That is great advice. take it little by little, the more comfortable you become as a fish keeper, the more prepared you will be when a challenge comes up. We learn by our mistakes.
I have to say the way you speak and teach makes everything very clear. You cover all the bases and have an amazing perspective that is inspiring. When "keepin it real" goes right!
I love his voice! Maybe in part it's because I'm Southern, so the accent is soothing. But also, his cadence and volume reminds me of the animal documentaries from back in the day.
Deep substrate, heavily planted tanks are much easier and less stressful than the standard mid to high tech set ups imo. One thing I did was set a gallon jar just to practice with before starting a bigger tank. It worked really well. I learned a lot and got comfortable and now my first ten gallon set up was FUN and not stressful
I change the decor completely 3x a year for my betta in his 5.5G tank (vids on my profile b/c I'm hilarious!🤭). I have the top almost entirely covered with a snake plant, lucky bamboo, and several pothos: one planted in a pot with tendrils now rooting in the water. It's zen magic! Recently I got the glass beer mug at dollar tree, broke it with a hammer. I filed the edges on the handle & made a bridge, and I made a shield with a large piece of the body to dissipate the filter flow. Byumba also loves to watch the bubbles as the spread hitting the glass. He loves his filter too. I worry about his fish ears, so this makes me very happy. 🤗🕊️
Im a noob but Ive been researching for years, but hadn't gotten started until recently. The way I am, I overthink and what started as a simple betta tank turned into a naturalistic blackwater riparium. With all my research I still had common problems. I went through 3 different filters before settling with a HOB. I've had major die offs, fish fighting, snail overpopulation. It's still fun. It takes patience and problem solving. You have to have a basic understanding of biology, microbiology, chemistry, botony to understand how to fix issues. It's fun in my opinion. You're creating a little world in a box.
@plantlifeproject you know what's crazy? My tank doesn't produce enogh ammonia or algae to be self-sustaining like I had planned. I was so worried about toxins that I didn't realize they are a crucial part of an ecosystem. As much as I like pond snails, they starved out a lot of my microfauna. There's no getting around it. I like snails, but they can be problematic.
Here's what I've figured out. I have my PhD and am information/learning obsessed. If I have a question I cannot rest until I learn about it (whats molybdenum in my multivitamin, what's that big box next to an electrical pole, etc.). I have to look it up. But I've realized that no matter how much I read, research I do, questions I ask, nitty gritty complex, details I learn... it's useless without experience! And that's hard for an academic! I've learned I do best from screwing up, making mistakes, and failing. Because experience comes from mistakes, and wisdom comes from experience. It's why I love aquariums, gardening, and repairing electronic/lighting. I love messing up because it's learning - especially when I have figure out what I did wrong. There's no other replacement for that.
@@joshuadecker1305I tossed some bladder snails into my first new tank since I quit the hobby. I just needed something to produce bio to kickstart the tank. Eventually, I got everything going as I wanted, but the snails went bonkers. So, I'd squish some and my fish and shrimp would go nuts eating them. But it wasn't enough, so I hired a few assassin snails from a friend. They wiped out the entire population and with them gone, I gave them back.
Im IN LOVE with this channel Hes already gone thru EVERYTHING im ABOUT to go thru and He explains things in PLAIN ENGLISH in short concise detail thats simple to understand HES WORTH HIS WEIGHT IN GOLD THANK YOU for taking the time to shate yoyr experience and trust athis is one viewer who inte ds to use all of it to her advantahe and being im on a fixed income OLD AS DIRT and terrified of what is facing our nation economically since my nation got STUCK ON STUPID and ekected Trum0 Come this time next year im gonna be using what i know about organic gardening hydroponics Fish keeoing and Aquaponics and Ill be eating fresh fruits and veggies from the crops i produce THANKBYOU you have made my chances of survival improve DRAMATICALLY
This is good advice. I went through a phase where I thought I was doing everything wrong and I was a failure. I'm sure I was doing some things wrong, and I probably still am, but I just needed to relax and stop worrying so much. Algae is a natural thing, don't panic! (that was my biggest issue, lol)
This was an awesome video. Should be part of Day 1 of New Tank 101 Class…but also great for someone who has dabbled in every decade since the 1960s! Also struck by the almost Video-Gamer mentality that is needed to progress in the sport. Level 1 - Cycle New Tank Power Enabled Level 2 - Introduce Fish Accomplished It is actually a great way to think about the challenges and process of growing skills. Best of all, stop and appreciate.
When i started up the hobby again, i had a friend give me several gallons of water, some sponge filter squeezin's, and a cycled filter. I also put a bag of ceramic rings in his tank for a week and then put it in mine. Infinitely better than the beneficial bacteria in a bottle.
My dream was having more plants, like I never had before. So I bought a tank, aquasoil, a bubbler and plants. I grow plants, so I had grow lamps. 3 months after, I love it. But I am not so into fishes.. I dont want to mistreat an animal, no rush.
Fish can help the plants thrive though. They can become the primary source of nutrients that sustain them…allowing for transition to nutrients only minor nutrient additions…but only if that is your desire.
1) Buying plants from the mail is like buying trimmed tops of plants 'without' roots. Isolate the plants until they have roots for your tank. 2) Starting a new tank can take upto a month, just for it to settle and cycle. 3) Buying fish from the 'marketplace' needs involvement, ordering fish is Male, Female or Straight run. Tell your seller to include a female for breeding. 4) Plan to expand.....fry, plants, indoor, outdoor set ups, zonal situations for temps, tanks or tubs, bowls etc. This is me in my first mouth of Medaka breeding! I've had goldfish and minnows winter over in zone 6a so I have a footing for later.
On my first aquarium I was dead set on not having plants because in my mind that meant more maintenance. I later learned the answer to 90% of my issues and doing less maintenance was plants.
I just killed a plant I have bought three times already. But I will buy it again when I think I am ready and try once more. That goes for more than one plant. Live, learn, make changes, try again.
My advice is - NOT to follow the Big Box suggestions on buying tons of Worthless Gravel, Plastic ornaments, buying Expensive Filters and Media. Just buy a Fish tank, Sand/Substrate and LIVE PLANTS and sponge filter, maybe a HOB Filter, and you are GOOD TO GO!!!!
The biggest problem I had was the "Internet"... There is so much conflicting info out there that it will muddle your mind into thinking that you're doing things "So Damn Wrong!" when you're doing okay... One instance was when I received a Red/Blue Columbian Tetra (a mistake from my LFS), I did some swift research to find that it requires a Minimum of 25C temp... My tank gets no lower than 18C in winter and no higher than 20C in summer. And can go as low as 16C during large water changes... Yet, after five months it is doing really well and looks to be happy and illness free... Like you say, it's a learning curve, every aspect of it. From what fish to keep, tank sizing, filtration, and to go with plants or fake... At the end of the day, get the Nitrogen Cycle right, and your fish are happy, you can do no more... Stop chasing the "Dream Tank" as seen in so many YT vids with their wonderful plants and thriving fish, that is something that comes with years of patience, not "Out of the Box" set ups... Yeas indeed do your research, but do it for what you need at that time, not what you may need in time... This hobby is a constant learning curve, even Father Fish and Dr Novak does not know all (I have a story for another time)... Great advice for both novice and seasoned keepers of fish alike.
Yep, changes, changes, changes, that is life! I thought of giving up so many times. But I am hard headed and just keep learning and trying and it is working better little by little.
Help! Why won't my pothos cuttings grow roots? I took cuttings from a friend's pothos plant, and placed the cut ends in my aquarium with two nodes submerged on each cutting. It has been a whole month and nothing has happened. No roots. No new leaves. Nothing. They didn't die, either. The leaves on the top end of the cuttings look perfectly green and healthy. Just no new growth. What could be happening?
That is great advice. take it little by little, the more comfortable you become as a fish keeper, the more prepared you will be when a challenge comes up. We learn by our mistakes.
kinda cross between self help and wisdom, love it a true moment of clarity
I have to say the way you speak and teach makes everything very clear. You cover all the bases and have an amazing perspective that is inspiring. When "keepin it real" goes right!
Wow, thank you! I’m glad it spoke to you!
I love his voice! Maybe in part it's because I'm Southern, so the accent is soothing. But also, his cadence and volume reminds me of the animal documentaries from back in the day.
Good advice. Thanks for sharing. My three points are 3) Knowledge is helpful. 2) Experience is priceless. 1) Patience is the key.
Well said!
The need for Patience cannot be overstated, I think.
Deep substrate, heavily planted tanks are much easier and less stressful than the standard mid to high tech set ups imo.
One thing I did was set a gallon jar just to practice with before starting a bigger tank. It worked really well. I learned a lot and got comfortable and now my first ten gallon set up was FUN and not stressful
Yes that’s the key! HEAVILY PLANTED tanks!
Deep substrate and plants are a fabulous combination!
I change the decor completely 3x a year for my betta in his 5.5G tank (vids on my profile b/c I'm hilarious!🤭). I have the top almost entirely covered with a snake plant, lucky bamboo, and several pothos: one planted in a pot with tendrils now rooting in the water. It's zen magic!
Recently I got the glass beer mug at dollar tree, broke it with a hammer. I filed the edges on the handle & made a bridge, and I made a shield with a large piece of the body to dissipate the filter flow. Byumba also loves to watch the bubbles as the spread hitting the glass.
He loves his filter too. I worry about his fish ears, so this makes me very happy. 🤗🕊️
You are spot on with your explanation!
Im a noob but Ive been researching for years, but hadn't gotten started until recently. The way I am, I overthink and what started as a simple betta tank turned into a naturalistic blackwater riparium. With all my research I still had common problems. I went through 3 different filters before settling with a HOB. I've had major die offs, fish fighting, snail overpopulation. It's still fun. It takes patience and problem solving. You have to have a basic understanding of biology, microbiology, chemistry, botony to understand how to fix issues. It's fun in my opinion. You're creating a little world in a box.
It’s a lifestyle of trial and error at times!
@plantlifeproject you know what's crazy? My tank doesn't produce enogh ammonia or algae to be self-sustaining like I had planned. I was so worried about toxins that I didn't realize they are a crucial part of an ecosystem. As much as I like pond snails, they starved out a lot of my microfauna. There's no getting around it. I like snails, but they can be problematic.
Here's what I've figured out.
I have my PhD and am information/learning obsessed. If I have a question I cannot rest until I learn about it (whats molybdenum in my multivitamin, what's that big box next to an electrical pole, etc.). I have to look it up.
But I've realized that no matter how much I read, research I do, questions I ask, nitty gritty complex, details I learn... it's useless without experience! And that's hard for an academic! I've learned I do best from screwing up, making mistakes, and failing.
Because experience comes from mistakes, and wisdom comes from experience. It's why I love aquariums, gardening, and repairing electronic/lighting. I love messing up because it's learning - especially when I have figure out what I did wrong. There's no other replacement for that.
@@joshuadecker1305I tossed some bladder snails into my first new tank since I quit the hobby. I just needed something to produce bio to kickstart the tank. Eventually, I got everything going as I wanted, but the snails went bonkers. So, I'd squish some and my fish and shrimp would go nuts eating them. But it wasn't enough, so I hired a few assassin snails from a friend. They wiped out the entire population and with them gone, I gave them back.
Im IN LOVE with this channel Hes already gone thru EVERYTHING im ABOUT to go thru and He explains things in PLAIN ENGLISH in short concise detail thats simple to understand HES WORTH HIS WEIGHT IN GOLD
THANK YOU for taking the time to shate yoyr experience and trust athis is one viewer who inte ds to use all of it to her advantahe and being im on a fixed income OLD AS DIRT and terrified of what is facing our nation economically since my nation got STUCK ON STUPID and ekected Trum0 Come this time next year im gonna be using what i know about organic gardening hydroponics Fish keeoing and Aquaponics and Ill be eating fresh fruits and veggies from the crops i produce THANKBYOU you have made my chances of survival improve DRAMATICALLY
I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos!
Great subject!
This is good advice. I went through a phase where I thought I was doing everything wrong and I was a failure. I'm sure I was doing some things wrong, and I probably still am, but I just needed to relax and stop worrying so much. Algae is a natural thing, don't panic! (that was my biggest issue, lol)
Amazing Advice
First off your tank is awesome! Sometimes we make things harder than it should be by overthinking. Great video!
Thanks 👍!
This was an awesome video. Should be part of Day 1 of New Tank 101 Class…but also great for someone who has dabbled in every decade since the 1960s!
Also struck by the almost Video-Gamer mentality that is needed to progress in the sport.
Level 1 - Cycle New Tank Power Enabled
Level 2 - Introduce Fish Accomplished
It is actually a great way to think about the challenges and process of growing skills.
Best of all, stop and appreciate.
Glad you enjoyed it! Appreciate your insights as well, it can be such a mind game at times.
When i started up the hobby again, i had a friend give me several gallons of water, some sponge filter squeezin's, and a cycled filter. I also put a bag of ceramic rings in his tank for a week and then put it in mine. Infinitely better than the beneficial bacteria in a bottle.
Great video! I needed the reminder to just take it one step at at time and avoid the overwhelm that comes from trying to do it all as a beginner!
I’m glad it spoke to you!
This is a great video on so many levels. Thank you.
You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
My dream was having more plants, like I never had before. So I bought a tank, aquasoil, a bubbler and plants. I grow plants, so I had grow lamps. 3 months after, I love it. But I am not so into fishes.. I dont want to mistreat an animal, no rush.
Fish can help the plants thrive though. They can become the primary source of nutrients that sustain them…allowing for transition to nutrients only minor nutrient additions…but only if that is your desire.
Great advice Andrew. Sometimes less is more.
1) Buying plants from the mail is like buying trimmed tops of plants 'without' roots. Isolate the plants until they have roots for your tank.
2) Starting a new tank can take upto a month, just for it to settle and cycle.
3) Buying fish from the 'marketplace' needs involvement, ordering fish is Male, Female or Straight run. Tell your seller to include a female for breeding.
4) Plan to expand.....fry, plants, indoor, outdoor set ups, zonal situations for temps, tanks or tubs, bowls etc.
This is me in my first mouth of Medaka breeding!
I've had goldfish and minnows winter over in zone 6a so I have a footing for later.
On my first aquarium I was dead set on not having plants because in my mind that meant more maintenance. I later learned the answer to 90% of my issues and doing less maintenance was plants.
plants rock, man!
I just killed a plant I have bought three times already. But I will buy it again when I think I am ready and try once more. That goes for more than one plant. Live, learn, make changes, try again.
You can probably pick up the vibrational tremble from those plants seeing you walk in the pet store! 🤭jk couldn't resist ✌🏼
Well said!
My advice is - NOT to follow the Big Box suggestions on buying tons of Worthless Gravel, Plastic ornaments, buying Expensive Filters and Media. Just buy a Fish tank, Sand/Substrate and LIVE PLANTS and sponge filter, maybe a HOB Filter, and you are GOOD TO GO!!!!
Yes, Keep it simple !
The biggest problem I had was the "Internet"... There is so much conflicting info out there that it will muddle your mind into thinking that you're doing things "So Damn Wrong!" when you're doing okay... One instance was when I received a Red/Blue Columbian Tetra (a mistake from my LFS), I did some swift research to find that it requires a Minimum of 25C temp... My tank gets no lower than 18C in winter and no higher than 20C in summer. And can go as low as 16C during large water changes... Yet, after five months it is doing really well and looks to be happy and illness free...
Like you say, it's a learning curve, every aspect of it. From what fish to keep, tank sizing, filtration, and to go with plants or fake...
At the end of the day, get the Nitrogen Cycle right, and your fish are happy, you can do no more...
Stop chasing the "Dream Tank" as seen in so many YT vids with their wonderful plants and thriving fish, that is something that comes with years of patience, not "Out of the Box" set ups...
Yeas indeed do your research, but do it for what you need at that time, not what you may need in time... This hobby is a constant learning curve, even Father Fish and Dr Novak does not know all (I have a story for another time)...
Great advice for both novice and seasoned keepers of fish alike.
Great video Detroit 😊
Very good advice, I enjoyed this video, good reminder for experienced fish keepers too.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Yep, changes, changes, changes, that is life! I thought of giving up so many times. But I am hard headed and just keep learning and trying and it is working better little by little.
Good stuff!
my problem is not being wealthy enough but I love it😊
That’s always a problem too! 😆
Great advice!
Glad it was helpful!
I wish I had seen this video 2 years ago when I started my first planted tank😅
nice one man!!!
Appreciate it!
Great video ❤watching from🇦🇺
Preach.
I find myself desperately seeking what I already have.
Very well said, I can relate!
Help! Why won't my pothos cuttings grow roots? I took cuttings from a friend's pothos plant, and placed the cut ends in my aquarium with two nodes submerged on each cutting. It has been a whole month and nothing has happened. No roots. No new leaves. Nothing. They didn't die, either. The leaves on the top end of the cuttings look perfectly green and healthy. Just no new growth. What could be happening?
This happens to me sometimes as well, just requires a little more patience but the cuttings will eventually root.
Love and regards from Pakistan 🇵🇰 for your great work and information
Thanks!
wives !
oh wait thats not the problem you were referring to huh.......
😂
Or husbands if you are female and they don't share your passion!
@@dixsigns1717 I don't know ive never had a husband......
How do I get my amazon sword to get tall like that 😫
Here’s how I do it
How to Grow and Care for AMAZON SWORD Aquarium Plant- How Much Light Does it REALLY Need???
ua-cam.com/video/T_VoygOV9fo/v-deo.html
You ever tried growing 🍄 mushrooms lol
Need some moss, then is perfect
What kind of moss do you think?
🐟🩵🙌