A lush, natural-style planted aquarium combining live aquatic plants, enriched substrate and balanced aquascaping design to promote plant health, visual harmony and a thriving ecosystem for your fish. This is one of our most popular setups — and with good reason.
What's Included
- Quality aquarium tank and cabinet
- Canister filter sized for planted tank
- Heater and thermometer
- Full-spectrum planted LED lighting
- Nutrient-rich planted substrate (base and cap)
- CO₂ system (liquid carbon or injection, by specification)
- Carefully selected live aquatic plants
- Driftwood and/or stone hardscape
- Compatible community fish
- Professional installation and plant layout
- Nitrogen cycle management and handover guide
Typical Plant Selection
We select plants to create depth, texture and colour variation throughout the aquascape. All species are chosen for compatibility with your lighting and CO₂ levels.
- Carpeting plants (hairgrass, Monte Carlo or Cryptocoryne)
- Midground focal plants (Anubias, Buce, Java fern)
- Background tall plants (Vallisneria, Ludwigia, Rotala)
- Mosses (Java moss, Christmas moss) for naturalistic textures
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do the plants take to establish?
Most plants start showing new growth within 2–4 weeks. Carpeting plants typically take 4–8 weeks to fully fill in. During this period some "new tank algae" is normal and usually self-resolves as the plants establish.
What fish work well in a planted aquarium?
Excellent planted tank fish include tetras (neon, cardinal, ember), rasboras, corydoras catfish, dwarf cichlids (apistogramma), honey gouramis and small livebearers. We select compatible species during your consultation.
Do you offer a maintenance plan for planted tanks?
Yes — our Standard maintenance plan (£60/month) includes plant trimming and care. Our Premium plan includes full aquascaping service and seasonal replanting.
Ready for your planted aquarium?
£850 complete — contact us to get started.