I love that you posted this video. To many people would be scared to admit that they might have messed up. However, I think we need more videos like this sometimes. We all have our scary moments, so knowing others go through the same is refreshing. It's a learning lesson for everyone. Thank you for sharing your experience, it will help many people. BTW, we have a fluval 5 gallon spec, never occurred to me to remove the filter compartment, genius
Yeah as much as I dread seeing any negative updates with animal keeping in general, I think it's important to share any avoidable mistakes and can be to share honest mistakes because too often we only see the end product of a tank build (and I feel like often only the first 24hrs of it at that) and it can create the false illusion that fishkeeping is super easy and stuff only goes wrong in extreme circumstances or if you're very inexperienced but that narrative just isn't true. Even master breeders, master fishkeepers and master aquascapers make mistakes and things go awry by no one's fault from time to time since both people and the products people make are fallible. There's no need to feel embarrassed or cover up mishaps when they can be turned around and used for smth positive, such as education, so it's nice to see some creators doing so and showing they're just as imperfect as us all, honestly is kinda encouraging when I feel like I've made an obvious mistake to see others being transparent about their own troubles, proves none of us are alone when we have our own struggles and it is more often then not recoverable
I know you said you don't like diy and it's too late now, but when you were talking about how expensive cube aquariums are, it reminded me of a recent SerpaDesign video. He walks you through how to make your own aquarium out of IKEA glass shelves (it's already cut so you don't have to worry about cutting glass). It involves just siliconing the sides together - don't know if this would be less or more frustrating than what you went through, but a 2 pack of 13x15" glass is $17. So you'd be spending around $40 for just the glass. Anywho, glad everything is well with Sunstreaker. Mystery snails are so silly. I didn't know they could right themselves. Whenever I see mine upside down, I usually turn them over. The kids love watching them go all the way up to the top then drop down.
Holy cow, what a cool diy project! I definitely would have tried it (and probably messed it up as well) if it was the right size. Not sure how to make a good lid for a rimless tank but I'm sure there are tutorials out there. And yes, my kids LOVE watching Sunstreaker parachute down from the top!
Hi! I've also seen that SerpaDesign video and was thinking of doing something similar, but maybe on a smaller scale (like a 6-7ish gallon nano aquarium). Do you know any places that sell glass that is more inexpensive? I'm fine with cutting glass, but a lot of the glass I find online and in stores are not very cheap ($80 and up). If I can't find something, I might just have to buy the slightly smaller 5 gallon from petco that is like $30. Thanks!
Hey Irene, glad to hear you were able to get the Flex up and running. Believe it or not, the safest way to get all of the silicone and mesh removed would have been 70% alcohol, a hair dryer, a couple of sharp new razor blades, and some elbow grease. The thread was a smart move, but if you were to heat up the silicone with a hair dryer or a glue gun for a couple of seconds, it would've reactivated the stickiness of the silicone and the razor blade would've scraped it off no problem. As a bonus, alcohol is an aquarium safe product so you would've saved yourself some stress. As for fish ideas, there are a couple of "glo" species that you could use that would be fun in your daughter's tank. At 15 gallons it would look nicer to have a larger shoal/school of danios, for example, than a smaller school of tiger barbs or the skirt tetras. I've even seen glo Corys sometimes at the big box retailers, if you want a clean up crew.
A hair blow dryer! I totally forgot that I've used that trick before when removing sticky residue from a sale tag. Thank you so much for the tip! I'm learning so much from people's comments.
@@prawst Put some 70% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle and spray it on the silicone (for more stubborn residue, add the alcohol to a cotton ball or pad and let it sit on the silicone so it soaks the alcohol). Aim the glue gun or hair dryer at the silicone for a few seconds (until it's hot to the touch is enough) and start scraping with a razor blade (new ones work best and change frequently because they go dull quickly). Repeat as needed It should come off fairly easy this way.
@@edmundovazquez-ramirez8134 thank you for this tip! i actually am doing a re-seal and need to clean the residue (and i have been putting it off due to the amount of elbow grease) this is going to hopefully help with that cleanup!
Same! It costs too much, but the filter is good, and it's almost like an overflow style where the water level in the back goes down before the water in the front. Not great for livebearers/jumpers, however, otherwise you will frequently need to rescue fish from the rear compartment. I feel that the mesh was to cut down on glare from the LED's because the consistent water level never really allowed scale to form.
Ngl this story has like everything in for it a crazy story. 1: The aww factor (the snail and the kid receiving her first aquarium kit) 2: The headache factor (the sheer labor to modify the tank) 3: Horror and subsequent relief (The goo gone and the charcoal) 4: Humor (The absolute cascade of problems and fixes occuring in rapid succession). Overall 11/10 this made my day
Love the tank but If you were going to remove the filter compartment I think you would have saved more money buying a low iron glass tank itself then purchasing this kit
Thank you a million times over for sharing this. I love when people share what works, as well as what didn't work so well. It's all helpful to someone like me that's still trying to learn. Glad Sunstreaker is okay. Looking forward to seeing what other critters he'll be living with.
I think it's silly that you did all this. You specifically show the petco site when showing the cost of the fluval. Well petco also has many many plain cube options which are similar to the empty aqueon tanks you prefer and they are also regularly on sale. Why pay so much to destroy a nice tank when you could have paid less and gotten exactly what you wanted.
Actually out of everything in these kits (such as the weak light), I love the "mini sump" compartment the most, as it hides all technology (Pump, filter, Co2, heater, etc. can be placed out of view) and leaves space for really good filtration, such as an entire third for sponges, another third for media (well over 1kg), and the last third where the pump is for other tech. Removing it means spending at least $70 extra for equivalent levels of filtration (like a small cannister filter or the hugest HOB ever), and then having exposed tech just as in any other aquarium. Honestly considering part of the Flex's pricetag comes from the included sump, discarding it seems wasteful instead of buying an alternative. Of course for a last-minute store stock only purchase the DIY is more than justified :-) But for others who buy online and don't like the "wasted" space of the sump, well, look for standard alternatives instead of the Flex - would be my recommendation.
@girrl88 And you can still run a sponge filter in all flex tanks. The back compartment has tons of space and you can place a sponge filter back there. I have multiple fluval flexes and run sponge filters as well as the sump in all of them.
these kits are great as is, you can add or change the media if you want but most people get a very healthy tank from this design! it’s the people who modify that always end up with issues. i love my flex!
Omg!! This video as nerve wrecking as it was was also quite beneficial to watch. I'm so sorry you had to go through that, and hope all is clear from here on out with that tank. It was admirable to see you in a worried "what do I do" situation and get through it. I appreciate the transparency I've noticed from so many of the channels I've subbed to and always say You Guys are the reason I'm able to keep my fish alive. I've made it a point to google and RUclips everything before asking for help because you can get so many mixed answers from people guessing, or it worked for them so it must work for all attitude. Trial and error tend to be my best friend. *I've never thought about removing that crazy built in on the one small tank that has it. I THANK YOU for the brave tutorial. * as per hubby, I grew up using lighter fluid to remove stickers and lables, my mom always said to be cautious not to splash and to wash my hand well after so yes it works. I don't think I'd trust it in a tank. I find having things soak in dish soap then just using my dish sponge works on multiple surfaces including glass(not that ive soaked adhesive on a tank). Great video, I'm sure you were so stressed as a hobbyist and mom trying to do something for your baby. 🥰
Note to self: do not use goo gone on fish tanks lol I really enjoy your scientific approach to solving problems in your tanks. This is why I love this hobby so much, it's more than just keeping fish, it's a never ending science experiment!
Goo gone is just a solvent, the issue was more likely that she disturbed polymer monomer residues when she tried to remove the silicone sealant (those are definitely toxic).
The flex is a fine tank that very few people have had trouble and this includes the sump area. If your daughter was happy with the tank as is then the extra work doesn't seem worth it especially since you turned a $180 tank into a $50 tank. Some people just have to be in control.
Lol exactly the flex series of tanks are fantastic imagine spending 200 dollars only to remove everything that makes it that price point and turning it into a basic cube.
Oh no, I can't believe I missed that one. Would have saved me a ton of time. Too bad the lid doesn't completely cover the top in case you have animals that like to escape.
I love the fluval flex. I have three 15 gallons and three 32 gallons. The filter sponge they give you holds up. I have had the 3 years. My only issue was one of the motors in a 15 gallon quit working and I had to replace.
I love how upfront and honest you always are in your videos. I have totally poisoned the water and substrate in 2 tanks years ago pretty much the same way. Used nail polish remover to remove excess silicone smudge, then used regular bath bar soap to scrub down the aquarium and just rinsed it out one time. Who knew regular soap left a long term residue 15 years ago, lol. Oh, it's funny now, but I couldn't figure out for the longest time why I couldn't keep anything alive in these two tanks. Finally, I asked a really experienced fish keeper, who asked how I set the tank of from day one, told him everything, he said. Tear them both down, then let them sit for a day with a 50% vinegar and water fill up. That vinegar will break down any soap residue left. Then rinse really well 4-5 times fill and rinse. Then restart from scratch with substrate and decor. Don't beat yourself up, we have what we think are good ideas, and we live and learn. Good job and happy Mr mystery snail is still thriving. 👍❤️👍
I'm glad you shared, but I think the lesson here is that the fluval flex is too good of a small kit to disassemble. You can add heating and extra filtration - out of the way, and you don't have to disturb the tank to get at the sponge which just pulls up, wrings out and pops back in. The pump is included and hidden too. The hood and light are already included too. Perfect for a kid. The only drawback to that tank, is that the pump adds heat, so it might not be a good tank for cold water shrimp/fish.
Now buy Another FLEX 15 and make a video where you just add water and fish and have a beautiful aquarium with an easy to use filter system and save days worth of labor.
Girl how did this happen?? Ever since I started watching you I've been religiously disinfecting my gravel vac, aqua scape tools and new tanks with only hot water and vinegar. You taught me this!
I have to say I cringed a lot at this whole video having recently purchased the same tank 😂 First I was able to save fifty dollars off that price buying it online also I had some of the same misgivings about giving up the space in the back etc. but I’m happy to not see any equipment, not have to mess around with a background and it’s a good system. Really shouldn’t have done all that before setting the tank up and seeing how you liked it first before doing all that.
I'm glad you managed to react fast and save sunstreaker's life. I wish i saw this video earlier because i made a similar fatal mistake where i failed to remove all traces of aquarium medicine and it costed me my entire rabbit snail family because i thought they will be fine and recover after a few hours. I was so angry with myself that day.
I actually have 2 of the 15s and one of the 9s. Theyve been up and running for years now. I dont use the filter material that comes with. I do kinda diy that. The 9 is a planted shrimp tank. I use a cut sponge to wedge against the inside of tge intake compartment to keep shrimplets out. Works fantastic. One of my 15s, is my main Corydora breeding tank. I stick the eggs in that pre filter compartment. The flow to the filter, in that empty compartment is perfect for the eggs. The tiny bits of food that end up on the very bottom, is perfect for newly hatched fry. Once big enough, i take them out and put them in the growout. Once hatched, i havent lost a baby yet! On a side note, i got both my 15s for waaaay less than $189. Still overpriced? Yes! But i have a total of 9 aquariums of all kinds. Including a 60 gallon axolotl tank. I adore your vids a bunch!
Great vid! I think we all appreciate the honesty and candor you bring to your vids about aquarium mishaps or frustrations. I can relate to having such a strong attachment to a snail - I'd be so upset if something happened to them. Cheers!
Hi Irene! I love your videos. I definitely have more aquariums than I would otherwise have due to your inspirational talks! (Not sure if that’s good or bad...) I use Dawn, Goo Gone, whatever I want in a fish tank, but when I rinse it, I turn the tank on its side at the edge of the sink and use a sprayer to spray the water out. This way the water flows directly out and the phosphates don’t get to go back in there and mix around again. Rinse, rinse, rinse. Hope this helps!
To each his or her own, but in my opinion the biggest mistake you made was to remove the back and not use much of what you paid good money for. I have the same aquarium (also in black), and I have found the filter and water flow system to be very effective. I added a heater in the right side of the rear compartment. You are right that the compartment reduces the effective swimming space from 15 to 12 gallons, But adding a sponge filter and heater would also reduce the effective swimming space; maybe almost as much. I can see your point about the pattern at the top of the glass, and this you removed easily by mechanical means. In terms of fish to stuck, I have cardinal tetras (4) in mine along with Endler livebearers (2) and a betta. They all get along fine and are great contrast in with live plants. I also have one mystery and one nerite snail. Previously I also had 4 otocinclus and they were doing fine, until they weren’t and died off. I may have had two many scavengers in the aquarium.
I personally love the Fluval Aquarium 'kits'...I put a 15 gallon Flex in my girlfriend's classroom, I have a 2.6 gallon Spec in my house and am looking to get their new 'Betta' Aquarium...when you live far away from any decent fish store these are really helpful.
Colorful and kid friendly ... I believe that is part of the Websters definition of guppies Not only will she have an easy and beautiful selection of fish, but she can get the thrill of a first breeding experience with 0 effort. As always, I enjoyed your video. Thanks!
OMG, I can't stand when people treat Dawn like it's some kind of magic. You know what Dawn has over the vast majority of other dish soap? It's a very short list, so I'll tell you. 1. An incredible marketing department. 2. Extra surfactants which don't make the product work better, but trick people into thinking it does. Those extra surfactants also make it significantly harder to rinse off than other dish soaps while not working the slightest bit better. That's it. That's the whole list. It's just dish soap, everybody can calm tf down about it any time.
Great video! Thanks for sharing your mistakes and the lessons you learned. Thoroughly washing the tank was great of you to point out! I have one tip with razors on glass, you always want it to be wet. Razors on dry glass is a big no-no and asking for scratches or other friction problems. The silicon and dots may have come off easy with just the addition of water. If that doesn't work try applying oil or dawn mixed with water then using the 2" razor blade.
THANK YOU for this AMAZING video. It’s reassuring to hear from others who have made mistakes and feel terrible about them. Thank you for your honesty. 😊 not many are willing to talk about mistakes but sometimes that’s the best way to learn!!!!!!!!!
If I use dish soap on something, I rinse/scrub it next with regular white vinegar, then rinse/scrub with conditioned water, and dry if needed with a paper towel. You may also have used Barkeeper’s Friend to scrub off the residue, then the dish soap, vinegar, conditioned water steps. BKF is a wonderful product if you’ve never used it.
Awesome tank with awesome adjustments! I enjoy watching your videos because they always teach me so much and are very entertaining! Keep up the great work!😄😄
I did the same to my flex 57 (black). You just need a box cutter blade and a tool that you can put it in to act like a scraper. No chemicals needed to completely remove it
I don’t get why people butcher the Fluval Flex 9 & 15 gal tanks because they have the pre built ins for the filters/heaters and media sponge and then complain about the compartment in the tank. They are built this way for a reason. If you don’t like it buy a basic 10 gal or 20 gal square tank if you want more room. Makes no sense.
I deeply appreciate this video! I'm in the early planning stages of an aquarium for a betta and was considering removing that back panel as well. This gave me lots to consider, thank you!
You got to be kidding…In Denver you can easily get a frameless cube tank at 15 gallon for under 200.00..why in the world would you destroy a Fluval and go thru so much trouble
Awesome video, wish I saw it before setting up my Fluval 9 gallon, didn't think to remove the back part to give more space for the fish, now I know, thank you!
Well just for the record "Dawn" is used by gardeners to get rid of snails and other pests in the garden. I'm not so sure because they use it to clean crude oil off birds and seals that makes it safe for fish. I can absolutely understand using the GooGone but not so much the best choice. I would have tried, like Hubby, using naphtha [lighter fluid], acetone [finger nail polish remover], after warming the sticker with a hair dryer or vegetable oil along with a razor, non scratch pad, and believe it or not one of those stainless steel curly Q scrubbers , with a gentle touch, will not scratch glass. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” ~ Sun Tzu, The Art of War Meaning you have to have an understanding of materials your working with or against.
I love my Fluval Flex 9 gallon, but yes I did upgrade it. Double sponge filtration 4 times the amount of ceramic bio media and double the light. I dislike seeing the filter, heater, etc. so the overflow is no issue for me.
@Girl Talks Fish You should try reducing the airflow on that treasure chest. It is supposed to close fully and stay closed until it fills with enough air bubbles to open and than re-close for 5-10 seconds
Thanks, I'll go find an air valve then! I got it to work after I tilted the chest forward but reducing the air flow will probably make it look even better.
I have a 5 gallon Biorb or something like that, I have it in my kitchen. It's a fishbowl made of acrylic. It has an integrated sponge-filter with bio stones that it's easy to tweak and quick to change for cleaning, if you have more than one. I like the pretty lights it comes with, I just try not to get them wet. My betta Raspberry lives quite happily there.
The filter got weaker and weaker overtime. I had to buy a new one. I’ve been wanting to remove the compartments but didn’t want to damage it. Luckily, I came across your video. Thank you for so much.
Wow, I am halfway through your video and when you said go gone my mouth hit the floor. I was like “OH NO”. I have to keep watching to see how this ends 😮😮😮😮. Whew, glad there was a happy ending 😇.
I'd suggest going to local shops for these before big-box shops and comparing prices to anybody in the hobby. Got a Fluval flex back somewhere in 2020 from my local shop for $120. Not on sale either. It's now $130 due to inflation, while the Petco/PetSmart tanks are still $190 (up from $160).
I think you're awesome and love your videos. Very easy and simple to understand. If I need to research something in the aquarium hobby, you have always been one of my go-to sources to check out. All that said, I was in complete shock when you said you only rinsed the tank out once! Totally blew my mind! I've had 20 gallon hospital tanks or extra plants, rocks, etc., that I store in my closet that will occasionally bring out to use as needed. Even then, I put the tank in my bath tub and run hot water on it for a good 30 minutes and scrub it down! The same if I reuse rocks, wood or plant decorations. I think if you had thoroughly rinsed the tank several times and let warm water run into it for an extended period of time, you would have been fine. Lesson learned I guess! You ended up having to do so much more work just trying to save some time.
I love fluval flex and I've had a lot of fun finding all kinds of mods people come up with. I think for a beginner it helped me learn a lot! And as I learn more I keep modding it
Oh WoW, you went through a lot to get your square tank looking to the way you wanted. You're such a wonderful mom, to do all that for your kids! I checked prices around the fish stores & found one fish store had fairly cheap square tanks, but I had to order it, since I wanted two square tanks. They came in 1½ wks, only had to rinse & then set it up. I'd have your kids choose from your list of fish that'll be acceptable for that tank size. It'll be their tank & the fish that they'll see everyday. 🧒🏻👧🏻🐠
I have two of these 15 gallon tanks with different families of tetras in them and I like them very much. I’d love to set up saltwater tank. I agree with you about the kits tho. I would like to start over.
Hi Irene! In the Philippines, I could get aquariums custom-made at window makers, since they have glass and silicone and tools like glass cutters, so lot of them also make aquariums. I guess it's because aquariums like Aqueon and Fluval are sooo expensive in our currency. Even the Chinese brands are pricier compared to those made at the window/glass shops, where I can get a standard 20 gallon (with rim) for less than $10. Being in a developing country has resulted in a strong DIY culture among many aquarists. I think as long as you have the correct thickness of glass and make sure that the silicone used is aquarium-safe, then it will be fine.
Anything is great when getting kids involved. Have a species only skirted tetra tank (50 gallon) which includes skirted glo tetras because my daughter loved the colors. They actually fit right in. I like them tbh. Have a 16 gallon fluval vista tank kit. Not nearly as popular as the fluval flex but anyone looking for a kit. It’s a great size for nano fish and or a betta. The light grows low to medium light plants wonderfully (only issue is no built in timer). Has everything needed to get started. Aquaclear hob filter. You won’t regret it.
Nice setup! I picked up a Flex for my nephews first tank. It's a really nice kit as is. Sometimes us adults like to overdo projects when it comes to our kids especially if it's a hobby we also partake in. I've found keeping it simple and easy while focusing on the experience is far more enjoyable! 😊
So I actually like to recommend the starter kits (in the saltwater side of things more often) for beginners just because it takes a lot of the guessing work out and you can still make those upgrades as you decide you want to invest more into it. (Mainly the lights as the stocks are typically trash but can grow some beginner corals to get you started.) my first little reef tank was the biocube 32 and I still have it running to this day! My only complaint is again that stock lighting.
I enjoyed watching this because its super relatable. I was ofc cringing the whole time just knowing the potential for toxins being left in there and killing a bunch of fish, but im also the type of person to try and diy and then do research when im a little too far to backtrack and just have to see if i can fix what ive already done XD
I'm a retired chemist. We rinse our glassware and other items that we use three times to make sure they are clean. If I was rinsing something for my animals, I would rinse 10 or 12 times. I once had some beautiful gravel that came from salt water, and I bet I rinsed and dried it two dozen times. Tied up half the patio for weeks. Read your SDS for everything that you put in your fish tank. Goo Gone has theirs on-line. After reading it, I wouldn't use it near, much less in, a fish tank. Glad things seem to be OK. Take care.
I was going to speculate -- and maybe as a chemist you can say if I'm way off base or not -- that I suspect Dawn dish soap is probably not appreciably better or worse for safely de-oiling sea life than its competitors, which have nearly identical ingredients. (Possibly Dawn donates soap to environmental groups, which would, understandably, make them those groups' top choice? I don't know that they do or don't, but given the huge publicity Dawn gets from "the choice for saving sea life!" I wouldn't be surprised.) But furthermore, I've noticed that it always seems to be animals with fur or feathers that are being cleansed with Dawn -- not animals that rely on water for respiration, and it seems to me the later would be much, much more sensitive to detergent residue.
@@amrys_argent I did a quick scan of the ingredient list and it doesn't seem to have anything too much different than any other soap. There has to be a bunch of more friendly soaps with a shorter ingredient list, though. The key to using any of these products is rinse, rinse, rinse, and then rinse some more. Especially the soap, as it is a surface-active agent with all types of both good and bad effects.
Hi Irene, oh so glad you figured out a solution in time to save your snail. But you could have bought a nice rimless frameless cube from Aqua Rocks located in Commerce City as well as Aquatic Dog in Eastern Denver. As for friendly fish, mollies and platys are good.
Wow! Quite the ordeal. Make sure you show this to gamer girl when she gets older so she knows how much her parents love her (not that she doesn't already, I am sure). Kudos to mom for making it happen. Blessings, Joe.
There is one rule I follow whenever I get an aquarium kit. Its plain and simple….dont touch anything! It could cause irreparable damage and could harm any inhabitants that may be placed there if its not already broken. Its like tempting fate since its already prepared for you and by altering it, the results are like playing cards. You either win or lose.
Another possible way to deal with the silicone residue if you ever had to again for any reason could be to put one of those printed aquarium backgrounds on the back wall of the tank or paint the outside back wall black.
I don't know if your petco does this, but mine does a half off aqueon tanks, even the cubes. If you get the "non-kit" empty cubes, they're still expensive, but less so? I got two 6gals for $45 each, but the 14gal was only about $10 more. Too late for this project, but maybe something to keep in mind?
I'm going on vacation for 2 month and I need to somehow take care of my planted fish tank. My tank is a medium planted tank with 3 peacock gudgeon, 6 otos, 6 Pygmy Cory, 6 neon tetra, a Betta, a vampire shrimp and a stiphodon goby. I'm planning to get 2 auto feeder with one for the slow sinking pellet and powder food and the other one for the wafer (do u think the aquarium co op auto feeders have a once per week option) and do u think I should fert the plants extra when I leave. Thank u so much
Actually, your first mistake was in taking over the project from your daughter. It was her aquarium. You should have let her set it up and only offered help when asked. 👵
I recently bought this for my first tank. Actually I do really like it, but I have moved on to help my friend set up a more traditional tank assembling all the components ourselves. Two big sponge filters, etc :).
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
*What kind of fish do you think my daughter should get for this 15-gallon tank? Must be colorful and kid-friendly.*
Maybe some cherry barbs
Or endler guppys
Glowlight tetras!!!
Maybe some rasboras with a friendly center piece of some sort.
In all probability you will let your daughter decide what fish are going into her tank. She's probably going to pick some sort of glowfish or a betta.
I love that you posted this video. To many people would be scared to admit that they might have messed up. However, I think we need more videos like this sometimes. We all have our scary moments, so knowing others go through the same is refreshing. It's a learning lesson for everyone. Thank you for sharing your experience, it will help many people.
BTW, we have a fluval 5 gallon spec, never occurred to me to remove the filter compartment, genius
Yeah as much as I dread seeing any negative updates with animal keeping in general, I think it's important to share any avoidable mistakes and can be to share honest mistakes because too often we only see the end product of a tank build (and I feel like often only the first 24hrs of it at that) and it can create the false illusion that fishkeeping is super easy and stuff only goes wrong in extreme circumstances or if you're very inexperienced but that narrative just isn't true. Even master breeders, master fishkeepers and master aquascapers make mistakes and things go awry by no one's fault from time to time since both people and the products people make are fallible. There's no need to feel embarrassed or cover up mishaps when they can be turned around and used for smth positive, such as education, so it's nice to see some creators doing so and showing they're just as imperfect as us all, honestly is kinda encouraging when I feel like I've made an obvious mistake to see others being transparent about their own troubles, proves none of us are alone when we have our own struggles and it is more often then not recoverable
I know you said you don't like diy and it's too late now, but when you were talking about how expensive cube aquariums are, it reminded me of a recent SerpaDesign video. He walks you through how to make your own aquarium out of IKEA glass shelves (it's already cut so you don't have to worry about cutting glass). It involves just siliconing the sides together - don't know if this would be less or more frustrating than what you went through, but a 2 pack of 13x15" glass is $17. So you'd be spending around $40 for just the glass. Anywho, glad everything is well with Sunstreaker. Mystery snails are so silly. I didn't know they could right themselves. Whenever I see mine upside down, I usually turn them over. The kids love watching them go all the way up to the top then drop down.
Holy cow, what a cool diy project! I definitely would have tried it (and probably messed it up as well) if it was the right size. Not sure how to make a good lid for a rimless tank but I'm sure there are tutorials out there. And yes, my kids LOVE watching Sunstreaker parachute down from the top!
@Girl Talks Fish there is a subreddit called "parasnailing" and it's just cute videos of snails doing this
@@nixonyourat oh my gosh. Thank you for sharing that. Those videos are adorable!
@@TheChronicoles aren't they! It's so wholesome haha
Hi! I've also seen that SerpaDesign video and was thinking of doing something similar, but maybe on a smaller scale (like a 6-7ish gallon nano aquarium). Do you know any places that sell glass that is more inexpensive? I'm fine with cutting glass, but a lot of the glass I find online and in stores are not very cheap ($80 and up). If I can't find something, I might just have to buy the slightly smaller 5 gallon from petco that is like $30. Thanks!
Hey Irene, glad to hear you were able to get the Flex up and running.
Believe it or not, the safest way to get all of the silicone and mesh removed would have been 70% alcohol, a hair dryer, a couple of sharp new razor blades, and some elbow grease. The thread was a smart move, but if you were to heat up the silicone with a hair dryer or a glue gun for a couple of seconds, it would've reactivated the stickiness of the silicone and the razor blade would've scraped it off no problem. As a bonus, alcohol is an aquarium safe product so you would've saved yourself some stress.
As for fish ideas, there are a couple of "glo" species that you could use that would be fun in your daughter's tank. At 15 gallons it would look nicer to have a larger shoal/school of danios, for example, than a smaller school of tiger barbs or the skirt tetras. I've even seen glo Corys sometimes at the big box retailers, if you want a clean up crew.
A hair blow dryer! I totally forgot that I've used that trick before when removing sticky residue from a sale tag. Thank you so much for the tip! I'm learning so much from people's comments.
may i ask how exactly this process works? you apply the alcohol and use the hair dryer then the razor blades?
@@prawst Put some 70% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle and spray it on the silicone (for more stubborn residue, add the alcohol to a cotton ball or pad and let it sit on the silicone so it soaks the alcohol). Aim the glue gun or hair dryer at the silicone for a few seconds (until it's hot to the touch is enough) and start scraping with a razor blade (new ones work best and change frequently because they go dull quickly). Repeat as needed It should come off fairly easy this way.
@@edmundovazquez-ramirez8134 thank you for this tip! i actually am doing a re-seal and need to clean the residue (and i have been putting it off due to the amount of elbow grease) this is going to hopefully help with that cleanup!
honestly I absolutely love the Flex, its one of the few actually good kits.
Same! It costs too much, but the filter is good, and it's almost like an overflow style where the water level in the back goes down before the water in the front. Not great for livebearers/jumpers, however, otherwise you will frequently need to rescue fish from the rear compartment. I feel that the mesh was to cut down on glare from the LED's because the consistent water level never really allowed scale to form.
Same!!! I have a 9 and 15! It’s been so good for me! Totally worth it!
Ngl this story has like everything in for it a crazy story.
1: The aww factor (the snail and the kid receiving her first aquarium kit)
2: The headache factor (the sheer labor to modify the tank)
3: Horror and subsequent relief (The goo gone and the charcoal)
4: Humor (The absolute cascade of problems and fixes occuring in rapid succession).
Overall 11/10 this made my day
Love the tank but If you were going to remove the filter compartment I think you would have saved more money buying a low iron glass tank itself then purchasing this kit
Thank you a million times over for sharing this. I love when people share what works, as well as what didn't work so well. It's all helpful to someone like me that's still trying to learn.
Glad Sunstreaker is okay. Looking forward to seeing what other critters he'll be living with.
I think it's silly that you did all this. You specifically show the petco site when showing the cost of the fluval. Well petco also has many many plain cube options which are similar to the empty aqueon tanks you prefer and they are also regularly on sale. Why pay so much to destroy a nice tank when you could have paid less and gotten exactly what you wanted.
Actually out of everything in these kits (such as the weak light), I love the "mini sump" compartment the most, as it hides all technology (Pump, filter, Co2, heater, etc. can be placed out of view) and leaves space for really good filtration, such as an entire third for sponges, another third for media (well over 1kg), and the last third where the pump is for other tech. Removing it means spending at least $70 extra for equivalent levels of filtration (like a small cannister filter or the hugest HOB ever), and then having exposed tech just as in any other aquarium. Honestly considering part of the Flex's pricetag comes from the included sump, discarding it seems wasteful instead of buying an alternative.
Of course for a last-minute store stock only purchase the DIY is more than justified :-) But for others who buy online and don't like the "wasted" space of the sump, well, look for standard alternatives instead of the Flex - would be my recommendation.
The price isn't an issue as she runs sponge filters.
@@girrl88 the sump makes it easy to add what ever filter media you like? maybe the issues is space.
@@AnonSOG She likes sponge filters. She's said it multiple times in multiple videos.
@girrl88 And you can still run a sponge filter in all flex tanks. The back compartment has tons of space and you can place a sponge filter back there. I have multiple fluval flexes and run sponge filters as well as the sump in all of them.
Watching her take it out made me sick
Why buy a tank to deconstruct it? Just order a tank online that you want, it makes no sense whatsoever. Plus these tanks run fairly well with the sump
Proof that even if you have been in the Hobbie for years you still learn so much. Good luck! Thank you for showing your triumphs and struggles alike!
these kits are great as is, you can add or change the media if you want but most people get a very healthy tank from this design! it’s the people who modify that always end up with issues. i love my flex!
Omg!! This video as nerve wrecking as it was was also quite beneficial to watch. I'm so sorry you had to go through that, and hope all is clear from here on out with that tank.
It was admirable to see you in a worried "what do I do" situation and get through it. I appreciate the transparency I've noticed from so many of the channels I've subbed to and always say You Guys are the reason I'm able to keep my fish alive. I've made it a point to google and RUclips everything before asking for help because you can get so many mixed answers from people guessing, or it worked for them so it must work for all attitude. Trial and error tend to be my best friend.
*I've never thought about removing that crazy built in on the one small tank that has it. I THANK YOU for the brave tutorial.
* as per hubby, I grew up using lighter fluid to remove stickers and lables, my mom always said to be cautious not to splash and to wash my hand well after so yes it works. I don't think I'd trust it in a tank. I find having things soak in dish soap then just using my dish sponge works on multiple surfaces including glass(not that ive soaked adhesive on a tank).
Great video, I'm sure you were so stressed as a hobbyist and mom trying to do something for your baby. 🥰
Note to self: do not use goo gone on fish tanks lol
I really enjoy your scientific approach to solving problems in your tanks. This is why I love this hobby so much, it's more than just keeping fish, it's a never ending science experiment!
Goo gone is just a solvent, the issue was more likely that she disturbed polymer monomer residues when she tried to remove the silicone sealant (those are definitely toxic).
The flex is a fine tank that very few people have had trouble and this includes the sump area. If your daughter was happy with the tank as is then the extra work doesn't seem worth it especially since you turned a $180 tank into a $50 tank. Some people just have to be in control.
Lol exactly the flex series of tanks are fantastic imagine spending 200 dollars only to remove everything that makes it that price point and turning it into a basic cube.
There's a great Aqueon 14 gal cube that Petco sells, currently for $50. It comes with a glass lid and pad for underneath.
Oh no, I can't believe I missed that one. Would have saved me a ton of time. Too bad the lid doesn't completely cover the top in case you have animals that like to escape.
Irene I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I'm willing to bet that you aren't going to be getting a sponsorship anytime soon from Fluval.🤣
I love the fluval flex. I have three 15 gallons and three 32 gallons. The filter sponge they give you holds up. I have had the 3 years. My only issue was one of the motors in a 15 gallon quit working and I had to replace.
I love how upfront and honest you always are in your videos. I have totally poisoned the water and substrate in 2 tanks years ago pretty much the same way. Used nail polish remover to remove excess silicone smudge, then used regular bath bar soap to scrub down the aquarium and just rinsed it out one time. Who knew regular soap left a long term residue 15 years ago, lol. Oh, it's funny now, but I couldn't figure out for the longest time why I couldn't keep anything alive in these two tanks.
Finally, I asked a really experienced fish keeper, who asked how I set the tank of from day one, told him everything, he said. Tear them both down, then let them sit for a day with a 50% vinegar and water fill up. That vinegar will break down any soap residue left. Then rinse really well 4-5 times fill and rinse. Then restart from scratch with substrate and decor. Don't beat yourself up, we have what we think are good ideas, and we live and learn. Good job and happy Mr mystery snail is still thriving.
👍❤️👍
I'm glad you shared, but I think the lesson here is that the fluval flex is too good of a small kit to disassemble. You can add heating and extra filtration - out of the way, and you don't have to disturb the tank to get at the sponge which just pulls up, wrings out and pops back in. The pump is included and hidden too. The hood and light are already included too.
Perfect for a kid.
The only drawback to that tank, is that the pump adds heat, so it might not be a good tank for cold water shrimp/fish.
Now buy Another FLEX 15 and make a video where you just add water and fish and have a beautiful aquarium with an easy to use filter system and save days worth of labor.
I love that you name most of your pets after transformers
Girl how did this happen?? Ever since I started watching you I've been religiously disinfecting my gravel vac, aqua scape tools and new tanks with only hot water and vinegar. You taught me this!
I have to say I cringed a lot at this whole video having recently purchased the same tank 😂 First I was able to save fifty dollars off that price buying it online also I had some of the same misgivings about giving up the space in the back etc. but I’m happy to not see any equipment, not have to mess around with a background and it’s a good system. Really shouldn’t have done all that before setting the tank up and seeing how you liked it first before doing all that.
Exactly! Like the whole appeal of the flex is that you can hide away all of the equipment.
I'm glad you managed to react fast and save sunstreaker's life. I wish i saw this video earlier because i made a similar fatal mistake where i failed to remove all traces of aquarium medicine and it costed me my entire rabbit snail family because i thought they will be fine and recover after a few hours. I was so angry with myself that day.
I actually have 2 of the 15s and one of the 9s. Theyve been up and running for years now. I dont use the filter material that comes with. I do kinda diy that. The 9 is a planted shrimp tank. I use a cut sponge to wedge against the inside of tge intake compartment to keep shrimplets out. Works fantastic. One of my 15s, is my main Corydora breeding tank. I stick the eggs in that pre filter compartment. The flow to the filter, in that empty compartment is perfect for the eggs. The tiny bits of food that end up on the very bottom, is perfect for newly hatched fry. Once big enough, i take them out and put them in the growout. Once hatched, i havent lost a baby yet! On a side note, i got both my 15s for waaaay less than $189. Still overpriced? Yes! But i have a total of 9 aquariums of all kinds. Including a 60 gallon axolotl tank. I adore your vids a bunch!
That was SO entertaining and I can totally relate! Nothing worse than thinking you accidentally poisoned your aquarium! I'm glad Sunstreaker is okay!
Great vid! I think we all appreciate the honesty and candor you bring to your vids about aquarium mishaps or frustrations. I can relate to having such a strong attachment to a snail - I'd be so upset if something happened to them. Cheers!
You completely destroyed that tank at the beginning 😂😅😢 I actually love those tanks! Sad face😅😱🤯😫👏🏻😆
Hi Irene! I love your videos. I definitely have more aquariums than I would otherwise have due to your inspirational talks! (Not sure if that’s good or bad...)
I use Dawn, Goo Gone, whatever I want in a fish tank, but when I rinse it, I turn the tank on its side at the edge of the sink and use a sprayer to spray the water out. This way the water flows directly out and the phosphates don’t get to go back in there and mix around again. Rinse, rinse, rinse. Hope this helps!
You shouldn't have to do that much work on a tank that cost that much $$$, that price is crazytown! I'm glad Sunstreaker is OK.
To each his or her own, but in my opinion the biggest mistake you made was to remove the back and not use much of what you paid good money for. I have the same aquarium (also in black), and I have found the filter and water flow system to be very effective. I added a heater in the right side of the rear compartment. You are right that the compartment reduces the effective swimming space from 15 to 12 gallons, But adding a sponge filter and heater would also reduce the effective swimming space; maybe almost as much. I can see your point about the pattern at the top of the glass, and this you removed easily by mechanical means. In terms of fish to stuck, I have cardinal tetras (4) in mine along with Endler livebearers (2) and a betta. They all get along fine and are great contrast in with live plants. I also have one mystery and one nerite snail. Previously I also had 4 otocinclus and they were doing fine, until they weren’t and died off. I may have had two many scavengers in the aquarium.
I personally love the Fluval Aquarium 'kits'...I put a 15 gallon Flex in my girlfriend's classroom, I have a 2.6 gallon Spec in my house and am looking to get their new 'Betta' Aquarium...when you live far away from any decent fish store these are really helpful.
Haha I think I just don't like kits in general, but very useful if you don't want to customize it and I love the aesthetics of Fluval's tanks.
@@GirlTalksFish agreed...and I totally understand where you are coming from...kits definitely have their limitations and they are a bit overpriced.
Colorful and kid friendly ... I believe that is part of the Websters definition of guppies Not only will she have an easy and beautiful selection of fish, but she can get the thrill of a first breeding experience with 0 effort. As always, I enjoyed your video. Thanks!
OMG, I can't stand when people treat Dawn like it's some kind of magic. You know what Dawn has over the vast majority of other dish soap? It's a very short list, so I'll tell you. 1. An incredible marketing department. 2. Extra surfactants which don't make the product work better, but trick people into thinking it does. Those extra surfactants also make it significantly harder to rinse off than other dish soaps while not working the slightest bit better. That's it. That's the whole list. It's just dish soap, everybody can calm tf down about it any time.
Great video! Thanks for sharing your mistakes and the lessons you learned. Thoroughly washing the tank was great of you to point out! I have one tip with razors on glass, you always want it to be wet. Razors on dry glass is a big no-no and asking for scratches or other friction problems. The silicon and dots may have come off easy with just the addition of water. If that doesn't work try applying oil or dawn mixed with water then using the 2" razor blade.
I have a 9 gallon flex with 3 pea puffers and I love it. No mods. Had it for 3 years.
THANK YOU for this AMAZING video. It’s reassuring to hear from others who have made mistakes and feel terrible about them. Thank you for your honesty. 😊 not many are willing to talk about mistakes but sometimes that’s the best way to learn!!!!!!!!!
U honestly should have just left the filter alone. That tank has excellent filtration
I would never allow you to touch any of my fish tanks, and you consider yourself an experienced aquarist?
If I use dish soap on something, I rinse/scrub it next with regular white vinegar, then rinse/scrub with conditioned water, and dry if needed with a paper towel. You may also have used Barkeeper’s Friend to scrub off the residue, then the dish soap, vinegar, conditioned water steps. BKF is a wonderful product if you’ve never used it.
Awesome tank with awesome adjustments! I enjoy watching your videos because they always teach me so much and are very entertaining! Keep up the great work!😄😄
I did the same to my flex 57 (black). You just need a box cutter blade and a tool that you can put it in to act like a scraper. No chemicals needed to completely remove it
Sounds like it was a success, Irene. You solved the problem. Could it have been avoided, possibly. But give yourself credit to jumping to action.
I don’t get why people butcher the Fluval Flex 9 & 15 gal tanks because they have the pre built ins for the filters/heaters and media sponge and then complain about the compartment in the tank. They are built this way for a reason. If you don’t like it buy a basic 10 gal or 20 gal square tank if you want more room. Makes no sense.
Very nice adjustments and I've learned a few new things after watching this video.
I deeply appreciate this video! I'm in the early planning stages of an aquarium for a betta and was considering removing that back panel as well. This gave me lots to consider, thank you!
You got to be kidding…In Denver you can easily get a frameless cube tank at 15 gallon for under 200.00..why in the world would you destroy a Fluval and go thru so much trouble
Awesome video, wish I saw it before setting up my Fluval 9 gallon, didn't think to remove the back part to give more space for the fish, now I know, thank you!
Well just for the record "Dawn" is used by gardeners to get rid of snails and other pests in the garden. I'm not so sure because they use it to clean crude oil off birds and seals that makes it safe for fish. I can absolutely understand using the GooGone but not so much the best choice. I would have tried, like Hubby, using naphtha [lighter fluid], acetone [finger nail polish remover], after warming the sticker with a hair dryer or vegetable oil along with a razor, non scratch pad, and believe it or not one of those stainless steel curly Q scrubbers , with a gentle touch, will not scratch glass.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” ~ Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Meaning you have to have an understanding of materials your working with or against.
So glad sunstreaker is okay! Is he named after the transformer? Cus if he is that is SO cool!!
Great video on what not to do when setting up a aquarium… alot easier and so much less hassle to just get the correct equipment in the first place
Thanks for sharing this video. It’s important to get this info out there.
I love my Fluval Flex 9 gallon, but yes I did upgrade it. Double sponge filtration 4 times the amount of ceramic bio media and double the light. I dislike seeing the filter, heater, etc. so the overflow is no issue for me.
@Girl Talks Fish You should try reducing the airflow on that treasure chest. It is supposed to close fully and stay closed until it fills with enough air bubbles to open and than re-close for 5-10 seconds
Thanks, I'll go find an air valve then! I got it to work after I tilted the chest forward but reducing the air flow will probably make it look even better.
You probably could have just used caulk remover to clean it off. Just remember to keep it away from your husband.
I have a 5 gallon Biorb or something like that, I have it in my kitchen. It's a fishbowl made of acrylic. It has an integrated sponge-filter with bio stones that it's easy to tweak and quick to change for cleaning, if you have more than one. I like the pretty lights it comes with, I just try not to get them wet.
My betta Raspberry lives quite happily there.
The filter got weaker and weaker overtime. I had to buy a new one. I’ve been wanting to remove the compartments but didn’t want to damage it. Luckily, I came across your video. Thank you for so much.
Wow, I am halfway through your video and when you said go gone my mouth hit the floor. I was like “OH NO”. I have to keep watching to see how this ends 😮😮😮😮.
Whew, glad there was a happy ending 😇.
I'd suggest going to local shops for these before big-box shops and comparing prices to anybody in the hobby. Got a Fluval flex back somewhere in 2020 from my local shop for $120. Not on sale either. It's now $130 due to inflation, while the Petco/PetSmart tanks are still $190 (up from $160).
I must have really lucked out. I got my Fluval Flex 15 for $CAN 120, at PetSmart. They had a 40% off sale! I ‘ve never seen it that cheap anywhere.
I'm happy for that in the end it all worked out 😃
I think you're awesome and love your videos. Very easy and simple to understand. If I need to research something in the aquarium hobby, you have always been one of my go-to sources to check out. All that said, I was in complete shock when you said you only rinsed the tank out once! Totally blew my mind! I've had 20 gallon hospital tanks or extra plants, rocks, etc., that I store in my closet that will occasionally bring out to use as needed. Even then, I put the tank in my bath tub and run hot water on it for a good 30 minutes and scrub it down! The same if I reuse rocks, wood or plant decorations. I think if you had thoroughly rinsed the tank several times and let warm water run into it for an extended period of time, you would have been fine. Lesson learned I guess! You ended up having to do so much more work just trying to save some time.
I love fluval flex and I've had a lot of fun finding all kinds of mods people come up with.
I think for a beginner it helped me learn a lot! And as I learn more I keep modding it
Awesome build!
What brand do you recommend for a 5 gallon tank for a Betta fish??
Thanks for sharing this, Irene. I learned something about DIY on aquarium kit especially on getting rid of that filter kit divider silicon!
Oh WoW, you went through a lot to get your square tank looking to the way you wanted. You're such a wonderful mom, to do all that for your kids! I checked prices around the fish stores & found one fish store had fairly cheap square tanks, but I had to order it, since I wanted two square tanks. They came in 1½ wks, only had to rinse & then set it up.
I'd have your kids choose from your list of fish that'll be acceptable for that tank size. It'll be their tank & the fish that they'll see everyday. 🧒🏻👧🏻🐠
I have two of these 15 gallon tanks with different families of tetras in them and I like them very much. I’d love to set up saltwater tank. I agree with you about the kits tho. I would like to start over.
New tank looks great!
Can't wait to see how this goes
Sunstreaker definetly deserves a Onip or some treat. good job on the purigen and carbon! Viva gamer girl and Gamer wife
Good lessons on what not to do or how to get lucky!
Hi Irene! In the Philippines, I could get aquariums custom-made at window makers, since they have glass and silicone and tools like glass cutters, so lot of them also make aquariums. I guess it's because aquariums like Aqueon and Fluval are sooo expensive in our currency. Even the Chinese brands are pricier compared to those made at the window/glass shops, where I can get a standard 20 gallon (with rim) for less than $10. Being in a developing country has resulted in a strong DIY culture among many aquarists.
I think as long as you have the correct thickness of glass and make sure that the silicone used is aquarium-safe, then it will be fine.
lol I love the drama of it all, glad the snail is okay! omg, I remember when you had 1200 subs... look at you now! wow!
Good to know, thanks for sharing!
Anything is great when getting kids involved. Have a species only skirted tetra tank (50 gallon) which includes skirted glo tetras because my daughter loved the colors. They actually fit right in. I like them tbh.
Have a 16 gallon fluval vista tank kit. Not nearly as popular as the fluval flex but anyone looking for a kit. It’s a great size for nano fish and or a betta. The light grows low to medium light plants wonderfully (only issue is no built in timer). Has everything needed to get started. Aquaclear hob filter. You won’t regret it.
Nice setup! I picked up a Flex for my nephews first tank. It's a really nice kit as is. Sometimes us adults like to overdo projects when it comes to our kids especially if it's a hobby we also partake in. I've found keeping it simple and easy while focusing on the experience is far more enjoyable! 😊
So I actually like to recommend the starter kits (in the saltwater side of things more often) for beginners just because it takes a lot of the guessing work out and you can still make those upgrades as you decide you want to invest more into it. (Mainly the lights as the stocks are typically trash but can grow some beginner corals to get you started.) my first little reef tank was the biocube 32 and I still have it running to this day! My only complaint is again that stock lighting.
I enjoyed watching this because its super relatable. I was ofc cringing the whole time just knowing the potential for toxins being left in there and killing a bunch of fish, but im also the type of person to try and diy and then do research when im a little too far to backtrack and just have to see if i can fix what ive already done XD
Do you have or know of where I could find videos on cleaning planted tanks. How do you vacume a tank with botanicals(dark water).
I'm a retired chemist. We rinse our glassware and other items that we use three times to make sure they are clean. If I was rinsing something for my animals, I would rinse 10 or 12 times. I once had some beautiful gravel that came from salt water, and I bet I rinsed and dried it two dozen times. Tied up half the patio for weeks. Read your SDS for everything that you put in your fish tank. Goo Gone has theirs on-line. After reading it, I wouldn't use it near, much less in, a fish tank. Glad things seem to be OK. Take care.
I was going to speculate -- and maybe as a chemist you can say if I'm way off base or not -- that I suspect Dawn dish soap is probably not appreciably better or worse for safely de-oiling sea life than its competitors, which have nearly identical ingredients. (Possibly Dawn donates soap to environmental groups, which would, understandably, make them those groups' top choice? I don't know that they do or don't, but given the huge publicity Dawn gets from "the choice for saving sea life!" I wouldn't be surprised.) But furthermore, I've noticed that it always seems to be animals with fur or feathers that are being cleansed with Dawn -- not animals that rely on water for respiration, and it seems to me the later would be much, much more sensitive to detergent residue.
@@amrys_argent I did a quick scan of the ingredient list and it doesn't seem to have anything too much different than any other soap. There has to be a bunch of more friendly soaps with a shorter ingredient list, though. The key to using any of these products is rinse, rinse, rinse, and then rinse some more. Especially the soap, as it is a surface-active agent with all types of both good and bad effects.
Did you put the lid back or did you upgrade the light?
Doh! Petco has a 14 gallon cube on sale for $50 I was just looking at it. its the Aqueon farmeless.
I came for the planted tank in the thumbnail. Went back extremely disappointed.
😐
Hi Irene, oh so glad you figured out a solution in time to save your snail. But you could have bought a nice rimless frameless cube from Aqua Rocks located in Commerce City as well as Aquatic Dog in Eastern Denver. As for friendly fish, mollies and platys are good.
Wow! Quite the ordeal. Make sure you show this to gamer girl when she gets older so she knows how much her parents love her (not that she doesn't already, I am sure). Kudos to mom for making it happen. Blessings, Joe.
I have this same tank and I messed it up by creating some scratches. Is there any way to fix this?
Is the light strong enough for plants?
The adventures of aquarium keeping 😅
There is one rule I follow whenever I get an aquarium kit. Its plain and simple….dont touch anything! It could cause irreparable damage and could harm any inhabitants that may be placed there if its not already broken. Its like tempting fate since its already prepared for you and by altering it, the results are like playing cards. You either win or lose.
Love your videos keep posting
I love the thumbnail by the way, very funny 😂
Another possible way to deal with the silicone residue if you ever had to again for any reason could be to put one of those printed aquarium backgrounds on the back wall of the tank or paint the outside back wall black.
I've been battling not getting the aqueon 14 gallon cube it's 50 when the dollar per gallon at petco might want to look into that.
Also bar keepers friend is great for cleaning tanks
I don't know if your petco does this, but mine does a half off aqueon tanks, even the cubes. If you get the "non-kit" empty cubes, they're still expensive, but less so? I got two 6gals for $45 each, but the 14gal was only about $10 more. Too late for this project, but maybe something to keep in mind?
I'm going on vacation for 2 month and I need to somehow take care of my planted fish tank. My tank is a medium planted tank with 3 peacock gudgeon, 6 otos, 6 Pygmy Cory, 6 neon tetra, a Betta, a vampire shrimp and a stiphodon goby. I'm planning to get 2 auto feeder with one for the slow sinking pellet and powder food and the other one for the wafer (do u think the aquarium co op auto feeders have a once per week option) and do u think I should fert the plants extra when I leave.
Thank u so much
Watching you break a perfectly good built in filter system, i almost cried
Actually, your first mistake was in taking over the project from your daughter. It was her aquarium. You should have let her set it up and only offered help when asked. 👵
I really like how you modded that flex, I never cared for that honeycomb stuff looks
I recently bought this for my first tank. Actually I do really like it, but I have moved on to help my friend set up a more traditional tank assembling all the components ourselves. Two big sponge filters, etc :).