Today I’m breaking down my old planted tank (it was about 10 months old) and doing a full reset into a proper high-tech planted setup with CO2 injection. The main reason for the rebuild was simple: the soil had run out of nutrients, the plants started struggling, and algae showed up. I start from a clean tank, add a base layer of old soil full of beneficial bacteria (especially from my UGF), then build a front-to-back slope for depth. I use root tabs (I crushed Flourish tabs into powder and sprinkled it like salt) and I’m honest about the soil choice too—I used a spare bag of “Easter soil”, but I wouldn’t normally recommend it for planted tanks because it’s not nutrient-rich, so I compensate with tabs and liquid ferts. Then I go step-by-step through planting: carpeting plants first, then in-vitro plants, then the background stems. You’ll see why CO2 is basically a turbo boost—after a couple of weeks the growth is insane, plants are pearling, and algae is almost non-existent. I also share mistakes (like planting stems too randomly instead of in groups), how I trimmed and replanted for a cleaner layout, and how I cycled the tank safely using household ammonia instead of risking fish. Finally, I stock it as a peaceful community: 14 tetras, then over 120 Caridina shrimp in a mixed “mosquito” style community. I talk about CO2 and shrimp safety, why stability matters (especially pH), and why I ditched the citric acid/baking soda CO2 generator for a classic yeast-and-sugar bottle that gave me steadier output.