*What words of wisdom do you wish someone had shared with you when you were a new fish keeper?* For example, here's our process for figuring out how many fish can go in an aquarium: ruclips.net/video/nEgwOpEFnwo/видео.html
Hi and I am Very New to this Aquarium Hobby So I really Need Your Help So I Got a 6 Gallon Tank Recently Dimensions Are : 15.74Inches x 9.05Inches x 9.84Inches (40cmx23cmx25cm) and I also Got A Good Internal Filter and the Temperatures are also All right as I Live in India my Water Temperature is around 26-28Celcius. And I Wanna Buy A Beautiful Looking And Hardy Fish. So can you suggest Me Fish Please Many Suggested Me Bettas But still I am not sure If I should get bettas or anything else. Which Fish do you Suggest Me? And Thx a Lot😃
I learned a lot watching my dad with his fish tanks as a kid. He kept a wide variety of fish at different times, had some needle nose gars until they bit him good and he had to go to the hospital for stitches, also had a nice arowana that outgrew a 155 gallon tank pretty fast and eventually ended up at the Stienhart aquarium in San Francisco after sitting in a aquarium shop for a few years... I have still made simple mistakes when getting back into the hobby recently. Like overstocking and needing another tank sooner than I was ready for. If I had to give myself advice I would recommend a better strategy and planning things out more than I already did so I could have saved myself some troubles I'll probably need to deal with down the road.. tank placement and fish selection being one thing I would tell myself to think about more...
My advice: don't panic! "OMG, that fish just flashed on the rock! What's wrong with my fish? Ich? The DREADED COLUMNARIS??? Better get all the meds! Salt! 80% water change twice daily! Throw all possible solutions at it and stress out my whole ecosystem!" Meanwhile, fish was just itchy, showing off, or trying to dislodge a poop. Wait to address a problem until you're sure there is a problem. Keep a clear head and treat the easiest thing first. Just don't panic!
Absolutely! It's so easy to get stressed out over nothing. Over many years I've learned to quarantine and medicate fish on arrival (as recommended by Cory), test water regularly, basic maintenance and water change once a week (but not going overboard) and then everything ticks along brilliantly. If I upset that balance and routine then I tend to create 20 times more problems than I was attempting to solve.
I’m new to this and I am a panicky mess! This is my 3rd week of owning two Comet goldfish that were won at the fair by my fiancé and grandson. I feel like I’m doing everything right, but my water is more cloudy after two weekly water changes. I just did my second water change on Wednesday. I can’t get my ammonia under 0.50. In fact, it’s a little over right now. I even tested my tap water before adding Prime and there is ammonia in my tap water! I have county water (southern Florida). The Petco workers are probably already sick of me because I call them on the phone or go there with my water samples. I have everything I need for my fish to live a long, happy life, but I need to know what to do to get rid of the cloudiness and get my tank to cycle. This ammonia thing is really a problem. I feel like it’s stressing my fish out. The guy at Petco still tells me to only change the water once a week and only change 5 gallons. I have a 20 gallon tank, so that amount seems right. He has owned fish for 8 years. I have also read and watched so much stuff on the internet that I don’t know what’s right or wrong anymore. Please help!
I started keeping fish over 30 years ago. I've seen a lot of changes and evolution in the hobby. I would advise newcomers against gadget clutter. The aquarium industry has produced some good new products, yet there is simply a lot of unnecessary, money-sinking products. Beginners may think they need to buy all this stuff that somehow will bring miraculous success. They've invested time and money, and they are lead to believe that if you really want to succeed you need this latest sprocket. You end up creating a bunch of aquarium clutter that practically needs a storage closet just for itself. A close second is establishing realistic expectations of "aquascaping". Social media is filled with pristine, manicured, perfect aquariums. Beginners see that and make that the goal instead of successfully establishing and sustaining a small aquatic ecosystem. Successful aquariums that have longevity embrace ecological succession, respect the role of decomposition, and realize biological competition. Aquariums are dynamic, and nature is messy. Social media aquascaping images may give unrealistic expectations. Aquarium keeping is a science and an art. First, master the science that keeps the ecosystem going, then tailor the art of your layout to your aesthetics.
Brand new to the hobby. Had my tank almost a month now. The hardest part and something that I've noticed is the need to have patience. I see all these lovely planted tanks and have to keep reminding myself my plants aren't going to grow overnight and just be patient.
My number 1- find yourself a spouse that doesn’t have to join you in the hobby, but they at least need to understand and acknowledge your passion! * I got it right the second time around.👍🏻👍🏻
I moved in and took over my now wifes tank she had them to have them fake everything. i remoddled the whole thing while bickering back and forthe about how i am just taking over. Fast forward honey i got a new plant or hunny what do think of this or look there is babies now aww and my favorite this looks so much better now i never knew.lol
I’m by no means a veteran, but one of the most important things I’ve realized is that you’re gonna spend a lot of money, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I work a part-time job, and I find myself spending a large amount of money on the hobby, whether it be on food, shrimp, etc. One of the coolest things about the hobby though is when you find out about new cheap methods. When I found out about poly-fil and used it in my filter I was absolutely stunned by how effective it was! Another thing I’d say is to help other aquarium hobbyists, especially those who tend to overstock (like the people who put goldfish in bowls). Offer others advice from what you’ve learned, encourage them to do research, and stay friendly!
Learn what fish would live best in your water BEFORE buying a single thing. Buying fish then finding out they are completely wrong for your water is a constant struggle to keep them happy and can zap your enjoyment of the hobby. Fish keeping should be about enjoyment and not about making it as difficult as possible.
starting the hobby having liquid rock, and wondering why bettas/etc were struggling so much, whereas now my livebearers and mbuna thrive. it's a lesson i wish i was more aware of for sure!
You're so right. Years ago I used to keep and breed discus and the constant RO water changes and messing around because I had such hard water nearly ruined the hobby for me. There's so much enjoyment in all types of fish and it really is best to find the ones that suit your water chemistry.
@@sufianahmed2579 I recommend you get an api test kid and a hardness test, test your water out of the tap, and then search for fish that do well in that water. If you've got a neutral ph or hardness, you'll be golden with most fish out there, otherwise pick a few you like out of the ones that do well in that water type
I wish I could tell teenage me to take water changes and tank maintenance as a meditative enjoyable thing. That mindset not only encourages me to do it, it also helps clear my mind and just enjoy the fish more
Just learned this after dealing with it for a year. The moment I learned to enjoy managing the tank I fell in love with it. It's still annoying sometimes especially when you first start out and have algea bloom or black beard algea but at least managing small amounts of that is very fun. And seeing a tank balance out Is even more rewarding! Follow the ups and downs instead of fighting them and it becomes fun!
Long post but hopefully someone reads it. Yes! Nowadays, especially when doing maintenance in my 29, I find myself monologuing these deep sort of shower thoughts to myself. A couple weeks ago I was feeling very depressed but I really needed to do a water change... I finally mustered the energy to do it. As I refilled the water, trimmed my plants, and replanted ones that my cories had kicked up, one of the profound things I muttered to myself was something along the lines of: [because I had a suicidal intrusive thought] ... "Life might be suffering, but for every reason to end life, there is another to continue it. These little beings are all that I have.... In the process of caring for them I realize the celebration of nature. There is a sort of actualization that comes from the stewardship and custody of animals that are smaller and meeker than us. Their happiness becomes your happiness. Their health contributes to your own. You see them being peaceful and peace washes over you as well. Why would you deny yourself this enjoyment? In the green and the light, watching the bubbles and the quiet interplay of this ecosystem that I have carefully, painstakingly created and maintained.... There is a worthwhile beauty in all of this, and I should stay a while longer.... so that someone at least can witness it all." Starting with a couple of planted bulbs, a few accidental specs of duckweed, a clump of Java moss, and a patch or two of pearlweed... Seeing after months, a lush garden unfolding, a school of corydoras rummaging between the low-growing "shrubbery" like a pack of wild horses. Danios chasing each other through the long aponogeton leaves that curl just beneath the surface, catching and sheltering patches of duckweed on either side of the tank. Snails cling to their stringy little roots, while a betta watches very intently; sometimes his instincts kick in and he will violently peck at a snail, knocking it from it's perch and sending it tumbling to the bottom 🤭 These fish are so used to me that they readily gather around my arm when I'm trimming my plants. The cories readily search between the hairs on my arms. Their barbels are light as feathers; I barely feel them. My betta lets me gently stroke along his dorsal fin. If I cup my hand, he will swim inside without fear. My danios, always hungry, always foraging, I feel the tickle of their little jaws, likely pecking at invisible dead skin. Indeed, @limeaid3121 there is little I can think of that could be more therapeutic or meditative as caring for these beautiful animals.
It's so cliche in the hobby. But, I think one of the best pieces of advice is to go slow. This hobby isn't a race. It's a marathon. Season tank time. Make sure everything is thriving before you add anything. The internet is obvi a great tool - use the CARE forum, and ask before you do something you're not sure about. You'll be successful this way instead of guessing and rushing to put 20 fish in your tank at once
Two things. 1 - buy second-hand stuff, especially if you're just starting out. This is an *expensive* hobby. 2 - Asking questions is great. The vast, vast majority of us are more than happy to help answer questions. It's incredibly daunting when you're just starting and information overload is a very real thing in this very complicated hobby. We were all there and we remember what it felt like so we'll absolutely help out. Even aquarists who have done this for years, decades even, ask questions.
I wish I knew about the nitrogen cycle years ago. Looking back I see most of my failures where probably due to nitrite and nitrate issues and when I had success I most likely didn't know why.
Just started. Trying to get my nitrite and nitrate to 0, because my future shrimp dealer told me it should be 0. I Bought the 6-1 colombos water test, but the strip color is so unclear, even unused it looks like pink already. Any tips to be certain and what is the best way to keep these values at 0. Sorry for my bad Dunglish. Dutch/English.
@@Jeffreenl hey! I'm just cycling my tank too. Just curious, why are you waiting for your nitrates to be 0? That wouldn't be a cycled tank. Ammonia and nitrites should be at 0. Nitrates at around 10ppm is good. You need nitrates to get rid of ammonia in the tank. It's the last step of the cycle. Hope this helps 😊
I learned too late that the pet department of the mall department chain store will sell you anything and most likely doesn't know or care if your purchases make the slightest sense. If you are starting out, begin at a LFS and NOT at a big-box type of store so you get at least minimal guidance.
My area, all we have are chain pet stores 😭 they had no clue what KH even was (neither did I) so I killed a few things til I finally had done enough research to know my local chain pet store wasn’t telling me anything useful so I did more research & more research… ugh lol but I love it so I didn’t give up ❤️
After over 40 years of fishkeeping my advice to a beginner would be; tropical freshwater fish are easier to keep than goldfish, and dirt (bacteria) is good - you're not trying to run an operating theatre!
I'm a veterinarian and I'd say all pet owners have a tendendcy to be nuts, no matter the species or animal group. Especially those who breed their pets.
Patience is the number one lesson the hobby has taught me. 45 years into the hobby I still find the idea that often the best thing you can do to your tank is nothing. The urge to tinker and "work on my tank" is exactly what you shouldn't be doing. A lot of the time, if you've done the right stuff, the thing to do is wait and watch and keep yer hands off the dang tank!;)
...that's what I did. Planted aquarium. Did not tinker with it. No CO2...the pants have ran wild. The fish and shrimp are thriving. And, unfortunately, multiplying faster then I can get rid of them. Fortunately I added 1 more fish to curb the population by eating the eggs.... I have a pathos growing out of it too.... I check water parameters on the constant. Sometimes the only thing I have to do is top off the tank...that's it... My lil ecosystem does it's own thing...
The main thing I wish I knew is buying large tanks new is sometimes not the smartest. Go on let go or Facebook marketplace and buy a tank according to the condition of the glass. You can always re-silicone! Always buy filtration new!
I would recommend remembering to use a dechlor if using city water. It's a disaster to forget that! And also for a beginner fish keeper that it's a good idea to learn something about the nitrogen cycle and to stabilize the tank before adding fish. It would be great if fish stores passed out a "fact sheet" for new fish keepers about cycling a tank. Some people just don't realize it! Honestly, i didn't know anything about it 25 years ago.
Equally important of Not Over Using DeChlorine >>> They can killed the fishes as I have made that Fatal Mistakes! DeChlorine is colourless , so we tend to add more than needed & the DeChlorine destroyed the gill~respiratory system of the fishes! Just one small cap for 30 gallons of water would be sufficient! And Sunning the water before adding them into the aquarium , can further reduced the use of the DeChlorine! 🌷🌿🌍
I'm searching a bunch of videos for informations bc I need the infos! I am thinking of adding a corner of stratum substrate to my 75 gallon tank (that already has fish in it!) and a full bottom of sand substrate. I want to plant some vallisinaria in the back corner where I keep the tank near bare (thats just what happened and where it landed and my little fish like to go over there (its under the internal filter waterfall). I don't know if its okay or if I'm able to add fluval stratum to the back corner without killing my fish (i have a community tank with bloodfin tetra, serpae tetra, otocinclus, platy, and a mystery snail) about 22 creatures, and its around 4 months old and going pretty good. I dont want to mess things up, but I want to add more plants for everyone because they seem to like it. I have 5 small plants right now, but I just put in a order at the co-op for several plants, including vallisinaria. Is it okay to add this stratum after rinsing?
Oh and btw, I have been watching a lot of past live streams to get answers from viewers questions, and I thank you, because no one else had mentioned this! It looked like my java fern was growing new plants on its tips, and you answered me when I couldnt find any answers, so thank you. I've recently gotten back into this after moving back from living in Israel for 10 years. Was pleasantly surprised that you took a trip there and you were probably around where we used to live. My husband was in the military there and we lived in Eilat, Be'er Sheva, and Arad. I know you drove through at least 2 of those places because we lived in both of those deserts and it was really familiar. Loved seeing your pictures. Thanks a lot for all the info and help!
This is a really good one, concise, to the point, answers lots of questions, a great 7 minutes. Should add to the Dean's recommended playlist. Oh wait we haven't made that playlist. . . . yet.
I've learned over the years that as long as you have good filtration, sufficient bacteria, a healthy amount of live plants, and a few bottom feeders, that cleaning the gravel isn't really necessary.. Basically having a balanced ecosystem. Just stay on top of water changes.
and once you achieve a balanced ecosystem.... water changes are unnecessary. I do a water change about once a year on all my tanks... and that is just so I can do a deep clean on the gravel and ornaments. Biggest myth in this hobby is that you need water changes. You only need water changes if your filter/sump is not doing it's job.
@@littlemissy8356 Wrong. Crystal clear. The nitrates in the fish waste gets converted/absorbed by sufficient bacteria/vegetation and the leftover waste basically turns to soil for plants
That comes down to number of fish/feeding etc . I have a 29 with 15 fish , tons of plants , moderately deep substrate . It’s mature now and if I don’t overfeed I can do a 25% water change every 3 to 4 weeks , along with rinsing the biomedical with aquarium water . Numbers stay stable . If I cut the number of fish in half I probably wouldn’t need to change water at all.
This! I'm at this stage now!!! I just top off the water! I check parameters from time to time, etc. But....yeah...so balanced! I'm also trying to grow a bit of algae for my algae eaters....yeah I know, I'm ACTIVLY trying to grow it...
My big mistakewhen I started fish keeping hobby was starting with 5 gallon fish tank thinking that is a lot of water, but in fact it was disaster for holding fish that I wanted
The food this is so true. I've just brought my first fish tank and am currently cycling it. I haven't even got the fish yet and I'm looking for a variety of foods already haha!
One that I've always struggled with is leaving the tank alone. Besides feeding and water changes, there should be very little interaction. Your water parameters can change instantly when the gravel, sand,plants, rocks,wood,resin stuff is moved or disturbed.
I wish someone had said planted tanks can actually be easier to maintain in the long run. I always battled water quality with fake plants and decor. My planted aquarium has been LOADS easier!
Im finally getting back into the hobby after 3 years of being flat broke. I kept a beautiful 5 gallon betta tank that basically ran itself with just replenishing water loss and using ferts once a month. That fish lived for 6 years!! Im scared to get back in because I want to try shrimp, but this channel has been freakin amazing for giving me confidence coming back in. Thanks man
Grow houseplants on top of your tank, or in a HOB, or use floating plants. Having a lot of plants growing with access to the air is super easy and will help keep your water cleaner and your fish healthier.
Great video and information 😀👍 I've learned that over the years of having fish is that there's always something new to be learned and always something happening in the fish room 😆
I keep two goldfish tanks and the most important thing I feel to remember is that you are keeping living beings and you can’t take that responsibility lightly. You must do the best for your fish, just like you would for your dog/cat/hamster. Our oldest fish is now 16, the youngest is 7. So happy to have not lost a fish for over 6 years now. I just wish I could keep more live plants in the tank, those fish are eating machines!!!
After a year, i think the biggest takeaway has been patience!! not going out and getting every possible thing right away, letting things settle, watching every step...the patience was hard at first, now i actively enjoy slowing down and taking it day by day
The biggest mistake I made was not paying closer attention to my water hardness and having a better understanding of the complexities. I have paid dearly for that and am SOOO ashamed!
Another great video. The most important thing I've learnt is the need to see and treat an aquarium as a whole eco system, with each element helping to support the others.
I watched a video where you recommend to keep a journal of water changes,and I'm glad that I did. Being able to see day to day what my tank is doing,has made it easier to figure out what I should do next. I'm also following your guide on how to deal with ammonia,and I'm going on day two of now feeding,and everything is great!! I can't thank you enough for the videos,Cory! You are a tremendous help,and a fun person to watch. Your life for the hobby is in every video,and it makes it more fun to watch.
This is a great video for anyone. We, as in my family, have been through so much with this hobby. So many fails, so much work, sooo much money, sooo much time. Why though, the passion!! My kids are learning so much, my wife and I are learning so much and for the rest of our lives the memories will last. Thank you Cory we see you as genuine and appreciate what you add to the Hobby.
@@triimarie4396 I like to watch Cory too. I found that it's best to take all of the information out there and then play and test what works for you. To me that's the fun in the Hobby.
A course sponge is the best filter media. Doesn't matter if it is a bubble sponge in the tank, hang on back, or canister. Cartridge filters are like snake oil to separate you from your money.
Thank you for the info and good advice as always. When I started, I never knew that some detritus, mulm etc was not necessarily a bad thing or that a pristine tank was not necessarily a good thing.
As an experienced aquarist, I've learned a few big ones. Here we go: 1) Keep your arms and hands out of the tanks as much as you can. 2) Easy on the food, even if they eat it all. 3) Weekly water changes regardless. 4) Run the air stone and filtration 24/7. 5) Live plants are more trouble than they're worth. 6) Parasites are a fact of life in this hobby. Expect them. Swim Bladder is not a death sentence. Feed them too many Blood worms, they're gonna tilt..lol!
The "every tank is an experiment" one is great that's why I like this hobby. The part about killing fish is allso important, if you can't admit and live with that this is not for you. It's good that you say it as it is I've noticed other youtubers tiptoeing around that fact.
Tip for those who wanna start their planted aquarium. Use your eyes, watch your plants, dont change too much too quick. Try to find the perfect dose of fertilizers (and CO2). Each tank is different. Sure you can always help yourself by measuring the water parameters and search for the cause of algea but dont go to crazy about getting the parameters to be perfect - plants will show you when they're fine and when they are not. Healthy growth is the way. Also always plant as many plants as you can. It helps with the algea. And hire the cleaning crew - amano shrimps, snails, what ever. Buy them. In a helathy tank you will always get a littile bit of algea here and there. Thats where the cleaning crew comes in. And remember keep it steady. DO NOT mess with your aquarium and doses of fertilizers too much and too often.
Best advice is don't listen to everyone and have a backup plan. People will tell you arbitrary rules like you can only have 1 angelfish for every 10 gallons. I've had 6 angelfish in a 75g and they killed each other and I have also had 3 pairs of angelfish in a 30g ALL breeding. Always have a backplan whether it is a Rubbermaid tote and sponge filter to separate out troublemakers or a full quarantine system. It doesn't have to be fancy it just has to care for the fish because they are in your care.
I suffer from major depression, suicide thoughts, anxiety, the whole enchilada.. my tank helps me by giving me something to focus on, experiment, experience and totally enjoy. It's a new hobby for me and it has helped my situation. Loss of a fish or shrimp hits me hard often breaking down emotionally. Given that am not thriving in my life, I want everyone I'm in charge of to thrive. I'm engaged, learning and and enjoy sitting back and figuring these guys individual habits out.
I'm an African Cichlid guy and definitely went down the "I need all the filtration!" With that said since I've been following Cory I have learned so much. I would say the biggest thing I've learned is filtration isn't the issue. How much food you feed and having plants is the key for me. Understanding that biological bacteria is on every surface and how best to let it thrive is what I focus on. I'm still mostly an African Cichlid guy but I have drastically changed how I approach the hobby. With my main tank which is a 125 I have it species only with 20 Lethrinops Mbasi in there fully planted with an FX4, an Aquaclear 50 for mostly polishing, and a UV sterilizer that I'm kinda just messing with to see what it's all about and a sponge filter from the COOP. I set this tank up about a year ago from scratch and tried to apply all the things I've learned and it is by far the best tank I've ever had after 6 plus years in the hobby. It's truly balanced in all ways. The parameters have been perfect for the last 6 months. Nitrates stay around 20 and I water change once a month and top off as needed. Also I live in FL and it's pretty warm year round so another piece of advice I've gleamed from the COOP is heaters. I use two 100 watt heaters one on each end an as during the summer I take them out and tank stays around 78 to 80 in the cooler months I throw them back in and let the temp fluctuate like the seasons and set the heaters to 70. Any way super long comment but really wanted to share that. Thanks!
I had a fish tank in the 80s when I was a kid, and what I remember hating the most was how quickly the water got dirty and smelly. I remember the "undergravel filters" didn't work worth a damn. Now that I have my own home, just checking back to see if equipment has improved at all since the 80s.
Very well articulated! If I could say one thing to what I wish I knew early would be to learn more about mother nature and trust her more. Which means think about your fish outdoors all year round and where they come from and what happens to their water through out that times what are they eating? what is falling into it? what kind of homes to they escape and breed into?
I learned that talking with confidence about fish will get you far. This was especially helpful for me since I am a young person in the hobby and people expect me to not know anything.
This is wonderful! I would also tell newbies to take what is declared on forums with a grain of salt. There is a lot of accepted "wisdom" held as incontrovertible gospel that just isn't true, and the militant attitudes on some forums can chase a new learner away and perhaps turn them off the hobby entirely. Know that you're going to talk to a lot of people who sound like authorities but are full of it. When you find someone who truly does know their stuff (and that person will often be at your local fish store, where they will not only know the fish but also your local water), turn to them before you go to the internet.
don't over clean your fish tanks. is something I wish somebody told me when I started this Hobby. kept over cleaning my tank and I couldn't figure out why I was losing fish.
With adequate flow and a hardscape with high surface area, you can easily filter your tank with high a bio load of plants and the nitrifying bacteria growing on said hardscape.
One thing I wish I knew: No matter how awesome you think your hardscape ideas are, if it's a pain in the ass to work around, you're going to absolutely hate it. My first scape looked really nice, but things were balanced so precariously that I had to be really careful when cleaning and some places were just impossible to reach. No amount of aesthetics were worth how much I hated doing maintenance on that tank.
im just a kid who loves goldfish i know its hard to do keep the tank at the fishes perfection and im getting a new 130 litre tank i cant wait im going to get banner fish and redtail sharks
yeah… my first heater hasn’t gone bad yet. so maybe i shouldn’t waste my money on another one and just buy a cover & light for the aquarium instead? see how that works?
Most people run a light so they can see the fish better, if you want to rock plants you most likely need a light unless in-front of a window or something. Cover is a good choice also, it will help hold heat and cut down on humidity and splashing. Remember we talk about the norm, I am sure people have had heaters last years. I am just saying the normal expectation is the heater will eventually go bad and pending what fish you have that might be critical, but might not be either.
Yay a aquarium Co-op video that's not 2 hours long LOL short and sweet.. I love his videos but sometime I need something short to watch before working or water changes
I’m a landscape architect and own a landscape design/ build company. When I thought of taking on fish ponds, I thought I would take on aquariums to learn water parameters and have some knowledge of how to build natural environments. Now I have my personal collection, chilids, nanos, tetras, shrimp and frogs. I have children the ages of 1 and 3; they have enjoyed the hobby as well with tanks on the floor at eye level for them. we have yet to build a pond!
I’m am by no means a veteran, but one thing I have definitely learned is not to panic or be hasty in trying to “solve a problem “ that may not be a problem at all! Slow down, think it through, and ask God for guidance! It’ll turn out great! Thx for your straight forward tips Cory! They’ve definitely helped me see aquarium keeping in new ways!
I can so relate to all of this! My advice - just because my friends think my fish tanks are cool, most of them have no interest in me helping them get one started! Also - sometimes it easier to breed the fish you like than to find someone else to buy it.
Your first point is great, and to expand on it, I've ran into plenty of friends/family that THINK they want an aquarium, but then they realize that they just wanted to look at one rather than take care of it or learn anything. If they make it passed that, I've made it a rule that I can't help someone set up a tank unless they fully understand the nitrogen cycle.
I have started this hobby when covid hit and it took me for the best journey of my life! Anyway I love your videos I have learned so much about the chemical part of water, I went and got some snails, and I have just been learning so much. Keep these videos coming man. One day I hope to be able to come to the store.
I have two 55 gallon tanks in my bedroom. It's my first time having two big tanks. It's amazing . I never understood the draw in having more than one tank. But it allows you to give each tank time to do it's thing, and not rush anything because your focus is divided. One is a planted discus, the other Is an easy planned community tank. I kinda want three tanks lol
Thank you for this, I really needed to hear #1 from an experienced fishkeeper, just lost a betta, had a fungal infection that might have been prevented if I had checked the water parameters more often. My advice I'm trying to apply right now is patience, in places where there aren't a lot of fish stores it might be better to wait for the fish you really want than to impulse buy.
*What words of wisdom do you wish someone had shared with you when you were a new fish keeper?* For example, here's our process for figuring out how many fish can go in an aquarium: ruclips.net/video/nEgwOpEFnwo/видео.html
Hi and I am Very New to this Aquarium Hobby So I really Need Your Help
So I Got a 6 Gallon Tank Recently Dimensions Are : 15.74Inches x 9.05Inches x 9.84Inches
(40cmx23cmx25cm)
and I also Got A Good Internal Filter and the Temperatures are also All right as I Live in India my Water Temperature is around 26-28Celcius.
And I Wanna Buy A Beautiful Looking And Hardy Fish.
So can you suggest Me Fish Please
Many Suggested Me Bettas But still I am not sure If I should get bettas or anything else.
Which Fish do you Suggest Me?
And Thx a Lot😃
I learned a lot watching my dad with his fish tanks as a kid. He kept a wide variety of fish at different times, had some needle nose gars until they bit him good and he had to go to the hospital for stitches, also had a nice arowana that outgrew a 155 gallon tank pretty fast and eventually ended up at the Stienhart aquarium in San Francisco after sitting in a aquarium shop for a few years...
I have still made simple mistakes when getting back into the hobby recently. Like overstocking and needing another tank sooner than I was ready for.
If I had to give myself advice I would recommend a better strategy and planning things out more than I already did so I could have saved myself some troubles I'll probably need to deal with down the road.. tank placement and fish selection being one thing I would tell myself to think about more...
Multiple buckets and nets and not to name your fish
Don’t buy plants from anywhere but aquarium coop. I bought two plants from different stores and they both had staghorn algae and BBA.
Stop moving your plants. Plant it and leave it!! Oh how I wish I had known. Lol. Happily planted now.
When he said “All we wanna do is talk about fish but no one wants to listen” 😭😭 I feel that
I felt that here too! My husband hates my fish talks 🤣
So did I lol, it was like talking to my wife about it.
My wife is a very good sport when it comes to talking about fish.
It hit had
Aiden, are you in the Aquarium Co-op C.A.R.E Forum?
It's a 24/7 group of people who *want* to talk about fish
I wish I'd known I would be entering into an endless cycle of "damn I'm spending too much-- ooh look, a fish! Damn, that was expensive-- ooh plants!"
You can buy a lot of fish stuff for what it cost for green fees
That's my life right now
They’re like wet colorful babies . Fish are small, but then you buy all this STUFF for them , lol!
LITERALLY
Same! Lol 😆 I need an intervention
My advice: don't panic! "OMG, that fish just flashed on the rock! What's wrong with my fish? Ich? The DREADED COLUMNARIS??? Better get all the meds! Salt! 80% water change twice daily! Throw all possible solutions at it and stress out my whole ecosystem!" Meanwhile, fish was just itchy, showing off, or trying to dislodge a poop.
Wait to address a problem until you're sure there is a problem. Keep a clear head and treat the easiest thing first. Just don't panic!
Definitely 👍
Always test water right, my problem was nitrite that came from tap water.
Absolutely! It's so easy to get stressed out over nothing. Over many years I've learned to quarantine and medicate fish on arrival (as recommended by Cory), test water regularly, basic maintenance and water change once a week (but not going overboard) and then everything ticks along brilliantly. If I upset that balance and routine then I tend to create 20 times more problems than I was attempting to solve.
Totally agree! I definitely over medicated and over analyzed supposed symptoms when I was new in the hobby
I’m new to this and I am a panicky mess! This is my 3rd week of owning two Comet goldfish that were won at the fair by my fiancé and grandson. I feel like I’m doing everything right, but my water is more cloudy after two weekly water changes. I just did my second water change on Wednesday. I can’t get my ammonia under 0.50. In fact, it’s a little over right now. I even tested my tap water before adding Prime and there is ammonia in my tap water! I have county water (southern Florida). The Petco workers are probably already sick of me because I call them on the phone or go there with my water samples. I have everything I need for my fish to live a long, happy life, but I need to know what to do to get rid of the cloudiness and get my tank to cycle. This ammonia thing is really a problem. I feel like it’s stressing my fish out. The guy at Petco still tells me to only change the water once a week and only change 5 gallons. I have a 20 gallon tank, so that amount seems right. He has owned fish for 8 years. I have also read and watched so much stuff on the internet that I don’t know what’s right or wrong anymore. Please help!
I started keeping fish over 30 years ago. I've seen a lot of changes and evolution in the hobby. I would advise newcomers against gadget clutter. The aquarium industry has produced some good new products, yet there is simply a lot of unnecessary, money-sinking products. Beginners may think they need to buy all this stuff that somehow will bring miraculous success. They've invested time and money, and they are lead to believe that if you really want to succeed you need this latest sprocket. You end up creating a bunch of aquarium clutter that practically needs a storage closet just for itself.
A close second is establishing realistic expectations of "aquascaping". Social media is filled with pristine, manicured, perfect aquariums. Beginners see that and make that the goal instead of successfully establishing and sustaining a small aquatic ecosystem. Successful aquariums that have longevity embrace ecological succession, respect the role of decomposition, and realize biological competition. Aquariums are dynamic, and nature is messy. Social media aquascaping images may give unrealistic expectations. Aquarium keeping is a science and an art. First, master the science that keeps the ecosystem going, then tailor the art of your layout to your aesthetics.
🤯
@yeshuaswords2776 What has this got to do with aquariums?
@yeshuaswords2776 I ain't reading all that
Agree! Very well said and it takes time to get to thar understanding.
Brand new to the hobby. Had my tank almost a month now. The hardest part and something that I've noticed is the need to have patience. I see all these lovely planted tanks and have to keep reminding myself my plants aren't going to grow overnight and just be patient.
me too!!! I struggle with patience..I too have had my two tanks around 6/7 months now. I have spent so much on plants that died and other things...
I agree, patience is the hardest part
My number 1- find yourself a spouse that doesn’t have to join you in the hobby, but they at least need to understand and acknowledge your passion!
* I got it right the second time around.👍🏻👍🏻
I'm already "grooming" my wife in just accepting the new art project 😊🎨
I moved in and took over my now wifes tank she had them to have them fake everything. i remoddled the whole thing while bickering back and forthe about how i am just taking over. Fast forward honey i got a new plant or hunny what do think of this or look there is babies now aww and my favorite this looks so much better now i never knew.lol
I’m by no means a veteran, but one of the most important things I’ve realized is that you’re gonna spend a lot of money, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I work a part-time job, and I find myself spending a large amount of money on the hobby, whether it be on food, shrimp, etc. One of the coolest things about the hobby though is when you find out about new cheap methods. When I found out about poly-fil and used it in my filter I was absolutely stunned by how effective it was!
Another thing I’d say is to help other aquarium hobbyists, especially those who tend to overstock (like the people who put goldfish in bowls). Offer others advice from what you’ve learned, encourage them to do research, and stay friendly!
Thanks for the polyfill idea, I was gonna order a sponge filter 👍
Even 3-4 goldfish in a 10g is a pita! The ammonia! I spent more time on that tank than I did my 29g community tank.
"everyone in the hobby is crazy!" 🤣
Lol 😆
Agreed!
i get a rush of dopamine every time i talk about my aquarium to a friend/relative
Mostly in a good way ☺️
is he wrong?
Learn what fish would live best in your water BEFORE buying a single thing. Buying fish then finding out they are completely wrong for your water is a constant struggle to keep them happy and can zap your enjoyment of the hobby. Fish keeping should be about enjoyment and not about making it as difficult as possible.
starting the hobby having liquid rock, and wondering why bettas/etc were struggling so much, whereas now my livebearers and mbuna thrive. it's a lesson i wish i was more aware of for sure!
Is there a website or list where I can find out all the fish and their water requirements ?
You're so right. Years ago I used to keep and breed discus and the constant RO water changes and messing around because I had such hard water nearly ruined the hobby for me. There's so much enjoyment in all types of fish and it really is best to find the ones that suit your water chemistry.
@@sufianahmed2579 I recommend you get an api test kid and a hardness test, test your water out of the tap, and then search for fish that do well in that water. If you've got a neutral ph or hardness, you'll be golden with most fish out there, otherwise pick a few you like out of the ones that do well in that water type
My one piece of advice is don’t overcomplicate it. Get some easy plants and easy fish to start off and go from there.
I wish I could tell teenage me to take water changes and tank maintenance as a meditative enjoyable thing. That mindset not only encourages me to do it, it also helps clear my mind and just enjoy the fish more
That's good advice to grown up me now. Lol. Thx
Just learned this after dealing with it for a year. The moment I learned to enjoy managing the tank I fell in love with it. It's still annoying sometimes especially when you first start out and have algea bloom or black beard algea but at least managing small amounts of that is very fun. And seeing a tank balance out Is even more rewarding! Follow the ups and downs instead of fighting them and it becomes fun!
Long post but hopefully someone reads it.
Yes! Nowadays, especially when doing maintenance in my 29, I find myself monologuing these deep sort of shower thoughts to myself. A couple weeks ago I was feeling very depressed but I really needed to do a water change... I finally mustered the energy to do it. As I refilled the water, trimmed my plants, and replanted ones that my cories had kicked up, one of the profound things I muttered to myself was something along the lines of:
[because I had a suicidal intrusive thought] ... "Life might be suffering, but for every reason to end life, there is another to continue it. These little beings are all that I have.... In the process of caring for them I realize the celebration of nature. There is a sort of actualization that comes from the stewardship and custody of animals that are smaller and meeker than us. Their happiness becomes your happiness. Their health contributes to your own. You see them being peaceful and peace washes over you as well. Why would you deny yourself this enjoyment? In the green and the light, watching the bubbles and the quiet interplay of this ecosystem that I have carefully, painstakingly created and maintained.... There is a worthwhile beauty in all of this, and I should stay a while longer.... so that someone at least can witness it all."
Starting with a couple of planted bulbs, a few accidental specs of duckweed, a clump of Java moss, and a patch or two of pearlweed... Seeing after months, a lush garden unfolding, a school of corydoras rummaging between the low-growing "shrubbery" like a pack of wild horses. Danios chasing each other through the long aponogeton leaves that curl just beneath the surface, catching and sheltering patches of duckweed on either side of the tank. Snails cling to their stringy little roots, while a betta watches very intently; sometimes his instincts kick in and he will violently peck at a snail, knocking it from it's perch and sending it tumbling to the bottom 🤭
These fish are so used to me that they readily gather around my arm when I'm trimming my plants. The cories readily search between the hairs on my arms. Their barbels are light as feathers; I barely feel them. My betta lets me gently stroke along his dorsal fin. If I cup my hand, he will swim inside without fear. My danios, always hungry, always foraging, I feel the tickle of their little jaws, likely pecking at invisible dead skin.
Indeed, @limeaid3121 there is little I can think of that could be more therapeutic or meditative as caring for these beautiful animals.
I've been in the hobby almost 40 years. I think the number one thing is to remember that its supposed to be fun.
Really liked the advice in this vid. And Jimmy's edits are super amusing.
It's so cliche in the hobby. But, I think one of the best pieces of advice is to go slow. This hobby isn't a race. It's a marathon. Season tank time. Make sure everything is thriving before you add anything. The internet is obvi a great tool - use the CARE forum, and ask before you do something you're not sure about. You'll be successful this way instead of guessing and rushing to put 20 fish in your tank at once
Two things. 1 - buy second-hand stuff, especially if you're just starting out. This is an *expensive* hobby. 2 - Asking questions is great. The vast, vast majority of us are more than happy to help answer questions. It's incredibly daunting when you're just starting and information overload is a very real thing in this very complicated hobby. We were all there and we remember what it felt like so we'll absolutely help out. Even aquarists who have done this for years, decades even, ask questions.
I wish I knew about the nitrogen cycle years ago. Looking back I see most of my failures where probably due to nitrite and nitrate issues and when I had success I most likely didn't know why.
Same here lol
Same
Dirted tank with sand cap u will.have no problems
Just started. Trying to get my nitrite and nitrate to 0, because my future shrimp dealer told me it should be 0. I Bought the 6-1 colombos water test, but the strip color is so unclear, even unused it looks like pink already. Any tips to be certain and what is the best way to keep these values at 0. Sorry for my bad Dunglish. Dutch/English.
@@Jeffreenl hey! I'm just cycling my tank too. Just curious, why are you waiting for your nitrates to be 0? That wouldn't be a cycled tank. Ammonia and nitrites should be at 0. Nitrates at around 10ppm is good. You need nitrates to get rid of ammonia in the tank. It's the last step of the cycle. Hope this helps 😊
I learned too late that the pet department of the mall department chain store will sell you anything and most likely doesn't know or care if your purchases make the slightest sense. If you are starting out, begin at a LFS and NOT at a big-box type of store so you get at least minimal guidance.
Yup, when I was young they sold me 6 goldfish with a 1/2 gallon tank.....
My area, all we have are chain pet stores 😭 they had no clue what KH even was (neither did I) so I killed a few things til I finally had done enough research to know my local chain pet store wasn’t telling me anything useful so I did more research & more research… ugh lol but I love it so I didn’t give up ❤️
After over 40 years of fishkeeping my advice to a beginner would be; tropical freshwater fish are easier to keep than goldfish, and dirt (bacteria) is good - you're not trying to run an operating theatre!
Agree. Ive learned this lesson
"everyone in this hobby is crazy"
So you never met an ant keeper.
Ants Canada anyone?
Yup
I know him, he is a good RUclipsr
Antsite anyone? His channel is also great
Hahahaha 😂😂😂
@@samsadowitz1724 present!
I'm a veterinarian and I'd say all pet owners have a tendendcy to be nuts, no matter the species or animal group. Especially those who breed their pets.
Patience is the number one lesson the hobby has taught me. 45 years into the hobby I still find the idea that often the best thing you can do to your tank is nothing.
The urge to tinker and "work on my tank" is exactly what you shouldn't be doing. A lot of the time, if you've done the right stuff, the thing to do is wait and watch and keep yer hands off the dang tank!;)
Thanks! I needed this. I've been obsessing.
This is my problem! haha
I've known that since the 90s, yet......
I still tinker.
If I could thumbs up this comment 10+ times, I would!!!! The truest statement EVER!
...that's what I did. Planted aquarium. Did not tinker with it. No CO2...the pants have ran wild. The fish and shrimp are thriving. And, unfortunately, multiplying faster then I can get rid of them. Fortunately I added 1 more fish to curb the population by eating the eggs....
I have a pathos growing out of it too....
I check water parameters on the constant. Sometimes the only thing I have to do is top off the tank...that's it...
My lil ecosystem does it's own thing...
The main thing I wish I knew is buying large tanks new is sometimes not the smartest. Go on let go or Facebook marketplace and buy a tank according to the condition of the glass. You can always re-silicone! Always buy filtration new!
I've been keeping fish for 30 years and I believe that you can always learn weather your keeping fish for 5 minutes or 100 years
I would recommend remembering to use a dechlor if using city water. It's a disaster to forget that! And also for a beginner fish keeper that it's a good idea to learn something about the nitrogen cycle and to stabilize the tank before adding fish. It would be great if fish stores passed out a "fact sheet" for new fish keepers about cycling a tank. Some people just don't realize it! Honestly, i didn't know anything about it 25 years ago.
Equally important of Not Over Using DeChlorine >>> They can killed the fishes as I have made that Fatal Mistakes! DeChlorine is colourless , so we tend to add more than needed & the DeChlorine destroyed the gill~respiratory system of the fishes! Just one small cap for 30 gallons of water would be sufficient! And Sunning the water before adding them into the aquarium , can further reduced the use of the DeChlorine! 🌷🌿🌍
@@tomahawk1556 what is sunning the water?
I'm searching a bunch of videos for informations bc I need the infos! I am thinking of adding a corner of stratum substrate to my 75 gallon tank (that already has fish in it!) and a full bottom of sand substrate. I want to plant some vallisinaria in the back corner where I keep the tank near bare (thats just what happened and where it landed and my little fish like to go over there (its under the internal filter waterfall). I don't know if its okay or if I'm able to add fluval stratum to the back corner without killing my fish (i have a community tank with bloodfin tetra, serpae tetra, otocinclus, platy, and a mystery snail) about 22 creatures, and its around 4 months old and going pretty good. I dont want to mess things up, but I want to add more plants for everyone because they seem to like it. I have 5 small plants right now, but I just put in a order at the co-op for several plants, including vallisinaria. Is it okay to add this stratum after rinsing?
Oh and btw, I have been watching a lot of past live streams to get answers from viewers questions, and I thank you, because no one else had mentioned this! It looked like my java fern was growing new plants on its tips, and you answered me when I couldnt find any answers, so thank you. I've recently gotten back into this after moving back from living in Israel for 10 years. Was pleasantly surprised that you took a trip there and you were probably around where we used to live. My husband was in the military there and we lived in Eilat, Be'er Sheva, and Arad. I know you drove through at least 2 of those places because we lived in both of those deserts and it was really familiar. Loved seeing your pictures. Thanks a lot for all the info and help!
This is a really good one, concise, to the point, answers lots of questions, a great 7 minutes. Should add to the Dean's recommended playlist. Oh wait we haven't made that playlist. . . . yet.
I've learned over the years that as long as you have good filtration, sufficient bacteria, a healthy amount of live plants, and a few bottom feeders, that cleaning the gravel isn't really necessary.. Basically having a balanced ecosystem. Just stay on top of water changes.
and once you achieve a balanced ecosystem.... water changes are unnecessary. I do a water change about once a year on all my tanks... and that is just so I can do a deep clean on the gravel and ornaments. Biggest myth in this hobby is that you need water changes. You only need water changes if your filter/sump is not doing it's job.
I can't imagine that is right. The poop will badly effect the tank. His tank must be really cloudy.
@@littlemissy8356 Wrong. Crystal clear. The nitrates in the fish waste gets converted/absorbed by sufficient bacteria/vegetation and the leftover waste basically turns to soil for plants
That comes down to number of fish/feeding etc . I have a 29 with 15 fish , tons of plants , moderately deep substrate . It’s mature now and if I don’t overfeed I can do a 25% water change every 3 to 4 weeks , along with rinsing the biomedical with aquarium water . Numbers stay stable . If I cut the number of fish in half I probably wouldn’t need to change water at all.
This! I'm at this stage now!!! I just top off the water! I check parameters from time to time, etc. But....yeah...so balanced! I'm also trying to grow a bit of algae for my algae eaters....yeah I know, I'm ACTIVLY trying to grow it...
My big mistakewhen I started fish keeping hobby was starting with 5 gallon fish tank thinking that is a lot of water, but in fact it was disaster for holding fish that I wanted
I have keep aquariums for over sixty years and you have done more for this hobby then anyone else I am aware of. Keep up the good work!
My advice: buying used equipment isn't bad. It saves you a ton of money. That's a good thing because this hobby can get expensive, fast.
Lighting on point in this vid 👌🏼 love the video as always!
i hold funerals for every fish that dies
yes we’re weirdos. 😂
The food this is so true. I've just brought my first fish tank and am currently cycling it. I haven't even got the fish yet and I'm looking for a variety of foods already haha!
:) I just bought a betta tank and have 6 large containers of different food-1 fish!
Have patience! Don't change too many things at once. Keep a journal to write notes in so you have the reference later for yourself or others.
One that I've always struggled with is leaving the tank alone. Besides feeding and water changes, there should be very little interaction. Your water parameters can change instantly when the gravel, sand,plants, rocks,wood,resin stuff is moved or disturbed.
Thank you for the inspiration and the reminder of why I'm doing this.
You can do it!
I wish someone had said planted tanks can actually be easier to maintain in the long run. I always battled water quality with fake plants and decor. My planted aquarium has been LOADS easier!
Cory, don't think you have ever baked a cake ;) Cake soup is called batter :)
Im finally getting back into the hobby after 3 years of being flat broke. I kept a beautiful 5 gallon betta tank that basically ran itself with just replenishing water loss and using ferts once a month. That fish lived for 6 years!! Im scared to get back in because I want to try shrimp, but this channel has been freakin amazing for giving me confidence coming back in. Thanks man
Grow houseplants on top of your tank, or in a HOB, or use floating plants. Having a lot of plants growing with access to the air is super easy and will help keep your water cleaner and your fish healthier.
“Everyone is nuts”
That’s me, trying to convince my parents I need an apex for my 20 gallon planted tank
"We're not gonna need that BOX!" Lol...dying... Best B Roll ever!
Great video and information 😀👍 I've learned that over the years of having fish is that there's always something new to be learned and always something happening in the fish room 😆
Fish food hoarder here. 😆 Actually, I’m getting better about not buying any until I’m running out of something else.
I keep two goldfish tanks and the most important thing I feel to remember is that you are keeping living beings and you can’t take that responsibility lightly. You must do the best for your fish, just like you would for your dog/cat/hamster. Our oldest fish is now 16, the youngest is 7. So happy to have not lost a fish for over 6 years now. I just wish I could keep more live plants in the tank, those fish are eating machines!!!
I think the whole world is crazy, except you and me, and I often worry about you. :P
After a year, i think the biggest takeaway has been patience!! not going out and getting every possible thing right away, letting things settle, watching every step...the patience was hard at first, now i actively enjoy slowing down and taking it day by day
The biggest mistake I made was not paying closer attention to my water hardness and having a better understanding of the complexities. I have paid dearly for that and am SOOO ashamed!
Thanks Cory and team for all the knowledge! Great job making everything so interesting and fun to watch😀
I wish I knew about aquarium co-op years ago
Love the emphasis on Enjoyment.
First Comment! Share and joing the NERMS
Another great video. The most important thing I've learnt is the need to see and treat an aquarium as a whole eco system, with each element helping to support the others.
I watched a video where you recommend to keep a journal of water changes,and I'm glad that I did. Being able to see day to day what my tank is doing,has made it easier to figure out what I should do next. I'm also following your guide on how to deal with ammonia,and I'm going on day two of now feeding,and everything is great!! I can't thank you enough for the videos,Cory! You are a tremendous help,and a fun person to watch. Your life for the hobby is in every video,and it makes it more fun to watch.
This is a great video for anyone. We, as in my family, have been through so much with this hobby. So many fails, so much work, sooo much money, sooo much time. Why though, the passion!! My kids are learning so much, my wife and I are learning so much and for the rest of our lives the memories will last. Thank you Cory we see you as genuine and appreciate what you add to the Hobby.
Yesssss Cory is the MY FAV when I have an aquarium question or need to learn about something.
@@triimarie4396 I like to watch Cory too. I found that it's best to take all of the information out there and then play and test what works for you. To me that's the fun in the Hobby.
that's the truth right there 👌 every tank is an experiment
Test your tap water. Test it from different rooms (my kitchen is different than my bathroom- don't know why!).
different material of the water pipes could be a reason
Very informative as usual. Editing is stellar!
A course sponge is the best filter media. Doesn't matter if it is a bubble sponge in the tank, hang on back, or canister. Cartridge filters are like snake oil to separate you from your money.
I cannot stress the second point enough. I have SO many customers over emphasizing and over estimating the impact of mechanical filtration.
Thank you for the info and good advice as always.
When I started, I never knew that some detritus, mulm etc was not necessarily a bad thing or that a pristine tank was not necessarily a good thing.
I lol'd at "Everyone is nuts", so true!
As an experienced aquarist, I've learned a few big ones. Here we go: 1) Keep your arms and hands out of the tanks as much as you can. 2) Easy on the food, even if they eat it all. 3) Weekly water changes regardless. 4) Run the air stone and filtration 24/7. 5) Live plants are more trouble than they're worth. 6) Parasites are a fact of life in this hobby. Expect them. Swim Bladder is not a death sentence. Feed them too many Blood worms, they're gonna tilt..lol!
The "every tank is an experiment" one is great that's why I like this hobby. The part about killing fish is allso important, if you can't admit and live with that this is not for you. It's good that you say it as it is I've noticed other youtubers tiptoeing around that fact.
Tip for those who wanna start their planted aquarium. Use your eyes, watch your plants, dont change too much too quick. Try to find the perfect dose of fertilizers (and CO2). Each tank is different. Sure you can always help yourself by measuring the water parameters and search for the cause of algea but dont go to crazy about getting the parameters to be perfect - plants will show you when they're fine and when they are not. Healthy growth is the way. Also always plant as many plants as you can. It helps with the algea. And hire the cleaning crew - amano shrimps, snails, what ever. Buy them. In a helathy tank you will always get a littile bit of algea here and there. Thats where the cleaning crew comes in. And remember keep it steady. DO NOT mess with your aquarium and doses of fertilizers too much and too often.
Best advice is don't listen to everyone and have a backup plan. People will tell you arbitrary rules like you can only have 1 angelfish for every 10 gallons. I've had 6 angelfish in a 75g and they killed each other and I have also had 3 pairs of angelfish in a 30g ALL breeding.
Always have a backplan whether it is a Rubbermaid tote and sponge filter to separate out troublemakers or a full quarantine system. It doesn't have to be fancy it just has to care for the fish because they are in your care.
I suffer from major depression, suicide thoughts, anxiety, the whole enchilada.. my tank helps me by giving me something to focus on, experiment, experience and totally enjoy. It's a new hobby for me and it has helped my situation. Loss of a fish or shrimp hits me hard often breaking down emotionally. Given that am not thriving in my life, I want everyone I'm in charge of to thrive. I'm engaged, learning and and enjoy sitting back and figuring these guys individual habits out.
I'm an African Cichlid guy and definitely went down the "I need all the filtration!" With that said since I've been following Cory I have learned so much. I would say the biggest thing I've learned is filtration isn't the issue. How much food you feed and having plants is the key for me. Understanding that biological bacteria is on every surface and how best to let it thrive is what I focus on. I'm still mostly an African Cichlid guy but I have drastically changed how I approach the hobby. With my main tank which is a 125 I have it species only with 20 Lethrinops Mbasi in there fully planted with an FX4, an Aquaclear 50 for mostly polishing, and a UV sterilizer that I'm kinda just messing with to see what it's all about and a sponge filter from the COOP. I set this tank up about a year ago from scratch and tried to apply all the things I've learned and it is by far the best tank I've ever had after 6 plus years in the hobby. It's truly balanced in all ways. The parameters have been perfect for the last 6 months. Nitrates stay around 20 and I water change once a month and top off as needed. Also I live in FL and it's pretty warm year round so another piece of advice I've gleamed from the COOP is heaters. I use two 100 watt heaters one on each end an as during the summer I take them out and tank stays around 78 to 80 in the cooler months I throw them back in and let the temp fluctuate like the seasons and set the heaters to 70. Any way super long comment but really wanted to share that. Thanks!
My father-in-law's speech at my wedding was essentially a roast about my passion for fishkeeping 🤣
You nailed it on your first one.
Agreed 👍
I had a fish tank in the 80s when I was a kid, and what I remember hating the most was how quickly the water got dirty and smelly. I remember the "undergravel filters" didn't work worth a damn. Now that I have my own home, just checking back to see if equipment has improved at all since the 80s.
Wish I knew about the nitrogen cycle. It shouldn’t be legal to sell fish without a disclaimer to the buyer, as most people don’t know about cycling
Very well articulated! If I could say one thing to what I wish I knew early would be to learn more about mother nature and trust her more. Which means think about your fish outdoors all year round and where they come from and what happens to their water through out that times what are they eating? what is falling into it? what kind of homes to they escape and breed into?
I learned that talking with confidence about fish will get you far. This was especially helpful for me since I am a young person in the hobby and people expect me to not know anything.
This is wonderful!
I would also tell newbies to take what is declared on forums with a grain of salt. There is a lot of accepted "wisdom" held as incontrovertible gospel that just isn't true, and the militant attitudes on some forums can chase a new learner away and perhaps turn them off the hobby entirely. Know that you're going to talk to a lot of people who sound like authorities but are full of it. When you find someone who truly does know their stuff (and that person will often be at your local fish store, where they will not only know the fish but also your local water), turn to them before you go to the internet.
don't over clean your fish tanks. is something I wish somebody told me when I started this Hobby. kept over cleaning my tank and I couldn't figure out why I was losing fish.
Yeah that buying every food is me. I throw in that food and if they don’t like it in the trash! I always come back to frozen food and bug bites!
With adequate flow and a hardscape with high surface area, you can easily filter your tank with high a bio load of plants and the nitrifying bacteria growing on said hardscape.
A
Putting a sponge filter an hob filter on my first tank would of saved me time on my 2nd an 3rd tanks.
Thia seema like a great place to ask for advice on the best battery operated recharcheable air pump or solar powered air pump for a 500gph
One thing I wish I knew:
No matter how awesome you think your hardscape ideas are, if it's a pain in the ass to work around, you're going to absolutely hate it.
My first scape looked really nice, but things were balanced so precariously that I had to be really careful when cleaning and some places were just impossible to reach. No amount of aesthetics were worth how much I hated doing maintenance on that tank.
im just a kid who loves goldfish i know its hard to do keep the tank at the fishes perfection and im getting a new 130 litre tank i cant wait im going to get banner fish and redtail sharks
Nice keeping it to 5, I would include aquarium heaters are junk, never trust them and you will be replacing them eventually. They all go bad!
yeah… my first heater hasn’t gone bad yet. so maybe i shouldn’t waste my money on another one and just buy a cover & light for the aquarium instead? see how that works?
Most people run a light so they can see the fish better, if you want to rock plants you most likely need a light unless in-front of a window or something. Cover is a good choice also, it will help hold heat and cut down on humidity and splashing. Remember we talk about the norm, I am sure people have had heaters last years. I am just saying the normal expectation is the heater will eventually go bad and pending what fish you have that might be critical, but might not be either.
Yay a aquarium Co-op video that's not 2 hours long LOL short and sweet.. I love his videos but sometime I need something short to watch before working or water changes
This was such good advice! Thanks for keeping me company while I was changing water😃
I’m a landscape architect and own a landscape design/ build company. When I thought of taking on fish ponds, I thought I would take on aquariums to learn water parameters and have some knowledge of how to build natural environments. Now I have my personal collection, chilids, nanos, tetras, shrimp and frogs. I have children the ages of 1 and 3; they have enjoyed the hobby as well with tanks on the floor at eye level for them. we have yet to build a pond!
I’m am by no means a veteran, but one thing I have definitely learned is not to panic or be hasty in trying to “solve a problem “ that may not be a problem at all! Slow down, think it through, and ask God for guidance! It’ll turn out great!
Thx for your straight forward tips Cory! They’ve definitely helped me see aquarium keeping in new ways!
I think you bringing your religion into this conversation is off track, topic and not needed.
Remember to watch and enjoy looking at your fish
Sometimes it's not our fault.
I can so relate to all of this!
My advice - just because my friends think my fish tanks are cool, most of them have no interest in me helping them get one started!
Also - sometimes it easier to breed the fish you like than to find someone else to buy it.
Your first point is great, and to expand on it, I've ran into plenty of friends/family that THINK they want an aquarium, but then they realize that they just wanted to look at one rather than take care of it or learn anything. If they make it passed that, I've made it a rule that I can't help someone set up a tank unless they fully understand the nitrogen cycle.
crystal clear water isnt always best sometimes you just need some good green water to rehab a fish
I have started this hobby when covid hit and it took me for the best journey of my life! Anyway I love your videos I have learned so much about the chemical part of water, I went and got some snails, and I have just been learning so much. Keep these videos coming man. One day I hope to be able to come to the store.
Ugh so true about the filters. I have SO MANY now that are just sitting around unused…
"I'm gonna learn a bunch about stuff no one cares about" accurate asf bro
please start selling hardscape and aqascape meterial i will buy all of it and more
I have two 55 gallon tanks in my bedroom.
It's my first time having two big tanks. It's amazing . I never understood the draw in having more than one tank. But it allows you to give each tank time to do it's thing, and not rush anything because your focus is divided. One is a planted discus, the other Is an easy planned community tank. I kinda want three tanks lol
I have a 55 in my bedroom. Getting ready to add a 75 to my living room
Thank you for this, I really needed to hear #1 from an experienced fishkeeper, just lost a betta, had a fungal infection that might have been prevented if I had checked the water parameters more often. My advice I'm trying to apply right now is patience, in places where there aren't a lot of fish stores it might be better to wait for the fish you really want than to impulse buy.
Get the biggest tank, even if it looks to big now.
Sooooo true, when I got my 150 it felt huge. Now it feels small for the fish I like to keep.
Sage advice! I've made all those mistakes but fortunately never lost the enjoyment. Fish keeping truly is a fluid situation!
“If you don’t do it my way your doing it wrong”:…. Me
“Some people get excited for anything fish”:……. Also me
I'm guilty of buying too much food.
Quarantine all new fish and have a hospital tank.