thanks
good luck!
Great timing! I'm doing Dark Start Method rn. Just waiting for my driftwood to be waterlogged before I can flood. ❤️
Good luck!
@@MJAquascaping Any tips so I can fasten the DW to sink? I've been soaking it for entirely 1 week now..
I just got a new 80x40x40 tank and planning of using the Dry start method. Good thing i saw your video. Definitely will go for the dark side 😁👍🏻
Good luck!
@@MJAquascaping thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏
That's a great idea. I'll have to give it a try.
In the process of putting a new tank together and definitely will try this.
Just set up a new tank and using this method. Best way to reduce cha ces of melt.
Superb idea MJ!!! This is very good idea, let the aquarium mature first, then planting. Maybe adding bacteria will quicker the cycling process.
Useful vid, thanks! Will have to try it on my next planted tank!
great video man. I think I am gonna do it. as a new aquascaper there is a lot of options and opinions out there on how to start and set up a planted aquascape but this makes since to me. i'll use bacteria and just skip the water chances for 3 weeks even tho I bought nice stuff you help with that. this method seems like it's a better way for the new scaper. I dont want plant meld from my TC plants.
Shame my new plants are turning up tomorrow for my new tank hopefully i may be able to fit them in a tiny nano tank to keep them whilst i do this method
Thanks for the information. Will try it with this new ideas. Had tried more.. but my plants get melting.
Hope it grow healthy this time. Thanks! 🙏
Thanks to this video I am wanting to use this method, it seems very practical. I am also wanting to use the Aquasoil substrate, tell me what is your opinion of this substrate, is it good? Do you need to add nutrient tablets? Does the granule compact or remain over time?
The best substrate for a planted tank in my opinion. Some soil particles might get crushed over time, but it never compacts
Excuse me, I meant Neo soil. I was talking about the Neo soil, do you confirm your answer?
Thank you for this update... Im doing a dark start as well for my first low tech planted tank with no co2.
Question i have is in your video you mentioned no need to change water... However when i see at 4:10 you are adding plants and there is no water in the tank.. is this the time after 3 weeks you change 100% water or you would be adding the same water back?
Yep indeed! This was after 3 weeks when my dark start was completed :) I drained the tank completely, planted it, and filled it back up with fresh water :)
I'm doing my 1st ever Auquascape tank, and going the dark start method. Now I wait :)
Awesome! Good luck man!
Just in time before I start with this hobby!
Great information Learned a couple of things I didn't know and will definitely put it to good use. Thank you for the heads up and the very informative knowledge you shared with us in this video.
This is an awesome information. I am starting my first aquascape tank. This would be a great start for me.
Great video Mark! I’m about to try this method for my first time! I’m looking forward to not having tons of water changes at the beginning I am already a busy guy!
Good luck!
Thank you!
You explained it the best I find a lot of videos where they're just talking too much and explaining everything which gets kinda complicated.
Hi my tank is already 1 week on cycling,can I still add more aqua soil during the cycling process? Thanks Mj you're the best 🙏
I can confirm that cycling my tank with no plants was an amazing choice. I have had zero algae since I got my plants and fish!
Did u change water at all ? :)
I just started a new aquarium and is currently trying to do a dark start at the moment. I hope everything goes well after
Man I wish I knew about this a month ago. Just started and planted a 125 gallon. Almost all the plants melted and algae went nuts. Unfortunately I also didn’t know about daily water changes so it was only changed about every 4 - 7 days. Hopefully my cleanup crew can take care of it.
Sorry to hear that.. hope you can turn it around.
Thank you so much for this information. It will be a great help as I am setting up an aquarium very soon.
thanks for all your advice, i have recently had an aquarium fail, came home and 125ltr water all over the lounge floor. So buying a new set up and looking to have real plants co2 etc, so you have given me so much info so far. One question, you seem to fill your tanks using a hose from the sink tap, ive always added a neutralising chemical into a watering can to fill mine, can you use just tap water?
I will start this method for my new aquarium Thank you
Good luck!
Super duper nice planted tanks there WOW
Best tips i ever heard.. thx MJ
Very welcome!
Trying it with my new scape! Just waiting for my large lava stones and neo flow to get in!
Hi, I'm planning to do this method. Last time I had a lot of problems with algae and the white fungus. I used Dennerle Scaper's soil. However I have some questions about water changes. You said we dont need to do it, but I'm a little doubtful, can you tell me more about your experience?. Maybe 2 water changes per week will be ok?. Thanks anyway. Cheers.
Really no need to do any water changes! You can do it of course, but it really is not necessary
This is what i need to watch..thanks dude,my plants leaves always have algae anda ended up died
Currently running a dark start. Rather than waiting 3 weeks, i think il wait until the ammonia reads zero before planting and adding in live stock👍
I really needed this
What a great explanation! I was going to cycle with plants, but given the costs of starting a new tank (and returning to the hobby after many years) an option to cycle without stressing plants or fish sounds good to me.
So if you're using an aqua soil there's no need to feed because of all the nutrients in the soil, right? You'd only need to add fish food if you were doing an inert substrate?
Excited to return to a hobby that brought me a lot of joy years ago. A lot of advances since then :)
Yep exactly! Only need to add fish food with an inert substrate. Welcome back to the hobby!
How many times should you 'feed' your tank during a dark start with an inert substrate? :)
I would like to try the dark start... I really like to avoid algea! But is adding the sand at te bottom, my wood and my stones and some water really enough to cycle my filter?
Hi, great video thanks . I did a 5 week dark start and then fully planted my 80 gal tank. Today is day 3 after plantitng: 2 wrgb2 lights (4hours day) , nutritive substrate. Water parameters are no3 =0 and po4=0.2. Should I start dosing the water column? It make sense to balance No3 and Po4. Aquarium plants are mainly fast stems, and also lots of epiphites plant. So should I dose more nutrients to the water colum?
Thanks so much for this video. Exactly what I'll do this time. Will use a CO2 reactor too, but as with a sump tank will use the reactor with its own dedicated pump... not the return pump. Enjoying your videos.
So, if i planning to use bacteria starter, should i put them in the start, or after the darkstart end? If i put it in the start, should i put fish food everyday to make bacteria growth faster? From what i learn that the beneficial bacteria eat amonia from left over food.
Anyway, thanks for give us insight about this method. I do really like this video! ❤❤
Will definitely try this with the next tank I set up
Good luck!
Excelente tus vídeos estoy suscrito a tu canal xq e aprendido muchas con tus vídeos te felicito 🤗 me puedes aclarar una duda ? Que es más seguro el método oscuro o el arranque en seco .?
"Diana Walstad Method" her book " Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist" books explain how to make DIY without any high tech system or aqua soil self-cleaning planted aquariums, without changing the water for 6 months. She said it takes 2-4 weeks for garden soil to reach a stable state after submerging into water.
I have to read that book!
@@MJAquascaping Yes 👍, It is an amazing book all the things you mentioned are exactly like she wrote in her book. Plus all the facts are backed and checked by scientists and experts of respective fields like soil, plants, water, lighting, microorganism, fishes, algae, etc.
@@MJAquascaping Please pin my comment so all the people who want to make DIY planted aquascape without aqua soil or high-tech equipment will know about this book. 😊
@@MJAquascaping
Hint
" Fatherfish You Tube Channel Disects The Book ."
Hi & thank you for this video. It was very comprehensive. I have a question though. Can we add floating plants during a darkstart if our room has some significant ambient light
Planning to try this out... Will let you know how it goes...
MJ I am sorry I do not wish to manipulate your time, but I have done a few questions which will help me a lot. I will condesate them here: If I do a Dark Start Mode, can later, before planting the plants and after I empty the tank to start filling it up again after the 3 weeks in the dark, to prepare the three types of moths, that you blend together, and brush them on stones and branches and then wait till they germinate? with lights, and just spraying water? and then.. only then start filling up the tank? In resume, do a dark start mode and then a dry start for the plants? How´s that? Can any bacteria survive the 2 weeks period without water? or I could leave just a slight bit of water?
Hey Marcel! No I don't think it's possible to do a dry start after a dark start. The beneficial bacteria will not survive the drystart, so it's a little bit pointless
@@MJAquascaping that's what I thought. I will have to.manually insert all the plants not as you instructed on the dry Mode. Oh well. Can't have it all right? Dankeee
Additionally you can add just a small portion of food to kick start the ammonia proccess
Think i will do this when rescape, so just filter and heater working for 3 weeks and no water changes 😁 one thing, after plants go on do you have to do daily water changes ? Due to plants transitioning from emersed to submerged to get the waste organics out of the water column or is it weekly ?
Once a week should be enough.
This is interesting. I do get a ton of algae over the first few months, I blame soil for being too nutrient rich. I will have to look into this!
Give it a try David! I'm sure you will see a difference
I'm drystarting with Eleocharis acicularis and Elatine Hydropiper, but next time I may try the dark start.
Nice one! Good luck with the Elatine, I hope you will have more success with it
Is it recommended to change out the regular materials in the filter during these first 3-4 weeks? Much appreciated and thanks for educating us on this method!
Thank you very much for the video.
I love Iwagumi.
Did you use Eleocharis Vivipara at the backgtound ?
How was the experiencie wirh this plant ? It looks like a nice plant for the background.
Yeah Vivipara! I removed it actually, it didn't really work in this shallow tank. And I thought this plant propagates through runners, but it grows new plants from the tips which makes it look very messy...
@@MJAquascaping thank you very much
This is a very good tip.Thank you and Happy aquascaping 🐟🐠