8 Aquarium Products I WASTED My Money On!
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- Bug Buffet & Green Cuisine Available Here - purefin.shop/ In this video, I discuss 8 products that I wasted my money on in the aquarium hobby!
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:38 Filters
2:00 Beginner Tank Packages
3:43 Decorations
5:12 Bottled Bacteria
6:38 Aquarium Salt
7:19 Lighting
8:32 Aquarium Chemicals
9:23 Fish Food
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When I worked in the pet store years ago, I would tell the customer what they needed to know and didn't recommend a lot of this stuff. I think in the long run, we had a bigger and better customer base because they trusted us than compared to our competitors. I think you're doing right, Nick.
Thanks Nick love your no nonsense raising,and breeding fish
I once set up a ten gallon tank for the kids next door. After it cycled, I gave their parents a list of acceptable fish for this tank/beginning aquarists (small tetras, guppies, etc.) They came home from the LFS with some veil fin angelfish and bala sharks. In a ten gallon. I called the store and chewed the guy out. I mean, he's basically killing future business by guaranteeing that these kids will fail.
Honest customer service is the best customer service
Jeff , I did the exact same thing , working in my local fish shop and I always had my own lineups waiting for my simple advice
Thats a good employee but sometimes the employees don’t even know anything about the products or how to even help witch that sucks
I'm sure that for you, running a fish room with multiple tanks with the sole intention of breeding fish as a business, air driven sponge filters are great. They are very efficient and particularly cost efficient. The problem is that they are ugly, take up a lot of room in the tank and they are noisy. Yes, they trap waste but the moment you disturb them to clean them they drop half of their detritus back into the water. These things are of no concern in your circumstances.
I run a large canister filter on my display tank and I wouldn't swap it. It's virtually noiseless which is important if it's located in your living room, it removes particulate from the water column so the tank water is clear and it only needs servicing every 2-3 months. I just turn it off and disconnect the pipes; nothing trapped in the filter goes back into the water column. The only things in the tank are the inlet and outlet pipes, they are black and almost invisible.
Same here, but we have glass pipes, they are really necessary if you have see trough tank for both sides xD
The only downside i've seen is that "stupid" but beautiful snails get sucked out of their housing and die if they cover the inlet..
Just means you don't know how to set up a sponge filter. Don't feel bad most hobbyists don't. Build a light diffuser cage, three sides front left right silicone it to the bottom use decor to hide the cage. put the sponge filter in the cage at the top of the outlet for the sponge filter add a 45 degree, or ninety degree PVC plumbing attachment with its top just above the surface of the tank. this allows the air in the column to separate from the water silently and allows you to direct the waterflow where you like. to clean the sponge filter and not drop waste everywhere just place a Ziplock bag in the cage feed it under the filter until the filter is inside the bag then lift it out, everything stays in the bag. Most hobbyists don't do this but it hides the filter, allows fry to hide from adults, cuts filter change time by half, and can be used even in tanks veiwable from all sides if you build a a back wall on the cage.
@@carlosvillanueva8530 Yes, the plastic bag over the sponge filter to avoid a crap cloud works well. Learned it from the Aquarium Co-op channel. There's lots of other useful tips about sponge filters on there.
I agree, most youtubers run fish room/work in fish stores and are numb to the noise, my family members are not lol. Not to mention i rather spend 30 mins every 5-6 months instead of 5-10min every week cleaning. All filters get the job done, its about finding what works for your situation. Also sponge filters and HOB are about the same price for one tank, sponge get cheaper at 2+, forgot about having to buy the air pump, and newbie probably aren't buying bigger then they need to start, if they do its even louder
Yeah I’d pay extra for quite good point
Thank you so much for your honesty. I started watching another RUclipsr because of the beautiful aquascapes he did using low cost items. But now he has sponsors that’s all we hear about. Keep your honesty and integrity it’s what we all love about you and your site.
I've loved your channel from the beginning.Your commitment to remaining a no bs fish keeper is refreshing.That Australian humility and integrity shines through.Cheers from Canada!
Sponge filters are great if you have a glass box with just water and fish in it. If you want a nicer setup with live plants and substrate they probably won't cut it by themselves. They aren't good for mechanical filtration and don't circulate water very well.
I only have a 20 gallon tank and I need all the room I can get. I have a hang on back filter
That isn't really true. A sponge filter setup can work for any tank, if you're willing to look at it. Aesthetics are really the only downside.
I got 2 medium sized spongefilters running on my 29 and it’s enough😊
I am in my eighties and just setting up a community tank after 53 years since I last had aquariums and I am amazed at the amount of 'goodies' we are expected to buy.
I was a member of an aquarium society in Uk in 1959 and had around 15-20 tanks. Like a lot of members I was breeding fish, showing fish and selling them. It was pretty normal to fill a tank with tap water, provide a heater, pump/air stone, and filter and around 2 or 3 days time add fish. Change some of the water every week, replacing it with more tap water. (it is quite likely that the tap water back then was much less 'polluted' with chemicals !) About the only plants available were amazon swords and a floating weed that I can't remember the name of. We had never heard of ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, water chemistry cycling and so on. It all seemed to work well at the time. I am of course using all this stuff now and we will see how it goes.
Progress or just money making?
(Standing by for an ear bashing)
Enjoy your fish! Agreed on commercial market after more money! I use rocks from my property and wood also! Have had a 55 gallon going for 10 years and let the plants, fish and water critters do their natural eco system and have thoroughly enjoyed the natural look of the fish world. Don't overstress it it's loads of fun and very calming! God bless YOU my friend!🕇🙌
Most of it is just money making, fish aren't very profitable to sell so most fish shops rely on selling gear and chemical additives to make a profit
Thanks for the perspective. Pretty cool that those chemicals weren't known in the hobby as recent as 50 years ago. I'd wager the additives in the modern water do play a large role in your ability to make a natural environment back then.
Sponge filters definitely have a place in the hobby and I use them in smaller tanks and love them. But good luck using those on a 6 foot cichlid tank or a salt water tank. What aquarists in general need to do is know your fish and its needs and then plan accordingly. Some fish can get by just fine with Sponge filters and minimal maintenance, where other fish require fast moving water and over filtration because of their requirements. Enjoy the videos. Keep up to good work.
I use a twin line overhead cam sponge filter system in my tidepool/starfish tank and it works great tbh
From a functional perspective, there's nothing a canister can do that multiple sponge filters can't, the main downside is just having to look at them in the tank.
Not your best video
Not a "bummer video" at all. You are helping folks new to the hobby not make the same mistakes that you (and I) made by learning the hard way. Your list is spot on.
Finally!! I've never cycled my tanks with chemicals. You add a few fish and lots of plants, then add a few more fish. It cycles itself 👏👏👏👏👏 Never lost a fish doing it this way.
Patience that's it.
Thanks for this. Of course, it's all depending on what's your goal, priorities, and budget: but definitely agree that lots of things in this hobby can be found cheaper, just not branded as such.
Agree 100% so many worthless products that don’t work, or cause more harm than good! Thanks a lot nick🙂👍🏻💯⭐️
Thats why so many new drop the Hobby
They don't know what to by and whats the best(witch ther is no definitiv) unlike with computers
@@THATfishguywithfish you could be right for some people that start with the hopes in having a good looking aquarium? But I think it is really easy for the kids and beginners to be I'm a store for cat , dog or bird etc. & the light bulb is going off for the next pet to get? Obviously it is not a good idea for the impulsive and or nagging kid who has the best intentions and the Parents will be the ones not breathing through the nose while carrying the $100 10 gallon starter kit that should say on the package THIS AQUARIUM IS REALLY SMALL AND NOT RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS!@!! Of all the best top 10 / 8 things to stop buying IMO , it's the small & medium sizes and 5 gallons or less they might as well get home and just do the right thing ( the humane thing ) put it next to the driveway or close to the street w/ FREE
Used sponge to jump start a cycle. You can also use some plants like horn wort, guppy grass, or water wisteria. The goal is to control the nitrogen compounds.
Hi Nick, I'm setting up my first aquarium in over 25 years and what your saying is absolutely true. A little bit of patience and creativity will reward any hobbyist with a beautiful, thriving, and rewarding aquarium. And, ultimately, for me, less time spent on aquarium maintenance is more time enjoying my aquarium. Thanks for the reminders and good luck in all your endeavors!
Awesome video Nick! As a beginner, I dodged basically all of these, but recently I've decided to take fish keeping and aquariums to the next level and creating more higher tech tanks, but that's after about 4 years of keeping fish (not very long, but for me it is lol), and my latest aquascape was 20l and spent $500 on it. I definitely recommend all these tips for beginners, and if you want, you can spend more as you get more sucked in to the hobby. I also recently bought Quick Start, never believed in it myself, and when I use it and stock fish straight away, I always let the tank run for a week with some cycled media as well. I'm also trying to approach aquascaping in a cheap way, by growing more demanding plants with low budget lighting, fertiliser and keeping fish with just little internal filters. This was a great video, and glad you're letting beginners on the truth! The message was very clear and spot on! Keep it up man! 👍
Don't undersell your "crap" opinion. Your experiences can help people find better success and enjoyment in the hobby. Well-done video.
I agree with you completely. I've bee in the Aquarium business for 30 years now, and let me tell you, 30 years ago we didn't have all the "expensive" tools we have now. From filters, to driftwood, from food to lighting ... everything you just said we did it 30 years ago ... awesome !!! I don't see it as a negative video, but informative one. Good job !!
Well done Nick. Brilliant video. You may not endear yourself to sponsorships,, but will definitely increase your subscribers with your honesty and integrity. Common sense and patience is all that is needed. Newbies should remember when visiting fish stores that profit will always come first.
I have dove down a rabbit hole lately with your videos among the other big names, and you have been my favorite one thus far. Complete honesty and genuine love for the hobby. This video, when you mention chemicals and how you care more about honesty than the sponsorships cemented me as a fan. That level of passion for the hobby and not money grabs is what sells me. Thank you for your genuine personality and love of fish. If I ever visit Australia, your shop is, for sure, a place on my list.
My favorite thing about the api aquarium salt is that it doesn’t effect the ph. I’m assuming the rock salt from the store has metallic impurities which I don’t want to test out on my mystery snails.
I get pickling salt, which is just pure salt. I can add about 2 tbsp per gallon before my regular ramshorns start dying. Not sure about the PH though. If you dont use much, then probably not a big spend.
I appreciate you being honest instead of craving for some sponsorships. And I agree with almost everything you said. -
I personally would use sponge filters only for breeding / grow out / quarantine tanks. I am a filter sump fanboy 🤷🏻♂️
I agree with you, sponge filters for breeding only. I think sponge filters are sorta nasty looking over time
This all needed to be said thanks for your honesty. Water and plants, really all you need for a fully functional aquarium. The rest is on maintenance
I commend your honesty. Thank you for sharing with us your experiences!
Thank you for the video. I love the honesty. It is good to hear successful fish keepers perspective on the hobbies accessories
Thank you for always being honest, straightforward and informative with your videos about such things.. i really appreciate it. I hope your business prospers in no time... Take care..
Definitely agree with you. When i first started, i was one of those who would go for the brands or high priced items, because i thought they had better quality or smth like that. But now I know that a lot of the things you need for aquarium to work and your fish to be happy and healthy don’t cost all that much. Unless you’re into aquascaping and the aesthetics, cheaper and the ‘lowtech’ items are the better route. I had a walstad tank that don’t cost too much and is thriving, and next to it is another tank i set up with high tech gears and isn’t doing very well.
Thank you- you are so right about all of it! Sponge filters are so so easy, plus the don't break and leak on the floor as I have had HOB's and a canister do.
I think SOME beginner packages are worth it.. I got a 55 gallon top fin aquarium with everything, filter, adjustable heater, thermometer, net. And it was only $150
Exactly! That was my point.
I too bought a top fin beginner kit mine is just a 20 gallon though and haven’t had any problems yet as I have only had it for 7wks. Spent a lot of money on useless chemicals though 😩
Every once in a while check that the heater is working correctly.
I love how honest and straightforward you are, thx for all of the great tips and all of the honesty
Stumbled upon your channel and I'm really enjoying your honesty and humbleness, thanks for sharing!
Thank you for gifting us with your experience. I found your channel when I got my first Blue Dreams and I'm just flying through your videos. This old lady appreciates your honesty and I enjoy watching your adventures.
I think what you're putting up here is really good and informational. When I started out years ago, i spent so much on equipment because I was told to do so, I was taught the wrong way of cycling tank. I spent so much on bottled bacteria and filtration. I lost so many of my fishes because the tank just wasn't cycled or ready or the filter was a pain to maintain.
After all this experiences I stick to basics and simple steps and lots of patience and now I have a well established 6ft tank for my Asian Arowana that I've had for 4 years now. It's my base tank for seeding my media for other tanks. You have insipred me to setup a shrimp tank and currently working on seeding for that tank.
Great content you have and its really honest. Great job!
Great video nick, glad you pointed out the many elephants in the room, had to be said by someone. I’m surprised you mentioned to boil the wood and rocks. When i was a kid, I’m over 60 now, that was what i was told to do when setting up first big aquarium: get a big pot and boil the wood and gravel and sand, anything you suspect needs a good disinfecting. The wood stopped leaching in a few days and never again. I still do it, like when i re-use my gravel and rocks from a decommissioned aquarium. I also found cheap filter media from pillow cases and other stuffed toys etc., back then i had to improvise. You made a great point here, you can buy readily available materials or find alternatives with some effort.
You're absolutely right about the sponge filters, and aside from being cheaper, they're also more energy-efficient. I replaced 2 4 watt internal filters with 1 4.5 watt airpump, driving both tanks. So I think the more tanks you have, the better sponge-filters are in that regard.
There are some problems with sponge filters. They take up space and look ugly in the tank. It can be more messy when cleaning them vs a canister you can clean in the bathroom. Canister filters hold much more filter-material, and needs less frequent cleaning. They also make a lot of noise from the bubbling. The noise can be lowered by using a powerhead though.
Basically - There are many good reasons to use external filters, even though sponge filters can work really well if you don't overstock and keep an eye on them.
@@Steves_fish ive only been in the hobby a few months and have 4 tanks already. 2 of them use the filters but ive removed the media and use activated carbon to reduce the smell from the guppies. i have a really strong sense of smell and even though my friends couldnt smell it, i could. so now there packed full of activated carbon and they make the water nice and clean while removing any small odors that may exist. i even put activated carbon in the sponge filter air pump. makes a massive difference while doing both jobs. just a prefrence but the only thing ive had to clean so far is the sponge that was in one of the hang on back filters. and i had to clean it twice. the sponge the fish go up to pick off the food and same for the shrimp. less wasted food, it all collects there and the maintenance has been much simpler imo
@@MalawisLilleKanal Yes, I'd never put a sponge filter in my living room tank out of aesthetic reasons. In my fish room I have all my tanks running on sponge filters. The bigger the tank, the bigger the sponge filter obviously as looks don't matter there.
@@MalawisLilleKanal Must admit I don't have experience with canisters (yet), and I do see the benefit of them, one problem I see with them when it concerns multiple tanks (especially when you're breeding), is that when a disease hits one tank, it hits all of them. You're right that sponge filters can be messy to clean, and so are other internal filters, and that they are somewhat noisy, so when your tank is in the living or bedroom, they aren't exactly attractive... ;)
When it comes to looks, I hide them with plants, but not everyone wants a planted tank ofcourse.
So indeed: there are reasons for both, and it's good that we have options. I'm glad I switched over, and my shrimp also love them, and I guess it also depends on the amount of flow you need.
Definitly not saying other filters are bad, there wouldn't be a market for them otherwise... :)
Nice to see someone a bit more chill about the hobby. I only got into it about a year ago and most of the online stuff (looking at you reddit) is INTENSE. Basically makes you feel like you need a chemistry degree to keep any kind of tank and if you do the slightest thing "wrong" you get crucified lol. Got a new subscriber here just for being chill.
I appreciate your honesty and you are entitled to your opinions 😊 If people don't agree, they can just do what they need for their situation. There are so many options and different ways to make this hobby work for anyone who is a part of it.
Excellent recommendations! You are proving what works. Keep up the good work!! Not negative - truthful!!
After 30 years away from the hobby I've just bought a 42 gallon tank. It had a built in filter which I've removed due to your advice about filters and guppy fry. I'm going with an undergravel and a sponge filter. A 42 gallon tank might seem a little large for guppies but I intend on a few small corys and a bristlenose too!
I was lucky to have mum's koi tank with a canister filter going so I just flogged a piece of foam 😂.A sponge filter for little tanks is fine but as soon as you get to a large aquarium you need to step it up.I love the Led flood lights I run 30w over my tank the water shimmer is awesome.
Disagree. Still don't need a canister filter. you'd be better served running a sump and sump pump and saving the money on the larger tanks and the cleaning hassle of a canister filter for the same if not better result. Sponge filters ain't gonna cut it on a tank above a 55g, totally agree there, but you still don't need those canister filters and their breaking parts and procedures to break down and get working again.
My sump I've never had to shut off for anything, I've replaced the pump once after 10 years, and just remove the floss and replace a few times a year, it's a one minute job.
Otherwise it's just clean out the prefilter sponge (takes longer than the filter floss) .
I'll be honest I ran though HOBS, RO sand bed filters, and canister filters, a sump is by far the cheapest and easiest to maintain.
@@sparkyjones560 You misunderstood I used a piece of foam from a canister filter to seed my tank which has a sump.
I respect your honesty and the fact you won't sponsor a product in an attempt to chase money from big-box fish product manufactures.
Love your videos. I wish I had seen this one last year lol. I have just started switching over to the foam filters. I have 2 ten-gallon tanks and one 55 gallons that I bought as kits because I thought that was the cheapest way. Now I am looking for a 75- or 100-gallon tank. I am trying to talk my husband into putting a tank in the wall between our bedroom and sitting/ entertainment room. We basically turned the basement into an awesome master suite. Right now, I have crayfish in the small tanks but will be adding them into the larger tanks at a later time.
Absolutely agree with you on all of these mate. It’s funny that we have to buy all the crappy ones before we find the gold that is actually good for our tank
its so lovely to see you speaking from the heart. keep up the good work!!!
Awesome video. I really could have used this advice decade’s ago when I was starting in this hobby.
Man I really appreciate your honesty I am a new subscriber and also newish to the hobby. I am 59 yrs old and had a tank as a kid, back then we new nothing of water ammonia and nitrite and such. I bought a tank recently and done a little research on setting up my tank and man! I was quickly confused as to what chemicals to use. Long story short, I found that most was a waste of money. Wished I would have seen this video 8 wks ago 😆 looking forward to more honest and informative videos keep up the good work 😉
Honest and simple video. Well done!!!
You should try to get your hands on a pea puffer fish and breed them I know they are really rare in Australia as I live there and go for about $200 but I would really like a budget breeding video of pea puffers or just a care guide/vlog
Ps if you know where to get a cheaper please let me no
200 for one peapuffer? My local petstore sells them for €5. The bigger species, I have no clue witch one but it was about 10 cm went for €17.
@@woute5490 I know in Australia there really rare cause of the laws there’s only a few breeders
I like your video and it was great that you really keep it simple. No aquarium salt and no additional bacteria. That is actually blew my mind! Have you tried some species like sulawesi shrimps? Even if you haven't. Would you like to share some of your opinion or idea?
My son wanted to get his brother an aquarium for Christmas, and my initial response was that it would be a ton of work and money. I think that's because I didn't know any of this stuff (I knew next to nothing, really). I thought all of this stuff was necessary, or essential even, and I had so little interest in taking on that level of complexity and overhead to keep a bucket of water with some fish from dying. I ended up researching because one, I thought it was a really creative and thoughtful gift. Two, I love to learn things. I don't think it's too negative to put this stuff out here because had I known it, I would have gotten into the hobby sooner-I wish I found content like this earlier on. Really, I thought it was so much more money and time than it is, and the rewards are much greater than expected as well. That information is hard to find if you aren't explicitly looking for it. Generally, the content you find is people trying to convince you that you do need this stuff.
This might sound controversial but in regards to food... I stopped buying it. I went with a Walstad-style aquarium, and it seems to generate a lot of food for the fish. We don't have any big ones (the largest is a 2" cory, I think), and the fish-to-tank ratio is pretty low by most people's standards. It's 10G for 8 chilli rasboras, 6 cherry shrimp, 5 snails, and 3 corys (2 of which are even smaller than 2"). I'll drop in small bugs, occasionally culture some daphnia, scoop mosquito larvae from standing water if I find them, drop in white worms from our worm composter, etc every week or so. The tank absolutely thrives. I've left the house for days at first, then weeks at a time eventually and came home to clear water, happy fish, lush plants, and no troubles at all. As far as clear water goes, I haven't replaced the water at all in months; I only top it up. There's no algae on the glass or anything.
One of the filtering mechanisms we use is terrestrial plants. I keep them in baskets along the back edge of the tank, and the shrimp seem to love the root systems. They comb through them all the time.
Anyway, all of this was basically free. It's beautiful, low maintenance, extremely rewarding, and so cool to learn more about. If you want a very specific kind of aquarium, you might need to pay for specifics. If you're content to let nature do its thing, you can spend very little to establish an incredible tank very quickly.
Thanks for this! There were some things I wasn't aware of yet, and otherwise it's really nice to be reassured by someone who knows better.
You are NOT offering negative input! You're seriously giving information that is legitimate and insightful! KEEP IT COMING!
Grate video can’t wait to see the progress on the fish store / breeding room
Useful, honest and forthright information Matey
I really appreciate and respect your options. Thanks.
I've been watching your videos for a while but after this one I finally subscribed. Even if I don't fully agree with you, the fact that you keep it real and give your honest opinion makes your channel one of the few worth watching amongst the sea of sell outs on youtube.
In regards to fish food, many contain mostly fillers such as cereals and fish meal (and let's just say it's probably not from the best sources), I would like to avoid those. Do you have any specific recommendations?
I found that if you hook a water pump up to your sponge filter so it blows water down into the sponge and it works very very well better than any filter ive ever had. also need something to keep up surface aggitated so the water surface doesn't get nasty. I use an 80gph pump hooked up to a sponge but a 50gph would have worked good.
What sized sponge filter do you use and where did you purchase it from? I’m looking into upgrading at the moment
Good video, I agree with everything that you mentioned. Thanks for your honesty.
Great honest vid! People see my tanks and wonder how I keep them all going because they have been told it is expensive and a ton of work.
Haha, that’s what I thought you definitely will piss people off haha! Anyway great video Nick keep up the work. I’m excited to see the next Vlog of building your fish room / shop!
Thanks for sharing Nick, I really enjoyed that
That was really helpfull! Wished i saw this video before i started thus hobby 😀
Thanks for your honesty.
I love the honest opinions, but 2 points though.
Quickstart, when you don't have an existing tank to share media from, is awesome. This idea of "taking it slow" doesn't exist for someone just starting into the hobby. Sure, if you've been doing it for a while, no problem. Also, about 3 weeks into my first tank, I wanted to move a fish out very quickly and Quickstart gave me the confidence to do that.
Secondly, your opinion on lighting is probably true for breeding or fish-only tanks, but for a planted tank I think good lighting is important. I went with an old hydroponics light I had lying around, but I can see the plants growing much faster under that in the main tank than those plants in the sump under a cheap LED light - same system, so same nutrients in the water.
I'm waiting for the update on those beautiful betta frys you have!
Curious to see the color combinations off of every batch.
Love it. Thanks Nick. I agree with you.
Love this video!! I totally agree with all comments. If anyone want or see value in some of those items go for it, but they are not necessary.
great honest video!! I especially was surprised by the quick start great tip
I agree. I've had freshwater aquariums since the 1970's and always just had the basics. Keep It Simple.
You’re so right! I believe a lot of places recommend unnecessary things to beginners.. there’s always alternatives and it never has to be complicated!
Look at what we do in reef tanks, you could add a sump to your setup and do all your filtration/dosing/bioballs there, more room in all your tanks and more over all water volume.
I agree with the sponge filter.i do think I need the water conditioner.i use it every time I do water change..good luck with your new venture it's looking really good.all the best from the UK..
loved the video. keep up the good work👏
Agreed on most things, but coming from mostly reef tanks I'd opt for reef-grade salt like reef crystals (cheap end) or personally I use fritz rpm for my tanks (all saltwater currently). For FW it's not super imperative to have fancy salt but these mixes tend to be really well balanced in an array of trace elements which wouldn't be found in table salt (yes, more expensive but it'll last literally forever if you're not mixing batches of saltwater, and could buy smaller portions off a local reefer) :)
Elsewise seachem prime and ammonia alert badges are my go-to for a brand new setup (or one without biomedia) if we're waiting on a cycle (or for new fry between waterchanges).
Great video, totally agreed on a k.i.s.s. approach.
Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏 wish I'd known this a lot earlier 😂 but soooo grateful to know it now! 🤯 life changing! Because so many of these things I'm thinking I need to do but can't afford it .... and now I know how to do the same things but not branded ❣
Great advice Nick! when I was breeding fish I only ever used sponge filters in my tanks and I always had my spares sitting in my ponds so they were ready to go, none of my ponds have ever had filters unless they had a water feature, I have had a heap of people ask me this, if you have a pond just fill it with plants and substrate and be patient it will look after it self, I didn't even use chlorine neutraliser, I'd top up my biggest tanks and then wait for a couple of day and use the large tanks to do a water change and then just top it up again, there are ways around things, it's pointless for a beginner to spend a heap of money if their just starting out, spend more money when you find out if you like it.
So true
The city in Texas I had recently moved to uses chloramine occasionally. I asked for a water analysis that showed no ammonia so I used time and sodium thiosulfate for chlorine..Did a water change; most fish died in the 55 gal.Peckoltias, best LF deep super red BN I've ever seen, dwarf cichlids. Pair of platys survived and went in livebearer tub
Now I use Safe to be safe.
Your a legend, keep up the great work :)
Truth!!! Be told! This wasn’t a negative video.
Thanks dude. Im about a year old in the hobby. You’re right.. I doesn’t take much to keep fish happy. There is a monster of a market aimed at taking advantage of novices .. but because most aquatic shop owners started as a hobby but, end up having to overcharge or upsell to keep the rent paid.. it really kills a lot of the essence of the craft.. Thanks for having the balls to say what you feel is right.. I agree with everything you said and learned how to save money. Great video and I hope you get sponsored by people like you who love fish keeping and love helping fish keepers too
Personally i wouldnt boil larger rocks. they can explode. and it might be important testing the rock to make sure it wont effect the water parameter. Putting vinegar on them and seeing if they start to bubble is a good way. Informative video, thanks
Haven't seen you for a while !
Exactly - Lime stone can definitely throw out the ph.
No rock has ever exploded from being boiled. Thrown in a fire yes but not boiled. Also, store bought vinegar (acetic acid) is not strong enough to elicit a bubbling reaction. Use muriatic acid aka pool acid diluted to 5%.
@@spoonhead86 I have had a rock shatter. not an "Explosion" but chips flew off.
I agree with your opinions sir. everything you're saying makes absolute sense. I have gone this route also, especially when it comes to drift wood, and hard scape. Filtration I have done the same also. Bigger tanks I have done a modified sponge filter also. I can tell you personally I respect a person that has a straightforward opinion, also that is not bought and paid for.
BUDDY... Mate, you are a Bloody Legend Bloke 🤘🤩👌 I Really Do Appreciate HONESTY!!! And you seem to Always be STRAIGHT UP 👍👍👍 I hope to actually meet you some day.
True. I agree with what you say. There is absolutely no need for all the expensive stuff unless you really want them and are ready to spend that much. 👍
Im just starting out and you just saved me a lot of money. Nothing negative about it. Thankyou very much..
Good stuff, Nick. Thanks.
Been a while since I regularly watched fish videos. After 3-4 years they all start to look the same. Liked this video. I remember watching a few videos from this channel a few years ago. Much progress. I would add to the list of 8 and say that non-standard, combination "lids with lights" are also a waste of money. A glass top is nice and depending on what you want and what you're keeping a cover is optional. For some people a heater is optional, and to the extent that you may need the heater, having a thermometer (at least for spot checks) is highly recommended.
On a side note, when talking about beneficial bacteria, it must work as public aquariums use them and release 10's of thousands of dollars of fish in new setups. However, as a beginner taking it slow is key, and if you're doing a planted tank (my preference for sure) planting first and then stocking 3-4 weeks later (test parameters, populate slowly, step by step) is the way to go. If you do it right it can be years before your first fish dies from age. Also, once you have one tank started, there's not reason not to have pre-cycled media ready whenever you get ready for another tank. Even then, its good to take it slow with the next tank if you can. Plant first. Move slowly afterwards.
There are a couple of benefits to planting first. The new plants will have some loose bio material that decomposes and provides a steady source to start the cycle. Moreover, once the plants are growing well they work in tandem to accomplish the same purpose as filtration/water changes. As for new setups, less light in the beginning, more light once the plants are well established is very useful. This may just be me, but I also like to throw in a few snails into fairly new tanks before the fish arrive. Once again a steady source of nitrogen for the cycle plus a cleaning crew that needs no other food than the bacteria formed on the surfaces.
I'm absolutely shocked!!! I actually agree so much with every point you made here. Good job
Finally sachez putting out something good for the viewers !!! Good job bro
Having fun with ordinary Aussie bush rock in my aqaurium as we speak. Love the content Nick keep it coming
Me too. Cheap.plentiful.and fun to collect. I boil mine for 15/20 mins. Never had any problems.
Great points! I don't think it's negative at all, I respect the honesty. It would be really cool to try setting up a budget display tank
I always respect Nick honesty. I put my money on his membership
There was nothing negative about it mate only the bleeps
You gave your honest opinion and Knowledge of the fish Hobby
And alot of great insight
Of what to buy and not
Thank you
It helped out alot
For i only use sponge filters
And was kinda of really wondering if they worked
Before i used nothing
Just live plants
And what your opinion on
Leaf zone
Promote aquarium plant growth
I dont see any difference
If i use it or not
Cause i tend to forget
To use it
But Again Thank You
And still waiting for the Beta fry and Trash can Neocaridina
UPDATE
Watching your videos makes me wanna start my own Aquarium :)
5:30 lol, I agree. If anything I will syphon some of the detritus from one tank and put it in the new tank and you're good to go.
at last someone with some honest common sense and the balls to say it, well done.
Right on the money! Great video, thanks for sharing.
The only reason why we use other filters than the sponge filter is aquascaping. Yes, you can somehow manage to hide it, but it's just better this way. I prefer having one tube sticking into my aquascape rather than a whole sponge filter. On the other hand, if it's not an aquascaped tank, i'd 100% go with sponge filters. They are just cheap and effective.
I also use a hang on back type filter. I found ways to diy my media to save money.
I agree with all of that. Keep up the good work! Honesty is key.
I think your channel is cool and you are smart. I've kept fish since I was a kid, I'm 51 now. I have multiple tanks inside, but now I'm going to try raising Tilapia in ponds in my back yard. I love water and I'm not a chicken kind of guy, been there tried it. I'm going w larger fish I can eat if I need to. But your tanks and fish are beautiful! saludos desde Costa Rica :)
Great honest feedback 😊
Good Video! Fair enough, sponge filters are fine and cheep! But they are loud! External filtrations are invisible plus low noise, so for my living room, this is the only option I can think of. 🙂
I agree sponge filters are great they clean the water well and make it crystal clear.. I do like my canister filters though especially for my big cichlids that crap alot and having that media backup. I'm coming to Brisbane from nz next week do you have a shop open?
Great video. Not negative at all. It was really informative. We want people to become hobbiest. Not scare them away. Great job👍
I’d say you may be correct ab the bacteria bottle for fresh as I’ve personally never truly cycled a fresh tank but for salt water it is honestly magic it cuts the process down by weeeksssss
Does same with fresh