Fish tanks are like a good wine or whiskey. They take time to ferment to develop their "flavor " profile. Give the tank the time it needs. The rewards are worth it.
Yes. It took my 90g tank about 7 months to stabilize. I still keep an eye on the nitrates but the plants help a lot. It took me awhile to find the light balance as well.
This is a good video for all the newbies that got their very first fish aquarium over the holidays. Also a great reminder when something goes awry. We just need to step back, think and research. Thanks John!
I've gone from 2 plecos and a powerhead to having african ciclids with a canister,new heater,heater controller,backup air stone on batteries in about 2 months.i just got sick of looking at my old neglected tank.now it's looking amazing.love your videos,well wishes from Australia guys.
i wanted to go from 20 to 29 gallons. i found a 29 gallon tank on facebook for $15. i dont know their story, but it seemed to be new. i started getting brown algae, so i watched videos for fixes. i scraped a bunch of algae off into the water so it could be eaten, i put my light on a timer for 8 hours, i added 3 oto cats. it only took about 2 weeks to go from gross to looking lived in, but i found my sweet spot.
I had to give away my stuff to move to the city for work (most downtown apartments don't allow fishtanks), i'll come back to it someday though I really miss it
I started in the hobby when I was around thirteen or so with a three-gallon fishbowl and a handful of Mollies my aunt gave me when she moved. That was thirty-four years ago, and I can't tell how many mistakes I've made, but without mistakes you won't have reward. Now I'm forty-seven and took over our dining room for all my tanks which I refer to as (the gallery), it's a fun hobby when it good, but when it's bad it's usually really bad. Anyone new to the hobby should watch John, Joey, Corey, Ben, Zenzo, Jason and anyone else I missed if they want to have a successful tank in the long run.
I have plenty of equipment I've bought in the past on marketplace i keep in my basement. Heaters, air pumps and hob filters,, brand new airline tubing, unused sponge filters in the box, aquariums , led lighting that I've bought for near nothing. I do check the heaters when I get home to make sure they work and not putting electrical current in the water. If me or friends break down I've got what we need until we can pick up better quality equipment.
For newer aquarists, the best way to think of a fish tank is like it's Warhammer 40k. You can't just jump in with a pack of random troops, especially when you don't even know the rules. You absolutely NEED to read the gamebook first, and it doesn't hurt to learn the lore too. Luckily, youtube is a digital gamebook for our "Fishtank 40L"😅...
A good rule I keep to with filter cleaning after 20+ years keeping fish is to only clean it once the flow rate drops, or after 9-12 months if it doesn't really lose any flow. Good circulation in the tank is also an important aspect too for a healthy low maintenance set-up.
I started with a 20 gallon a year ago. I've now got a 100 gallon for discus, angel and loaches in the new year. I'd like to show it to you if possible.
This is great, and really speaks to me as I am fighting cloudy water right now. 20 years ago I would have been much more impatient, but now that I'm older, I know to just give it time and let it do it's thing...make improvements, but stay patient. Thanks for your videos, they're always a big help.
a number of years back i was keeping my tank to clean and it was getting cloudy and i couldn't see my fish so i cleaned more everyday, fortunately my boyfriend had an ex girlfriend whose mother had bred fish all her life and she worked at the Petco by where we lived and i told her what was happening she explained what was happening and told me not to clean it till it cleared up, it took almost 2 months but when it started to clear up by the 3rd day it was crystal clear, i know she won't see this but shout out to Amy wherever you are, you were a lifesaver on many occasions .
I have 4 planted tanks and I learned after having many issues with algae especially bba that 6 hours of light is the sweet spot for me too. Especially if you are low tech no co2 you don't need anymore.
I've been keeping aquariums for just over 5 years now and My oldest aquarium was recently devastated by a power outage. I had to start from scratch and relearn everything because that aquarium was very low maintenance. I let it go wild, gave the plants free rein and it quickly turned into a jungle. I'm hoping I can get it back to that point one day 🥹
This video is perfect! Definitely can relate to almost quitting in the beginning, but thanks to you, the Cichlid Bros and a few others providing content like this, we were able to stick with it!
Funny enough, I tried to sell my fish tank because i was so stressed with my fancy goldfish getting sick all the time. I got low balled so hard that i said F it and kept going at it. I've never regretted it since.
I always enjoy watching your RUclips videos john you and Lisa are great people and have some great tanks. Both of you are also funny in your videos but you have alot of knowledge and if anyone ever asked me about getting into the hobby i would refer them to your channel. I mean i would help him out as best as i can but your the one that helped me out in the beginning of setting my tanks up and onow they are thriving i have kribensis spawning electric blue acrua spawning even my male betta is showing signs of wanting to breed with all the bubbles on top of the water. Unfortunately i dont have a female betta but thats coming very soon. Oh last but not least white cloud minnows i wanna start try to breed i have about 15 or more but tgats a work in progress. Anyway i enjoyed your sunday RUclips video looking forward to next weeks already have a great day and happy New Year, John and Lisa
I keep african cichlids. I've never used a light in my aqaurium because I got 2 windows in my room and the sun will shine through those windows into both of my tanks. I keep Java fern in these tanks and the ferns are doing fantastic and so are my fish. Havnt had an issue with algea in my tank. I like the algea on my rocks it gives that natural look. No lights for me it causes more issues for me than not.
Excellent video post holiday. I have had aquariums off and on for over 60 years and have experienced most of the nightmares associated with them at least once. The key is to learn from the mistake. That and please do your research before jumping in. Always remember these are living organisms. No different from a dog, cat or other type of pet. Respect their lives as you respect your own.
I have to attest to keeping my aquarium too clean. I lost 25 African cichlids because I decided to do a thorough cleaning of my 180 tank and adding a new filter.
My stepsons' grandmother had a 8 inch goldfish in a 29 gallon, 1× a month she would break it completely down, wash the inside, gravel, filter and decor with dawn dish soap. She even had an undergravel filter but she had no clue it's function....
Noooo John don’t persuade them, I’m the one that buys their supplies off of them. I’m enjoying my stock pile of used tanks, filters, heaters, and pumps. This was my shopping addiction. 😅
I have a question! I want to start a nitrogen cycle on my tank, can I use the dirty water from my turtle tank? Why, why not? Thank you! I'm a new sub ❤
I battled BBA it was a real pain in the @$$. But with Hydrogen Peroxide (and Patience) I was able to get it under control. If you want to enjoy this hobby you have to be willing to put in the time. Great video sir
It depends. Do you want plants? The lighting will matter. No plants? Then it's somewhat easier BUT too bright will bring out algae quickly. Believe it or not, algae can be a good thing as this helps build the eco system. If you can stand to put up with some algae this isn't necessarily bad. Just clean the front glass so you can see your fish! Hygger (spell?) Makes various LED lights, for planted tanks or not. The better ones can be adjusted for light intensity and can "remember" the last setting used when you turn it off and on again. Don't use full intensity, either. Bad for algae and a lot of fish won't like it. Limit the lights to 6-8 hours on. Anymore than that algae will take over real fast. Hope this helps you.
Keeping opae ula shrimp, I will take your algae. All of it. Got a baller tank from a fb quitter, cant complain too much. Not taking the bridge to fish because feeling not ready, informed. Doesn't need another pet suffering due a rookie owner. Will be sucking up the information I get till I'm ready to do the leap.
My 20 gallon with Platys and Corys died only one Cory survived and all the 4 kuhli loaches and I almost quit ngl but I put the living fish in my 55 gallon
If you are ever facing burnout in the hobby, go back to what got you interested in it when you were a kid (or adult). And also always, always, always do your research on anything you get into or purchase.
I personally think that algae is not that bad, I mean some algae here and there where you can't even see it properly is actually not that problematic. In fact for some reason it helps plants in a symbiotic way, contributes to the eco system and even looks a bit natural. Sure, too much is bad and looks awful but you need to work with that, just remove that where it is starting to become a disaster.
Right now I have both a somehwhat funny problem and a more serious problem. Problem 1 I have had 3 drops of fry from my 2 trios of guppies. I sexed them all the other day... all females. Then the more serious problem is i have a blue rili shrimp with ellobiopsidae.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I restore and resell FB Market tanks. Really great part of the hobby for a disabled vet.
Fish tanks are like a good wine or whiskey. They take time to ferment to develop their "flavor " profile. Give the tank the time it needs. The rewards are worth it.
Yes. It took my 90g tank about 7 months to stabilize. I still keep an eye on the nitrates but the plants help a lot. It took me awhile to find the light balance as well.
This is a good video for all the newbies that got their very first fish aquarium over the holidays. Also a great reminder when something goes awry. We just need to step back, think and research. Thanks John!
The church of glass boxes of water, preach it brother! lol
My tanks are fine thanks to John and Lisa, helping me get back in to the hobby a couple years ago 👍🐠🤓
I've gone from 2 plecos and a powerhead to having african ciclids with a canister,new heater,heater controller,backup air stone on batteries in about 2 months.i just got sick of looking at my old neglected tank.now it's looking amazing.love your videos,well wishes from Australia guys.
i wanted to go from 20 to 29 gallons. i found a 29 gallon tank on facebook for $15. i dont know their story, but it seemed to be new. i started getting brown algae, so i watched videos for fixes. i scraped a bunch of algae off into the water so it could be eaten, i put my light on a timer for 8 hours, i added 3 oto cats. it only took about 2 weeks to go from gross to looking lived in, but i found my sweet spot.
I had to give away my stuff to move to the city for work (most downtown apartments don't allow fishtanks), i'll come back to it someday though I really miss it
I started in the hobby when I was around thirteen or so with a three-gallon fishbowl and a handful of Mollies my aunt gave me when she moved. That was thirty-four years ago, and I can't tell how many mistakes I've made, but without mistakes you won't have reward.
Now I'm forty-seven and took over our dining room for all my tanks which I refer to as (the gallery), it's a fun hobby when it good, but when it's bad it's usually really bad.
Anyone new to the hobby should watch John, Joey, Corey, Ben, Zenzo, Jason and anyone else I missed if they want to have a successful tank in the long run.
I have plenty of equipment I've bought in the past on marketplace i keep in my basement. Heaters, air pumps and hob filters,, brand new airline tubing, unused sponge filters in the box, aquariums , led lighting that I've bought for near nothing. I do check the heaters when I get home to make sure they work and not putting electrical current in the water. If me or friends break down I've got what we need until we can pick up better quality equipment.
I've kept fish since I was 10 (1977) worked in thevindustry both retail and wholesale and even I don't know everything, just more than most.
For newer aquarists, the best way to think of a fish tank is like it's Warhammer 40k. You can't just jump in with a pack of random troops, especially when you don't even know the rules. You absolutely NEED to read the gamebook first, and it doesn't hurt to learn the lore too. Luckily, youtube is a digital gamebook for our "Fishtank 40L"😅...
10:10 Well said. thank you for saying that. They are removing the beneficial bacteria. Love you guys. Peace from the UK.
A good rule I keep to with filter cleaning after 20+ years keeping fish is to only clean it once the flow rate drops, or after 9-12 months if it doesn't really lose any flow.
Good circulation in the tank is also an important aspect too for a healthy low maintenance set-up.
I started with a 20 gallon a year ago. I've now got a 100 gallon for discus, angel and loaches in the new year. I'd like to show it to you if possible.
Thank you.
I love the smell of abseasoned aquarium. Just atarted a 20gal long. Smells like fresh lake water at 2 weeks ❤
This is great, and really speaks to me as I am fighting cloudy water right now. 20 years ago I would have been much more impatient, but now that I'm older, I know to just give it time and let it do it's thing...make improvements, but stay patient. Thanks for your videos, they're always a big help.
a number of years back i was keeping my tank to clean and it was getting cloudy and i couldn't see my fish so i cleaned more everyday, fortunately my boyfriend had an ex girlfriend whose mother had bred fish all her life and she worked at the Petco by where we lived and i told her what was happening she explained what was happening and told me not to clean it till it cleared up, it took almost 2 months but when it started to clear up by the 3rd day it was crystal clear, i know she won't see this but shout out to Amy wherever you are, you were a lifesaver on many occasions .
Excellent video!!
Greetings from Perú!!🇵🇪😊
Shsss... I keep picking up used acrylic aquariums and filters for a few dollars. Let me keep it going.
I find some of my spare equipment at resale shops. It's incredible what people get rid of.
I think back when we had a pool helped with my new fish hobby. Checking pool chemicals , vacuuming the pool, keeping the water warmer lol 😊
I will never quit. Love my fish
Nice package of information! It explains my life well and now I have the words and knowledge to explain it and make it better 🙂
I love your videos I’m new to fish keeping and I find half the fun learning
I’ve had some stress and aggravation here and there, but I now enjoy my 29 gallon as a science experiment and opportunity to learn new stuff.
This has been the best info/motivational clip that I have ever come across. Thank you.
I have 4 planted tanks and I learned after having many issues with algae especially bba that 6 hours of light is the sweet spot for me too. Especially if you are low tech no co2 you don't need anymore.
I've been keeping aquariums for just over 5 years now and My oldest aquarium was recently devastated by a power outage. I had to start from scratch and relearn everything because that aquarium was very low maintenance. I let it go wild, gave the plants free rein and it quickly turned into a jungle. I'm hoping I can get it back to that point one day 🥹
This video is perfect! Definitely can relate to almost quitting in the beginning, but thanks to you, the Cichlid Bros and a few others providing content like this, we were able to stick with it!
I guess I had some luck but never had cloudy or alge issues in my 3 aquariums
Funny enough, I tried to sell my fish tank because i was so stressed with my fancy goldfish getting sick all the time. I got low balled so hard that i said F it and kept going at it. I've never regretted it since.
So what I'm hearing is do more low balling on FB, to hopefully incurage the person to stay in the hobby 😂
I always enjoy watching your RUclips videos john you and Lisa are great people and have some great tanks. Both of you are also funny in your videos but you have alot of knowledge and if anyone ever asked me about getting into the hobby i would refer them to your channel. I mean i would help him out as best as i can but your the one that helped me out in the beginning of setting my tanks up and onow they are thriving i have kribensis spawning electric blue acrua spawning even my male betta is showing signs of wanting to breed with all the bubbles on top of the water. Unfortunately i dont have a female betta but thats coming very soon. Oh last but not least white cloud minnows i wanna start try to breed i have about 15 or more but tgats a work in progress. Anyway i enjoyed your sunday RUclips video looking forward to next weeks already have a great day and happy New Year, John and Lisa
I keep african cichlids. I've never used a light in my aqaurium because I got 2 windows in my room and the sun will shine through those windows into both of my tanks. I keep Java fern in these tanks and the ferns are doing fantastic and so are my fish. Havnt had an issue with algea in my tank. I like the algea on my rocks it gives that natural look. No lights for me it causes more issues for me than not.
The joys of fishkeeping.
Excellent video post holiday. I have had aquariums off and on for over 60 years and have experienced most of the nightmares associated with them at least once. The key is to learn from the mistake. That and please do your research before jumping in. Always remember these are living organisms. No different from a dog, cat or other type of pet. Respect their lives as you respect your own.
Something totally off topic. I am really excited to set up the new Shark Pro filter I just ordered from you. I have a tank just waiting for it.
0:56 hey that’s me right now! Not looking forward to things getting algae-fied once I get my first tank. Glad I saw this video in my subs/notis.
I have to attest to keeping my aquarium too clean. I lost 25 African cichlids because I decided to do a thorough cleaning of my 180 tank and adding a new filter.
Thanks for the video. I totally enjoy watching your beautiful oscars. I had one tiger oscar about forty years ago.
I got a bunch of guppies for my 12 th birthday thats how my aquarium obsession started
I love my old/new life style!!
Momma didn't raise no quitter!
I could never get rid of my buddies love my fish pets I do know people just get frustrated with the hobby but I love it just relaxes me for sure.
When I look at FB marketplace, I see tanks for more then I can buy them new on sale, few deals to be had for a tank that may need resealing.
My stepsons' grandmother had a 8 inch goldfish in a 29 gallon, 1× a month she would break it completely down, wash the inside, gravel, filter and decor with dawn dish soap. She even had an undergravel filter but she had no clue it's function....
PERFECT TIMING 💪👍
I had a streak of bad luck with tanks.
So the last one was neglected when algae came knocking.
But the reset is on its way
This is so true!!
Noooo John don’t persuade them, I’m the one that buys their supplies off of them. I’m enjoying my stock pile of used tanks, filters, heaters, and pumps. This was my shopping addiction. 😅
I was watching this with my guppies 🐠🐠
Cleaning sand of diatoms can work temporarily but mother nature keeps algae at bay a lot better than a monkey with a vacuum
I have a question! I want to start a nitrogen cycle on my tank, can I use the dirty water from my turtle tank? Why, why not? Thank you! I'm a new sub ❤
I had to learn how to put the tank in the right direction for success an be patient lol
Looks like that bichir wants out of that aquarium, he looks ready to launch like a rocket!
Great video John
I changed my water in the 55gal today
Don't clean the filters. Just take the sponge and matrix . In aquarium water.
Nice video Thank You
I battled BBA it was a real pain in the @$$. But with Hydrogen Peroxide (and Patience) I was able to get it under control. If you want to enjoy this hobby you have to be willing to put in the time. Great video sir
So, I am kinda new to keeping fish. Finally got my water with in parameters. I am curious about lighting. Does color of light matter?
It depends. Do you want plants? The lighting will matter. No plants? Then it's somewhat easier BUT too bright will bring out algae quickly. Believe it or not, algae can be a good thing as this helps build the eco system. If you can stand to put up with some algae this isn't necessarily bad. Just clean the front glass so you can see your fish! Hygger (spell?) Makes various LED lights, for planted tanks or not. The better ones can be adjusted for light intensity and can "remember" the last setting used when you turn it off and on again. Don't use full intensity, either. Bad for algae and a lot of fish won't like it.
Limit the lights to 6-8 hours on. Anymore than that algae will take over real fast.
Hope this helps you.
You have a bathroom scheldule like Sheldon. Lol
💜💜💜💜
Keeping opae ula shrimp, I will take your algae. All of it. Got a baller tank from a fb quitter, cant complain too much. Not taking the bridge to fish because feeling not ready, informed. Doesn't need another pet suffering due a rookie owner. Will be sucking up the information I get till I'm ready to do the leap.
I wanted to find a three spot tri. Where can I find one?
My 20 gallon with Platys and Corys died only one Cory survived and all the 4 kuhli loaches and I almost quit ngl but I put the living fish in my 55 gallon
Nurture with patience
I have 1000 gallon tank and I just wanted to ask you a question.
True!
My biggest issue is me, I over feed too much.
If you are ever facing burnout in the hobby, go back to what got you interested in it when you were a kid (or adult). And also always, always, always do your research on anything you get into or purchase.
Just buy a 125 for $100 last week white the stand
I’m a hoarder over aquarium equipment lol
Doesnt hurt to keep a spare heater. These things break soon as you turn around I swear
I personally think that algae is not that bad, I mean some algae here and there where you can't even see it properly is actually not that problematic. In fact for some reason it helps plants in a symbiotic way, contributes to the eco system and even looks a bit natural. Sure, too much is bad and looks awful but you need to work with that, just remove that where it is starting to become a disaster.
Once a day. I am trting to find a baby female Trimac, still looking.
£30, degrees and the rest is cool.
Man that thumbnail is crazy
Bought my MARkETPlace 120 because a guys wife made him sell it make room for a tv 😂
I keep finding free tanks….
But, does it get BETTER, John. Quit skirting around the edges and tell us plain.
Btw, the video you pointed to didn’t seem to pin
can we get a title that explains the video... like what titles are for
True peace really only comes from Jesus Christ, yall...fish are lovely too but, peace...that's Jesus
This video is a little fishy
Right now I have both a somehwhat funny problem and a more serious problem. Problem 1 I have had 3 drops of fry from my 2 trios of guppies. I sexed them all the other day... all females. Then the more serious problem is i have a blue rili shrimp with ellobiopsidae.
I lost one of my oscars. Intestinal came out and he was bleeding
Sorry for your loss
EARLY 🎉
3rd