Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
I took down my 10-gallon aquascape because it was too high maintenance… and then promptly turned around and tried to see if I could make a low maintenance aquascape instead. 😅 Huge thanks to Zenzo from @TazawaTanks for the shell dwellers and Kenny from Natural Technique for the beautiful petrified wood as the hardscape. I’m not sponsored but feel free to visit his Etsy store at etsy.com/shop/NaturalTechnique to see all the beautiful hardscape sustainably collected from New Mexico.
Check out my second collab video with Zenzo about stocking ideas for a 20-gallon long tank! youtu.be/ypEteycErg8
🐟 SUBSCRIBE so you won’t miss my latest video: youtube.com/channel/UCNoNEF64ijgxK6OSTwdHOFA?sub_confirmation=1
🌿 BECOME A MEMBER for bonus content: youtube.com/channel/UCNoNEF64ijgxK6OSTwdHOFA/join
🛒 MATERIALS I USED
(As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from the links below. Also, I work for Aquarium Co-Op but do not receive commissions from their links.)
▶ Aqueon 20-Gallon Long Aquarium: petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/aqueon-standard-glass-aquarium-tank-20-gallon
▶ Aqueon Versa Top 30" X 12" Hinged Glass Aquarium Top: petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/aqueon-versa-top-hinged-glass-aquarium-top-30-l
▶ CaribSea Aragonite Aquarium Sand: amzn.to/38vLXj5
▶ Heater, 100W: aquariumcoop.com/products/aquarium-co-op-heater
▶ Sponge filter and accessories: aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/sponge-filters-the-easiest-fish-tank-filter-ever
▶ Petrified wood: etsy.com/shop/NaturalTechnique
▶ Water sprite: aquariumcoop.com/products/water-sprite
▶ Finnex Stingray LED light: aquariumcoop.com/products/finnex-stingray-led-lights
▶ Timer for light: aquariumcoop.com/products/kasa-wifi-light-timer
▶ Easy Green fertilizer: aquariumcoop.com/products/easy-green-all-in-one-fertilizer
▶ Escargot snail shells (prewashed, food grade): amzn.to/3FRqcXk
▶ Cichlid salt (if you have soft tap water): amzn.to/3Pm7ACY
▶ Water test strips (to make sure you have high pH and GH): aquariumcoop.com/products/aquarium-co-op-multi-test-strips
📚 RESOURCES
▶ Shell dweller care guide: youtu.be/j6U4b-Wkq1Y
▶ How to install a sponge filter: youtu.be/BS7gIHUkhuo
▶ Aquarium cycling experiments: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlBBJ7xBuqubL9YSRiZuJY2fpeqzslu8t
🦐 EXTRAS
▶ Instagram: instagram.com/girltalksfish
▶ Merch store: girltalksfish.creator-spring.com
EDITOR: Matt Gray at grayfamilyfilms.com and instagram.com/mentalityfilms
ATTRIBUTION
Music from Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com/referral/2earpi (if you use my referral link, I get 1 month free 😀)
Music from SoundStripe:
- Desert Dessert, by Anchor; INR1CECDLXCUGUKY
- Animal Balloons, by Dresden, The Flamingo; IRI5K7MFPZM3OOPS
- Easy Goer, by In This World; QSIHCJVC8IUXDOIH
- Punch Clock, by Nu Alkemi$t; JDJFYOWIFXCEMRYL
- Distant Water, by Chelsea McGough; IHHRG8MG6LOHBVSD
- Reverencia, by Alice In Winter; GS2QPJ8N4VEPZN6P
#girltalksfish #shelldwellers #aquascape
0:00 Can I make a shell dweller aquascape?
1:13 Step 1: fish tank and lid
1:32 Step 2: substrate
2:14 Step 3: heater and filter
2:49 Step 4: aquarium cycling
3:32 Step 5: hardscape
5:03 Step 6: live plants
6:02 Step 7: snail shells
6:52 Step 8: cichlid salt
7:42 Step 9: get the shell dwellers
I took down my 10-gallon aquascape because it was too high maintenance… and then promptly turned around and tried to see if I could make a low maintenance aquascape instead. 😅 Huge thanks to Zenzo from @TazawaTanks for the shell dwellers and Kenny from Natural Technique for the beautiful petrified wood as the hardscape. I’m not sponsored but feel free to visit his Etsy store at etsy.com/shop/NaturalTechnique to see all the beautiful hardscape sustainably collected from New Mexico.
Check out my second collab video with Zenzo about stocking ideas for a 20-gallon long tank! youtu.be/ypEteycErg8
🐟 SUBSCRIBE so you won’t miss my latest video: youtube.com/channel/UCNoNEF64ijgxK6OSTwdHOFA?sub_confirmation=1
🌿 BECOME A MEMBER for bonus content: youtube.com/channel/UCNoNEF64ijgxK6OSTwdHOFA/join
🛒 MATERIALS I USED
(As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from the links below. Also, I work for Aquarium Co-Op but do not receive commissions from their links.)
▶ Aqueon 20-Gallon Long Aquarium: petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/aqueon-standard-glass-aquarium-tank-20-gallon
▶ Aqueon Versa Top 30" X 12" Hinged Glass Aquarium Top: petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/aqueon-versa-top-hinged-glass-aquarium-top-30-l
▶ CaribSea Aragonite Aquarium Sand: amzn.to/38vLXj5
▶ Heater, 100W: aquariumcoop.com/products/aquarium-co-op-heater
▶ Sponge filter and accessories: aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/sponge-filters-the-easiest-fish-tank-filter-ever
▶ Petrified wood: etsy.com/shop/NaturalTechnique
▶ Water sprite: aquariumcoop.com/products/water-sprite
▶ Finnex Stingray LED light: aquariumcoop.com/products/finnex-stingray-led-lights
▶ Timer for light: aquariumcoop.com/products/kasa-wifi-light-timer
▶ Easy Green fertilizer: aquariumcoop.com/products/easy-green-all-in-one-fertilizer
▶ Escargot snail shells (prewashed, food grade): amzn.to/3FRqcXk
▶ Cichlid salt (if you have soft tap water): amzn.to/3Pm7ACY
▶ Water test strips (to make sure you have high pH and GH): aquariumcoop.com/products/aquarium-co-op-multi-test-strips
📚 RESOURCES
▶ Shell dweller care guide: youtu.be/j6U4b-Wkq1Y
▶ How to install a sponge filter: youtu.be/BS7gIHUkhuo
▶ Aquarium cycling experiments: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlBBJ7xBuqubL9YSRiZuJY2fpeqzslu8t
🦐 EXTRAS
▶ Instagram: instagram.com/girltalksfish
▶ Merch store: girltalksfish.creator-spring.com
EDITOR: Matt Gray at grayfamilyfilms.com and instagram.com/mentalityfilms
ATTRIBUTION
Music from Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com/referral/2earpi (if you use my referral link, I get 1 month free 😀)
Music from SoundStripe:
- Desert Dessert, by Anchor; INR1CECDLXCUGUKY
- Animal Balloons, by Dresden, The Flamingo; IRI5K7MFPZM3OOPS
- Easy Goer, by In This World; QSIHCJVC8IUXDOIH
- Punch Clock, by Nu Alkemi$t; JDJFYOWIFXCEMRYL
- Distant Water, by Chelsea McGough; IHHRG8MG6LOHBVSD
- Reverencia, by Alice In Winter; GS2QPJ8N4VEPZN6P
#girltalksfish #shelldwellers #aquascape
0:00 Can I make a shell dweller aquascape?
1:13 Step 1: fish tank and lid
1:32 Step 2: substrate
2:14 Step 3: heater and filter
2:49 Step 4: aquarium cycling
3:32 Step 5: hardscape
5:03 Step 6: live plants
6:02 Step 7: snail shells
6:52 Step 8: cichlid salt
7:42 Step 9: get the shell dwellers
