Where to Start with George Farmer
George Farmer is an internationally recognized aquascaper, educator, and co-founder of the UK Aquatic Plant Society (UKAPS). Based in the UK, he has spent years traveling the world creating aquascapes, judging competitions, and teaching the craft through workshops, YouTube videos, and writing. His approach emphasizes accessibility: he believes anyone can create a beautiful planted aquarium regardless of budget or experience level. That philosophy comes through clearly in his book, which breaks down aquascaping into manageable steps without oversimplifying the science behind it.
Start here
Aquascaping: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planting, Styling, and Maintaining Beautiful Aquariums
George Farmer · 200 pages · 2020 · Easy
Themes: aquascaping, planted aquariums, hardscape design, aquatic plant care, tank maintenance
George Farmer’s definitive guide to aquascaping, covering everything from selecting your first tank and substrate to designing layouts in multiple styles and maintaining them as they mature. This is the book that the aquascaping community most frequently recommends to newcomers, and for good reason: it is practical, well-photographed, and assumes no prior knowledge.
Why Start Here
Farmer writes the way he teaches: clearly, patiently, and with a genuine enthusiasm that never tips into jargon. The book walks you through complete aquascape builds from empty tank to finished layout, covering the nature style, Dutch style, and iwagumi approach. Each project includes step-by-step photographs so you can follow along with your own setup.
Beyond design, the book covers the technical foundations that keep a planted tank healthy: filtration, lighting, CO2 injection, fertilization, and water parameter management. Farmer explains each topic in context, so you understand not just what to do but why it matters. The result is a book that builds genuine competence rather than just giving you a recipe to follow.
What to Expect
At 200 pages, this is a focused and practical guide. You will finish it with the knowledge and confidence to set up your first aquascape and keep it thriving. The photography throughout is excellent, serving both as inspiration and as genuine instructional reference.