Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A reef tank that looks like a freshwater forest? Welcome to the Planted Fluval Shaker. 🌿🌊
Most people think saltwater tanks are just rocks and expensive corals. In this video, I’m showing you my mature, 3.5-year-old macroalgae aquarium. It’s a perfectly balanced ecosystem that thrives on low maintenance and a unique "marine plant" aesthetic.
Why this tank works:
The Look: Using Dragon's Breath and various macroalgae to create a lush, "freshwater style" scape in a marine environment. [00:39]
Fluorescence: Seeing the stunning orange glow of Dragon's Breath even under white light. [00:47]
The Inhabitants: From a Singapore Angel to a Banggai Cardinal that thinks it’s a Clownfish, the biodiversity here is incredible. [01:30]
Low Maintenance: My "secret" dosing and water change routine—it’s much simpler than you’d think for a tank this mature. [02:49]
The Tech: Running on the brand new Fluval Plant 4.0 and Reef 4.0 LEDs. [02:18]
If you’ve been intimidated by the cost and difficulty of corals, macroalgae might be the perfect path for you.
Timestamps:
0:00 - The "Marine Plant" Aesthetic
0:39 - Species Spotlight: Dragon's Breath & More
1:05 - Feeding Routine: Freshwater flake in a Saltwater tank?
1:30 - Strange Behavior: The Banggai Cardinal & Anemone
2:18 - Lighting Setup: Fluval 4.0 Series
2:49 - Maintenance & Dosing (The Honest Truth)
3:23 - 3.5 Years of Maturity
UK AQUACULTURED MACROALGAE (Grown By Me):
PlantedReef.co.uk
(UK Shipping Only, Sorry)
RECCOMMENDED PRODUCTS (Amazon Affiliate Links)
LIGHTS
AQUEON Nano LED
UK amzn.to/3J80T6u
USA amzn.to/3ZkqGxQ
Hygger 978 Advanced Full Spectrum LED
UK amzn.to/3QUHAyY
USA amzn.to/3Msk2Be
NICREW C10 For Aquarium Plants
UK amzn.to/4aMDSl6
USA amzn.to/3UoSpxy
Fluval Sea Marine 3.0 LED
UK amzn.to/3Rd3aiH
USA amzn.to/3TSmWU1
AQQA Full Spectrum Aquarium Light With Timer
UK amzn.to/47GQojN
US amzn.to/47GUWHd
FILTERS
NICREW Fish Tank Filter
UK amzn.to/3ONVWA3
USA amzn.to/3TVJVxp
FLUVAL 07 External Filter amzn.to/3R7JrRH
Fluval FX2 External Filter
UK amzn.to/43EZwF1
USA amzn.to/3IVxYSa
HEATERS
Intelligent hygger Aquarium Heater
UK amzn.to/44RK9M0
USA amzn.to/3GBhgJS
EQUIPMENT
AQQA Gyre Powerhead
USA: amzn.to/3ELLVnp
UK: amzn.to/4jVO8LU
Fluval UVC Clarifier
UK amzn.to/3yJk0i5
USA amzn.to/3VCxJTw
Fluval FX UVC Clarifier
amzn.to/45FbDkY
All Pond Solutions Aquarium Surface Skimmer amzn.to/3yJcP9r
Stanley Glass Scraper amzn.to/3Pdovaz
Aquarium Hose Holder amzn.to/3yOzKza
F ZONE Automatic Top Up
UK amzn.to/3WJ9Abm
USA amzn.to/4aRzukr
MACROALGAE PRODUCTS
TNC Lite - Aquarium plant food/Aquatic fertiliser amzn.to/3ReGjmQ
TNC Complete - Liquid Aquarium Plant Food amzn.to/3ONrOom
TNC Iron (AT) - Aquarium Plant Liquid Fertiliser amzn.to/3IiK9HF
REEF AQUARIUM PRODUCTS
iQuatics Ocean Reef Pro SALT MIX amzn.to/3bRTOJc
Seachem Reef Glue amzn.to/3NZshTz
ARKA Aquatics Reef Rocks amzn.to/3NKzYN8
SUPPORT ME VIA AMAZON PROMOTIONS:
30-day Free Trial of Amazon Prime
amazon.co.uk/tryprimefree?tag=everyday03-21
30-day Free Trial of Audible Audiobooks
amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/mlp?ie=UTF8&actionCode=AMN30DFT1Bk06604291990WX&tag=everyday03-21
Amazon Music Unlimited 30-day free trial
amazon.co.uk/music/unlimited?tag=everyday03-21
BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
youtube.com/channel/UCHULQdSxGjepb0Hei1FnYbw/join
FOLLOW ME ON:
Facebook: facebook.com/EverydayAquaristBlog
Instagram: instagram.com/everydayaquarist
Twitter: twitter.com/EAquariums
#plantedreef #plantedtank #reeftank
EVERYDAY AQUARIST is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. com or .ca, .co.uk, etc.
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
A reef tank that looks like a freshwater forest? Welcome to the Planted Fluval Shaker. 🌿🌊
Most people think saltwater tanks are just rocks and expensive corals. In this video, I’m showing you my mature, 3.5-year-old macroalgae aquarium. It’s a perfectly balanced ecosystem that thrives on low maintenance and a unique "marine plant" aesthetic.
Why this tank works:
The Look: Using Dragon's Breath and various macroalgae to create a lush, "freshwater style" scape in a marine environment. [00:39]
Fluorescence: Seeing the stunning orange glow of Dragon's Breath even under white light. [00:47]
The Inhabitants: From a Singapore Angel to a Banggai Cardinal that thinks it’s a Clownfish, the biodiversity here is incredible. [01:30]
Low Maintenance: My "secret" dosing and water change routine—it’s much simpler than you’d think for a tank this mature. [02:49]
The Tech: Running on the brand new Fluval Plant 4.0 and Reef 4.0 LEDs. [02:18]
If you’ve been intimidated by the cost and difficulty of corals, macroalgae might be the perfect path for you.
Timestamps:
0:00 - The "Marine Plant" Aesthetic
0:39 - Species Spotlight: Dragon's Breath & More
1:05 - Feeding Routine: Freshwater flake in a Saltwater tank?
1:30 - Strange Behavior: The Banggai Cardinal & Anemone
2:18 - Lighting Setup: Fluval 4.0 Series
2:49 - Maintenance & Dosing (The Honest Truth)
3:23 - 3.5 Years of Maturity
UK AQUACULTURED MACROALGAE (Grown By Me):
PlantedReef.co.uk
(UK Shipping Only, Sorry)
RECCOMMENDED PRODUCTS (Amazon Affiliate Links)
LIGHTS
AQUEON Nano LED
UK amzn.to/3J80T6u
USA amzn.to/3ZkqGxQ
Hygger 978 Advanced Full Spectrum LED
UK amzn.to/3QUHAyY
USA amzn.to/3Msk2Be
NICREW C10 For Aquarium Plants
UK amzn.to/4aMDSl6
USA amzn.to/3UoSpxy
Fluval Sea Marine 3.0 LED
UK amzn.to/3Rd3aiH
USA amzn.to/3TSmWU1
AQQA Full Spectrum Aquarium Light With Timer
UK amzn.to/47GQojN
US amzn.to/47GUWHd
FILTERS
NICREW Fish Tank Filter
UK amzn.to/3ONVWA3
USA amzn.to/3TVJVxp
FLUVAL 07 External Filter amzn.to/3R7JrRH
Fluval FX2 External Filter
UK amzn.to/43EZwF1
USA amzn.to/3IVxYSa
HEATERS
Intelligent hygger Aquarium Heater
UK amzn.to/44RK9M0
USA amzn.to/3GBhgJS
EQUIPMENT
AQQA Gyre Powerhead
USA: amzn.to/3ELLVnp
UK: amzn.to/4jVO8LU
Fluval UVC Clarifier
UK amzn.to/3yJk0i5
USA amzn.to/3VCxJTw
Fluval FX UVC Clarifier
amzn.to/45FbDkY
All Pond Solutions Aquarium Surface Skimmer amzn.to/3yJcP9r
Stanley Glass Scraper amzn.to/3Pdovaz
Aquarium Hose Holder amzn.to/3yOzKza
F ZONE Automatic Top Up
UK amzn.to/3WJ9Abm
USA amzn.to/4aRzukr
MACROALGAE PRODUCTS
TNC Lite - Aquarium plant food/Aquatic fertiliser amzn.to/3ReGjmQ
TNC Complete - Liquid Aquarium Plant Food amzn.to/3ONrOom
TNC Iron (AT) - Aquarium Plant Liquid Fertiliser amzn.to/3IiK9HF
REEF AQUARIUM PRODUCTS
iQuatics Ocean Reef Pro SALT MIX amzn.to/3bRTOJc
Seachem Reef Glue amzn.to/3NZshTz
ARKA Aquatics Reef Rocks amzn.to/3NKzYN8
SUPPORT ME VIA AMAZON PROMOTIONS:
30-day Free Trial of Amazon Prime
amazon.co.uk/tryprimefree?tag=everyday03-21
30-day Free Trial of Audible Audiobooks
amazon.co.uk/hz/audible/mlp?ie=UTF8&actionCode=AMN30DFT1Bk06604291990WX&tag=everyday03-21
Amazon Music Unlimited 30-day free trial
amazon.co.uk/music/unlimited?tag=everyday03-21
BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
youtube.com/channel/UCHULQdSxGjepb0Hei1FnYbw/join
FOLLOW ME ON:
Facebook: facebook.com/EverydayAquaristBlog
Instagram: instagram.com/everydayaquarist
Twitter: twitter.com/EAquariums
#plantedreef #plantedtank #reeftank
EVERYDAY AQUARIST is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. com or .ca, .co.uk, etc.
I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
