Free tool
Aquascape Setup Finder
Answer four quick questions and we will map them to a setup profile worth shopping for. We describe the kind of gear that fits your tank size, plant goals, maintenance appetite, and budget so you can shop smarter without guessing. We do not name a single product or brand here. The goal is to send you looking for the right kind of setup.
How it works
How this tool works
A planted tank succeeds or fails on the balance between light, carbon and nutrients, so the finder asks about the things that set that balance. Tank size decides the light tier and filtration flow you need to reach the substrate; the plant difficulty goal decides whether a low-tech setup with easy plants is enough or whether pressurized CO2 and a higher light tier are required for carpets and red stems.
Maintenance appetite is the honest question. High light and CO2 grow plants fast and demand weekly trimming and water changes; a low-tech tank forgives a missed week. Budget then places you on the path you can actually keep going, since a CO2 system that is never refilled is worse than none at all. The result describes light tier, carbon approach, substrate type and filtration as categories with the reasons behind each.
Reading the result
How to read your result
The carbon approach and light tier lines go together and must match. High light without CO2 is the fastest route to algae, so if you drop one, drop both. The profile pairs them for that reason.
Substrate and filtration are chosen for the plants and the tank size. An aquasoil suits rooted stems and carpets and buffers the water; an inert substrate with root tabs suits an easy-plant tank. Filtration flow is stated as turnover per hour so any filter can be checked.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Can I grow a carpet without CO2?+
Some species, slowly, under good light and with patience. A dense, fast carpet in most tanks needs pressurized CO2, which is why the finder moves you to that path when you pick a carpet goal.
How much light do I need?+
It depends on depth. The tiers are set so the light reaching the substrate matches the plant goal, which is why a tall tank gets a higher tier than a shallow one for the same plants.
Is aquasoil necessary?+
For demanding stems and carpets it makes life much easier and buffers pH for CO2 injection. Easy plants grow fine in sand or gravel with root tabs, and that is the cheaper path the finder suggests for low-tech tanks.
What filter flow should I aim for?+
Around five to ten times the tank volume per hour for a planted tank, on the lower end for low-tech and the higher end with CO2, with gentle surface movement rather than splashing so CO2 stays in the water.