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Courtney 🧜🏾‍♂️🇬🇧🇨🇦

@courtneykeeps

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💦 It's the year 3000, and we're living underwater
🌿 Gardener, Aquarist & PFK Contributor
🐟 Aquatic Life Lover
📍 London

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

🚨 New Episode Out Now! 🚨

In this episode of Reefing Radio, we’re joined by @courtneykeeps — a hobbyist known for his beautifully designed macroalgae reef tanks, natural daylight-style aesthetics, and thoughtful approach to aquarium design.

Courtney shares his journey from freshwater aquascaping into the reefing world, including how planted tank design principles, gardening, and a love of natural aesthetics have shaped the way he approaches marine aquariums. We discuss what the reefing hobby can learn from aquascaping — from intentional layouts and repetition to colour placement, depth, restraint, and designing tanks that feel cohesive rather than cluttered.

The conversation also dives deep into macroalgae systems: how to grow them successfully, nutrient management, lighting, dealing with nuisance algae, species that thrive (or crash), and why macroalgae tanks behave very differently from traditional coral-dominated reefs. Along the way, we talk about natural seawater, freshwater influences on reefing, blackwater tanks, nano systems, and the challenge of balancing aesthetics with practicality.

Courtney also walks us through his latest shallow lagoon-style setup — including the philosophy behind the design, custom-painted cabinetry, canister filtration, and why the overall presentation of an aquarium matters just as much as what’s inside the glass.

#macroalgae #saltwatertank #nanoreef #marineaquarium #aquarium

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How did I forget to post this?!😷

Some beautiful scapes from a contest I attended in September. Can’t wait for next year 🙌🏽

#aquascape #aquarium #aquascapingcontest #ada #aquadesignamano #natureaquariums #iwagumi

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Stellar event hosted by @aquascaperoom_canada and @ada._canada @canadianaquaticdesign

It is always a pleasure to scape side by side with those who help me pave the way. Such a solid core group of individuals here in Canada.

Don't miss this one next year. Had the opportunity to meet many great artists out there, truly inspiring.

📷: @buiscape (for keeping these memories alive for us all, THANK YOU my man!!! 🍻 )

#natureaquarium #hardscape #plantedtank #aquarium #plantedaquarium #ada #aquadesignamano #canadianaquascapingunion #aquascape #aquascaping

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Stellar event hosted by @aquascaperoom_canada and @ada._canada.

Don’t miss this one next year. Had the opportunity to meet many great artists out there, truly inspiring.

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Incredible weekend, incredible people. I still have not recovered from the depth of joy and emotions felt this weekend!!

Massive CONGRATULATIONS to the team organizing the Canadian Aquascape Design Show and the great success!! @algae_king @aquascaperoom_canada @aquapets_kowloonaquarium @ada._canada

To everyone I met, thank you for making this experience so special. For someone new to this hobby, your support and warmth meant everything to me 🙏🏼

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Aquashella NJ 2025 has officially wrapped, and what a weekend it was. 🍂🌿🍂

This contest was more than just a competition. It felt like a true showcase of talent and creativity across the hobby, with collaboration and inspiration that lifted everyone’s work.

For both Hayley and I, this was our very first time live-scaping, as well as collaborating on an aquascape. With little pre-planning, we leaned on a shared vision of what we wanted to evoke through botanicals, tannins, and the beauty of blackwater.

We’re deeply thankful to the volunteers, judges, and sponsors who poured their time, energy, and passion into making this unique event possible. It takes an incredible amount of behind-the-scenes effort to give us a platform to share this art form with thousands of people.

Placing third was a huge honor, but the real win was being able to share blackwater and botanical-style aquascapes to over 7,000 hobbyists.

There are a lot of ways to aquascape, and botanical style aquariums are just one of them. Some hate it. Some love it. 🤎🍂
#aquascaping #studioaquatica #blackwater #botanicals #blackwateraquarium #botanicalaquarium #aquascape #aquaticplants #wabikusa #aquashella #aquashella2025

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'Dive deep into positivity and watch your world transform before your eyes.'

🌞💫 Loving the top-down view of my plants on #TopDownTuesday! 🌿📸 Huge thanks to these amazing brands for helping me create this underwater beauty:

@the_aquatic_farm (lighting)
@co2art (CO2 system)
@masterline.ro (fertilizer)
@enviroaquaria (water care kit)
@arkaaquatics (osmosis system)

Happy aquascaping, everyone! 🌊💦

#AquariumHobby #reefaquarium #nanoreef! #nanoaquarium #aquascape #fishtank #instagram #freshwateraquariums #saltwateraquariums #newproduct #aquarium #aquariumhobby #aquariumlife #aquascape #Inspiration #tropicaaquariumplants #photooftheday

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Applications Now in Review! ✨

We’re excited to share that applications for the Canadian Aquascape Design Show 2025, hosted by ADA and Aquascaperoom Canada, are officially under review.

Our team is carefully going through every submission, including the photos, design concepts, and applicant details to select this year’s lineup of aquascapers.
The passion and creativity shown so far has been incredible, and we can’t wait to showcase the talent coming to this year’s event. We even have some special international applicants!

Stay tuned for updates as we move forward with the review process. Thank you to everyone who applied — your work and effort into just the applications are inspiring and makes this show possible! 🌿💧

😉If you made it this far and you're curious about the cup. Post 🍵 in the comments, and we will PM you more info! Shh...

#CanadianAquaDesignShow #Aquascaping #ADA #AquascaperoomCanada

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Time lapse of Nymphoides flaccida flower 💚🌿

#aquarium #timelapse #flowertimelapse #mrwethands #aquariumhobby #plantnerd #aquariumlife #aquascaping #aquariumlover

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The New journey for Saltwater is doing great, planning to add some more colours later on. Still learning more and more about the wonders of Saltwater.

#macroalgea #saltwateraquarìum #indiansaltwatertanks
#fishlovers

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Here we go..😁 My first Saltwater Aquarium
Thanks to @tigahboy.h2o ,@courtneykeeps and @fishymanhuman for helping me to get started. I am still in my journey where i am learning and making mistakes but it's so much fun than I thought 😊

#saltwateraquarìum #macroalgea #marine #fishlovers

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What Macro algae would you add next?! 🪸 🪸🪸
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These bulbs put out some serious light!! @marineplantstore
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Specifically fine tuned for Macro Algae planted tanks!! 💡 💥
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#macroalgae #reef #reeftank #algae #fish #aquarium #aquariumhobby #fishtank #coral #nature #plantedaquarium #saltwateraquarium #plantedtank #macroalgaetank #saltwatertank #reefporn #aquascape #marinelife #softcoral #reefing #seaweed #plantedreeftank #marine #reefaquarium #marineaquarium #instadaily #reefer #reefsquad #marineplantstore #reefkeeping

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