Create your own aquascape

“Aquascaping can look overwhelming to begin with,” says George, “but you can start with a small tank and see how it goes. Beginners can buy secondhand equipment to keep costs down, and look for a local plant swap group. The UK Aquatic Plant Society (ukaps.org) has lots of information and a lively forum, with plenty of advice.”

What you will need A tank A basic 30-litre Nano cube starter kit comes with a corner filter to keep water clean and free from algae, LED light, substrate layer and soil base (£ 114.99). It doesn’t have a CO2 infuser, though and if you get the aquascaping bug, you (and your plants) may quickly outgrow it. Substrate Special aquarium soil in which the plants grow Hardscape Lumps of rock, and pieces of wood chosen and treated especially for aquascaping. George recommends Frodo stone and driftwood, treated so that it doesn’t leech tannins or colour into the water.

Plants Grown either hydroponically (in nutrient-rich water) or as tissue-culture plants (in gel), lush, mostly green, plants can be ordered online. You will need a mix of foreground, middle ground and background plants to create your natural-looking water world. Supplement with floating plants and plants that attach themselves to wood and stone (epiphytes). Beginner plants include ferns, mosses and dwarf hair grass. aquariumgardens.co.uk sells mixed plants in pots that can be split into several smaller plants. Fish Stick to one species of small fish to drift in and out of fronds and ferns in pretty shoals. Tetras are a popular choice as they are very small and some, such as the Cardinal, are brightly coloured. Shrimp These tiny crustaceans are a useful addition to a tank as they eat algae, the curse of the aquascaper. Water Use tap water, which must be changed frequently.