I’ve found you can’t trust a person who shows a lack of humility. Thank you for still being here for us, making videos, bettering the hobby. I know I’m too thin skinned to do what you and others do. I’m thankful for those of you who keep at it.
I've never seen a hobby like fishkeeping where EVERYBODY thinks they're an expert and there's only one right way to do things. So many people preach about what they don't know and persecute others for doing things differently. The worst part is it discourages new people from the hobby. Has anybody ever asked a fish question on a FB group?
I always trust those that say something works for them but acknowledge that other things work for other people too. Anyone who says that there is only one way to do things instantly set off my alarm bells. Also when a TH-camr says that they’re not sure of an answer. I really appreciate honestly.
It wasn't me who claimed to have an aquarium next to a window and not had algae issues but I can confirm that I have the same. A 100 gallon tank in front of glass patio doors, it receives full sunlight from sunrise to sunset. It has been there over a year and I've had no algae at all, not even dust algae, the glass is as clear now as the day I put the aquarium there. Who knows, one day I may get around to putting water in it.
Lol i actually do have aquariums in a window with INDIRECT SUNLIGHT daily and direct light for a few hours a day in summer, and it has no noticable algae... there is obviously some in there, im sure, but the glass is clean...however its about 10x plants to fish in bioload...and an exception to the rule for sure.
This guy is a hero.. I messaged him on Facebook asking him for advice and he took the time out of his very busy day to reply to me. Keep up the great work Ben
Excellent points. As i say... " theres no one correct way to keep fish...however, there are a few wrong ways to keep fish". To each their own... share what you do know, and make friends that know much more than you 😊 so you can call them when you need to know.
I agree 100 percent. What the hobby has taught me is every tank is different. Way to many people want to argue that what works for them is the only way to do it and we are bad hobbyists for doing it any other way. Keep up the great content.
Good day, I have been in the hobby for many years. Right now I have a 135 community w/ severums and such. I have a few favorites I watch. Pretty much what I call the veterans in this hobby,, I don't care to much for the rookies. We are all at different stages in this wonderful world of aquarium life. That's what makes are hobby more fun and interesting. We all need to take what we can and leave what we don't understand yet. Because in the end,,, we are all learning and improving, to better care for are love of this hobby. ❤
4:54 I have a planted six gallon long on my window seal in my kitchen that hardly ever grow algae. Frequent water changes is all you need in this hobby. Water changes are not always practical or affordable but are honestly the only thing you need to do to keep fish alive. Out of my years of experience I have learned the one thing that ensures the stability of my tank is that I am constantly replacing the old water with fresh water. Doesn't matter how awesome your tank is and how well it filtrates and how many plants you have, replacing dirty water with fresh water is beneficial to everyone and everything. Also running your tank warmer seems to help prevent fish sickness.
Hey Ben! Nice video and subject like always. I only follow only a few fish keepers in this hobby and you are 1 of them. Thanks for the education especially someone that is into natural tanks and is very interested into setting up another cichlid tank. Thanks again!
I will watch someone a few times on TH-cam, but I will stop if a) they spend half the time quiet because they forgot what they were talking about b) say things that are really stupid (you, too, can a clean a tank with just a sponge and no water changes) or they make comment about a fish they admit they never raised. I like you and KGTropicals who are willing to go against what "everyone" on TH-cam says. And the items discussed are items that are born of experience.
Ben your defensive response is understandable, I'm 60 and am a construction superintendent for 30 years and get frustrated by the stupidity of trades work and comments. I have become a good judge of character. You my friend are a class act you never have to lower yourself to ignorance. Just wanted to say that.
I’m not an African cichlid keeper, I keep community planted and shrimp tanks. But I like all fish you’re a straight shooter no stuffing around kinda bloke. I like that and I generally watch and enjoy your stuff and I wholeheartedly agree with you on this one good onya.
This has been happening a lot lately. People getting very passionate about others choice of how they keep their tanks. Thanks for being just informative and nonjudgmental
Hi Ben Very recognisable. I have had visitors in my house who claimed that i had too much filtration in my African cichlid tanks. I have a 150 and a 110-gallon tank. Both tanks have 2 canister filters, and both tanks cycle about 700 gallons an hour. This was very wrong, they claimed! They literally told me my water was too clear! 🤔 Also, very passionate people. It turned into a very heated argument. Should have seen their faces when i said i rather had a little more on the 150. I have been doing this for almost my entire life. Never had someone tell me this. When they left, i simply took it as a compliment. 😅
There are too many variables in the aquarium hobby for what works for me is the best for your set-up. Experience and common sense has worked just fine for my aquariums. And if I do incorporate changes it’s usually “go slow” and keep notes as I go. I like your way of explaining what you like and don’t like, and your honesty when some your ideals didn’t work well. I have lost too many fish through mistakes or not doing the research before I make changes. But OMG have I learned much along the way. This was a great video!
Good video thanks. The problem is these days, most people consider themselves an "expert" and can't wait to be judgemental and only want their own opinion verified. Also the art of discussion is fast disappearing unfortunately, as is open mindedness.
Thanks for bringing this up. This is why I like your channel. You give it like it is, no sugar coating and you acknowledge that no two tanks are alike so each system will have different requirements which very few youtubers do. With most its either my way or the highway. Keep your videos coming. No matter how experienced we are there is always something to learn and as hobbyists we all need to learn from each other. 👍
I use floaters with my africans makes for very little maintenance. Also had an fx6 on my 150 with tons of floaters and some val. Father fish method is truly amazing and can be adapted to all fish setups❤ from michigan. I have tanks directly in front of windows. Some grow algae more than others. Some not at all. I want more algae.these are 2 year old deep substrate woth tins of olants and 100s of nanos. My african tanks have 4-6 inchea of deep substrate and they thrive. Nice video
Hey. I have never seen another one of your videos. This is my first video of yours I have watched. I love your opinion on this. Glad you keep it real. I just want to learn more about keeping fish. It has really filled a spot in my life. Keep it up man. Can’t wait to watch more of your content.
Good discussion Ben. IMO, you don't need to trust anyone on TH-cam. I watch fishkeeping videos for entertainment & inspiration. There are many ways to keep a healthy thriving tank. Some people like bare-bottom tanks with massive filtration, while others scrape mud from the bottom of a creek to put in their tank. Either option can work so it really comes down to personal preference. I've been successfully keeping planted tanks for years in almost the exact opposite way from what Corey from Aquarium CO-OP recommends (sand and no ferts), but I still respect his experience and enjoy many of his videos.
well said that man! a lot of sense being spoken in this video. What works for someone may not work for all. me personally I have used under gravle filters and heavily planted tanks since coming into the hobby over 30 years ago. never really got on with canisters or hang on back filters but then i have never felt i have needed then either. i mainly keep community fish such as danios, platties and loaches and have a couple of betta and shrimp set ups, but do understand there is a need especially with digging and boystrus fish such as gold fish and cichlids. my man you have just got yourself another subscriber 😉
Some of my friends say my 55 gal tank is over filtered because it has 2 canister filters good for 75-100 gal and an overhead sump. Though the tank is over-stocked around 100 plus mix tetras, corys, loaches and plecos however i never had a problem with water parameters. It's been 3 years now and my fishes are thriving. I guess overfiltering does not hurt.
I love that rimless tank so much, Sponges work well if you have 1 little fish. I always have them in there but I use them as a tank trash can now and rinse them all weekly.
Who do you trust on TH-cam? Now there's a question. Been doing this a while and have watched quite a few videos. There are some out there who know what there doing. Unfortunately without that experience it's hard to tell what's good advice or not. Most people don't know enough to distinguish between the good and the bad. Great topic! Keep doing what you're doing
Yea there's always 'those people' who can't imagine a world different than their narrow focus. I've had people get passionately mad at me in my videos for using fake plants. But I think your responses are always fair and level-headed. Good on you.
Indeed. I love plants and all my tanks have natural plants in them, but if I had African cichlids or other plant eaters, I’d be going straight to artificial plants too. I like people who encourage people to get real plants, but telling someone off for not having real plants, just seems little minded.
Big fan of real plants here but that's largely because I'm a plant grower in general with house and garden plants. The fish can't tell the difference and studies have shown that they are happy with their environment being enriched so they aren't in a bare tank.
Thank you, Mr. Ochart. This video is just what I needed. I was getting so disillusioned with TH-cam that I was about ready to give up on the whole thing...even as a viewer. But there are some really good people on here so why should I throw away the baby with the bath water? I don't like cichlids much but I have been watching your channel for years now. It's very interesting. I think I will stick with the good people and let the rest go.
I’ve been watching you, Cory, The Fish Girl and others that I have become to trust. I’ve learned a lot from all of you. I started with my first 10 gl over 2 years ago and have constantly been watching you, Cory and others. I now have 5 tanks. Now I want to learn how to make my own tank. I love this hobby. I only have Beunas & Diamonds that have had babies, also a couple of Nerites. I plan on broadening my horizons with other fish and will continue to support all of you. I trust you, Cory and the others have slipped my memory. Take care and continue doing what you’re doing because I trust you. ❤
TESTIFY!! Mr. Ochart u r THE MAN with Great Wisdom!! Keep it Up!! Sir … p.s. even thru I ain’t a cichlid keeper? I still enjoy and learn from ur TH-cam program for my own fish keeping of Medaka rice fish. Aloha
I keep nano fish and shrimp. The biggest tank I have is a 40 gallon breeder and every tank is heavily planted and under stocked and I only use sponge filters. I do plan on getting a six foot tank with discus in it and u can bet I'm going to have a canister filter. U have to look at every situation differently. The main thing is to have healthy water for your fish.
Great video yeah I like it when people just tell you like it is in the fish hobby if it works it works if it don't it don't just straight-up honest videos are the best
Lol my larger cichlids rip the sponges to piece's so I'll stick to my canister filters.😂at least with those tank's. I do like sponges with my smaller fish but still use HOB filters with the sponges.
I’m glad you’re venting who cares. It means your human just like the rest of us. I don’t care who likes me and your right it’s about being honest straight forward and up front.
I've never had cichlids but I've had native fish like carp, pike and perch. It was close to impossible for me to have plants in those tanks. I had a large canister outside the tank for filtration. Some fish just don't get along well with plants and will keep pulling them up. I think one of the few plants that actually did well for me was something called "anubias". I remember it growing very slowly but it was such a sturdy plant once it got going.
I make it a priority to trust people with bacon on their hat! Love that hat. But honestly I never trust anyone until they tell me at least one time the words "I don't know." I love your slogan "ALL WAYS BE LEARNING."
Ben I love your channel your informative and you get to the point quickly I can’t stand people who have click bait videos that really don’t get to the point thank you ❤
I have a feeling that if I met Cory from aquarium co-op in person I would not like him. I can not watch his live stream. I’ve tried so many times but the rest of his video I do enjoy cuz I value his opinion.
I have a fancy goldfish tank and I've had only them for 14 years. I think thats a lot of experience. My tank right now looks almost exactly like yours. There have been very few TH-camrs who gave advice I used, if any... They think they did I suppose
Wow. I have not seen you this riled. I don’t have Cichlids but I have listened enough to those of you who do to know A. They pulverize plants, B. They dig deep so dirt is out of the question, and C. the bioload necessitates having a canister versus other filtration. I cannot imagine having a big tank with monster fish and not use a canister. I’ve even seen a canister used on a 200 gallon planted tank stocked with nano fish. Whoever that was that upset you has their own agenda. Just keep doing what you do.
I have a 55gal with smaller Central/South American cichlids that I ran a single HOB. Had an issue with dead spots and detritus... got both a canister and sponge with a small wave maker, issue resolved. The canister was a life saver!
Thank you! Integrity, honesty, and let me form my own opinion ❤ All notifications ON now. I've been in the hobby 2 years this month. I've watched so many creators lose my confidence in them through pettiness and being so highly opinionated. I'm here to learn. My interest was not in cichlids at my start. Angelsfish got me hooked; you have moved up my list fast with this video, thank you! Current favorites... Co-op, MD and Matt, LRB, KeepingFishSimple, Dan's Fish, and George Farmer. You join these ranks for my research on the fish world for your integrity, honesty, no BS, no drama, no clique needed attitude.
I won't get into who I trust and who I don't. Trust is difficult for me. It's easier to say that the list of people on it is exceptionally short and just leave it at that. But, the traits I'm looking for aren't dissimilar to Ben's... or yours. In some ways, I'm very jealous of you, so young inbthe hobby with so much to look forward to. The twists and turns that every fish keeper goes through.
@Whip's World 💕 Those first two sentences are powerful and may be the core of our approach to wading through life in general. It's difficult to separate past life experiences into a new foray of study. If your senses are keen, it's easier to understand what tidbits are valuable information and which are ego, self promotion, or desperate grabs of social acceptance. Thanks for the comment
I trust nobody at first. I listen. I evaluate. I test. If I concur, I will follow. As you have pointed out there are differences in fish needs and fish owner desires. A lot of misunderstandings are a result of not being on the same page. I have smaller planted tanks with small tetras that operate fine without a canister filter. I have larger Frontosa aquariums that I have 2 canisters and zero plants. If you meet your fish needs and are fine with your fish keeping methods feel free to ignore those who tell you are wrong.
Been watching you for years . You’ve been around for awhile. You give a good perspective on the hobby. I’m old school follow half man half cichlid , Jay , and a few others. keep up the videos . But please do me a favor and don’t say Seachem matrix will reduce your nitrates. Unless they sponsor u and then I will understand. And if they sponsor you , you won’t be able to do videos on recharging matrix because Seachem might not like that.
Ben we like you!! don't let the negative comments bring u down ,u probably get them alot and yes WHO CARES WHAT THAY SAY..,, JUST KEEP GIVING US THE GOODS BROTHA... GREAT VIDEOS.....
There is always a small minority of people in any domain - who are so proud, entitled and narcissistic - who think that they know more than God about anything. Including sponge filters for 300 gallon aquariums with plant-destroy cichlids. LOL! Good that you educated them (not that it ever works since they need to be humble to actually learn and accept new knowledge). God bless.
Cannister filters do suck. I own an FX4 and an FX6 in both freshwater and saltwater and they both suck compared to a sump or decent HOB for the price. I wrap polishing clothe around the inlet to reduce waste into my canister but it's a pain in the ash to clean. Man what a pain!...
You tell them Ben.. I always want to be able to learn. There are so many different filters and where they work best.. I have become fond of sumps. I build and plumb my own. Im a bacteria harvester and It works for me. however I understand a good canister is good for turnover and water cleaning. Before you said Dustin, I knew who you were talking about lol Hes a straight shooter. So are you Ben ! Ill drink coffee to that .. Im not selling anything.. I just enjoy sharing my hobby and thoughts.. I appreciate comments and feedback and subs ! 😁
Hi , I was looking for a light for my tank is a four footer the one tank you was cleaning the front glass looks nice can you direct me where I can get one thanks .
I am so glad you made this video, so very very glad!! Some people have more money and can afford redundancy - or feel more comfortable with it -; some don't. Some people have Central American Cichlids that treat anything under a few pounds as a toy, some people have shrimp. Some people never give specifics as to what they are doing. For example, I have a small 15g tank near south facing French Doors that never gets algae. But... I have shade cloth on my deck... and that tank is filled with Amano Shrimp and Java Moss and low level lighting on for a short period a day. Now it's not so outrageous a claim. I trust people that admit they don't know everything!
Yes thank you! I love your honesty and that's why I enjoy listening to your channel. Cheers! 🤗 If there's anything that puts me off it's the numerous fish police especially on foums and Facebook groups that tear into you if you're a beginner and looking for help or advice for keeping a new aquarium. I try my best to not be like those people when trying to help someone who is having trouble with their tank to the best of my ability and experience level. If I don't know, I'll do my best to refer them to someone else who might have better experience who can help them with their particular case. And a note on some of the channels recently I watch who've started criticizing other fish TH-cam channels or their content who do things differently than them. Please, can we just stay on the topic of the channel without the drama? I'm hear to learn more about my favorite hobbies to relax and learn from others experience and new methods that they use. Not a war on who's right or wrong. I've started to loose interest in some of these channels who used to be purely educational because of this. 😕 And absolutely, we need to be aware of people potentially giving bad or misleading advice. 👍
Being driven by a desire to grow our wonderful hobby, nothing kills that growth faster than making new fish keepers feel stupid for asking a question. I have no patience for those inconsiderate trolls who very often don’t even have a tank.
Made by a company called Reegugu. Comes in several sizes and has a metal blade or plastic scraper that can be attached. One reason it glides is that I use the Fritz glass cleaner which is designed to make the glass silky. Here’s my review video: th-cam.com/video/-Z_QYrUUY8A/w-d-xo.html
I mostly use aerator with sponge filters, I'm a big fan of this since its cheaper and effective. I however I do use some hang on or internal filters (water pump) with in conjunction with my sponge filters especially on my main display tank, and on bigger tanks with gold fish (that only have limited plants). I actually don't use cannister, since its a bit expensive, however if you give me one, then I'll be cloud9 and will be happy to use it. I'll be honest, my aquariums with water pumps is way clearer than just sponge filter. That's why I use it in my main tank even if it got a lots of plants. I also trust people in YT who admit their vices. Like Dans Fish, he does admit he's not an expert in aquatic plants.
And this why I only watch a select few, to many wanna be experts and forums are even worse. Cichlid Bros,DIY, Father Fish and couple more. Aquarium Co-Op for plants and good knowledge overall and a great staff😊
I’ve found you can’t trust a person who shows a lack of humility. Thank you for still being here for us, making videos, bettering the hobby. I know I’m too thin skinned to do what you and others do. I’m thankful for those of you who keep at it.
I've never seen a hobby like fishkeeping where EVERYBODY thinks they're an expert and there's only one right way to do things. So many people preach about what they don't know and persecute others for doing things differently. The worst part is it discourages new people from the hobby. Has anybody ever asked a fish question on a FB group?
I always trust those that say something works for them but acknowledge that other things work for other people too. Anyone who says that there is only one way to do things instantly set off my alarm bells.
Also when a TH-camr says that they’re not sure of an answer. I really appreciate honestly.
Right!
It wasn't me who claimed to have an aquarium next to a window and not had algae issues but I can confirm that I have the same. A 100 gallon tank in front of glass patio doors, it receives full sunlight from sunrise to sunset. It has been there over a year and I've had no algae at all, not even dust algae, the glass is as clear now as the day I put the aquarium there.
Who knows, one day I may get around to putting water in it.
🤣🤣🤣 you really had me going 🤣🤣🤣
Lol i actually do have aquariums in a window with INDIRECT SUNLIGHT daily and direct light for a few hours a day in summer, and it has no noticable algae... there is obviously some in there, im sure, but the glass is clean...however its about 10x plants to fish in bioload...and an exception to the rule for sure.
This guy is a hero.. I messaged him on Facebook asking him for advice and he took the time out of his very busy day to reply to me.
Keep up the great work Ben
The current " No water changes" trend is right painfull!
Great vid!
Excellent points. As i say... " theres no one correct way to keep fish...however, there are a few wrong ways to keep fish". To each their own... share what you do know, and make friends that know much more than you 😊 so you can call them when you need to know.
I think this speaks for life in general. Subscribing. 😊
I agree 100 percent. What the hobby has taught me is every tank is different. Way to many people want to argue that what works for them is the only way to do it and we are bad hobbyists for doing it any other way. Keep up the great content.
Good day, I have been in the hobby for many years. Right now I have a 135 community w/ severums and such. I have a few favorites I watch. Pretty much what I call the veterans in this hobby,, I don't care to much for the rookies. We are all at different stages in this wonderful world of aquarium life. That's what makes are hobby more fun and interesting. We all need to take what we can and leave what we don't understand yet. Because in the end,,, we are all learning and improving, to better care for are love of this hobby. ❤
Your comments are Much appreciated. I respect your honesty and enjoy listening to your channel👍
We like your love for fish 🐠🎸😜
Good human advice #respect
Thank you for saying this!
4:54 I have a planted six gallon long on my window seal in my kitchen that hardly ever grow algae. Frequent water changes is all you need in this hobby. Water changes are not always practical or affordable but are honestly the only thing you need to do to keep fish alive. Out of my years of experience I have learned the one thing that ensures the stability of my tank is that I am constantly replacing the old water with fresh water. Doesn't matter how awesome your tank is and how well it filtrates and how many plants you have, replacing dirty water with fresh water is beneficial to everyone and everything. Also running your tank warmer seems to help prevent fish sickness.
"Mussolini fish keepers" I like that one Ben 😂
Hey Ben! Nice video and subject like always. I only follow only a few fish keepers in this hobby and you are 1 of them. Thanks for the education especially someone that is into natural tanks and is very interested into setting up another cichlid tank. Thanks again!
I'm behind you 100%. It's insane. It's a strange dogma, no matter what their echo chamber is.
I will watch someone a few times on TH-cam, but I will stop if a) they spend half the time quiet because they forgot what they were talking about b) say things that are really stupid (you, too, can a clean a tank with just a sponge and no water changes) or they make comment about a fish they admit they never raised. I like you and KGTropicals who are willing to go against what "everyone" on TH-cam says. And the items discussed are items that are born of experience.
You, Aquarium Coop, KGTropicals, Prime Time Aquatics, Dan's Fish & a few others on the Saltwater side.
Thanks Ben, glad you're One we can trust !!! and learn from !!!!! Keep up the good fight !!!!
Ben your defensive response is understandable, I'm 60 and am a construction superintendent for 30 years and get frustrated by the stupidity of trades work and comments. I have become a good judge of character. You my friend are a class act you never have to lower yourself to ignorance. Just wanted to say that.
I’m not an African cichlid keeper, I keep community planted and shrimp tanks. But I like all fish you’re a straight shooter no stuffing around kinda bloke. I like that and I generally watch and enjoy your stuff and I wholeheartedly agree with you on this one good onya.
This has been happening a lot lately. People getting very passionate about others choice of how they keep their tanks. Thanks for being just informative and nonjudgmental
Hi Ben
Very recognisable.
I have had visitors in my house who claimed that i had too much filtration in my African cichlid tanks.
I have a 150 and a 110-gallon tank. Both tanks have 2 canister filters, and both tanks cycle about 700 gallons an hour. This was very wrong, they claimed! They literally told me my water was too clear! 🤔
Also, very passionate people.
It turned into a very heated argument. Should have seen their faces when i said i rather had a little more on the 150. I have been doing this for almost my entire life. Never had someone tell me this. When they left, i simply took it as a compliment. 😅
Too clear 😂
I have a 125 gallon and a 200 gallon. I run 2 canisters on each. It is the best way (imo) to filter aquariums over 75 gallons without a sump.
There are too many variables in the aquarium hobby for what works for me is the best for your set-up. Experience and common sense has worked just fine for my aquariums. And if I do incorporate changes it’s usually “go slow” and keep notes as I go. I like your way of explaining what you like and don’t like, and your honesty when some your ideals didn’t work well. I have lost too many fish through mistakes or not doing the research before I make changes. But OMG have I learned much along the way. This was a great video!
Preach brother! ✌😁
Good video thanks. The problem is these days, most people consider themselves an "expert" and can't wait to be judgemental and only want their own opinion verified. Also the art of discussion is fast disappearing unfortunately, as is open mindedness.
Nailed it!
I just loved your talk 👄
Thanks for bringing this up. This is why I like your channel. You give it like it is, no sugar coating and you acknowledge that no two tanks are alike so each system will have different requirements which very few youtubers do. With most its either my way or the highway. Keep your videos coming. No matter how experienced we are there is always something to learn and as hobbyists we all need to learn from each other. 👍
I use floaters with my africans makes for very little maintenance. Also had an fx6 on my 150 with tons of floaters and some val. Father fish method is truly amazing and can be adapted to all fish setups❤ from michigan. I have tanks directly in front of windows. Some grow algae more than others. Some not at all. I want more algae.these are 2 year old deep substrate woth tins of olants and 100s of nanos. My african tanks have 4-6 inchea of deep substrate and they thrive. Nice video
Appreciate the video and commentary Ben. Very well done and well said.
Remember the opinion you follow should be your own. Simply take this as a second opinion from a complete stranger online.
🤣🤣🤣 classic phrase 👍🏻
Thanks for your honesty, humble approach and integrity.
Hey. I have never seen another one of your videos. This is my first video of yours I have watched. I love your opinion on this. Glad you keep it real. I just want to learn more about keeping fish. It has really filled a spot in my life. Keep it up man. Can’t wait to watch more of your content.
Good video
Good discussion Ben. IMO, you don't need to trust anyone on TH-cam. I watch fishkeeping videos for entertainment & inspiration. There are many ways to keep a healthy thriving tank. Some people like bare-bottom tanks with massive filtration, while others scrape mud from the bottom of a creek to put in their tank. Either option can work so it really comes down to personal preference. I've been successfully keeping planted tanks for years in almost the exact opposite way from what Corey from Aquarium CO-OP recommends (sand and no ferts), but I still respect his experience and enjoy many of his videos.
Well said 💯
well said that man! a lot of sense being spoken in this video. What works for someone may not work for all. me personally I have used under gravle filters and heavily planted tanks since coming into the hobby over 30 years ago. never really got on with canisters or hang on back filters but then i have never felt i have needed then either. i mainly keep community fish such as danios, platties and loaches and have a couple of betta and shrimp set ups, but do understand there is a need especially with digging and boystrus fish such as gold fish and cichlids.
my man you have just got yourself another subscriber 😉
Good rant. Love the passion. Sharing how one truly feels is someone I trust.
Don't worry Ben. you are a good person. I have been following you on youtube for years. and know that you have a lot of knowledge about keeping fish
Some of my friends say my 55 gal tank is over filtered because it has 2 canister filters good for 75-100 gal and an overhead sump. Though the tank is over-stocked around 100 plus mix tetras, corys, loaches and plecos however i never had a problem with water parameters. It's been 3 years now and my fishes are thriving. I guess overfiltering does not hurt.
I love that rimless tank so much, Sponges work well if you have 1 little fish. I always have them in there but I use them as a tank trash can now and rinse them all weekly.
Ben, I so appreciate your videos and knowledge of fish keeping. You are always a great source of helpful information when I have questions! 😊
Very well said Thank you!
Who do you trust on TH-cam? Now there's a question. Been doing this a while and have watched quite a few videos. There are some out there who know what there doing. Unfortunately without that experience it's hard to tell what's good advice or not. Most people don't know enough to distinguish between the good and the bad. Great topic! Keep doing what you're doing
True. True true. More true. Thanks for this video 👍🏻😀
Yea there's always 'those people' who can't imagine a world different than their narrow focus. I've had people get passionately mad at me in my videos for using fake plants. But I think your responses are always fair and level-headed. Good on you.
Indeed. I love plants and all my tanks have natural plants in them, but if I had African cichlids or other plant eaters, I’d be going straight to artificial plants too. I like people who encourage people to get real plants, but telling someone off for not having real plants, just seems little minded.
Big fan of real plants here but that's largely because I'm a plant grower in general with house and garden plants. The fish can't tell the difference and studies have shown that they are happy with their environment being enriched so they aren't in a bare tank.
Well said 💯💯
Thank you, Mr. Ochart. This video is just what I needed. I was getting so disillusioned with TH-cam that I was about ready to give up on the whole thing...even as a viewer. But there are some really good people on here so why should I throw away the baby with the bath water? I don't like cichlids much but I have been watching your channel for years now. It's very interesting. I think I will stick with the good people and let the rest go.
I’ve been watching you, Cory, The Fish Girl and others that I have become to trust. I’ve learned a lot from all of you. I started with my first 10 gl over 2 years ago and have constantly been watching you, Cory and others. I now have 5 tanks. Now I want to learn how to make my own tank. I love this hobby. I only have Beunas & Diamonds that have had babies, also a couple of Nerites. I plan on broadening my horizons with other fish and will continue to support all of you. I trust you, Cory and the others have slipped my memory. Take care and continue doing what you’re doing because I trust you. ❤
Well put sir
TESTIFY!! Mr. Ochart u r THE MAN with Great Wisdom!! Keep it Up!! Sir … p.s. even thru I ain’t a cichlid keeper? I still enjoy and learn from ur TH-cam program for my own fish keeping of Medaka rice fish. Aloha
Thanks for the vid.
I keep nano fish and shrimp. The biggest tank I have is a 40 gallon breeder and every tank is heavily planted and under stocked and I only use sponge filters. I do plan on getting a six foot tank with discus in it and u can bet I'm going to have a canister filter. U have to look at every situation differently. The main thing is to have healthy water for your fish.
Great video yeah I like it when people just tell you like it is in the fish hobby if it works it works if it don't it don't just straight-up honest videos are the best
Lol my larger cichlids rip the sponges to piece's so I'll stick to my canister filters.😂at least with those tank's. I do like sponges with my smaller fish but still use HOB filters with the sponges.
Great video
Ya I see how wide/deep the 90 is from this angle, awesome tank !
It’s almost a cube.
I am a victim of canister filters............and I have live plants and little fish......LOL :)
I love canisters BTW.
I’m glad you’re venting who cares. It means your human just like the rest of us. I don’t care who likes me and your right it’s about being honest straight forward and up front.
I've never had cichlids but I've had native fish like carp, pike and perch. It was close to impossible for me to have plants in those tanks. I had a large canister outside the tank for filtration. Some fish just don't get along well with plants and will keep pulling them up. I think one of the few plants that actually did well for me was something called "anubias". I remember it growing very slowly but it was such a sturdy plant once it got going.
What canister filter do you like the most? Do you ever use a uv light with your tanks?
Great video, Ben too many know it alls out there now.
Good morning . Great videos I have a question. Is it necessary to have the hang on filters on the back of the tanks instead of the side?
No, if you can accommodate it, you can put them anywhere.
I make it a priority to trust people with bacon on their hat! Love that hat. But honestly I never trust anyone until they tell me at least one time the words "I don't know." I love your slogan "ALL WAYS BE LEARNING."
You might be the only person that’s correctly identified my bacon hat 🤣🤣🤣
Ben, we all trust you my friend. 😎👍
Ben I love your channel your informative and you get to the point quickly I can’t stand people who have click bait videos that really don’t get to the point thank you ❤
Our time is valuable!
I have a feeling that if I met Cory from aquarium co-op in person I would not like him. I can not watch his live stream. I’ve tried so many times but the rest of his video I do enjoy cuz I value his opinion.
I have a fancy goldfish tank and I've had only them for 14 years. I think thats a lot of experience. My tank right now looks almost exactly like yours. There have been very few TH-camrs who gave advice I used, if any... They think they did I suppose
You nailed it Ben. Good video. I wish I could say I never lost a fish in 20 years. That guy is a master…..master liar.
🤣 exactly 👍🏻
The Secret Life Hidden Inside Your Aquarium is a channel I trust. I subscribed to yours, too!
Wow. I have not seen you this riled. I don’t have Cichlids but I have listened enough to those of you who do to know A. They pulverize plants, B. They dig deep so dirt is out of the question, and C. the bioload necessitates having a canister versus other filtration. I cannot imagine having a big tank with monster fish and not use a canister. I’ve even seen a canister used on a 200 gallon planted tank stocked with nano fish. Whoever that was that upset you has their own agenda. Just keep doing what you do.
The only way to stay true to yourself & people around you is to be real. Fake is not in my vocabulary 😅 Leanred this over two decades ago 😎
Good on ya Ben, thanks for speaking your mind and sharing your experience.
I have a 55gal with smaller Central/South American cichlids that I ran a single HOB. Had an issue with dead spots and detritus... got both a canister and sponge with a small wave maker, issue resolved. The canister was a life saver!
I love your channel- you understand that there are many ways to skin a cat" in the hobby
My man has a lot of knowledge in this hobby 100% just do you my man🤙
Another great video Ben..
Thank you! Integrity, honesty, and let me form my own opinion ❤ All notifications ON now.
I've been in the hobby 2 years this month. I've watched so many creators lose my confidence in them through pettiness and being so highly opinionated. I'm here to learn. My interest was not in cichlids at my start. Angelsfish got me hooked; you have moved up my list fast with this video, thank you!
Current favorites... Co-op, MD and Matt, LRB, KeepingFishSimple, Dan's Fish, and George Farmer. You join these ranks for my research on the fish world for your integrity, honesty, no BS, no drama, no clique needed attitude.
I won't get into who I trust and who I don't. Trust is difficult for me. It's easier to say that the list of people on it is exceptionally short and just leave it at that. But, the traits I'm looking for aren't dissimilar to Ben's... or yours.
In some ways, I'm very jealous of you, so young inbthe hobby with so much to look forward to. The twists and turns that every fish keeper goes through.
@Whip's World 💕 Those first two sentences are powerful and may be the core of our approach to wading through life in general. It's difficult to separate past life experiences into a new foray of study. If your senses are keen, it's easier to understand what tidbits are valuable information and which are ego, self promotion, or desperate grabs of social acceptance. Thanks for the comment
I shovel that coal here in Northeast Pennsylvania Ben you're so right!!!! Great Video Ben!!! Keep doing what you're doing pal great Job!!!!
Hey Ben. So many true statements in this video. Love your content. Thanks for sharing.
I trust nobody at first. I listen. I evaluate. I test. If I concur, I will follow. As you have pointed out there are differences in fish needs and fish owner desires. A lot of misunderstandings are a result of not being on the same page. I have smaller planted tanks with small tetras that operate fine without a canister filter. I have larger Frontosa aquariums that I have 2 canisters and zero plants. If you meet your fish needs and are fine with your fish keeping methods feel free to ignore those who tell you are wrong.
hey Ben enjoy your videos as usual, you sound real passionate about this guy haha, keep up the honesty ,you do a great job !
Thank you 😀
Been watching you for years . You’ve been around for awhile. You give a good perspective on the hobby. I’m old school follow half man half cichlid , Jay , and a few others. keep up the videos . But please do me a favor and don’t say Seachem matrix will reduce your nitrates. Unless they sponsor u and then I will understand. And if they sponsor you , you won’t be able to do videos on recharging matrix because Seachem might not like that.
🤣🤣🤣 I’ve never said Matrix lowers nitrates 🤣🤣🤣
Ben we like you!! don't let the negative comments bring u down ,u probably get them alot and yes WHO CARES WHAT THAY SAY..,, JUST KEEP GIVING US THE GOODS BROTHA... GREAT VIDEOS.....
There is always a small minority of people in any domain - who are so proud, entitled and narcissistic - who think that they know more than God about anything. Including sponge filters for 300 gallon aquariums with plant-destroy cichlids. LOL! Good that you educated them (not that it ever works since they need to be humble to actually learn and accept new knowledge). God bless.
“…they need to be humble to actually learn…” is a VERY GOOD POINT! 😀👍🏻
Cannister filters do suck. I own an FX4 and an FX6 in both freshwater and saltwater and they both suck compared to a sump or decent HOB for the price. I wrap polishing clothe around the inlet to reduce waste into my canister but it's a pain in the ash to clean. Man what a pain!...
🤜🏽 well said
You tell them Ben.. I always want to be able to learn. There are so many different filters and where they work best.. I have become fond of sumps. I build and plumb my own. Im a bacteria harvester and It works for me. however I understand a good canister is good for turnover and water cleaning. Before you said Dustin, I knew who you were talking about lol Hes a straight shooter. So are you Ben ! Ill drink coffee to that .. Im not selling anything.. I just enjoy sharing my hobby and thoughts.. I appreciate comments and feedback and subs ! 😁
I very much appreciate your content.
BIG FACTS!! DO, what works for You.. It's just a Hobby 🐟 🐟 🐟
Hi , I was looking for a light for my tank is a four footer the one tank you was cleaning the front glass looks nice can you direct me where I can get one thanks .
I am so glad you made this video, so very very glad!!
Some people have more money and can afford redundancy - or feel more comfortable with it -; some don't.
Some people have Central American Cichlids that treat anything under a few pounds as a toy, some people have shrimp.
Some people never give specifics as to what they are doing. For example, I have a small 15g tank near south facing French Doors that never gets algae. But... I have shade cloth on my deck... and that tank is filled with Amano Shrimp and Java Moss and low level lighting on for a short period a day. Now it's not so outrageous a claim.
I trust people that admit they don't know everything!
I have 7 Ehiem canister filters in well established tanks They work great
Yes thank you! I love your honesty and that's why I enjoy listening to your channel. Cheers! 🤗
If there's anything that puts me off it's the numerous fish police especially on foums and Facebook groups that tear into you if you're a beginner and looking for help or advice for keeping a new aquarium. I try my best to not be like those people when trying to help someone who is having trouble with their tank to the best of my ability and experience level. If I don't know, I'll do my best to refer them to someone else who might have better experience who can help them with their particular case.
And a note on some of the channels recently I watch who've started criticizing other fish TH-cam channels or their content who do things differently than them. Please, can we just stay on the topic of the channel without the drama? I'm hear to learn more about my favorite hobbies to relax and learn from others experience and new methods that they use. Not a war on who's right or wrong. I've started to loose interest in some of these channels who used to be purely educational because of this. 😕
And absolutely, we need to be aware of people potentially giving bad or misleading advice. 👍
Being driven by a desire to grow our wonderful hobby, nothing kills that growth faster than making new fish keepers feel stupid for asking a question. I have no patience for those inconsiderate trolls who very often don’t even have a tank.
Hey Ben just wondering what magnet u are using looks like very smooth on tank compared to mag float ty
Made by a company called Reegugu. Comes in several sizes and has a metal blade or plastic scraper that can be attached. One reason it glides is that I use the Fritz glass cleaner which is designed to make the glass silky. Here’s my review video: th-cam.com/video/-Z_QYrUUY8A/w-d-xo.html
I mostly use aerator with sponge filters, I'm a big fan of this since its cheaper and effective.
I however I do use some hang on or internal filters (water pump) with in conjunction with my sponge filters especially on my main display tank, and on bigger tanks with gold fish (that only have limited plants).
I actually don't use cannister, since its a bit expensive, however if you give me one, then I'll be cloud9 and will be happy to use it.
I'll be honest, my aquariums with water pumps is way clearer than just sponge filter. That's why I use it in my main tank even if it got a lots of plants.
I also trust people in YT who admit their vices. Like Dans Fish, he does admit he's not an expert in aquatic plants.
And this why I only watch a select few, to many wanna be experts and forums are even worse. Cichlid Bros,DIY, Father Fish and couple more. Aquarium Co-Op for plants and good knowledge overall and a great staff😊
Sorry what is the name brand of your magnet glass cleaner. I’m interested buying one for myself. Thanks
I very much liked the thumbnail of the video ❤