I bought a five gallon bucket for my aquarium and literally the next day my parents let our contractor use it for washing his caulking tools while I was at work. And then they acted like I was overreacting when I told them I couldn’t use the bucket for my fish anymore. I was not happy with them.
*_#1 TIP FOR ADDING NEW FISH-_* *_ALWAYS QUARANTINE NEW FISH!_* Quarantine new fish is IMPORTANT!! Been in the hobby for years, I *NEVER* quarantined & *NEVER* had a problem. I picked up a couple new fish, acclimated them and added them, 1 week later.. a disease broke out & I lost ALL but one (14) of my beloved 7 year old fish! LESSON LEARNED THE HARD WAY! I was so devastated after trying to treat it, fix it & save my beloved fish, I almost tore down all my aquariums & quit the hobby completely!! Glad I didn't, but LESSON LEARNED!!! Now I always keep a 20g going so I can quarantine & for a med tank, I recommend anyone in the hobby to have atleast a 10g cycled quarantine/ med aquarium ready to go! 👍Learn & you will tank me later! 🤭🤭🤭 😉
@@geraldwalker7609 I quarantine for 2-4 weeks to make sure all are healthy & no showing any signs of illness. You can also dose with medication for parasites. Depending on the types of new fish I get, but I dont always medicate.
Totally agree with you. Im keeping Arowana at my 3 ft tank. One of her favourite food is small fish. So to be safe. I will buy few small fish and quarantine it in different tank.i will treat it with Few drops of antibacterial such S1. Then it safe to transfer it to my Arowana tank
Cannot emphasize this enough. I decided to end quarantine a little bit early and just add the fish to my tank. Before I knew it I had an ich outbreak that wiped out the majority of the fish I had spent months keeping disease free including the family favorite angelfish. He was a big waterpuppy and now he's gone. When in doubt quarantine for a week longer than you think you should. You can't overdo this kind of stuff especially when it spares you the pain of watching your hard work fall apart.
A quick note on Number 6 - having a test kit is only worth something if you're actually going to learn what the results mean and how to adjust them. In a lot of cases, especially people just dipping their toes into the hobby, you would be better off taking water to a knowledgeable employee at a good fish store. Get them to walk you through the testing procedure, show you how they're interpreting the results, what they typically mean, and how favourable adjustments should be made. As a perk, trips to the LFS are usually inspiring to new aquarists, and you'll come home more excited/interested in your tank. I'm not saying you shouldn't have one - but a test kit is only useful if know what you're doing with it, and water chemistry can be intimidating when you're just starting out. Spend some time getting a good employee from a friendly local fish store to hold your hand through the first few months until you figure it out.
I use a pond fountain pump with a hose attached to pump the water out, then I pump it back in from a bucket in the sink being filled with the mixer tap, with the digital thermometer to keep an eye on the temp, and water safe added of course
I’m surprised a timer wasn’t on the list, I set mine up as my alarm and I see my tank first thing each morning when I wake up. great content keep it up please
Good stuff! Just getting back into tropical fish. I’ve learned a lot from this video. I watch my fish a lot more than tv! Ain’t no stupid commercials when watching my fish 🐠🐟!⚓️☘️🇮🇪🏴🐠✝️
On water change days I lay a couple of puppy training pads in the floor next to the tank. They are great for absorbing any water spills quickly and don’t let the moisture lay against the floor while I finish cleaning the tank and they are reusable! When I am done cleaning the tank I just fold them up and tuck them away with my cleaning supplies for next time!
Most important: Patience! Haha! That's definitely what I'm having the hardest time with while doing a fishless cycle for my new aquarium. Thank you for reminding me of several things I hadn't given much thought to that I ought to have on-hand ahead of time!
I found this tip years ago, I loved it. You buy plain white felt, run through washer and dryer no detergent fabric softener or air dry. I would cut and place on top of filter where water in going back into tank. amazing what it catches. don't be a fanatic about it. I liked results. good or no?
The idea of lugging buckets with a bad back has kept me from getting back into the hobby for years. That python has made the hobby possible for me, and I'm sure many other who have disabilities too
@@dramoth64 depends on the shrimp, some really like algae and some prefer food waste ect. I keep algae for my amano shrimp and my ottos. But my phosphate was to high so I'm bringing it more into control. Only been doing this a little over a year, I'm still learning. Otto's have been easy but lost all my crystal reds :( so going with aman for now
For those with an acrylic aquarium, forget the sponges and algae scrapers and get magic erasers. They do not scratch the acrylic and will remove spot algae. I use generic unbleached with no issues and no scratching.
My recommendation for the sponge thing is to just keep extra clean sponges on hand. My mom always has extra sponges for the kitchen so I always grab a new one when I clean my tank and throw it out after. That way you know it’s gonna be free of soap and stuff. You go through a lot of sponges but in my opinion it’s totally worth it
Omg ! Lmao The bloopers are everything!😂 The Fed ex guy!🤣🤣🤣 Lisa? You should make, brand and sell an official KG Tropicals, towel that has your cute little cartoon face figure on it...that says..."SOMEBODY, get me a towel!?" With your KG Tropicals logo on it. Hm? People love SWAG =( Something We All Get) Great video. 👍
I haven't had a test kit for over 20 years.when I used test kits and did everything like everyone said I was always having issues. I won't go thru what I do but I do nothing by the book and my fish never get sick my water is always clear and balanced.i know the water is balanced as I tested it for ten years when I started doing things my way. I'm not saying everyone is wrong but I don't lose fish and I can leave on vacation and turn on a feeder and come home a month later and everything is fine.
They may work for you but you don’t want to tell new fish keepers that because they will be like oh I only need to clean my tank once a month. Sure you can the fish will live but that’s like you living in a dirty house and your only able to clean it once a month
I'm Glad John and Lisa are back I learn alot from your channel😊 since early 2016 ...I love doing tank maintenance while tuning to your channel..happy fish keeping ciao ciao grazie mille 😉
I use canisters from Laboratories - these used to contain sugar, yeast extract or similar. From these canisters I water the plants around the house. A bucket is awesome for temporary fish storage (you need a lid!) but also as a cheap treatment container. A water hose is something I haven't used in ages - I have sand. So much easier and the fish as well as plants love it. The same applies to replacement filter sponge - I have some but no need to use them in the last few years. Gave a few to a friend instead. Medication is useful, but checking he fish daily will help to spare you surprise illness. Severe sickness never happens sudden - wounds are always a problem though. Must have: Air pump, multi-usage for 1. aeration (can become critical druing medication!) 2. treatment bucket 3. makeshift filter replacement Test kits help to determine if the exchange frequencies are ok - and many other things. Must have: Thermometer. Heat has killed more than my fish than any disease. An air pump can prevent the worst of it. Must have: Insurance. Seriously, your fish is one thing, the house and furniture another. Instead of a generator, I recommend a storage accumulator, like the ones sold along with solar panels. In some countries these things also make money for you, by automatically storing cheaper (day) energy and selling more expensive (night) energy. Or just live in a country that has reliable power - It has been years since the power went out... ONCE...for 10 seconds.
Takeaways for me: 1. Get another gravel vac. I had stopped using them many years ago. 2. Battery-operated air pump. I have had at least two blackouts over the many years that have killed off tank occupants, and one recent mishap where I forgot to turn the water pump back up to operational level while cleaning the tank. The result has always been the loss of most or all of my largest and most prized specimens.
1. 5 gallon buckets or totes are handy for sure. 2. You don't need a syphon especially if you have a bare bottom tank and/or goldfsh with a single layer of gravel. A milk jug or a length of hose for syphoning is just fine if your tank isn't immense. 3. Nets can be helpful but some fish can be trained to be hand picked from the tank. You don't need to be constantly picking them up either but if you spend time with them then they will learn to trust you. It's also not nearly as damaging or traumatising to the fish. 4. Avoid disposable filter cartridges. You can get filters that take cut sheets and you can buy a roll of polyester woll for pennies. €3 for a years worth of refills on my 12 fish by just cutting my own filter wool. 5. Don't clean your ornaments. you will end up with the tank partially or fully cycling when you do. That bacteria layer is keeping your fish alive. Depending on your tank and the fish in it a small amount of green algae on the glass is also beneficial. Beware of brown algae and hair algae however. These can cause major issues. For the glsss you can get various tank mates to do much of the work for you from pleco's to snails. I prefer a naural environment. 6. Keep tank salts and amoxacilin handy and a spare tank ot holding tote to treat your fish when needed. Know when and if you need to use them. 7. I'm not saying don't use water conditioner but really they aren't one fix solutions. Depending on water hardnes you can dechlorinate water pretty fast with your airstone and a bucket or tote. No chemicals needed. If you do have really hard water you can use some conditioners but if your water is soft then add some limestone or quartz rocks to the tank. Takes time to learn but totally worth knowing when you find yourself without your chemical backups. 8. The API master test kit upsell is getting old. Affiliate link? Pay attention to your tank and read up on the warning signs and issues. It's helpful to have a test kit but it doesn't HAVE to be API master test kit. There are plenty of options on the market that aren't API and you can even get specific test kits if you need them. I find this option better anyway as when I do need to test something I don't find myself having to go out and buy a complete set just because I used up one specific type of test up first. 9. Absolutely quarantine fish from fish stores. They are riddled with disease and parasites from fish farms. 10. Spare heaters are a must for temperature dependant fish. Otherwise goldfish and some other species will usually do fine with some natural fluctuation. 11. Spare tanks or totes are really important. Also learn how to repair a tank and always keep silicone handy. 12. Wherever you put your tank be ready to move water in and out of it no matter where the source is. 13. You can absolutely upgrade your tank as you go just be sure you are ready to do so when you need to and have a plan in place. If the plan fails be prepared to let your fish go to someone who can take it.
Please think also about a thermometer! One guys heater got a malfunction, didn't stop heating and almost cooked his fish... It's better to have an eye on the temperature. I also got a cooking thermometer to check my new water before the water change. A timer is also very convenient to set up the light periods. All this together was about 15€ but made my life a lot easier.
Been in the hobby for years.. just now finally ordered the python water exchanger.. only regret.. NOT ORDERING IT SOONER!! Makes water changes relaxing! For all of my aquariums combined, it use to take 6+ hours to clean & do 40% water changes.. now I just sit back & let the python do its thing. Takes about 15-20 min to drain 50% & refill my 55g aquariums (each) It is so much easier & actually relaxing to do water changes now because I am not packing buckets for hours. I enjoy my weekly aquarium chores now, made it fun! The 50ft python is worth so much more than $50 because it completely changed my mindset to keeping my aquariums pristine & my fish friends happy& healthy! Yahooo!
@@mattbecker743 I guess it does haha, but I don't sell them, but I HIGHLY recommend them. Changed up the hobby for me. Makes weekly water changes a breeze & I don't have to pack buckets of water for 6 hours anymore.
For water changes, I connected my gravel cleaner to a cannister pump intake and ran extra long tubing from the return out my window right to the gutter. For refilling, I bought a cheap garden hose and a faucet/hose adapter, got the water temp running where it needed to be then connected the hose and ran it straight to the tank. no need for hauling buckets (I was on the 2nd floor and the bathroom/kitchen on the 1st so hauling buckets was a real pain.
#11 Just for safekeeping set aside $10,000 dollars for those just in case moments. "trust me on this one, all you have to do is make this mistake once, then you will know what I am talking about."
I have found it very helpful to keep a small syringe w/o a needle to measure liquid chemicals or medications. Its a lot easier than seachem’s way of each thread equals about 1ml and one capful is about 5ml. You can easily measure the exact amount and not mess with oops I added 3 threads worth and only need 1, now what do I do. I then rinse the syringe by pumping it full to empty with fish water multiple times after each use.
Hey guys ABSOLUTELY GREAT JOB on this video. So many aweful videos that you cant get the answer you're looking for. Very well spoken, great visuals, great information. I felt like I truly learned a lot from you guys. I have a 125 gal with two big ol suckers, variety of tetras, gold dust Molly's etc... about 4 of the tetras have swollen stomachs, one molly cant float so he chills on the gravel. I'm trying my best to keep them happy and healthy! Thank you for the great vid.
I definitely agree with a generator for power outages. I have a generator because of this. The only thing the generator runs is my tanks. I'm in Maine where we get snow from September to May, and our "summer" only reaches to 50F/10C. From Dec to March we have multiple blizzards per week, and the ice storms knock out power all the time, which often is down for weeks before the power company gets the grid back up. A decade ago, we lost 73 fish due to an power outage, and we got a generator after that. Since than, we've had on average 5 power outages per year and the generator has kicked in each time, and we've never lost fish again due to power outages. A generator is probably one of the best things we invested in for our fish.
Great videos! Informative and well presented. Thanks very much. I've been keeping aquariums for 46 years now, so I'm probably quite clued-up, yet I love watching your clips - even it is just to feel inspired about my life-long hobby. Yes, yes... I'll admit it; I have picked up some bits of advice!
Lol i think yall jinxed yourself saying "we bought a $600 genrator&power hasnt went out since-no really we havent had an outage since"....... I seen your post the othet night (fri or saturday) about your power outage(shoulda knocked on wood) and im assuming you filmed this beforehand or you wouldnt have emphasized about not losing power since you got a generator (which is how it usually goes lol). Love your guys and channel and though being a fishkeeper since pretty small, i always find out something new and many interesting facts. You can never learn or research enough, knowlege is power. Yalls sense of humor aint half bad either ;) edit: i was listening while driving home from work&couldnt see the subheading and just now am finishing it up and realized yall mentioned the outage
Just starting my fish keeping hobby again, after having fish a a kid. I just introduced a Betta fish into an empty 8 gallon filtered tank. I found this video helpful. Definitely going to invest in that API master test kit, and extra meds!
What I've noticed so far about keeping clean and clear water is a 25 percent water change everyday 2 days i do this 4 times a week and add my 3 treatments after the 4th change ..its worked brilliant so far and my fish seem to be happy and playful
I love these videos so much, I feel so comfortable with getting a tank, now! Wish I could’ve shown these to my aunt years ago, when she put her kids gold fish in warm water in case they were cold while washing the tank 🤦🏼♀️😂
I really enjoy all your videos. I used to keep several large including a saltwater tank.. now I just have my one little buddy a betta fish.. ralphie.. LOL.. what brought me to your channel was just that I love fish and I enjoy all that yall do.. it keeps me updated on my fish keeping skills until I can have my aquariums back someday!!! Thanks you guys and y'all are awesome!!!
Excellent advice. I have all of those things now. I made so many mistakes when I started. I made all the mistakes. I am not proud of that. Your 10 things series is filled with excellent advice.
it depends when you add it. If you add it to the bucket you just need to treat the bucket amount. if you pour the water into the tank first....treat the whole tank
Thank you for one more of your always educating videos! I only have 1 heater and just got my first ever discus on sunday 26th of may and havent thought about getting another one for backup!😱
In one of your videos, Lisa was talking about how some of the best-looking rooks you can put in your fish tank . Ase ones you find outside. I only ask how you clean them off before putting them in to your tank. I have had fish tanks for over 25 years so i know not to use any chemicals.
12:40 I might be late to the game with the comments. But another cheaper options is UPS unit. Depending on the unit, it could hold you over from 20 minutes to a couple of hours. Most time blackouts don't last to long, so getting a unit that would run your equipment for a couple of hours could be enough and will only hit your pocket book for about 100.00 buck plus. And I think ideal for those of us in the hobby that have smaller tanks and live in the apartments life.
I have a inkbird controller so if my heater gets stuck it won't allow it to overheat or if it breaks it cuts out. Thankfully i have been finding that my new aquarium is in a great spot lots of natrual light and it's warm enough that the inkbird keeps my heater off 95% of the time which is great for the bills too 🙂
So while I was keeping fish I was also a miniature gamer (games workshop) this turned out to be really luck as it meant I had milliput on hand for when my tanks silicon failed it wasn’t the prettiest after but there was no way that join was going to fail again, a few years later the same tank was used to keep a hamster in and the joint even survived him trying to Chew his way out without him even scratching it. So ied recommended keeping some fish tank grade milliput (or other brand) on hand just in case.
I one time had a 150 gallon Discus tank and after the live plant bulbs fully grew and formed a nice canopy on top of the tank and made for some nice hiding spots for the little scools of danimos the water quality greatly improved and the fish definitely seemed happier with the added foliage. And unlike any other fish I've ever owned the Discus seemed to watch me more than I watched them and never had a problem adjusting the ph after I bought the right chemical. It was a while ago so i completely forgot what the ph for Discus was but more than anything that was the biggest struggle but fish are sorta flexible with ph as long as the proper bacteria are in the filter media and water has no ammonia.
One more tip. I use washable bed pads to put around the tank while doing maintenance or setting up a tank. They keep water and debris off of your floor.
Very interesting video,i have a 50 litre tank next to each tank i have so each tank has water set at the same to cover the tank next to it great for water changes etc.
I haven't used my algae scrapers in ages. I've discovered that generic magic erasers work way better. I buy the HDX brand from the big orange home improvement box store. Dollar store tooth brushes for cleaning rock and other decor and baby bottle brushes for cleaning out filter intake tube are few of the other cleaning supplies I keep around. This hobby has taught me to be a bit more patient, but I still have a long way to go. Any time there is an imbalance my first instinct is to reach for whatever magic chemical will fix it RIGHT NOW!! Seachem seems to have a chemical for EVERYTHING.. The problem is that such solutions tend to throw something else out of balance while fixing the initial problem. I'm very slowly learning that a slower, more methodical, patient often times chemical free approach is usually the more prudent course of action. Now I just have to figure out what to do with those plastic bins (yes plural) filled with just about every product Seachem makes LOL
After watching one of your videos on things to keep or was it a product spotlight... anyways i bought some general cure and kept just incase, lucky thing i had it because my fish started having white poo so i used the general cure but it did not completely cure it so i got New Life Spectrum Hex Shield and it did the job, So i think this is a product you need to mention in these types of videos.
hmm think I have everything except for the full list of the meds. I have a small gene ready for power outages and have already used it once in 5 yrs so far... and I LOVE the last bits.. gotta love the bloopers.. great work, keep it up and I'm looking forward to seeing your new fish room.
For saltwater, my must have is kalkwasser. It's old fashioned, but if there is a random dip in pH, alkalinity, or calcium, it's good to have in order to keep those things stable. You can't just dump tons of 2 part in at once because of the salinity and pH, so the kalk does in a pinch big time.
A note on the medications that you have in case your fish get sick: make sure you keep an eye on the expiry date - using expired medication can make things worse depending on what it is.
premiere pro in the background, hahahahahha, great video, really really great. I like your style, your honesty, your info. You remind me of myself in my videos: to the point, no nonsense, no bullsh*t Great info, keep up the good work
There is another alternative for a power outage... External Power supply used for PCs for a filter or an air pump Couse filtration is priority 1. Heater can drain it a lot quicker, but filter can be fur for hours... And it's automatic ;)
Lol on the generator!! I did the same thing 7 years ago... power would go out for a few days a couple times a year.... I got a generator hooked up, no power outages since. :)
Tip I learned if your hose for your hand gravel vac is too short for your tank to to your local hardware store and find the clear hose that fits your vac and buy how much you need. it's usually a dollar or less.
*Buy show quality Bettas here:*
keepfishkeeping.com/collections/live-bettas-for-sale
How do i know the gender of my chichilds brasilien/Geophagus brasilien?
dang your females are in short stock!
I bought a five gallon bucket for my aquarium and literally the next day my parents let our contractor use it for washing his caulking tools while I was at work. And then they acted like I was overreacting when I told them I couldn’t use the bucket for my fish anymore. I was not happy with them.
I would take their car and drive it in the ditch
@@slasherking747 😧
🤷♂️🤣🤣
I would of been mad! Sorry bud
My parents don't let me do water changes so i do it once a month at a max
Lol watching today and the whole world is out of toilet paper.
Was going to say that
Lol about to say this
🦦
Same same
Crash203232 that’s what I was just thinking... if only he knew 😂😂😂
*_#1 TIP FOR ADDING NEW FISH-_*
*_ALWAYS QUARANTINE NEW FISH!_*
Quarantine new fish is IMPORTANT!! Been in the hobby for years, I *NEVER* quarantined & *NEVER* had a problem. I picked up a couple new fish, acclimated them and added them, 1 week later.. a disease broke out & I lost ALL but one (14) of my beloved 7 year old fish! LESSON LEARNED THE HARD WAY! I was so devastated after trying to treat it, fix it & save my beloved fish, I almost tore down all my aquariums & quit the hobby completely!! Glad I didn't, but LESSON LEARNED!!! Now I always keep a 20g going so I can quarantine & for a med tank, I recommend anyone in the hobby to have atleast a 10g cycled quarantine/ med aquarium ready to go! 👍Learn & you will tank me later! 🤭🤭🤭
😉
Thanks for the prodding to do this. I added 2 guppies to 3 guppies early last year. Lost them all and I wonder what happened. Gave up till this month.
Quarentine for how long?
@@geraldwalker7609 I quarantine for 2-4 weeks to make sure all are healthy & no showing any signs of illness. You can also dose with medication for parasites. Depending on the types of new fish I get, but I dont always medicate.
Totally agree with you.
Im keeping Arowana at my 3 ft tank. One of her favourite food is small fish.
So to be safe. I will buy few small fish and quarantine it in different tank.i will treat it with Few drops of antibacterial such S1.
Then it safe to transfer it to my Arowana tank
Cannot emphasize this enough. I decided to end quarantine a little bit early and just add the fish to my tank. Before I knew it I had an ich outbreak that wiped out the majority of the fish I had spent months keeping disease free including the family favorite angelfish. He was a big waterpuppy and now he's gone. When in doubt quarantine for a week longer than you think you should. You can't overdo this kind of stuff especially when it spares you the pain of watching your hard work fall apart.
I use about 4 towels every maintenance day.
So do I. One for the siphon, one bucket, one for the dripping water and stand, and one for my hands.
I USE IT FOR WHEN I SPILL HALF MY TANK WATER ON MY FLOOR
@@ehenjehhehdhdbje3201 🤣🤣🤣
yah
@@ehenjehhehdhdbje3201 if I did that I'd flood my house
A quick note on Number 6 - having a test kit is only worth something if you're actually going to learn what the results mean and how to adjust them. In a lot of cases, especially people just dipping their toes into the hobby, you would be better off taking water to a knowledgeable employee at a good fish store. Get them to walk you through the testing procedure, show you how they're interpreting the results, what they typically mean, and how favourable adjustments should be made. As a perk, trips to the LFS are usually inspiring to new aquarists, and you'll come home more excited/interested in your tank.
I'm not saying you shouldn't have one - but a test kit is only useful if know what you're doing with it, and water chemistry can be intimidating when you're just starting out. Spend some time getting a good employee from a friendly local fish store to hold your hand through the first few months until you figure it out.
I use a pond fountain pump with a hose attached to pump the water out, then I pump it back in from a bucket in the sink being filled with the mixer tap, with the digital thermometer to keep an eye on the temp, and water safe added of course
16:23 if she only turned to the left and screamed. I'd be laughing. Love those bloopers.
I’m surprised a timer wasn’t on the list, I set mine up as my alarm and I see my tank first thing each morning when I wake up. great content keep it up please
John’s ESC i agree timer is a must.
Agreed, timers are important!⏰
3:27
Why is there a head in the bottom left corner of the tank lol
Lars Damen think it’s just a sticker
Lol I didn’t know
I also found it very distracting
I was wondering that...?
Good stuff! Just getting back into tropical fish. I’ve learned a lot from this video. I watch my fish a lot more than tv! Ain’t no stupid commercials when watching my fish 🐠🐟!⚓️☘️🇮🇪🏴🐠✝️
On water change days I lay a couple of puppy training pads in the floor next to the tank. They are great for absorbing any water spills quickly and don’t let the moisture lay against the floor while I finish cleaning the tank and they are reusable! When I am done cleaning the tank I just fold them up and tuck them away with my cleaning supplies for next time!
Most important: Patience! Haha! That's definitely what I'm having the hardest time with while doing a fishless cycle for my new aquarium. Thank you for reminding me of several things I hadn't given much thought to that I ought to have on-hand ahead of time!
I found this tip years ago, I loved it. You buy plain white felt, run through washer and dryer no detergent fabric softener or air dry. I would cut and place on top of filter where water in going back into tank. amazing what it catches. don't be a fanatic about it. I liked results. good or no?
If only he knew about the toilet paper issues when he made this vid. HAHA
The idea of lugging buckets with a bad back has kept me from getting back into the hobby for years. That python has made the hobby possible for me, and I'm sure many other who have disabilities too
I fricking LOVE my python! Total game changer, and makes it possible to easily keep an aquarium clean, in so much less time!
Its on my list
atm hubby moves the water.
When you buy your master test kit, buy the GH/KH test kit as well!
Okay but what is a GH AND A KH test kit??🤔🤔😄
Xan Macatan I use mine for my shrimp. It measures general hardness and carbonate hardness
Also phosphate test, to much = alge.
@@tonyshaw7420 But if you're keeping shrimp, algae is a good thing surely?
@@dramoth64 depends on the shrimp, some really like algae and some prefer food waste ect. I keep algae for my amano shrimp and my ottos. But my phosphate was to high so I'm bringing it more into control.
Only been doing this a little over a year, I'm still learning.
Otto's have been easy but lost all my crystal reds :( so going with aman for now
For those with an acrylic aquarium, forget the sponges and algae scrapers and get magic erasers. They do not scratch the acrylic and will remove spot algae. I use generic unbleached with no issues and no scratching.
What is in magic erasers? I would be wary
My recommendation for the sponge thing is to just keep extra clean sponges on hand. My mom always has extra sponges for the kitchen so I always grab a new one when I clean my tank and throw it out after. That way you know it’s gonna be free of soap and stuff. You go through a lot of sponges but in my opinion it’s totally worth it
Omg ! Lmao The bloopers are everything!😂 The Fed ex guy!🤣🤣🤣
Lisa? You should make, brand and sell an official KG Tropicals, towel that has your cute little cartoon face figure on it...that says..."SOMEBODY, get me a towel!?" With your KG Tropicals logo on it. Hm? People love SWAG =( Something We All Get) Great video. 👍
I haven't had a test kit for over 20 years.when I used test kits and did everything like everyone said I was always having issues. I won't go thru what I do but I do nothing by the book and my fish never get sick my water is always clear and balanced.i know the water is balanced as I tested it for ten years when I started doing things my way.
I'm not saying everyone is wrong but I don't lose fish and I can leave on vacation and turn on a feeder and come home a month later and everything is fine.
They may work for you but you don’t want to tell new fish keepers that because they will be like oh I only need to clean my tank once a month. Sure you can the fish will live but that’s like you living in a dirty house and your only able to clean it once a month
That was so cute of you Lisa about "talking about our fish" and you giving out different names/types..........Or shrimp and micro fish :) too.
I love the blooper reel at the end, nice touch guys.
I'm Glad John and Lisa are back
I learn alot from your channel😊 since early 2016 ...I love doing tank maintenance while tuning to your channel..happy fish keeping
ciao ciao grazie mille 😉
I use canisters from Laboratories - these used to contain sugar, yeast extract or similar. From these canisters I water the plants around the house. A bucket is awesome for temporary fish storage (you need a lid!) but also as a cheap treatment container.
A water hose is something I haven't used in ages - I have sand. So much easier and the fish as well as plants love it. The same applies to replacement filter sponge - I have some but no need to use them in the last few years. Gave a few to a friend instead.
Medication is useful, but checking he fish daily will help to spare you surprise illness. Severe sickness never happens sudden - wounds are always a problem though.
Must have: Air pump, multi-usage for 1. aeration (can become critical druing medication!) 2. treatment bucket 3. makeshift filter replacement
Test kits help to determine if the exchange frequencies are ok - and many other things.
Must have: Thermometer. Heat has killed more than my fish than any disease. An air pump can prevent the worst of it.
Must have: Insurance. Seriously, your fish is one thing, the house and furniture another.
Instead of a generator, I recommend a storage accumulator, like the ones sold along with solar panels. In some countries these things also make money for you, by automatically storing cheaper (day) energy and selling more expensive (night) energy. Or just live in a country that has reliable power - It has been years since the power went out... ONCE...for 10 seconds.
Takeaways for me:
1. Get another gravel vac. I had stopped using them many years ago.
2. Battery-operated air pump. I have had at least two blackouts over the many years that have killed off tank occupants, and one recent mishap where I forgot to turn the water pump back up to operational level while cleaning the tank. The result has always been the loss of most or all of my largest and most prized specimens.
1. 5 gallon buckets or totes are handy for sure.
2. You don't need a syphon especially if you have a bare bottom tank and/or goldfsh with a single layer of gravel. A milk jug or a length of hose for syphoning is just fine if your tank isn't immense.
3. Nets can be helpful but some fish can be trained to be hand picked from the tank. You don't need to be constantly picking them up either but if you spend time with them then they will learn to trust you. It's also not nearly as damaging or traumatising to the fish.
4. Avoid disposable filter cartridges. You can get filters that take cut sheets and you can buy a roll of polyester woll for pennies. €3 for a years worth of refills on my 12 fish by just cutting my own filter wool.
5. Don't clean your ornaments. you will end up with the tank partially or fully cycling when you do. That bacteria layer is keeping your fish alive. Depending on your tank and the fish in it a small amount of green algae on the glass is also beneficial. Beware of brown algae and hair algae however. These can cause major issues. For the glsss you can get various tank mates to do much of the work for you from pleco's to snails. I prefer a naural environment.
6. Keep tank salts and amoxacilin handy and a spare tank ot holding tote to treat your fish when needed. Know when and if you need to use them.
7. I'm not saying don't use water conditioner but really they aren't one fix solutions. Depending on water hardnes you can dechlorinate water pretty fast with your airstone and a bucket or tote. No chemicals needed. If you do have really hard water you can use some conditioners but if your water is soft then add some limestone or quartz rocks to the tank. Takes time to learn but totally worth knowing when you find yourself without your chemical backups.
8. The API master test kit upsell is getting old. Affiliate link? Pay attention to your tank and read up on the warning signs and issues. It's helpful to have a test kit but it doesn't HAVE to be API master test kit. There are plenty of options on the market that aren't API and you can even get specific test kits if you need them. I find this option better anyway as when I do need to test something I don't find myself having to go out and buy a complete set just because I used up one specific type of test up first.
9. Absolutely quarantine fish from fish stores. They are riddled with disease and parasites from fish farms.
10. Spare heaters are a must for temperature dependant fish. Otherwise goldfish and some other species will usually do fine with some natural fluctuation.
11. Spare tanks or totes are really important. Also learn how to repair a tank and always keep silicone handy.
12. Wherever you put your tank be ready to move water in and out of it no matter where the source is.
13. You can absolutely upgrade your tank as you go just be sure you are ready to do so when you need to and have a plan in place. If the plan fails be prepared to let your fish go to someone who can take it.
Glad your power is back on or was it never off....love the bloopers..lol ...proves we are all human. Thanks for vid.
Please think also about a thermometer! One guys heater got a malfunction, didn't stop heating and almost cooked his fish... It's better to have an eye on the temperature. I also got a cooking thermometer to check my new water before the water change. A timer is also very convenient to set up the light periods. All this together was about 15€ but made my life a lot easier.
That python is a life changer. Amazing product
I haven't gotten to that yet I guess.. I'm trying to figure out what it is....beside's a snake..
Burp was the best. I can hear eco in it too.... Lol. You have a funny and loving wife. Should be proud of her. Stay blessed.
Lol!!!! That "Here we go..." at the end. I feel you, man.
I never have enough new nets or new sponges. I've taken to buying them online by the dozen. Peace of mind...priceless.
👍💕👍
Been in the hobby for years.. just now finally ordered the python water exchanger.. only regret.. NOT ORDERING IT SOONER!! Makes water changes relaxing! For all of my aquariums combined, it use to take 6+ hours to clean & do 40% water changes.. now I just sit back & let the python do its thing. Takes about 15-20 min to drain 50% & refill my 55g aquariums (each) It is so much easier & actually relaxing to do water changes now because I am not packing buckets for hours. I enjoy my weekly aquarium chores now, made it fun! The 50ft python is worth so much more than $50 because it completely changed my mindset to keeping my aquariums pristine & my fish friends happy& healthy! Yahooo!
Sounds like an ad
@@mattbecker743 I guess it does haha, but I don't sell them, but I HIGHLY recommend them. Changed up the hobby for me. Makes weekly water changes a breeze & I don't have to pack buckets of water for 6 hours anymore.
I had never heard of the python!!! Oh man guys, best tool EVER!!
For water changes, I connected my gravel cleaner to a cannister pump intake and ran extra long tubing from the return out my window right to the gutter. For refilling, I bought a cheap garden hose and a faucet/hose adapter, got the water temp running where it needed to be then connected the hose and ran it straight to the tank. no need for hauling buckets (I was on the 2nd floor and the bathroom/kitchen on the 1st so hauling buckets was a real pain.
#11 Just for safekeeping set aside $10,000 dollars for those just in case moments. "trust me on this one, all you have to do is make this mistake once, then you will know what I am talking about."
Greeeeeaaat..🤣
I have found it very helpful to keep a small syringe w/o a needle to measure liquid chemicals or medications. Its a lot easier than seachem’s way of each thread equals about 1ml and one capful is about 5ml. You can easily measure the exact amount and not mess with oops I added 3 threads worth and only need 1, now what do I do.
I then rinse the syringe by pumping it full to empty with fish water multiple times after each use.
Hey guys ABSOLUTELY GREAT JOB on this video. So many aweful videos that you cant get the answer you're looking for. Very well spoken, great visuals, great information. I felt like I truly learned a lot from you guys. I have a 125 gal with two big ol suckers, variety of tetras, gold dust Molly's etc... about 4 of the tetras have swollen stomachs, one molly cant float so he chills on the gravel. I'm trying my best to keep them happy and healthy! Thank you for the great vid.
I definitely agree with a generator for power outages. I have a generator because of this. The only thing the generator runs is my tanks. I'm in Maine where we get snow from September to May, and our "summer" only reaches to 50F/10C. From Dec to March we have multiple blizzards per week, and the ice storms knock out power all the time, which often is down for weeks before the power company gets the grid back up. A decade ago, we lost 73 fish due to an power outage, and we got a generator after that. Since than, we've had on average 5 power outages per year and the generator has kicked in each time, and we've never lost fish again due to power outages. A generator is probably one of the best things we invested in for our fish.
Great video.
I use a toothbrush for my Anubias leaves.
I have ottos for my anubis. 😅
Love your channel. You and your wife are extremely knowledgeable.
Great videos! Informative and well presented. Thanks very much. I've been keeping aquariums for 46 years now, so I'm probably quite clued-up, yet I love watching your clips - even it is just to feel inspired about my life-long hobby. Yes, yes... I'll admit it; I have picked up some bits of advice!
You guys are the best! The bloopers had me rolling! Good stuff thank you for sharing :)
Great info! Thanks for all the hard work and patience you guys share with us! I always look forward to new vids!
Lol i think yall jinxed yourself saying "we bought a $600 genrator&power hasnt went out since-no really we havent had an outage since"....... I seen your post the othet night (fri or saturday) about your power outage(shoulda knocked on wood) and im assuming you filmed this beforehand or you wouldnt have emphasized about not losing power since you got a generator (which is how it usually goes lol). Love your guys and channel and though being a fishkeeper since pretty small, i always find out something new and many interesting facts. You can never learn or research enough, knowlege is power. Yalls sense of humor aint half bad either ;) edit: i was listening while driving home from work&couldnt see the subheading and just now am finishing it up and realized yall mentioned the outage
Just starting my fish keeping hobby again, after having fish a a kid. I just introduced a Betta fish into an empty 8 gallon filtered tank. I found this video helpful. Definitely going to invest in that API master test kit, and extra meds!
Hi guys! I really like how you get us into this aqua experience and the way you explain head-to-toe. Wait for more video tips. Thanks!
What I've noticed so far about keeping clean and clear water is a 25 percent water change everyday 2 days i do this 4 times a week and add my 3 treatments after the 4th change ..its worked brilliant so far and my fish seem to be happy and playful
I love these videos so much, I feel so comfortable with getting a tank, now! Wish I could’ve shown these to my aunt years ago, when she put her kids gold fish in warm water in case they were cold while washing the tank 🤦🏼♀️😂
I really enjoy all your videos. I used to keep several large including a saltwater tank.. now I just have my one little buddy a betta fish.. ralphie.. LOL.. what brought me to your channel was just that I love fish and I enjoy all that yall do.. it keeps me updated on my fish keeping skills until I can have my aquariums back someday!!! Thanks you guys and y'all are awesome!!!
The Bloopers at the end were priceless. Keep'm coming
Thanks for the info guys... Please continue your good work 🙏🙏🙏
I’m using the heater my grandad used since he started the hobby 30 years ago and it’s still going strong although I do have a spare one in case 😀
Excellent advice. I have all of those things now. I made so many mistakes when I started. I made all the mistakes. I am not proud of that. Your 10 things series is filled with excellent advice.
I learn so much from these videos. Thanks for putting honest content out there.
Good advice. And loved the blupper reel.
When using water conditioner during tank water change, do I add enough additive for the entire tank or just the water I am adding?
it depends when you add it. If you add it to the bucket you just need to treat the bucket amount.
if you pour the water into the tank first....treat the whole tank
Great Info👍 i need to update some expired things 😷your video reminded me Thanks guys
Thank you for one more of your always educating videos! I only have 1 heater and just got my first ever discus on sunday 26th of may and havent thought about getting another one for backup!😱
In one of your videos, Lisa was talking about how some of the best-looking rooks you can put in your fish tank . Ase ones you find outside. I only ask how you clean them off before putting them in to your tank.
I have had fish tanks for over 25 years so i know not to use any chemicals.
12:40 I might be late to the game with the comments. But another cheaper options is UPS unit. Depending on the unit, it could hold you over from 20 minutes to a couple of hours. Most time blackouts don't last to long, so getting a unit that would run your equipment for a couple of hours could be enough and will only hit your pocket book for about 100.00 buck plus. And I think ideal for those of us in the hobby that have smaller tanks and live in the apartments life.
Thank for the bloopers. Could always use a laugh.
Thank you for all the great information you always give us. Love the channel, great work.keep it up thanks we appreciate it.
ROFL!...seriously, great list😎..."oh, it's FedEx "😂 y'all are great💕👍
I have a inkbird controller so if my heater gets stuck it won't allow it to overheat or if it breaks it cuts out. Thankfully i have been finding that my new aquarium is in a great spot lots of natrual light and it's warm enough that the inkbird keeps my heater off 95% of the time which is great for the bills too 🙂
So while I was keeping fish I was also a miniature gamer (games workshop) this turned out to be really luck as it meant I had milliput on hand for when my tanks silicon failed it wasn’t the prettiest after but there was no way that join was going to fail again, a few years later the same tank was used to keep a hamster in and the joint even survived him trying to Chew his way out without him even scratching it.
So ied recommended keeping some fish tank grade milliput (or other brand) on hand just in case.
Trazyn give you that Milliput 😂?
I one time had a 150 gallon Discus tank and after the live plant bulbs fully grew and formed a nice canopy on top of the tank and made for some nice hiding spots for the little scools of danimos the water quality greatly improved and the fish definitely seemed happier with the added foliage. And unlike any other fish I've ever owned the Discus seemed to watch me more than I watched them and never had a problem adjusting the ph after I bought the right chemical. It was a while ago so i completely forgot what the ph for Discus was but more than anything that was the biggest struggle but fish are sorta flexible with ph as long as the proper bacteria are in the filter media and water has no ammonia.
I haven't used buckets in years, I just use a inline pump and I have a hot and cold water faucet setup for filling the tanks
One more tip. I use washable bed pads to put around the tank while doing maintenance or setting up a tank. They keep water and debris off of your floor.
Amazing video, that should be 20 things or more that you listed here in this video!
This video is sooo helpful! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Very interesting video,i have a 50 litre tank next to each tank i have so each tank has water set at the same to cover the tank next to it great for water changes etc.
I haven't used my algae scrapers in ages. I've discovered that generic magic erasers work way better. I buy the HDX brand from the big orange home improvement box store. Dollar store tooth brushes for cleaning rock and other decor and baby bottle brushes for cleaning out filter intake tube are few of the other cleaning supplies I keep around.
This hobby has taught me to be a bit more patient, but I still have a long way to go. Any time there is an imbalance my first instinct is to reach for whatever magic chemical will fix it RIGHT NOW!! Seachem seems to have a chemical for EVERYTHING.. The problem is that such solutions tend to throw something else out of balance while fixing the initial problem. I'm very slowly learning that a slower, more methodical, patient often times chemical free approach is usually the more prudent course of action. Now I just have to figure out what to do with those plastic bins (yes plural) filled with just about every product Seachem makes LOL
Do you use the magic erasers in your aquarium? Cuz the chemicals in them...?
Magic Erasers don’t work thru chemicals. It’s the fiber structure that does the cleaning. They are safe for aquariums.
You guys are amazing! I’m just getting into the hobby and I’ve fallen hard for these fish! You guys are very informative! Keep it up! Thanks again
After watching one of your videos on things to keep or was it a product spotlight... anyways i bought some general cure and kept just incase, lucky thing i had it because my fish started having white poo so i used the general cure but it did not completely cure it so i got New Life Spectrum Hex Shield and it did the job, So i think this is a product you need to mention in these types of videos.
Yep you have that right John. When I want something I want it now. Lol
hmm think I have everything except for the full list of the meds. I have a small gene ready for power outages and have already used it once in 5 yrs so far... and I LOVE the last bits.. gotta love the bloopers.. great work, keep it up and I'm looking forward to seeing your new fish room.
Love the outtakes! Lol!! Thanks for sharing those too, very entertaining. And great information. Subscribed!
thank you guys. I have joined some groups on fb to ask questions when I hit a rough spot. Sadly, not the best way to go for me.
The bloopers were hella funny. LOVE IT!!
Well done both of you I am happy I have joined you page 👍
I really enjoyed the bloopers. Cool idea!
For saltwater, my must have is kalkwasser. It's old fashioned, but if there is a random dip in pH, alkalinity, or calcium, it's good to have in order to keep those things stable. You can't just dump tons of 2 part in at once because of the salinity and pH, so the kalk does in a pinch big time.
A note on the medications that you have in case your fish get sick: make sure you keep an eye on the expiry date - using expired medication can make things worse depending on what it is.
premiere pro in the background, hahahahahha, great video, really really great. I like your style, your honesty, your info. You remind me of myself in my videos: to the point, no nonsense, no bullsh*t
Great info, keep up the good work
Lol Bloopers were great
There is another alternative for a power outage... External Power supply used for PCs for a filter or an air pump Couse filtration is priority 1. Heater can drain it a lot quicker, but filter can be fur for hours... And it's automatic ;)
What are the white fish behind his head at 0:28 ? They look like a fish in my office's tank, but the fins are longer on the work fish.
Lol on the generator!! I did the same thing 7 years ago... power would go out for a few days a couple times a year.... I got a generator hooked up, no power outages since. :)
Thank you for the info. I just started my 45.
The "bloopers" are cute at the end. Love your videos.
I tried many types of algae scrapers, the best I found is a razor blade attached at an angle to a stick from an old algae scraper.
15:00 what are those spotty fish called under the filter?
Very helpful video, as usual. You guys are great.
GOOD JOB KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!
Tip I learned if your hose for your hand gravel vac is too short for your tank to to your local hardware store and find the clear hose that fits your vac and buy how much you need. it's usually a dollar or less.
it says, in the video @19:10, you have put a link on how to use the water change system - and a link to where to buy one... i dont see these links!?
Great info, but yes I checked the date of this vid too when he spoke about the toilet paper..... Wow! 😁
I love y’all 🥰🥰 you and your wife are sooo funny and sweet I just love your videos sooo much