*What easy tricks do you use that automatically elevate your aquarium?* If you missed our hacks on how to level up your fishkeeping knowledge, check it out: ua-cam.com/video/e6k96TEZSLI/v-deo.html
Which aren’t the really bad ones but if I’m medicating the aquarium with paracleanse, should those die aswell, if they should and they haven’t died then I would be worried since it’s not doing it’s job. Would like to hear your response
Lighting definitely makes a huge difference. I bought two shop light LEDs for my 55gal and 60 gal tanks. They were cheap and powerful, but they were also very yellow. They made the whole tank look like watered down iced tea, and they grew tons of hair algae. I replaced them with an Aquasky 2.0 which has an option to customize the color spectrum and put the unit on a timer as well, and the results are incredible. The colors in the fish pop a lot more, the plants and gravel have a nice natural contrast, and when you shut off the lights in the room at night the tank looks dramatically lit. I love it. Don't be afraid to try new things with your tank!
Hack 2.0: puncture root tabs with a straight/safety pin to help it sink. Placing a root tab at the perfect place just to have it float/ dissolve is super frustrating! Just jab the root tab with a safety/straight pin before you bury it to ensure it stays put! Edited to add: the ACO heater is the easiest to hide.
Cory is one of the few honest business men and true expert in aquaristics giving useful advices on YT . No lies, misleading ,,tips'' or wasting time with rubbish talking . Unlike Dr. Anoxic , Snake oil Guru and many others 😜
Really honestly I've been kind of bored with my aquarium setup recently and this video is the reminder I need to just rescape it with the extra materials I have already. I think I'll suggest my local fish store to add black backgrounds to their aquariums. It would definitely set them apart from the big pet stores who all use blue backgrounds.
I have a white background on one of my tanks and it looks great. The greens of the plant and reds of some of the fish really stand out. Black is not always best, it depends on your scape and fish…👌🏽
I agree a black background is the best to make your plants n fish pop and it hides the algee on the back of the tank as well...the more I watch ya Cory the more I'm liking ya...keep up it up brother 👊
I love making my own background by using fabric and literally hanging it over the back of the tank - keeps it nice and warm for longer so less chance of heater failure. I've used a dark green / brown tartan fabric backdrop on my amazon blackwater tank
I see your points on black...but I painted my newest tank in a very light teal (almost white) and I LOVE it. The room its in is very light - black would have looked silly there. I also did angled side cuts on the side of the tank. I love how it turned out.
Since you showed it during the "black" section and didn't mention it--my only problem with your sponge filters is the green. I understand branding, but you're saying yourself right here that black would have blended in better. I hope you consider having some made with black hardware.
He's spoken about that before. I believe black was the first choice but black dye stains everything so it makes the moulding process more expensive (because the factory has to use specific moulds intended for black products only) so they went with green. I have no idea what video/livestream that was mentioned in though.
What about the lift tube? Clear? About the only thing I see on my sponge filter is the lift tube which is green. It would be green eventually due to algae growth.
I would love if your sponge filters had an all black option. All my aquariums have black backgrounds and the green plastic is really hard to hide even with plants in front of it
You can paint it. Rit-dye it if you want it a little transparent still but make sure the part is strong enough to withstand boiling water and the plastic part wont warp or melt.
my favorite aquarium is a 29 that uses pea gravel, a few large river rocks and a piece of wood that honestly is too big for the aquarium. there is also a lot of plants so its a jungle.
Milky blackground also looks great and better in some cases than black. They are sold to be used on windows and shower doors. The only downside are algae, but again that means the fish tank needs to be cleaned.
True. I upgraded lights in my aquarium, more expensive but is 100% worth it. I can see more detail in my tank. I can see the fish better too. The dark background makes a big difference as well.
Cory and his team back again with Grade A top notch advice! I love the plant tip. As I struggle to have my corycats to not uproot plants before they take hold. Just got my plant shipment in from you and will definitely be trying this to give ‘em and extra boost.
Does leaving a plant in the pot deter it's potential growth? I always remove and plant right into the stratum gravel mix. Root tabs went in at the bottom before set up
Ohhh some super tips. Not only will the tank look great, but If you get that good light and do some lighting from inside the tank, bet you will get some awesome shots of the fish and plants. 👍❤👍
I have a 2.5gal for my Betta and 2 green neons. The kit light literally rotted (button cover hardened and had oil seeping out, just gross), so I got a 6 diode led. My Betta is red with aqua spots and the neons are more aqua than really green, so I focus on setting the light to more blue. Betta's spots pop and the neons flash around. My 10gal has some super bright led bulbs with black gravel and clear glass vases, cups and jars as hides. There is a lot of algae growth, but given I got a Trapdoor snail who had babies 6 days later, it doesn't seem to overgrow much. Tank has different tetras, pearl danios, sparkling gouramis and peacock gudgeons, so the most common color is silver, which the bright lights highlight well
Def gonna try this!! I just got my daughter her first fish tank.. well I’ve found a new love and hobby up keeping and watching these beautiful critters lol! Unfortunately I was told gouramis get along with one another but I just discovered I have a pretty established blue gourami male & a new dwarf gourami male 😭😭 I need to get a new tank if I wanna save the little guy I feel terrible he’s being bullied.
The dark blue of the deep sea is my go-to...but, I put black foam board on my tank with my cichlids & I must say, I am loving it. I am also thinking that perhaps I want it on my big tank as well. I agree that it hides alot, but I don't think it looks natural. If I could keep fish from the dark depths of our oceans it would be no contest. Meanwhile, I'll just take my toothbrush & scrub off the algae if it gets on my last nerve, if I stay with the deep blue for my big tank.
I love working on the lighting for my tanks, I've hand made all of it, I can control hue, color temps, or any color for that matter, I'm just a diy kind of person, made my own stands, shelving..etc, the thing I will never skimp out on is a quality heater, I have seen a trend where the preset heaters like break and stay in the on position, I've had them for years with no problems, but a new one did that to me, got the water over 100 degrees, the only thing that survived was my gourami, plecos and mollies, replace the heater with a new preset style, a week later it breaks and electrocutes the whole tank, what are the odds, third heater has been problem free for 2 months now, but is also not a cheap preset one
Cory this is very helpful to me. I'm setting up a 55 I got for a good used price. The back is painted black, but there is a chunk missing, was trying to decide if I should just patch it up with black or....? So black it is. Cory one think I keep asking people and I understand the reluctance to answer. I use egg crate under my substrate, how do I know what kind of weight you can get away with? I like natural rock but....
We haven’t had an aquarium in 40 years but are thinking of restarting the hobby after we move. Do you guys have an affiliation or connection with an aquarium store in the Boston or Metrowest area of Boston?
Norwex Backock towel for glass. The safest and easiest way I've found to keep my glass clean. Pointless doing anything else if I can't see it clearly!!!?
My aquarium is located on my bedroom dresser in front of a window. Instead of doing water changes into a bucket and literally dragging to empty it outside, I pass the waste hose out the window. The water drains into my irrigation system.
The first tank (6GAL) I bought for my betta had a piece of black glass for the back wall and he just spent all of his time flaring at himself. He wouldn't even eat, and he never got used to his reflection. No amount of light or lack thereof got rid of his reflection either, I finally wrapped his tank in towels to block out all light just to get him to rest for a few days. I finally ended up buying a new tank (10GAL) all together, heavily (silk) planted it and added a busy background from my LFS. He can still see himself, but he doesn't spend as much time as before flaring but he definitely still does. Do you have any advice, or is he fine?
So i'm new to the hobby. I have a 10 gallon tank with a piece of driftwood and some live plants in it. (with gravel as the substrate too.) I boiled the driftwood so it would sink and it wouldn't make my water brown. the tank has been cycling for 3-4 days now and there is a weird fungus/algae like film on my wood. Is it harmful to my fish and plants? am i able to put my fish in even with that film? Please help :)
In my experience the film will go away or get eaten once you add the fish. Once your tank is fully cycled it should be safe to add fish even with the film on the driftwood. Just be sure to wait until the tank is ready before you add the fish.
I love your tour and tips vid thanks alot Question: I just bread zebra danios in foam box and feeding egg yoke, but how long till I can move to bigger tank like 40 gallons ?
I have a catfish in my tank and about 8 bluegill, my ammonia levels are drastically high and I just started my tank. It's been about a week and all the fish are alive. I don't understand how it is working out with them being alive still lol but I need answers and help on how to lower the levels naturally bc I don't have a secondary tank to put the fish in and I don't want to pump a ton of chemicals into the fish either.
I seriously want to try your black airline tubing. I've bought a couple kinds and it seems like it comes apart from the vibration of the pump at every junction or intersection even the back flow valve. Suggestions?
I just squeeze the tabs to get the 'float' out as I'm planting 'em... And it must just be me, but I've never cared about backgrounds, air lines, power cables being visible... none of my two rooms full of tanks have backgrounds, I prefer a clear back so I can see the wall or whatever's behind the tank... I may be considered weird though...! Anyway, thanks Cory and gang for your awesomeness...! Don't forget to ENJOY NATURE DAILY...!!!
That plant you put in @ 2:22 I have that exact plant is the leaves suppose to look purplish? I been trimming my leaves that turn that color because I thought it was dying but then I noticed more of the leaves would grow and then the same color. I am confused on if the plant is dying or that’s just the color.
Hey Cory, love the videos! I have a question about ICH, can it live in or on a sponge filter? Still waiting for my Ich x to come in the mail . For my Colombian sharks, they did not survive 😢
Put any background on your tank... for real I get so bummed out when I see someone have nothing on the back (unless you have viewing from both sides of the tank)... I never did them for a long time but it makes a world of difference in display
My son's tank is like that n I swear he keeps it backround free just because it drives me nuckin futs lol. Offered to buy him one today at our favorite somewhat local lfs......nope still wires hanging
*What easy tricks do you use that automatically elevate your aquarium?* If you missed our hacks on how to level up your fishkeeping knowledge, check it out: ua-cam.com/video/e6k96TEZSLI/v-deo.html
crumpled paper bag as a background looks great too!
Hey Cory
Was wondering if fritz paracleanse kills Detritus Worms??
Which aren’t the really bad ones but if I’m medicating the aquarium with paracleanse, should those die aswell, if they should and they haven’t died then I would be worried since it’s not doing it’s job. Would like to hear your response
Awesome tips!
Now I'm thinking of my leftover black spray paint. Lol
Yes
I love that Cory needed more lighting while he was talking about lighting.
Lighting definitely makes a huge difference. I bought two shop light LEDs for my 55gal and 60 gal tanks. They were cheap and powerful, but they were also very yellow. They made the whole tank look like watered down iced tea, and they grew tons of hair algae. I replaced them with an Aquasky 2.0 which has an option to customize the color spectrum and put the unit on a timer as well, and the results are incredible. The colors in the fish pop a lot more, the plants and gravel have a nice natural contrast, and when you shut off the lights in the room at night the tank looks dramatically lit. I love it. Don't be afraid to try new things with your tank!
Those co op root tabs are frustrating i swear 🤣
would you mind to share your settings of your aquasky? Thank you, Matty!
Here's a tip for the tips
😊 always love learning new tips.
Hack 2.0: puncture root tabs with a straight/safety pin to help it sink. Placing a root tab at the perfect place just to have it float/ dissolve is super frustrating! Just jab the root tab with a safety/straight pin before you bury it to ensure it stays put!
Edited to add: the ACO heater is the easiest to hide.
Cory is one of the few honest business men and true expert in aquaristics giving useful advices on YT . No lies, misleading ,,tips'' or wasting time with rubbish talking .
Unlike Dr. Anoxic , Snake oil Guru and many others 😜
Really honestly I've been kind of bored with my aquarium setup recently and this video is the reminder I need to just rescape it with the extra materials I have already. I think I'll suggest my local fish store to add black backgrounds to their aquariums. It would definitely set them apart from the big pet stores who all use blue backgrounds.
I have a white background on one of my tanks and it looks great. The greens of the plant and reds of some of the fish really stand out. Black is not always best, it depends on your scape and fish…👌🏽
I agree a black background is the best to make your plants n fish pop and it hides the algee on the back of the tank as well...the more I watch ya Cory the more I'm liking ya...keep up it up brother 👊
Awesome, love these tips. Definitely going to try the root tab one.
I love making my own background by using fabric and literally hanging it over the back of the tank - keeps it nice and warm for longer so less chance of heater failure. I've used a dark green / brown tartan fabric backdrop on my amazon blackwater tank
I see your points on black...but I painted my newest tank in a very light teal (almost white) and I LOVE it. The room its in is very light - black would have looked silly there. I also did angled side cuts on the side of the tank.
I love how it turned out.
Sorry I didn’t get to watch this when it came out but I was out in the garden recycling fish tank water on my plants. I think Cory will approve!
haha I think I was doing the same thing!
Since you showed it during the "black" section and didn't mention it--my only problem with your sponge filters is the green. I understand branding, but you're saying yourself right here that black would have blended in better. I hope you consider having some made with black hardware.
exactly. i also wish they had an option for fine sponge filters
He's spoken about that before. I believe black was the first choice but black dye stains everything so it makes the moulding process more expensive (because the factory has to use specific moulds intended for black products only) so they went with green. I have no idea what video/livestream that was mentioned in though.
I agree. It’s the only downside of the filters.
Paint them black with krylon
What about the lift tube? Clear? About the only thing I see on my sponge filter is the lift tube which is green. It would be green eventually due to algae growth.
Love these old style videos very informative
WHAT the root tabs in the rock wool! 🤯 that’s brilliant!!!
I would love if your sponge filters had an all black option. All my aquariums have black backgrounds and the green plastic is really hard to hide even with plants in front of it
You can paint it. Rit-dye it if you want it a little transparent still but make sure the part is strong enough to withstand boiling water and the plastic part wont warp or melt.
you could replace them with clear tubing?
my favorite aquarium is a 29 that uses pea gravel, a few large river rocks and a piece of wood that honestly is too big for the aquarium. there is also a lot of plants so its a jungle.
Milky blackground also looks great and better in some cases than black. They are sold to be used on windows and shower doors. The only downside are algae, but again that means the fish tank needs to be cleaned.
True. I upgraded lights in my aquarium, more expensive but is 100% worth it. I can see more detail in my tank. I can see the fish better too. The dark background makes a big difference as well.
Cory and his team back again with Grade A top notch advice! I love the plant tip. As I struggle to have my corycats to not uproot plants before they take hold. Just got my plant shipment in from you and will definitely be trying this to give ‘em and extra boost.
Glass Background is actually dope
Great list! Thank you for all that you do.👍
Great tips and tricks today! Thanks!!
Nice video
Does leaving a plant in the pot deter it's potential growth? I always remove and plant right into the stratum gravel mix. Root tabs went in at the bottom before set up
Black backgrounds make all the difference! They really make the plants pop and add to the appearance of depth.
Ohhh some super tips. Not only will the tank look great, but If you get that good light and do some lighting from inside the tank, bet you will get some awesome shots of the fish and plants.
👍❤👍
Thank you so much for your advice watching you is great
Awesome advice keep it up cory
I just set up my first black background tank about 2 months ago...I absolutely love it!
Nice ghost knife shoutout! Theyre sick
Those little lights are cool.
thank you for this i love the knowledge you share. this was the video i needed
Bro you're great!!!!! Made my first order. Thanks for your time and expertise.
I love this 5 tips series
I have a 2.5gal for my Betta and 2 green neons. The kit light literally rotted (button cover hardened and had oil seeping out, just gross), so I got a 6 diode led. My Betta is red with aqua spots and the neons are more aqua than really green, so I focus on setting the light to more blue. Betta's spots pop and the neons flash around. My 10gal has some super bright led bulbs with black gravel and clear glass vases, cups and jars as hides. There is a lot of algae growth, but given I got a Trapdoor snail who had babies 6 days later, it doesn't seem to overgrow much. Tank has different tetras, pearl danios, sparkling gouramis and peacock gudgeons, so the most common color is silver, which the bright lights highlight well
Look at md fish tanks if you dont think different rock work together.
imo cheap bright lights are the best. led strips and stuff like this. it costs like nothing but is very bright and gives this classic white light
Another good aquarium background is a mirrored film, gives it great depth. Black, and mirrored are the go-tos
really good
Def gonna try this!! I just got my daughter her first fish tank.. well I’ve found a new love and hobby up keeping and watching these beautiful critters lol! Unfortunately I was told gouramis get along with one another but I just discovered I have a pretty established blue gourami male & a new dwarf gourami male 😭😭 I need to get a new tank if I wanna save the little guy I feel terrible he’s being bullied.
you could also try returning one of them to your lfs and get something that will get along better :)
The dark blue of the deep sea is my go-to...but, I put black foam board on my tank with my cichlids & I must say, I am loving it. I am also thinking that perhaps I want it on my big tank as well. I agree that it hides alot, but I don't think it looks natural. If I could keep fish from the dark depths of our oceans it would be no contest. Meanwhile, I'll just take my toothbrush & scrub off the algae if it gets on my last nerve, if I stay with the deep blue for my big tank.
Thank you for the great tips, Cory!!!! 👍
I love working on the lighting for my tanks, I've hand made all of it, I can control hue, color temps, or any color for that matter, I'm just a diy kind of person, made my own stands, shelving..etc, the thing I will never skimp out on is a quality heater, I have seen a trend where the preset heaters like break and stay in the on position, I've had them for years with no problems, but a new one did that to me, got the water over 100 degrees, the only thing that survived was my gourami, plecos and mollies, replace the heater with a new preset style, a week later it breaks and electrocutes the whole tank, what are the odds, third heater has been problem free for 2 months now, but is also not a cheap preset one
You could get an Inkbird controller and set it to shut off the heater if the temp gets too high
@@submergedroots Thanks for the tip! I'll look into it
Loved all the tips in this video, great job!!!
Great video as always
Cory this is very helpful to me. I'm setting up a 55 I got for a good used price. The back is painted black, but there is a chunk missing, was trying to decide if I should just patch it up with black or....? So black it is.
Cory one think I keep asking people and I understand the reluctance to answer. I use egg crate under my substrate, how do I know what kind of weight you can get away with? I like natural rock but....
Thanks for the tips!
Great tips 👍🏻
Great video with great advice !
I have mylar background, makes it look twice as big with twice the fish and deco;s 😉
i was always told not to leave plants in the rock wool when i put them in the tank because it'll choke the plants after a while. is that not true?
it is true
It rather depends on how long you are going to keep the tank before you redo it.
My fish are fierce and ready to fight all the time, and of course you will never see them fighting each other.😂
Beautiful Fishes
Im going to try out the black background im sure it will look as good as in the footage ^^
You are insanely genius
Yup, black garbage bag cut to fit. Been doing that forever.
Great tips!!
This is so helpful! ♥️
I use mirrors as backgrounds
We haven’t had an aquarium in 40 years but are thinking of restarting the hobby after we move. Do you guys have an affiliation or connection with an aquarium store in the Boston or Metrowest area of Boston?
I don’t believe they do, but I hope they do in the future.
really helpful....
Awesome video great tips!!!
These are A grade tweeks. Thanks!!
Opinions on matte or glossy black backgrounds?
Norwex Backock towel for glass. The safest and easiest way I've found to keep my glass clean. Pointless doing anything else if I can't see it clearly!!!?
My aquarium is located on my bedroom dresser in front of a window. Instead of doing water changes into a bucket and literally dragging to empty it outside, I pass the waste hose out the window. The water drains into my irrigation system.
The first tank (6GAL) I bought for my betta had a piece of black glass for the back wall and he just spent all of his time flaring at himself. He wouldn't even eat, and he never got used to his reflection. No amount of light or lack thereof got rid of his reflection either, I finally wrapped his tank in towels to block out all light just to get him to rest for a few days. I finally ended up buying a new tank (10GAL) all together, heavily (silk) planted it and added a busy background from my LFS. He can still see himself, but he doesn't spend as much time as before flaring but he definitely still does. Do you have any advice, or is he fine?
Very cool 😎
6:59 the best looking background. Is it frosted film or paper?
Any tips for insulation for the back and sides of the tank? I want to cut down on heating cost and stress on my heater
Cool video 💚💚💚
So i'm new to the hobby. I have a 10 gallon tank with a piece of driftwood and some live plants in it. (with gravel as the substrate too.) I boiled the driftwood so it would sink and it wouldn't make my water brown. the tank has been cycling for 3-4 days now and there is a weird fungus/algae like film on my wood. Is it harmful to my fish and plants? am i able to put my fish in even with that film? Please help :)
In my experience the film will go away or get eaten once you add the fish. Once your tank is fully cycled it should be safe to add fish even with the film on the driftwood. Just be sure to wait until the tank is ready before you add the fish.
Lovely
awesome tips
Great content
My beginner fish was a snapping turtle
Is the co op going to get more hard scape/wood options with the expansion?
What brand are those submersible spotlights??
another 'thinkers' video, thanks Cory
I love your tour and tips vid thanks alot
Question: I just bread zebra danios in foam box and feeding egg yoke, but how long till I can move to bigger tank like 40 gallons ?
I have black fish. So I won’t be trying the black background, but I wonder what other color would u suggest?
Awesome
what about my lemon oscar whet lighting would make it stand out more
Can I get more footage of the tank with Rummy Nose Tetras and a Geophagus at 07:15
I have a catfish in my tank and about 8 bluegill, my ammonia levels are drastically high and I just started my tank. It's been about a week and all the fish are alive. I don't understand how it is working out with them being alive still lol but I need answers and help on how to lower the levels naturally bc I don't have a secondary tank to put the fish in and I don't want to pump a ton of chemicals into the fish either.
I have also wondered why the sponge filter tubes are not black. Really frustrating.
Oh no fish fever is back
I seriously want to try your black airline tubing. I've bought a couple kinds and it seems like it comes apart from the vibration of the pump at every junction or intersection even the back flow valve. Suggestions?
Cory question for you, what is the difference between killie fish and rice fish, can they live together?
Can you use Easy Root Tabs and at the same time use Easy Green All-In-One fertilizer?
I just squeeze the tabs to get the 'float' out as I'm planting 'em... And it must just be me, but I've never cared about backgrounds, air lines, power cables being visible... none of my two rooms full of tanks have backgrounds, I prefer a clear back so I can see the wall or whatever's behind the tank... I may be considered weird though...! Anyway, thanks Cory and gang for your awesomeness...! Don't forget to ENJOY NATURE DAILY...!!!
How to make a black background ? Paper? Paint?
That plant you put in @ 2:22 I have that exact plant is the leaves suppose to look purplish? I been trimming my leaves that turn that color because I thought it was dying but then I noticed more of the leaves would grow and then the same color. I am confused on if the plant is dying or that’s just the color.
What model is that ADA aquarium at 4:06?
Cory do you or someone offer a single light structure that has duel bulbs for front and back lighting
Hey Cory, love the videos! I have a question about ICH, can it live in or on a sponge filter? Still waiting for my Ich x to come in the mail . For my Colombian sharks, they did not survive 😢
Put any background on your tank... for real I get so bummed out when I see someone have nothing on the back (unless you have viewing from both sides of the tank)... I never did them for a long time but it makes a world of difference in display
My son's tank is like that n I swear he keeps it backround free just because it drives me nuckin futs lol. Offered to buy him one today at our favorite somewhat local lfs......nope still wires hanging
Where can i buy that small light boll thing? 😂