🛒*Are you looking for live plants for your aquarium? We've got you covered, click this link to order Tropica Plants NOW, add 'FEEDERS' in the discount box for $5 off the most amazing plants in the industry:* www.keepfishkeeping.com 🛒
@ 1:45-Back-up heater: yes! Only I usually forget to UNPLUG the heater during maintenance and they either melt their suction-cups or explode when cooler-water hits the hot heater-glass.
Digital thermometer with a low/high temp alarm is a great thing to have as well in addition to a backup heater. Then it will go off long before water gets into problem temperature range.
Or a big pleco gets startled and smashes the heater whilst your hands are in the water doing maintenance... luckily I was fine and my pleco was fine, and my LFS was open. I have a backup on hand now though and won't be using unprotected glass tube type heaters around big grumpy fish in future.
3:00 - I've got a bunch of spare smaller empty tanks laying around. I plan to set one 84l (20 gallon) for swordtails to breed, plants to sell / give away, etc. Once I had to take large SAE from a tank because of injury and keep it in a large bucket (50 l or 13 gallons) for a month with spare internal filter I had (I used sponge from another tank). Normally I put regular-size buckets, hoses, fish nets and various aquarium tools inside it. 7:00 - I like hang-on thermometers. I've got just one, but like with medical thermometer, I can grab it (clean it if needed), put it in another tank and in seconds I know the temperature. Sometimes it's a surprise. For example planted fish tanks are often several degrees Celsius warmer than a room.
No I’ve never stopped taking antibiotics before they are completed. No I’m not perfect, but that’s how antibiotic resistant bacteria evolves. It’s not good for us as a whole.
This is the reason I HATE people that use them on a whim like what she said she does. I believe the ease of access and overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture and aviculture are major reasons for antibiotics resistance.
So true things happen at the worst possible time! I have all basic fish medicine now at home, learned this the hard way. And a good water test kit, not just the testing strips. It is so much fun to play a chemist ;-) Good video! Thx
Just a thought about your generators... Consider firing them up before you actually need to use them. There's usually a "Break-in" period that's recommended that gets the proper phasing aligned with a small quantity of gasoline.Just remember if you're only using occasionally use a product like Stabil to stabilize the gas that's left in your tank to prevent future issues. I'm with you, I bought my generator and after assembling and break-in my power came back on and it was several years before I needed to start it up again. Great insurance policy.
YES back-up heater! My heater went out in betta tank TODAY! 68* when it should have been 78*! I "borrowed" the heater from goldfish tank until tomorrow.
Bettas are a bit sluggish at that temp, but will be fine for a week or so - in an emergency situation. Wrap some towels around the bowl & a heating pad far enough away to keep from overheating them (assuming you still have means to power it.)
Hey John i watch your videos all the time! You guy's are great!!😅. I have a 125 gallon aquarium. I went out and bought two fluval 407's and a fluval 307. The 407s are packef with seachem matrix and my fluval 307 is packed with the foam it came with and extra sponges and chemi pure. Okay when you get a chance please let me know if i have enough filtration
I’m late to the party as usual but thank you for this. I’m still getting equipment for my tank and this made me realize what I don’t have yet lol! On a side note: what fish is that at 8:04?
Good tips ! Back ups are essential to emergencies. P,S. My Diana Halstad bowl is looking so pretty and I've gotten so many compliments on my Beta T Shirt. I love it.
I have 6 digital thermometers, and when put all next to each other in the same take, I get slightly different readings.. It's very frustrating. What thermometer can I use that is the most accurate?
So true about those generators! I bought one about 3 years ago - never so much as a flicker since then. However, if you really never started your's up, they should be broken in first so when you need them (or decide to sell them - which I plan to :-) they'll be ready to run. If not broken in, and you do need them, they may give you problems when you need them the most (kind of like your list: be prepared :-).
thank you for this video, i am getting a 120 gallon tank and it's not the first time getting a tank,i will get the extra heater,pump,and everything else as back up stuff.
Great list and I see items I should pick up (have most). For power I have an Anker supply that charges over USB. If I need to charge it the car can do that. This was under $100.
Agree with everything but generator and antibiotics. Where I live, antibiotics are controlled substances. You can't just go and get them. I have a box with a spare heater, filter, and filter media.
Back up heater 👍. Battery operated air pump with sponge filter 👍. Back up filter 👍. Cool story . I have a backup heater because i had a very inaccurate thermometer. Any suggestions on a good thermometer ?
We lose power all the time. Sometimes for days. One of the best things I ever did was pay an electrician to change out my old push button circuit breaker box for a new one and install the plug so I can run my gas-powered generator. It's as simple as pulling the starter cord, flipping two breakers, and plugging it into the house. Instant power. Furnace works. Sump pumps work. TV works. Fridge works. Lights work. Most importantly, aquarium filtration and heaters all work. It has removed so much of the stress, I can't be happier with the decision. Next up, getting a bigger generator so it doesn't have to work so hard.
What's better digital thermometer or a glass thermometer? I say whatever you decide that's best for you. It is best to have both because if one of them break or stop working you will have one as a good backup.
Is it weird that I check the thermometer in my tank at least twice a day? 😅 And have not one, but two (!!) spare heaters? And uhh... You shouldn't have any leftover antibiotics. If you don't use them all up, it means you're stopping treatment too soon, which increases the possibility of bacteria developing antibiotic resistance. But I guess Europe is much stricter in that regard, since we can't even get antibiotics until a blood test confirms that we do, in fact, have a bacterial infection. 🤷🏻♀️ You're doing more harm than good by taking antibiotics for anything and everything, or not using them all up. I'm not saying this to be nasty, just genuinely worried.
It blows my mind that someone wouldn't have a thermometer?!?! I check mine a few times daily. I had an experience where my heater became unplugged without my knowledge and the temp had decreased by 10 degrees in a short period of time. Better to be safe than sorry when you are responsible for all of those lives!!
being new and knowing little, could i ask the advice of the fine folks here? I have a 55 gal. with 3 yellow labs, 3 Johanis, 3 polar blue parrots..... and... 1 compressicep(malawi eye biter) They are all very young and about the same size. My question is, did i make a rookie mistake by getting the Compessicep?
Hey! John Do yourself a favor and cycle start those generators once a month just to wake them up . Listening to you , your like me and if you ever need them and they don’t crank Oh boy !!!
Can you please elaborate detoxification of the ammonia and nitrite and how some of this things remove some stuff from aquarium. I heard about that many times but still can not understand where they remove those things. Or detoxification, that probably mean that ammonia and nitrate change in non toxic ammonia and nitrate.
My ammonia is always there. The fish store says water changes. It didn’t help. Why? So I tested the water. There is ammonia in the tap water. So I bought distilled water and took out 25% . I put 12 one gallon jugs of water. What can I do about this situation? I dream of a 75 gallon aquarium for Angel fish. I can’t afford bottled water for it. What should I do?
Most new homes have propane or natural gas generator to power the whole else during outages. Powerwall battery storage are now available to power the whole house. Solar can also charge the battery if need be. 26% tax incentive
It is simple I have 9 tanks that are full of live bearers I never do water changes all I do is change the filter wool every so often and feed the fish. And I'm constantly taking fish toy local fish store to give to them. Never did a water change in 40 year's of keeping fish
You really must take the full course of antibiotics if prescribed. Antibiotic resistance is no joke. It's not possible to get antibiotics in the UK without a prescription, including antibiotics for fish, precisely because people don't use them responsibly if they're freely available.
Owning an aquarium requires upkeep similar to maintaining/cleaning your home or car. A dog you can let loose in your backyard for most the dirty work. Aquariums require water changes, landscape cleaning, filter socks cleaning, with checkups on pumps, heaters, etc. A small house of glass.
I'd love to see your aquarium(s). And I hope you don't own a dog! I have six aquariums, I spend about two hours per week on upkeep on them. That's plenty enough, they have been healthy for years, I've breed most of my fishes in them. I own a dog too. She requires AT LEAST two hours of upkeep per day! Walking her usually 1-2 hours per day, then minimal training at least half an hour just to keep her head straight. It's probably 20+ hours per day, but we can get away with 2 hours SOME days. Just letting her out in the back yard would only result in a destroyed back yard and an unhappy dog. 6 tanks, 2 hours per week... That is 20 minutes of upkeep per tank per week. That's not very much. Even comparing it to owning a dog is like comparing apples and... dogs. You CAN spend hours and hours per week on an aquarium. But it's not required. 20 minutes is enough, not just to take it beyond the level of animal abuse, but to make a thriving, living ecosystem where the fishes can live a full, healthy life where they thrive, from birth to death of old age. If you have a dog, even the least demanding breeds need at least an hour of your time per day, or say 10+ hours per week just to stay on the right side of animal abuse! Most breeds need 15+, up to wee beyond 30+ hours of upkeep per week to have a full, happy, exciting and comfortable life. Sorry about the rant, I guess (or at least hope) you are an enthusiastic aquarium guy that really love and will do everything to give your fishes an awesome life. That is something we share, and I spend hours of additional time per week on my aquariums... it's just most of that time is for MY enjoyment, not nescessary for the fishes. I guess you're not a dog owner, so you don't know what it takes to keep a happy, mentally and physically healthy and stable dog. I am also an enthusiastic dog guy who love and will do anything to give my dog an awesome life, that's why I rant easily on a topic like this. Regardless which pet you have, I think it's a bad philosophy to try to meet the minimal legal reqiurements to keep them. You should do what you can to make them thrive.
Your stance on antibiotics is insane. John is/was self-employed so he is probably on painkillers to work through the disease as well. Just take them to the end...
🛒*Are you looking for live plants for your aquarium? We've got you covered, click this link to order Tropica Plants NOW, add 'FEEDERS' in the discount box for $5 off the most amazing plants in the industry:* www.keepfishkeeping.com 🛒
@ 1:45-Back-up heater: yes! Only I usually forget to UNPLUG the heater during maintenance and they either melt their suction-cups or explode when cooler-water hits the hot heater-glass.
Came here to say the same thing. Backup heater is important
Digital thermometer with a low/high temp alarm is a great thing to have as well in addition to a backup heater. Then it will go off long before water gets into problem temperature range.
Or a big pleco gets startled and smashes the heater whilst your hands are in the water doing maintenance... luckily I was fine and my pleco was fine, and my LFS was open. I have a backup on hand now though and won't be using unprotected glass tube type heaters around big grumpy fish in future.
3:00 - I've got a bunch of spare smaller empty tanks laying around. I plan to set one 84l (20 gallon) for swordtails to breed, plants to sell / give away, etc. Once I had to take large SAE from a tank because of injury and keep it in a large bucket (50 l or 13 gallons) for a month with spare internal filter I had (I used sponge from another tank). Normally I put regular-size buckets, hoses, fish nets and various aquarium tools inside it.
7:00 - I like hang-on thermometers. I've got just one, but like with medical thermometer, I can grab it (clean it if needed), put it in another tank and in seconds I know the temperature. Sometimes it's a surprise. For example planted fish tanks are often several degrees Celsius warmer than a room.
No I’ve never stopped taking antibiotics before they are completed. No I’m not perfect, but that’s how antibiotic resistant bacteria evolves. It’s not good for us as a whole.
This is the reason I HATE people that use them on a whim like what she said she does. I believe the ease of access and overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture and aviculture are major reasons for antibiotics resistance.
100%. I can't believe she admitted to doing that. Totally irresponsible.
So true things happen at the worst possible time! I have all basic fish medicine now at home, learned this the hard way. And a good water test kit, not just the testing strips. It is so much fun to play a chemist ;-) Good video! Thx
Thank You, both of you for all the recommendations and ideas you provide. Especially for those of us with less experience.
Just a thought about your generators... Consider firing them up before you actually need to use them. There's usually a "Break-in" period that's recommended that gets the proper phasing aligned with a small quantity of gasoline.Just remember if you're only using occasionally use a product like Stabil to stabilize the gas that's left in your tank to prevent future issues. I'm with you, I bought my generator and after assembling and break-in my power came back on and it was several years before I needed to start it up again. Great insurance policy.
I’m happy to see that we can check all the boxes.
And you’re power is definitely going to go out now, lol.
*your, not "you're". 🤣
4:10 for the backup tank- does it have to be a functioning tank that’s already set up or can it be an empty tank?
YES back-up heater!
My heater went out in betta tank TODAY!
68* when it should have been 78*! I "borrowed" the heater from goldfish tank until tomorrow.
Bettas are a bit sluggish at that temp, but will be fine for a week or so - in an emergency situation.
Wrap some towels around the bowl & a heating pad far enough away to keep from overheating them (assuming you still have means to power it.)
Im really suprised money isnt on this list, where i live this hobby is expensive, also i love your content keep up the great work!
No doubt. Where I live as well.
Thanks to Bidumb, just living is expensive now...nevermind aquarium hobby.
@@DeeGee-mv6eq please don’t bring politics into my peaceful hobby. ✌️
Hey John i watch your videos all the time! You guy's are great!!😅. I have a 125 gallon aquarium. I went out and bought two fluval 407's and a fluval 307. The 407s are packef with seachem matrix and my fluval 307 is packed with the foam it came with and extra sponges and chemi pure. Okay when you get a chance please let me know if i have enough filtration
I’m late to the party as usual but thank you for this. I’m still getting equipment for my tank and this made me realize what I don’t have yet lol!
On a side note: what fish is that at 8:04?
Thanks for the great tips! Even if you know the info, the breakdown helps explain to others in future.
For antibiotics, if you live Canada we have to go to a vet to get many types of Aquatic medications
The UK is the same you would have to take a sick vet to the vet
haven't had one of you videos pop up in awhile. Welcome back 😊
Yay! I was able to check all boxes on this list. Thank you.
@KGTropicals QUESTION. How long does Fritz complete and like products bind the ammonia, and then is it released as ammonia?
Good tips ! Back ups are essential to emergencies.
P,S.
My Diana Halstad bowl is looking so pretty and I've gotten so many compliments on my Beta T Shirt. I love it.
I have 6 digital thermometers, and when put all next to each other in the same take, I get slightly different readings.. It's very frustrating. What thermometer can I use that is the most accurate?
So true about those generators! I bought one about 3 years ago - never so much as a flicker since then. However, if you really never started your's up, they should be broken in first so when you need them (or decide to sell them - which I plan to :-) they'll be ready to run. If not broken in, and you do need them, they may give you problems when you need them the most (kind of like your list: be prepared :-).
thank you for this video, i am getting a 120 gallon tank and it's not the first time getting a tank,i will get the extra heater,pump,and everything else as back up stuff.
Not going to lie, I thought this was a new species profile on denison barbs and got really excited. 😢 Good advice but now I'm sad.
Great list and I see items I should pick up (have most). For power I have an Anker supply that charges over USB. If I need to charge it the car can do that. This was under $100.
You may want to test those generators occasionally to ensure they are in running condition.
Agree with everything but generator and antibiotics. Where I live, antibiotics are controlled substances. You can't just go and get them. I have a box with a spare heater, filter, and filter media.
Back up heater 👍. Battery operated air pump with sponge filter 👍. Back up filter 👍. Cool story . I have a backup heater because i had a very inaccurate thermometer. Any suggestions on a good thermometer ?
Wow the back up heater makes sens! what about the anti biotics ? which ones should I have/you suggest ?
We lose power all the time. Sometimes for days. One of the best things I ever did was pay an electrician to change out my old push button circuit breaker box for a new one and install the plug so I can run my gas-powered generator. It's as simple as pulling the starter cord, flipping two breakers, and plugging it into the house. Instant power. Furnace works. Sump pumps work. TV works. Fridge works. Lights work. Most importantly, aquarium filtration and heaters all work. It has removed so much of the stress, I can't be happier with the decision. Next up, getting a bigger generator so it doesn't have to work so hard.
What's better digital thermometer or a glass thermometer? I say whatever you decide that's best for you. It is best to have both because if one of them break or stop working you will have one as a good backup.
We use a inverter to power the house if we loss power .it is much cheap to maintain rather than a generator
Is it weird that I check the thermometer in my tank at least twice a day? 😅 And have not one, but two (!!) spare heaters?
And uhh... You shouldn't have any leftover antibiotics. If you don't use them all up, it means you're stopping treatment too soon, which increases the possibility of bacteria developing antibiotic resistance. But I guess Europe is much stricter in that regard, since we can't even get antibiotics until a blood test confirms that we do, in fact, have a bacterial infection. 🤷🏻♀️ You're doing more harm than good by taking antibiotics for anything and everything, or not using them all up. I'm not saying this to be nasty, just genuinely worried.
Antibiotics for fish use are illegal (without a veterinary prescription) where I live for good reason.
Where is that exactly?
@@jeffsers624 uk
It blows my mind that someone wouldn't have a thermometer?!?!
I check mine a few times daily. I had an experience where my heater became unplugged without my knowledge and the temp had decreased by 10 degrees in a short period of time.
Better to be safe than sorry when you are responsible for all of those lives!!
I have 29 gal bow front and was thinking of getting Roselines would this size tank be good enough for them
about springing a leak... At that point I’m more worried about my house than the fish…. Any suggestions on how to stop the leak quickly?
Have a wet vac in your house to quickly drain the water, aviation grade duct tape, towels
Solar powered battery banks can be a decent solution if it’s not a light blocking storm.
I have 3 different thermometers and all read a different temp in the same tank. The heater is set at a fouth temp.....
I've got a 55 title water keeps coming out of the overflow I have 2 filters in the bad what can I do
Spare batteries for the thermometer 💚🤟😎🇦🇺
What are the fish at 9:14 in the video?
being new and knowing little, could i ask the advice of the fine folks here? I have a 55 gal. with 3 yellow labs, 3 Johanis, 3 polar blue parrots..... and... 1 compressicep(malawi eye biter)
They are all very young and about the same size. My question is, did i make a rookie mistake by getting the Compessicep?
Hey! John
Do yourself a favor and cycle start those generators once a month just to wake them up . Listening to you , your like me and if you ever need them and they don’t crank Oh boy !!!
Can you please elaborate detoxification of the ammonia and nitrite and how some of this things remove some stuff from aquarium. I heard about that many times but still can not understand where they remove those things. Or detoxification, that probably mean that ammonia and nitrate change in non toxic ammonia and nitrate.
If all you have is a dozen tiny fish, the backup tank can be a plastic cheese-puff bottle. About two gallons large.
Everyone should have salt, heater, and a hospital tank✨
My ammonia is always there. The fish store says water changes. It didn’t help. Why? So I tested the water. There is ammonia in the tap water. So I bought distilled water and took out 25% . I put 12 one gallon jugs of water. What can I do about this situation? I dream of a 75 gallon aquarium for Angel fish. I can’t afford bottled water for it. What should I do?
Most new homes have propane or natural gas generator to power the whole else during outages. Powerwall battery storage are now available to power the whole house. Solar can also charge the battery if need be. 26% tax incentive
AMAZING VIDEO
Tips on how to handle flowerhorn fish thanks
Battery aerator with sponge filter attached
I live in India Mumbai to be more specific so do I still need a heater?
Probably not but it depends on the species of fish and ambient temperature around the tanks location.
@@jacqueline7938 I have John's favourite fish which is a tropical fish, I'm sure u get I'm talking bout Oscars
It is simple I have 9 tanks that are full of live bearers I never do water changes all I do is change the filter wool every so often and feed the fish. And I'm constantly taking fish toy local fish store to give to them. Never did a water change in 40 year's of keeping fish
John you should test fire those generators now. You didn’t knock on wood about not using them
Every time I buy a new back up tank I somehow fill it lol
Can’t have a generator in an apartment complex
You really must take the full course of antibiotics if prescribed. Antibiotic resistance is no joke.
It's not possible to get antibiotics in the UK without a prescription, including antibiotics for fish, precisely because people don't use them responsibly if they're freely available.
Owning an aquarium requires upkeep similar to maintaining/cleaning your home or car. A dog you can let loose in your backyard for most the dirty work. Aquariums require water changes, landscape cleaning, filter socks cleaning, with checkups on pumps, heaters, etc. A small house of glass.
I'd love to see your aquarium(s).
And I hope you don't own a dog!
I have six aquariums, I spend about two hours per week on upkeep on them.
That's plenty enough, they have been healthy for years, I've breed most of my fishes in them.
I own a dog too.
She requires AT LEAST two hours of upkeep per day!
Walking her usually 1-2 hours per day, then minimal training at least half an hour just to keep her head straight.
It's probably 20+ hours per day, but we can get away with 2 hours SOME days.
Just letting her out in the back yard would only result in a destroyed back yard and an unhappy dog.
6 tanks, 2 hours per week...
That is 20 minutes of upkeep per tank per week.
That's not very much.
Even comparing it to owning a dog is like comparing apples and... dogs.
You CAN spend hours and hours per week on an aquarium. But it's not required.
20 minutes is enough, not just to take it beyond the level of animal abuse, but to make a thriving, living ecosystem where the fishes can live a full, healthy life where they thrive, from birth to death of old age.
If you have a dog, even the least demanding breeds need at least an hour of your time per day, or say 10+ hours per week just to stay on the right side of animal abuse!
Most breeds need 15+, up to wee beyond 30+ hours of upkeep per week to have a full, happy, exciting and comfortable life.
Sorry about the rant, I guess (or at least hope) you are an enthusiastic aquarium guy that really love and will do everything to give your fishes an awesome life.
That is something we share, and I spend hours of additional time per week on my aquariums... it's just most of that time is for MY enjoyment, not nescessary for the fishes.
I guess you're not a dog owner, so you don't know what it takes to keep a happy, mentally and physically healthy and stable dog.
I am also an enthusiastic dog guy who love and will do anything to give my dog an awesome life, that's why I rant easily on a topic like this.
Regardless which pet you have, I think it's a bad philosophy to try to meet the minimal legal reqiurements to keep them.
You should do what you can to make them thrive.
ITS ALWAYS SUNDAY NIGHT 😝
Do not cheap out. That's the thing. You make the choice to have a pet, so take care of it. Fish are not toys and plants are not disposable.
Do I get a Gold Star for having everything on the list?
Im getting a sicce heater now
It's a learning process if u serious about it
John, if you really never fired up your generators you may find they don't work when you need them. Hope you were kidding.
Room temperature fish 😁
I come to this channel to get lectured at about what I’m doing wrong in the hobby
Show us your darts
Mind stays at 80f
has been keeping fish for years successfully, keep hardy fish with a filter thats it. all this BS , rather quit fish keeping😂
The first thing to get is fish, cuz you don't need no tank if you ain't got no fish.
Your stance on antibiotics is insane. John is/was self-employed so he is probably on painkillers to work through the disease as well. Just take them to the end...
I dont think that actually compares
@@travisdeshotel8894 just means, that you would feel even less if you still have it.
@@dasfabelwesen ahh, I think I misunderstood ya.
Ummmmmm...... what disease exactly am I working through? Know who you're talking about before you say something dumb.
Weirdest comment I’ve seen all day. 🤷🏻♀️🙄!