Is Your Fish Tank Really Cycled?

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‎ Cory sits down and explains the importance of Seasoned Tank Time (STT), why it's better than cycling a fish tank, why algae isn't necessarily a bad thing for your tank, and how to tell when the aquarium ecosystem is finally stable.
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WHO WE ARE
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At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.
Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.
0:00 - Intro
0:12 - What is Seasoned Tank Time?
0:56 - Why I’m Against This Way of Starting a Cycle
1:47 - A Fish Tank Has to Adapt
2:19 - Dealing With Waste in an Aquarium
2:44 - How I Start up an Aquarium
4:25 - When is a Tank Seasoned?
7:05 - Benefits of Algae in an Aquarium
8:30 - 800 Gallon Aquarium
9:11 - Viewer Question
#Aquariums #Aquariumfish #Fishtank

[@AquariumCoop]

*When do you think a tank is considered "seasoned"? To learn how to use live plants to season or "cycle" your aquarium, check out this video: **kzbin.info/www/bejne/naa3YnqBf5ydf9E*

[@tvshowsnmovies1234]

i think probably after a year when its stable... basically i think it needs to just have consistent good water tests

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

I think it depends on the substrate, the water source, and the filter... Did they come fresh out of another setup ? Is the filtration media already well seeded? Is it deep substrate? How are the plants growing? How slowly is stock being added? Am I working with nature in this tank, or am I trying to force my ideas of what **I** want the tank to look like? Did I use a bunch of wood in the scape? Too many variables to give a single answer.

[@daily_hemilife9375]

Hey I've been looking into setting up my next tank, a 20 gallon and i was wondering on how i should set it up bc i want it planted, but i want to know what is the best way to set it up bc i never have success setting my tanks up can you plz help/give me some pro tips?

[@theresagreen7165]

LOVE the new format. You seem a lot happier!

[@FatherFH]

I use snails as the first animal in the tank. 😏

[@bastianoiry-codello3292]

Me having aquariums running for years : I'll watch a video about cycling an aquarium 🤔. I'll watch anything from Cory.

[@sonofaquack6987]

Same. If Cory had an OnlyFans talking about aquariums for hours I would buy it in a second

[@GunnyPA]

I just got my tank about a month ago or so. I had 2 plants but took em out. I have about 7 tetras, 3 corys and 3 frogs. Should I put a plant or 2 in? I'm not exactly sure what I should do cuz I want a healthy tank w different types of fish

[@napalmviper3213]

Same lol..

[@alenammetz]

@@GunnyPA you really should have at least a couple of plants, like an Amazon Sword, Java fern, moneywort, or moss.

[@thomaslynch4832]

Same here. Always worth watching.

[@Deady4u]

When setting up a planted tank, the experts are usually always right. Stock up on plants heavily at the start. I've always done this and have gotten to where I want to be very quickly.

[@brettpritchett5762]

What’s very quickly to you? I’m starting a 75 gal planted neocaridina shrimp tank and appreciate the help!

[@dylanhughes5944]

@@thatskrazy8145 what do you do with them after?

[@synthesaurus]

I started one with a bunch of Vals and they all melted in 3 days :(

[@LeeHarvey81]

@@brettpritchett5762 wow thats pretty big for some little skrimps!

[@JamesCroney]

I love the disclaimer "I made this up but it's also true" haha feels like science was involved.

[@armouredjester1622]

Science is when you collect data to confirm your hypothesis, but it sounds like Cory just looks at it instead of documenting the variables and results.

[@JamesCroney]

'm also not sure what the bar for "KZbin fish scientist" is but I feel Cory might pass. :-D

[@JamesCroney]

@@dusk1947 I agree with your concept of science being a process that involves observation, and essentially underlies "why things work the way they do". But "poking it with a stick until it does something different and thinking about why that happens" is the first step in the scientific method, even if you write a paper later saying "we started with objective observations". .. but I get it to some degree. Putting on the upset pants when someone invokes the name of science in vain is kinda fun haha. The question that always gets me about Science with a capital S is that some beliefs in India lay out the scientific method plus two or three other steps. So... Should the scientific method be able to add steps or even subtract them if there is a "happier" analysis process to use? I always came to the conclusion that the scientific method can never adapt under new data, about itself. And that at least fails the "evolution of science" in that we will just replicate the kinds of Science you can achieve with only the scientific method. Which will probably get us to Mars but won't discover what makes us think.

[@JamesCroney]

@@dusk1947 it is just a tool, an amazing one. But I would venture to claim that science can be conducted in ways that don't invoke the scientific method rigidly. The scientific method is great for proof but seems limiting in the discovery process. It's good to prove things with the scientific method, as it helps ensure reproducibility. But even then I would venture to say that proving something doesn't require science. Sometimes it's just logic.

[@FatherFH]

You don't have to be a scientist to do science.

[@calebcologna8681]

My biggest issue working in a fish store is people for whom waiting even one whole week before adding fish is an inexcusably long wait

[@zenithmaiden2109]

Same! They look at you like you were speaking greek lol. It's not that it can't be done, but for the type that want to just "add water" to a fish tank it's impossibly difficult to impress the importance of developing biologic filtration. Those that do listen usually turn out to be wonderful, caring, and knowledgeable fish nerds though! It's worth saying every time!

[@jeffalbillar7625]

I've always added fish within one week in every single aquarium that I have set up. I start with catfish. I've also had great results. I was away from the hobby for year's and I just came back and I overstocked my aquarium big-time. I also had twenty fish in the aquarium within 10 day's. With the exception of a dwarf gourami that bullied the heck out of other fish and was removed, all of my fishes are still alive and kicking. The Gourami is with a friend and doing fine.

[@plushieoctopusonhead8415]

What I can say, i hate them, but more hate from me belongs to "people" who buy bowl and fish in the same day and have butthurt when I try to explain to them why they are torturing animals in that way

[@thinkinsidetheboxsquarecir3303]

Oh I'm sure it is 😅... I, personally like every process of setting up an aquarium 🤓

[@mattyburrows9059]

sell used seasoned media..setup a sump just for that purpose.

[@adrianneavenicci]

I’m an absolute beginner but my intuition told me to start growing plants first too. If the plants are growing well then surely the fish will be healthy too.

[@Frailerpark]

I have a tank with plants I setup three weeks ago. This is the best thing I've watched, I'm gonna grab a beer and stop with the testing all the time and freaking out about algae. Thanks!

[@rebeccamccoy1997]

I am currently cycling/establishing my first tank and this video just gave me SO much peace! I put two plants in to start and once I saw them put some growth on, I figured that was a good signal to invest in more plants. I just finished putting in all the new plants last night and it looks beautiful, but I am going to give it some time for all the plants to establish before I put in some shrimp or easy fish. I have been stressing over how I will be able to recognize the cycle as established, and how often I will need to do testing… But going with a planted tank has given me so much more peace about it and I feel really good about letting it sit and watching the plants as the signal to how healthy the tank is and ready for fish!

[@Allycat101010]

I thnk you'll do GREAT! When I was a kid I watched my dad set up our very first tank without any of this and lose a lot of our first fish sadly (RIP zebra tetras...) but it's true, after all those years we had a small, stable amount of algae and the tank was healthy as could be. Even adding new guys was always a breeze. You're probably fine even now, if the plants are growing!

[@danielbarrett6026]

I’ve used the fishless cycling method multiple times with great success and yes you can see bacterial blooms, grow algae, and diatoms. Takes 4-6 weeks and the fish don’t have to swim in ammonia and potentially burning their gills or killing them if it gets to high.

[@GrayWithMe]

I wish they would have told me about this at the store when I bought the fish. I thought because I bought the water conditioner and bacteria start I was fine. Now I’m dealing with ammonia spikes while I have two goldfish, and having to do constant water changes and constant tests so I don’t kill them. It’s really exhausting. I bought these fish to relax and watch them swim and now 45 hours of you tube videos later I realize how much work this is going to be and I’m worried about my fish!

[@Nomadistar]

Goldfish are a royal PITA! You need the biggest tank you can afford & ALL the filtration & then some!

[@charliewright2667]

@@GrayWithMe kinda late on this but they make ammonia filter inserts for this reason that help with spikes when adding lots of new fish at once or if you didn't know to cycle

[@releasethealbum6190]

hello can you help me? I'm really confused about cycling, I'm new to aquascaping but not fish keeping. I've had fish for 2 years and never died and I think it's time that I properly cycle my fish tank.

[@charliewright2667]

@@releasethealbum6190 If you've had fish for two years now the tanks is most likely naturally cycled because nitrites and nitrates still build up. The most important part tho is a biological filter material that you don't change, bur only rinse, like a sponge filter, as that's where most of your important beneficial bacteria live.

[@ECFUTAH]

This is the best and most important video you've ever made. I've been in the hobby 20+ years. I rarely test water parameters and I've never "cycled" a tank either. I try to teach people they need to build an ecosystem not an aquarium and your method is very similar to mine. If a person with no experience comes into the hobby this is the first video they should see.

[@EmoPunkgirl144]

Q: I am brand new to the hobby I just have a pretty chill Beta, and a few snails that came with my plants LOL. Is there any thing else I can add to my tank that will help build a better Ecosystem? (I have live plants too, but a small tank its only a 2.6 gal at this time. I want a bigger tank for my beta in the future but I got this one to start off with. I will be converting this tank to a quarantine tank in the future.) My first big leaf plant did end up dying off, but the second one seems to be doing better now. My tank this week has just started to grow a layer of algae over the plants (Which i was told is a good thing) and on the side of my tank now. I am just wondering mostly if i should be cleaning this ect or if i an get something else that helps clean it. the snails in the tank are super small so im not sure how much they can clean it lol.

[@dtecrust]

Does this method work for axolotls

[@bridge5575]

@@dtecrust likely not, axolotls are a lot more delicate overall, and building an ecosystem based on their needs would be very difficult. I'd look for info related more to axolotls than tropical fish. Also, be sure to make sure axolotls are legal where you are living, it varies a lot in countries and in the USA there are certain states where they are illegal to own.

[@chrdebru]

Is it weird to say that sometimes you just *know* when the tank is ready or doing well/unwell?

[@alexzanderroberts995]

It's kinda like being able to look at a pet and just know something is wrong with it. Like just intuition. It is awesome. I only have 1 aquarium at a time, so I get acquainted with every fish. I cant tell when just one is acting wierd. I could do this since being 10 years old.

[@alexandragreene7598]

Love this! It took me getting really sick for a few weeks where I physically couldn't do water changes or anything but feed the fish to finally realize this. Letting it sit allowed it to reduce like a quality pan sauce

[@wendygillard2133]

I hope you are feeling much better now.

[@priyankardas2668]

Few people noticed, but the production quality is crazy. Aquarium co-op has come so far...

[@benreeve9130]

The zooming in when he talks is a little dramatic

[@jimmygimbal]

@@benreeve9130 it's an editing technique used to skip time, umm's ahs and reduce the fatigue of jagged jump cuts. It's dramatic for sure but opposed to jagged cuts it's just better for a talking head.

[@benreeve9130]

@@jimmygimbal thanks 👍

[@Aquascape_Dreaming]

For beginners who may not realise, when Cory's talking about aerating the tank, the overwhelming majority of this is done at the surface where the bubbles hit the top and break, causing surface agitation. This process is called gas exchange, and is how dissolved oxygen enters the water column.

[@PorcheGardener]

I never thought I would be applying my permaculture knowledge to an aquarium! I recently got my first aquarium (got lucky on craigs list with a 97 gallon) and I've been in a flurry of learning. It's early days but the fish are happy and my daughter is ecstatic that we finally have an aquarium

[@TheWatchernator]

what fish did you get? In a few weeks I'll be getting my first aquarium.

[@thisisthewronghat2706]

Fellow permaculture fan here! Google deep sand beds to get bacteria to do the water changes for you, or growing mosquitoes larvae for free fish food.

[@PorcheGardener]

@@thisisthewronghat2706 I ended up doing bentonite clay, soil, and sand for a total of roughly 5 inches deep. I deliberately introduced bacteria and wild snails which sped up the process. I only have to top up the water every 2 weeks and the fish have doubled in size (comet goldfish)

[@thisisthewronghat2706]

@@PorcheGardener that's amazing! watching nature do her thing in your tank must be a treat

[@wenbucha]

similar. I am a hydroponic farmer and I'm just building my first tank.

[@vesawuoristo4162]

I have always used live plants to establish new tanks , being from Finland plants are more common idea in aquariums.

[@Ben-kv7wr]

I found a sturdy 6 gallon dome at a second hand store and couldn't help turning it into a DIY rice fish pond. My bf was so frustrated with me for leaving it full of water but empty, save for a single snail and substrate for MONTHS. I insisted on having the algae bloom and bust at least twice before even adding in plants. Months later theres embers in there too now, and I'm thinking about some amanos to graze on the biofilm :) Thanks for the years of videos and tips like this, really helped me go nuts without killing fish once I finally moved out!

[@BenOchart]

Very sensible approach. I've been using, probably stolen from you, the "seasoned" term. I've been setting up tanks with the Fritz Zyme7 and Turbo products with success and recently, along with media from established tanks. Seeing algae, life, is a good thing. It's truly a fluid situation!

[@cattfishing]

My best tank has always been my unfiltered, heavily planted, snail of every kind, copapod, daphnia, and other organism filled 5 gal tank. With shrimp babies on and off. I top off for evaporation, and will vac/small water change if too much food decay before being eaten.(darn zucchini) anyway, it has now become a black tiger badis nursery tank wonderland for the fry. Haha their is one of those teeny tiny sponge filter that is run currently. It's the size of a quarter. And was made for a betta bowl. Just to provide air/water circulation and a bit of filtration. Tho, that thing is so tiny, it's not really do much of that. Just another surface for life to cling to:)

[@AlexandraEmerald]

I’m not using a filter on my 10 gallon with 1 betta and plants in it. Do you think I’m better keeping him without a filter on his tank? (I’m new to this....)

[@sophiabaade2574]

Alexandra Emerald I’m late but bettas need filters even in a ten gallon

[@xavthehero3]

@@AlexandraEmerald With no filter you're essentially creating an ecosystem. You will need ***fast growing plants, snails, shrimp, or some sort of cleaning fish to control ammonia and waste. I recommend nutrient rich substrate or ferts for your plants. The fast growing plants will filter the water sufficiently, and the cleaners will help control water parameters as well. You don't need to but I also recommend adding a bubbler for slight water flow, it really helps the overall health of the tank. Before you can sit back and relax, you'll need to pay attention to your water parameters closely until your tank matures(seasons) as Cory was stating in the video. If one thing in the system becomes unbalanced everything else will as well. The best thing about no filter tanks is once it matures, you don't really have to do much to it anymore other than water top ups and enjoy it. Sorry for the paragraph but these are all the things I've learned for a successful no filter tank. Wish you all the success!

[@heyitsnovabound]

I'm in the process of cycling my 75g after moving to a new house and just got my big coop plant order yesterday. I got nitrites so far and had JUST decided yesterday to wait until my plants started getting settled in and growing before getting fish and THEN this video comes out lol. Thank you for the reassuring info

[@shesellsfish]

I use your "seasoned" term all the time now. Makes perfect sense to me. I've always used plants, hardwood leaves, and a mystery snail as the first occupant as they produce tons of good infusoria to really get that seasoning going quickly. Then I add in some ramshorn snails, and when they start reproducing and doing well, THEN I start adding in shrimp or fish. 👍💓👍

[@ithewho6603]

"I'm not old, I'm seasoned."

[@adaml5473]

got a 20 gallon i only need to do water changes on every 2 months and id like to thank my plants and aquaclear 30

[@JenniferBennett83]

Aquaclear is my favourite HOB filter by far.

[@Pesticide7G]

If you had more plants you can get away with water changes for years

[@adaml5473]

@@Pesticide7G yeah or if i didnt get rid of any algae growth

[@renaelogston7704]

Love the dramatic close up shots when saying Seasoned Tank Time...but good insight to make an ecosystem instead of just cycle and chuck fish in

[@whinybritches]

Wow. You have basically explained every issue I have been having with my current 20gal. I started that one with pure ammonia and kept it super bare in the interest of cleanliness. Now that I'm upgrading to a heavily planted 40gal, I see that my previous method was only adding work for myself while getting a worse result. My axolotl and I can't thank you enough!

[@TazawaTanks]

I embrace algae. On another note, I kind of like that little diver decoration! 😆🤿

[@AquariumCoop]

I thought the same thing. Kinda want to get some decorations

[@svvids1247]

Hey twaza

[@svvids1247]

Tazawa sorry for misspell

[@lincoln3307]

Love Aquarium Co-Op! It's simple, common sense advise that I've been using for over 10 years. Glad to hear a Professional state good advice instead of ALWAYS hocking products. Good luck guys!

[@smorc65]

Ironic that this idea has been around in saltwater (hearing reef people say a tank isn't 'mature' for 6 months or longer) to such a degree that they hardly even talk about it

[@0Sarenity0]

My major is in marine science and most of my experience in this hobby has been based on me relying on my education to figure things out, and OH BOY. I have always strongly felt letting a tank season, as in age a little with something like using pest snail to help season the tank, was the best way to go, but I could never put it into words right. Now I have a go-to video lol

[@theknittingrev]

Time is your best friend in all things fish-related! Algae and infusoria is a GREAT sign that things are moving in the right direction. I get excited for the little copepods zipping around like bumper cars on the glass and know that we are almost there!

[@sarahwoodring5587]

Fantastic video! I agree that algae is the great unsung hero of the aquarium hobby. I love using it as an indicator of water quality and nutrient availability, and I actually like the way it looks on rocks and decor.

[@xakirax_8864]

With my tank, did a fish less cycle for a couple weeks,added Prime,crossed my fingers and hoped for the best 😂

[@pickled_sneeze]

I love videos like this, my tank has only been going for like 6 months, but it's always great on seeing better ways to do my tank (and dream of future tanks)

[@MasterPhotographer]

Once again, You’ve enlightened us with great common sense information! Your insight into the hobby is always spot on.

[@mitchpaul3904]

Great information! Seasoned tank time makes so much more sense. And I really liked the editing style of this video. Thanks, and keep them coming!

[@WeldonTanks]

Well explained! I recently just did this with an aquarium. Let it sit for over a month and just watched nature take place and it was fascinating.

[@eddvcr598]

Awesome video as always, Cory! I’m learning so much from you.

[@James_Hande]

Since the 60's I have always used the fish in cycle method. Once cycled I'd add just a few more fish at a time. It wasn't until months after I reached my final stocking level with no issues did I consider my tank seasoned. 😁

[@sookiesmith5457]

Thank you so much for making this video. You found a wonderful way to explain something many new to the hobby have difficulty understanding.

[@jillclark4876]

Great installment! It was fun and smart and sensible. I’m working on seasoning my 5th tank after four tanks the “other” way.

[@luisrivas1618]

Thanks so much for this! I’ve had trouble balancing my tanks. One week it’s perfect the next it starts to fluctuate. It’s discouraging at times but this makes total sense now. I stopped buying plants because they would die after a while but now I know why. Sometimes I’d go a couple days without feeding because I was trying to lower my ammonia. I was starving my plants and I had no idea. I’m going to try this approach when setting up new tanks. That’s why I love this hobby, I’m always learning.

[@chrismgd01]

#STT, Cory diving in the science realm of aquariums and simplifying it for the nerms. Great video.

[@sharonjack7239]

Very well said. So glad I watched this as my newly set up tank has developed some nice algae. The fish look happy. I added plenty of plants and a few fish and watching it closely. Doing the partial water changes for 3 weeks. I like the natural approach that you explain. Thanks so much from a WA state neighboring fish-adorer!! USA

[@gregc7646]

I really enjoy your videos. A few months ago I watched one about cycling and to many water changes. I say thank you. My plants are thriving like never before. I use a Rena canister filter for a 65 gallon tall. About 25 fish. Most full grown. Thanks again.

[@jackdyet2902]

Ive only ever done one full fishless cycle, then used media plants etc from that tank to boost the bacteria growth in all my other tanks when cycling then

[@jimmyreese4740]

Absolutely amazing video the quality of the videos just keep getting better and better!!

[@lewisevans3451]

I planted my 15 gallon fluval flex from the start densely with carpet grass and anubias ver nana and watched it for a month doing tests every 2 weeks and I added a Betta and 5 silver tip tetra and it’s been doing well the past 3 months

[@nikhilkharkar1753]

Its your concept which is so true and am experiencing it with population explosion and the rate at which i feed have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrates!! Great advices all throughout in each of your videos/ articles

[@shaunapurcell9436]

I needed this so much. I was trying to cycle a tank and it wasn't working but then when I watched this video, it probably was stable enough for 1 betta fish But I just didn't know! Thanks for posting. I had recently completely started over my tank so hopefully with this new information things will work out!

[@amyfriesen6425]

This was a really great video to watch. I'm not a super experienced tank owner but this is how I'm starting up my tank because it made sense. It was very affirming that I'm doing okay! Thanks :)

[@mariand7]

Thank you!!! Have been shouting this out and people think I'm nuts...more then 30 years of experience in DIY pond and aquarium keeping showed me that nature knows what it needs, you just have to be cool about it and relax!!! Now days is all about perimeters lol.... Keep up the great work Cory...my hellos from Crete Greece

[@OCRay1]

I have a tank and am starting to collect things that I will need now and in the future but the more videos I watch the more overwhelming it gets. This is definitely one of the best channels for aquarium education though.

[@francesknop7856]

I bought some of your plants and fertilizer and they have been amazing! 10/10 thank you Cory!!

[@dominiccampbell3908]

I am so glad I watched your video I have been searching for weeks for a simplified and down to earth obvious information already knew just common sense really dnt rush.. Have never had an aquarium I am getting aa 50 gallon breeder but I am keeping axlotls I am sticking to your channel from now on

[@nickaugust3124]

so many times I have explain that thing to new and "old" hobbyists, and they get surprised about it. very nice video

[@thefishwitch2137]

Always something to learn from you Cory!

[@jeanbautista1462]

Thanks for making these videos for us newbies. So much information

[@sharonjack7239]

People from the Olympic Peninsula over here, are talking about their enjoyable trips to your shop. I am so happy to know you are nearby. I wanna go, lol!!!USA

[@JacobBoone]

Everything I hear in this video makes a lot of sense. I’ve been in and out of the hobby for a couple years, mainly with saltwater. Now I’ve moved on to outdoor ponds and now a 125g freshwater planted tank. I’m currently 2 weeks into the “cycle” and this was a great video to shed some light on my upcoming year with the tank!

[@3gmom408]

I subscribed to your channel 2 years ago because I had just started keeping fish. After 2 years my fish are doing ok, the water is clear and everything is good. I have learnt so much from this channel. Thank you !

[@neutron1453]

i agree with the visual indicators rather than the test strips personally cuz i cant afford them but really i like the hands-on feel to it. Really if ur curious whether ur tanks have bacterium or not just feel around it, if its slippery, there u go, if not, keep waiting

[@zenithmaiden2109]

As someone who's lived all over the place, when establishing a tank different locales present all kinds of microfauna/flora to investigate too! It's always interesting to see which develops first and what kind it is! I just find it so fascinating, it's one of the reasons I love keeping nano or micro specie in my tanks since they interact with it more directly than other, larger species do.

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

As always, your advice is spot on. I always add some water and filter sludge from a healthy established tank into a new tank, I can add fish within a week. But I always use the gradual load method, add a fish or two then watch the tank before adding the rest of the animals. If you use Eco Complete substrate, you can add fish immediately, the substrate is already populated with nitrifying bacteria, but that can be cost prohibitive. I did a 75g with Eco as a comparison to my other tanks and it cost over $200 just for the substrate; however, the stuff is amazing, plants and animals are thriving but the price is ridiculous.

[@AlexIsModded]

Lol, in my 16 gallon planted tank, I setup the substrate, planted, put my fish and snails in, and let it live. Being an aquarist has taught me that it's not what you do, but what you DON'T DO, that helps a tank mature.

[@somegirlswill]

Wow Thankyou! I only got back into fish a year ago so I’m constantly learning, but I’m very much a lazy fish keeper, I don’t clean algae unless I can’t see in the tank, I rarely test parameters, even water changes are sporadic (that’s more due to my mental health though) mostly I just leave my tanks alone. It’s good to hear another take on the “cycle” thing,

[@tifa2733]

I'm new to the hobby and planning a planted tank. Wasn't even thinking of getting fish for a long time, not until I know I can keep my plants alive. This video gave me great assurance that I don't need fish in the start! Thank you!

[@joeestes4958]

Awesome video for all aquarists. Thanks Corey

[@TylerDeLisle]

Wow! As a newbie to the hobby, I've watched so many videos on cycling and setting up a tank, some really well explained, but none made it click as clearly as this video. Explaining finding that balance between waste and plants and the benefits of algae have really brought everything together. I only wish I had found this video a few weeks ago as we're kind of panicking trying to keep our initial fish happy and healthy, hah.

[@myriad1973]

Going with a planted tank was probably the best thing I have ever done.... and using the approach that Cory described is so much less stressful than constantly checking water parameters every single day when you’re cycling a sterile tank. I have had some fish loss since I started my current tank 18 months ago, but not like I did with my first tank 10 years ago, and it was from illness rather than ammonia and/or nitrite spikes.

[@janecourtenay3676]

Thank you Cory! Best explanation of a seasoned tank ... so simple ... 🤗💓

[@peaceriveraquatics4308]

Great video. I love your term "seasoned tank". I've been doing this for years but you did a great job of explaining it. Algae is our friend.

[@kasunrajapaksha4108]

Love your videos, your content are so realistic & you are not hiding anything. Thanks a lot for preparing these videos. I bought a 25 gallon tank, 20 neon tetras, 6 penguin tetras & 10 swordtails :) & some plants, which I still don't know the name. Of course a some type of submersible filter :) Then started to watch some of your videos :) Realized the mistake, moved all Swordtails to a pond in my garden, bought a good light & some more plants. Fingers crossed. Now doing 20-30 % water change everyday & pray for fish to not die. Let's see how I fight this uphill battle with the help of your videos

[@danielwcheng6381]

Great video Cory...many times I think we all get caught in the "Cycling trap". Ultimately a well seasoned / cycled tank just works....and fish don't "mysteriously" die. Alas what most people don't appreciate is the the time and patience in setting up a tank.

[@michealfaulkner5612]

Way before you coined the term, seasoned tank time, you've talked about this method all the time and it was a game changer in my hobby in the way I approach setting tanks up. Also keeping those same techniques after the tank has matured. What to look for and how to counter it. Again truly a game changer for my hobby. Thanks Cory!

[@a.harrington1634]

Thank you for sharing this. As someone who had only kept terrestrial plants and snails, watching the plants is what I've been doing, and I was very worried I'd been doing things wrong.

[@PlantedAquaria]

Amazing knowledge drop right here. There are so many ways to get a fish tank established humanely, and there definitely shouldn't be only 1 right way to do so!

[@SierraPrecursora]

I'm just glad to hear another technique besides cycle it with ammonia!!!

[@micahlovesjesus3437]

I really like this take on setting up an aquarium and I hope to share this take on my blog! Something I have recently dealt with is the inability to buy the fish I want due to COVID, so I decided to focus on my tank environment first. Get the plants well established, let the algae do its thing, and these live organisms will season your tank! I also have a question: How can detritus worms thrive in a plant only aquarium(no fish whatsoever) and what might cause them to overpopulate? I had to deal with this a few months ago.

[@jt9513]

I have been a big follower of your channel and can't thank you enough. I had started this hobby during Covid times and was impatient for not able to keep plants and fish alive. I had followed every rule from the book but it just didn't happen that time the way I wanted. Now almost 2 years into this and my 2 tanks have matured like anything. Since last 1 year less fish deaths (unless fish had diseases from the shop itself) and plants are growing crazy. Thank you and lot of other You Tubers for providing extensive knowledge. Going to set up my 3rd tank pretty soon. By the way both my tanks are low tech tank 10g capacity no CO2 with shrimps, snails, guppies only. I recently had 50 guppy fry in one tank and in the other have kept shrimps only for breeding.

[@awkwardt]

We just got our first aquarium (no fish yet) and this is exactly what I needed to see!

[@robertcata1324]

Need more videos like this! Love it thank you 🙏🏼

[@Nyraksi]

Fantastic video. I'm new to keeping fish and I started my first 15 gallon nano tank 2 weeks ago. Right now it only has a few plants as I'm waiting for more to plant. Hopefully, things will go smoothly and I can have some fishies and shrimps in a couple of weeks.

[@belaobing8401]

Hello supporting you from macau with love.thanks for sharing Info.

[@shngsam8777]

very nice concept. something that we all doing but put into a new perspective last year i setup a new tank without fish and with just some snails move some stone from established tank too, not long after i got algae on the glass. now i know it is 'seasoned' ( but for that time i waited much longer before adding fish )

[@mateiz1825]

Finallyyyy a 10 minutes video from u!! Biiig like. I always would had liked to see your videos, but didn't had that much time. Keep this up

[@betha.6279]

Thank you for all the great information! I try to make my tanks as natural as possible!

[@ArchetypeBuilder]

Great work Cory. I am always excited and it’s hard to wait for a tank to season. I definitely agree with live plants. I always do live plants and they keep things stable. If you do want the benefit of plants in a ‘Silver Dollar’ tank, could you do Pothos that just has roots in the water?

[@newmexicoaquatics282]

Great concept. Thank you for sharing! - Little Bobby

[@davewoods8717]

Every time I watch one of your videos I learn. Thank you

[@BeeKayCee911]

Thanks for the ideas💡

[@lloyd081877]

I just put old filter media into any new tank and filter I set up. Works for me.

[@phanomxaymountry9020]

Thanks so much. This is very awesome info. New to the hobby and seeing algae now does not worry me.

[@HonestValkyrie]

I am a beginner, first time cycling a tank and I now have algae growth! Very excited, going to keep waiting, and add some more plants :)

[@mikeyangel420]

I've been keeping tadpoles in an outside makeshift pond on and off for a few years. I always focus on the basics of an ecosystem and go off of that. I let the pond mature for a month before breeding season. When eggs are laid I start pulling weeds from my garden and add them to the water for filtration. Letting sticks soak in water until brown for some natual tannins. Having a rainwater bucket set asside to harvest mosquito larvae for free food. I've always just gone with my gut and it's always worked out. This is very similar to that and I'm very happy to see I can do something like it indoors. I've always been intimated by getting a tank because of cycling but now I feel like it's possible.

[@Nomadistar]

6:02 The vibe of this tank is right up my ally...stamping this for when I am ready to scape. I just love it & want to have these plants. Now to figure out what all those plants are @.@

[@Kidkster1]

I always end up with black beard algae no matter how many times I clean and change water, it always creeps in. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. I love your channel and have been watching quite a while... Keep up the awesome work 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@jigokutsuushin]

Transferring filter media (along with substrate and plants) has never failed me. And I agree with Cory, algae filled tanks may look ugly, but I have never seen an ammonia spike in one except when I accidentally overfed it (but that got resolved after a couple of water changes)

[@DownUnderBricks]

The first time you said seasoned tank time (in a stream I believe) I thought it was very clever and a great help to educate newbies. After so long in the hobby it's not something I think about really, plus keeping large American Cichlids limits you with a more natural tank environment. Jump start with media/bacteria from another tank and have a gradual approach to feeding and stocking has always been my key. As much as people will tell you you can't do it with large American Cichlids I also use undergravel filters in all my large tanks, efficient wise still the best other than maybe a sump. Great vid team.

[@davidwood639]

Wow! I'm a newbie just trying to learn. I always thought algae was BAD, BAD, BAD! Thanks for the video. I need to get some learning in! Great material, thanks.

[@jeanniechristy3885]

Thank you! I learn so much from you.

[@shannykinredgate3451]

We always had a ten gallon community tank when i was a kid way back in the 70's. No test kits or anything. Mom never let us get fish till the decorations were "slimy" (biofilm) then we could get a couple of fish to season it. She called it seasning just like you! I remember checking the decorations for slime every day!

[@pkoppart]

The other theory behind fishless and plantless cycling is - to get rid of excess ammonia that your soil substrate might leach, you might want to do a Dark State Method. Like ADA Amazonia, well known to give those ammonia spikes. These ammonia spikes could actually also be stressful for plants too, especially initial days when/if they are transitioning from their emersed state (in their greenhouses) to their submersed state (in your tank). I have tried this Dark Start Method and was happy with the results.

[@xisotopex]

my very first aquarium was a dirt tank... it worked REALLY well, and it was only a 10 gallon... great plant growth and the fish were happy and healthy....