Nice one Tony! I’m really glad to hear you’re happy. The food really is amazing, and yes your fingers will smell like seafood, which definitely says something for the ingredients in the pellets. Is it ok if I pass on your message to Frenzy themselves?

@@australianaquarist no problems Adam with passing it on yourself, I have sent them a email from the website, giving them credit for a fantastic food, and having listened to YOUR recommendations, regarding their products on your videos, (sent that just before posting the comment you are referring to) let's hope you benifit more from your sponsor. I hate using pet store fish food that smells like nothing especially when one of the sales team says when you ask, really is thier much difference between tropical pellets at xxxx$. Looking exactly like goldfish pellets at 1/4 the price for 3 times as many pellets ? To be answered nope only the price! I mostly try to feed prior to Frenzy Hakari ff or api And add things like dried silverbeet, noori seaweed, dried meal worms, home grown brine shrimp, dried brine shrimp and blood worms, frozen brine shrimp and blood worms, and I have cats visiting, so the kangaroo and chicken mince is very much enjoyed by the blue acaras who take bits from my hands, and the other fish benifit from the fall out as well, also I feed maggots to the fish from some of the roo I leave out especially, the fish are like piranhas with them! I, with all my animals feel if I am going to take on the responsibility of ownership (or Stewardship) of any pet, I am going to feed them the absolute best I can, and in doing that, their health is improved, saving both me, spending money on vet bills, or major health issues in the long run, your animals/fish are healthier and happier, making it a more rewarding experience looking after them. Tony from Rural Western Australia 🇦🇺🦘

@MoondyneJoe it sounds like you’re offering your fish an amazing diet. You’re absolutely right about the maggots. I’ve been known by my family to haunt the family garbage bin for the little buggers ! Now I can’t say that Frenzy is the best, but I do believe it to be very well received, and capable of putting good condition on my fish. I too used to use Hikari, as it was the brand most available through pet stores. My fish won’t touch it now . I bought a few different brands of pellets a while back now for a fish food video. Not wanting to “waste” my money, I thought I’d mix them in with the Frenzy. The Hikari pellets go untouched and down the overflow

Yeah the warmer water definitely kicked up his predatory instinct. I lost the two wrasse initially in the first few weeks, and at one stage (months after introducing Monster) noticed some bad cuts on the side of my Black barred Wrasse ( has since healed fine). I’ve figured it out though…… I feed a seafood diy mix a few times a day, as part of my overall feeding regime. If Monster comes out of his lair a the general fish feeding times, I make an absolute point of feeding him his squid or octopus that night. If not, I expect something amiss the next morning. It seems wrasse are a target, probably because they go into a trance at night. Since I’ve started this habit ( months and months ago) I haven’t had any issues at all. Conclusion …. Feed morays well!

@@australianaquarist Always something new to find! Well managed sir :)

Thanks Noah! Just trying to wrap up that build series with a bit of fun!

Sorry The process got absorbed into another video and you’ve just reminded me that I didn’t record a succinct video on it. To put it simply, freshwater soaking with regular complete water changes, especially in the first few weeks, until the pH of the bath water stabilises. I’ve also put artificial rock in a local creek and also the town marina ( seawater) to cure/leach.

Thanks for your input. I’ve actually been listening to podcast content from North America recently on the unethical side of cleaner wrasses being collected for the hobby. I’m not sure where you live and your experiences with them. I definitely agree that they should only be kept in very large tanks with a large fish stocking. They have been successfully kept in the Australian hobby for as long as I’ve been in the hobby, feeding on both slime and finely blended seafood. I hypothesise they do not tolerate any period of starvation, and lose condition rapidly. Much like Copperbands, mandarins and sand sifting gobies. This would mean that international airfreight Is deleterious, and the fish arriving in a wasted state.

@ watercolors aquarium?

@shortsweetreefing9699 yes that’s one! I enjoy listening to their mix of freshwater and saltwater content, however it is delivered from a very “ local” perspective. Which of course we all do, but I feel it’s important to state “ in our experience “ , rather than make sweeping claims. From what I’ve observed on cleaner wrasse juveniles in the local estuaries, much of what they are saying about learned cleaning behaviour and it being passed on to next generations, doesn’t correlate to these waters. I’m going to try and track down those scientific papers for myself and have a read. I’m actually thinking of making a video on cleaner wrasse in the hobby

They can be kept on licence in Australia, and I think are sometimes bred in the Northern Territory. See if you can get a picture of the turtle you’re talking about.

@australianaquarist I'll try get a good clear picture, this pond/lake drains into the Coombabah wetlands when flooded. Has all your regular invasive species but this turtle has the pig noise? My mate who also seen it thought it was a softshell turtle? Terrapin turtles have also been caught as well as corn snakes, it crazy!

That’s really weird. Only the pig nose turtle has that sort of snout. Other than the Asian soft shell turtles as you mentioned

@@australianaquarist I'll try my best to identify the turtle, a classic Gold coast news story was police finding a Burmese python and releasing it at the spit/Gold coast seaway.

Sounds great. Just remember to get the glass first. You need to look out for cheap glass bargains, as sometimes the glass you find , will dictate the size of the tank

This tank was one of my early builds, and my technique has changed since then. The joints were initially sealed with a polyurethane, after the plywood had its coats of epoxy resin. I then overcoated the whole tank with a uv resistant pond sealer, and used bond breaker tape for the joints and corner. This I did because the epoxy is not uv resistant and the tank is outside. I’ve since found uv stable hardeners, and so if I was to do it again, I’d follow the method I’ve done in this video… kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2GQhmh3lLaEiNksi=3yycL9IqyPlbOF6X

Absolutely yes. And I hate to say it, but my wife pointed this out after two days in the new tank. But I’ve learned his pattern….. when I feed the tank frozen seafoods, if Monster appears , I must feed him his squid. If I don’t, I’ve found predatory attempts on fish the next morning. Cuts on the side. I should make a video on it!

I’m very lucky Blake! It’s getting there with the big tanks, but I can’t wait to get it finally tidied up and all the racks in for the smaller tanks. Lots of freshwater, Blackwater and shrimp to come

I think a flounder might be a bit predatory, and snack on my raccoon butterfly and maybe wrasse? I’m not sure. I have seen some sole’s in my local harbour, and they can be quite attractive and a bit smaller than flounders. I’ve even thought about flathead, but I think that’s a big mistake!

This glass is float glass, but I’m inclined to agree on the brace.

Are you asking about the triggerfish swimming past? That’s the wedgetail trigger

Yeah he is awesome! Is he local?

I caught him at Muttonbird Island. You generally see 2 or 3 each season. Always shallow water

Thanks David

It’s now drained and braced!

@@australianaquarist Did you see my question in your last video?

Hi Peter, I haven’t researched commercial glazing, but I think it might be both tempered and laminated. I’m not experienced at all with this type of glazing, but you could always research it for your future monster build?

​@australianaquarist hi, thanks for replying. They would have to te tempered glass for safety reasons. Yes, I need to research it more. I'll have to speak with a glazier. I love your tanks you've built. A lot of work and money, but wow, they're fantastic.

Yes I’m aware of the limitations of toughened glass, and have linked a video here for you if you’re keen to hear my rationale. Thanks for your thoughts kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYfUoHysrMmLrJIsi=LPzO4a0sbx0bjhgZ

I’ve heard the Red Sea 19mm glass does bow about 10mm. Now that would scare me!!

@ no way more like 3mm but it was a shock when I first noticed. Apparently normal but still I’d go bracing in the future. Who told you 10mm??? I bet they also have 10 inches somewhere else according to them lol

I know right! I think stainless steel flat bar woukd have been way cheaper. I find living in a regional town, that sometimes you’ve just got to accept things. And prices. I do spend most of my working week listening to podcasts on my farm, but actually whilst doing projects to video, I find I’m always thinking about camera angles, things to say , etc. Actually, sometimes I just want to do the job and forget about KZbin videos!

@ fair enough, at the end of the day you got that glass crazy cheap and the total cost for that size tank is unreal 👍

You’ve got some very good points there Tony. As others have pointed out, it’s not so much about the aesthetic of the aquarium, but the safety of the fish living within. So with all that, I bolted a flat bar across the top. Hey I’m curious at what part of the video did I call Reggie a “ she”. I wasn’t even drinking that day!

@@australianaquarist when she/he kept landing on your right shoulder taking up about 1/2 the camera view I think he did it 3 times. I was going to suggest bolting a crossbrace to the outside rim but I think I wrote the comment at about 3am this morning, I liked the idea, but wasn't sure of your width of frame across the top, I know my luck I could see myself drilling through the frame for the bolts hit the glass.... Crack lol But with a removable brace you can get larger hardscape into the tank. A suggestion Adam at the wooden back end of the brace (cut the brave longer than the width read on for reasoning. ) make it a clamp drill 2 slots equally same distance from each side and around 50mm long, or longer, from the wood end, towards the front get a bit of "appropriate" angle iron drill 2 holes corrosponding to the long brace apart, you could either Tap the angle holes for a bolt or use a nut and bolt and maybe a washer. Cut a second bit of angle and weld /stick OR USE THE Same holes in the brace to attach that , now use that as your brace so you don't have to drill into the back wood and corrupt its strength, or homeostasis. I hope you can visualise my description By clamping the brace you don't need to unscrew it from the wood which will degenerate over time. I envy your room you have my 2 x 5 foot tanks are in my bedroom (20x 14'6 foot bedroom plenty of room to still live, but as my Blue acaras had at least 50 young and they are about 7.5mm now I need another tank as it looks like mum is making another nest! I looked in marketplace last night and a lady locally has a 3 foot tank and stand etc for 150$ she lives 850metres away so Google Maps tells me I pick it up in 50 minutes. * if you put it out their to the cosmos asking nicely, my ex taught me, it seems to come when needed* I am eternally greatful for her teaching me that. All 3 tanks appeared that way! No BS. Good Luck with the bracing. Tony from Rural Western Australia 🇦🇺🦘

Hi Bill Thanks for your support for my channel. No, I’ve never thought of stove enamel….. I don’t even know anything about it. Research time. I have heard of rhinolining being used. The trouble with coats like these, is that you need your take the job to their workshop, which could prove difficult. I’ll look into the enamel

That’s was the toned down version!!

I don’t know the mechanics for certainty, but if you think of a standard glass tank that’s 2ft high, they are usually built from 10mm glass and use glass cross braces at the top. By me installing a stainless cross brace, I’m effectively doing the same thing. Maybe it’s got something to do with stabilising and supporting all free edges. I know what you mean by the bow shifting downwards to form a belly as such.

Will do! Thanks for the question

@ thank you! 🙏🏻

Thanks Stefano. My research is turning to artificial rock now, so getting closer to fish!

That’s a great way of thinking about it. Thanks mate

You’re very welcome!

I was actually looking at swimming pools made from shipping containers, at lunch today. Some had clear windows and all I could think is how great an aquarium they’d be!

@@australianaquarist I like the idea...

You can have that! It’s 34 Celsius here, and I’m sweating my bum off in a greenhouse right now.

@australianaquarist Here in Canada, we go from -30 in the winter to +30 in the summer. My reeftank fish - they have an accidental 1 degree temp swing once in a while.

@DigitalPaintCan that’s fine . They won’t mind that. I’ve got my tanks set to 26 Celsius, but it can hit 28 Celsius when the days get hot

Anytime Andrew. Feel free to ask further questions if need be!