In this video I set up a really simple little cube in my fish room — no CO2 and no filter — and the whole idea is to build a dense, natural scape that can also double as a testing ground for plants I might use in future builds (I’m already thinking about a 2026 contest scape). I start by layering in a bit of my “sage substrate” (basically old sand/gravel/aqua soil and whatever else has ended up in there over time), crush up a root tab, then switch it up with ADA Amazonia v2 and those little brown supplement pellets underneath. For structure I use a few pieces of Seiryu stone set upright, buried down so they don’t sink later, knowing most of it will disappear once the plants fill in. Planting-wise I focus on two Echinodorus (including a ribbon narrow leaf) as the main focal points, then fill the midground with Ario plants (including a tiny, overpriced portion that I wasn’t thrilled about). The foreground and sides get Helanthium tenellum varieties — including a red form — because I want it full from the offset. Then, as usual, things don’t go exactly to plan: I end up battling green water after using water that sat too long in my water butt. I try a multi-day blackout, and when that doesn’t fully fix it, I bring in a little UV setup and adjust my water-change routine. You win some, you lose some.