When people think of tropical freshwater fish, two of the most recognisable are angelfish and cardinal tetras—and because they’re both from the Amazon Basin, an Amazon-inspired tank has always been something I wanted to do on the channel. In this video I take you step by step through turning an Aquel Opty 200 (200L / about 3.5ft) from a bare tank into a thriving South American-style community. It’s not a strict biotope and it’s not a blackwater setup either—I just wanted big chunky wood, river cobbles, and loads of heavy root-feeders like Echinodorus to give that proper Amazon vibe. I start with a nutrient base (Colombo Nutri Base plus Easy Life Root Sticks), then cap it with a sand mix (pool filter sand etc.) and build a slope for depth. The driftwood was super buoyant, so I anchor and glue it using cotton pads and liquid superglue, then I actually fill and run the tank for days to make sure nothing shifts before planting. Planting is basically an Echinodorus party—Amazon swords, Ozelot Red, Rubra, and Tricolour—then I use Christmas moss to hide glue points and blend the hardscape. After that it’s all about doing it properly: heater upgrade, mature media, water testing (ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/pH), and then stocking slowly. I add cardinals and bleeding hearts first, then build up to angels, keyholes, corys, otos (including a giant oto), and an Apistogramma agassizii—plus I talk through early melt, diatoms, and why a proper clean-up crew matters in a fresh setup.