If you’ve ever wasted money on aquarium plants, battled annoying weeds, or spent hours replanting stems that just won’t stay down, this one’s for you. In this video I run through 4 planted-tank hacks that feel like cheating because they save time, money, and a heap of frustration. These aren’t theory tips either—I show you exactly how I do each one so you can copy it straight into your own tank, whether you’re running low-tech or high-tech. First up, I use plant weights to stop stem plants floating up—especially when your substrate isn’t deep and you’re trying to plant big bunches. Then I show my easiest duckweed control method: a basic hair comb that lets you “sweep” the surface and lift duckweed out fast. After that, I explain how to get carpeting plants like Monte Carlo going even when you’ve only got a thin substrate layer—tie trimmings to small rocks with cotton string and scatter them where you want the carpet to spread. Finally, if you bought a cheap light that’s way too intense with only an on/off switch, I show how black electrical tape over the LEDs can tone it down and help you regain control (and potentially calm algae down too).