How to Choose an Aquarium | BigAlsPets.com

[@Sarah-rf5rj]

Conclusion: buy the biggest tank you can get and throw your sofa out

[@stoneybrotha7540]

Nope just ditch the dining room table and turn the space into a fishroom😂😂😂😂

[@michaelshort2388]

Just ditch the house altogether and make all the walls out of aquariums. :P

[@susannesteele5925]

Of course! 😁

[@markhowardganzon8992]

Just buy a new house.

[@Esther-fl2wg]

😂😂

[@mariole4993]

You literally cant find anyone who explains more clearly and entertaining at the same time like Big Al's. King of DIY too!

[@smurf2106]

Brs TV is very good as well!

[@ladyt1866]

Listen if i could afford a 500 gallon aquarium , i would make space for it .lol

[@Diosesdepapel]

@Tina ... Hey i would ...

[@socialsilence4896]

I mean- same 😂

[@hawkmartinez9633]

😅

[@ehtropenelopen5192]

My grandparents wont :c

[@Asgoodasitgets146]

Love this guy! The nerdy fish obsessed John wick

[@LordEndore]

Don't cheap out on the important stuff! Things like heaters and filters are vital to the survival of your fish, spend that extra few bucks to buy something that will last. I've spent more money replacing cheap equipment then if i just buy the quality item ahead of time.

[@lilybeaumont683]

I replaced one of my heater.. Being in FL it seemed fine until winter hit..I used a flat heater I had that worked fine for a while but still not warm enough so I got one with a temp control..umm..its OK but its set at 83 to keep the tank at 77..but then its the same with the big heater in my 65g..its set at 80 for 77..I have another heater for a 10g and its spot on..its set for 77 and 77 it is..I plan on doing reviews on all of them..

[@williamferrie3996]

i have replaced so many cheap Ebay LED lights i have lost count, but my bulb is still going strong. 100% behind getting quality equipment first time around.

[@harley6376]

LordEndore I’ve had 3 heaters since June cause I just buy cheap topfin heaters luckily I’m smarter with my filter

[@aengusfoley6694]

Really do enjoy the way you present your videos. very entertaining but also informative. All the best. Aengus

[@anthonylee1424]

You are legendary!!! Just signed your name on a youtube comment god damn

[@andysmallz407]

Anthony Lee I’m going to have to start doing the same thing Andrew

[@schomestead6024]

My biggest mistake was definitely getting a 10 gallon instead of a 20. I got my tank because I was given a clam shell someone picked up from the lake. Well it turned out the clam was alive and I rushed to get a tank set up for it without really knowing what I was doing. Had I known I would have gotten at least a 20 so I could have more fish in there

[@lucasbaluyut5746]

Is the clam still alive

[@schomestead6024]

Lucas Baluyut not anymore unfortunately. The clam lived for a year and was doing great then died suddenly. I'm not sure what happened. It was a fairly large clam and I've heard stories of clams slowly starving to death in aquariums so I'm wondering if maybe that was the case? I don't know.

[@KarlJones73]

As ever, love your style of presentation. Great advice, couldn't agree more.

[@Melinko7902]

Excellent video! My biggest mistake when getting into the hobby was not looking at the wide variety of available fish. I got my first tank and loaded up with a tropical community, then I discovered Green Spotted Puffers. Obviously, those cannot go into a community tank, so I had to setup yet another tank. I'd say, really research the fish before you commit, because there are some really cool fish in the hobby!!

[@jacquelinekariuki4055]

Thomas you just crack me up and I love the bloopers at the end. I went from a 36' bow front ( this has always been my dream tank) to a 60 gallon aquarium. I have 4 Orandas, 1 Pearlscale and 1Ranchu. 😍 I spent an hour or so trying to plant some tall plants in the back. I'm 5'4 , I was sweating and flustered. As soon as I would get one plant planted it would flop over again. I woke up the next morning to naughty fish that dug up the whole plant theme.😂😂😂😂😂 I just placed them in 2 vases and called it a day. It use to take me forever to clean it because I don't like standing on stools. My whole dining room is dedicated to fish, I would love to share with you and Brian sometime.🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟 I enjoy you guys very much. Have a fun time being with your families!💃💃

[@amloon]

I dont even have fish...or coral...or anything sea related 😂 your videos are just so animated and interesting TJ. I'm happy that you're still making vids for big Al's. 👍👍

[@andrewkeeton3627]

My biggest mistake as beginning fish hobbyist was getting a 15 gallon, then a 55 gal, instead of just a 135 gallon. Which is what I have now, 6 months after the 15 gal lol. GO BIG!

[@windsthatblowby]

Here in Malaysia , we don't buy acrylic or glass tanks that often , people usually just buy a tiny plastic tank and put their critters in it , although I would suggest to DIY connective " bridges " between these smaller aquariums so that the fish not only get more swimming space but also more enrichment as the creators can customize it to have feeding stations , darker areas , mazes and more .

[@chelseascreatures]

Past me:" a 10 gal will be fine." Present me: "time for a 37 gal"

[@samn8825]

When i bought my 1st 5 gallon starter kit it had a florescent light in the hood that easily heats up the tank, so I have to be extra carefully in the summer. Go LED if you can they have a better light and don't create heat.

[@UncleTerry]

One more thing to consider is the weight of the tank when full of water. Make sure where you place the tank that the floor joist can support it.

[@maggiemcnamara918]

I bought a 21L for a betta fish and it worked out really well (have had him for about a month) and I’ve loved it so far. Recently bought a 3ft (it’s around 300L not 100% for as the previous owner didn’t know. I just based it off the bucket I was using to fill the tank) second hand tank, painted it, got it all set up and am getting fish for the tank within the next week. Can’t wait to get my community tank going!

[@landondosch7841]

I started off 6 years ago with a 10 gallon kit, I have a male and female pair of platys, a snail, and a Bristlenose pleco. I only had the fish for a month, I did a water change and when I filled the tank back up, I had not treated the water with prime... then I gave up for 3 years, now I happily have multiple tanks.

[@gibsonindistress418]

So moral of the story.... don't forget water conditioner

[@muhammedkhan3375]

I own a couple tanks and one of them is a 55 gallon (imperial) and I got it with a stand for £85 off of ebay, no scratches on the glass just some scuffs on the stand but I fixed it up quickly and easily and it is now a tropical community tank, moral of the story is look second hand there is great stuff for cheap

[@MizzouGump]

"Don't put aquariums where children play" says the guy who put a 265 gallon tank in his daughter's play room.

[@davidrocha1719]

another great tip is to be patient ! for the cycle to be finished and also in buying equipment !I wish i have waited in building my fist planted tank . I didn't truly understand how plants worked and substrate.

[@davidrocha1719]

yes ! have to admit i have wasted some money because i have upgraded lights,filter etc. But it all part of the learning process. Just trying self teach how not to but more tanks LOL

[@anthonyalgodoo40411]

We found on sale a 75 gallon tank and it fits perfect in our home. We love it and it will give us plenty of fish for our kids to enjoy!

[@sakinheart6220]

Just had our first fish tank yesterday as a gift for my sister's birthday. Every one in the house was excited and happy about it They all keep gathering in my sister's room just to see the tank. It's about 20 gal glass with electric monitoring for tempretue. And we had 5 different species in it that i don't know there name yet. Unfortunately.. there isn't much to afford in my country which is Saudi Arabia in term of fish keeping. No starter kit, most of the equipment you have to buy separately, no wide variety of fish and a lot of tools are missing and probably we have to shop on line and ship them. I would say it is enjoyable for now. And we will keep tanking 😁

[@Evil_Genius_888]

Started a year ago with a second hand 29 gallon community tank and added a new 10 gallon beta tank. I’m already looking to upgrade the 29 to a 45.

[@saifal-badri]

Great video but I also wanna add maintenance time as a factor, I don't have time to scrub a 150 gallon or do a few hours messy water changes. I got a 20 gallon low iron tank which need 5 gallons out and 5 gallons in every week to keep it crystal clear. a 20 gallons community tank is a great option you can have up to 20 fish.

[@carolinacarrie2247]

40 breeder tank is also a size which allows quite diverse stocking choices. However I have never seen one kitted.

[@catfishcave379]

I thought this was an excellent introduction on how to choose an aquarium for the first time. Note: as the tanks grow larger (over 60g) the $ difference between glass and acrylic starts to shrink)

[@theirishman8455]

Big box stores NEVER “offer” info” readily about the fishes’ adult size. They come back, have to replace the dead fish and buy a bigger tank. Then more lack of offered knowledge repeats the cycle. More big box profit. 100% correct about ASKING QUESTIONS!

[@generic3592]

I got my first tank about 3 months ago. It is a 5 1/2 gallon tank with a pair of pea puffers and 4 cherry shrimp (the cherry shrimp have bred because of a thick amount of christmas moss). So it's about 15ish. I give away shrimp time to time to reduce the amount of them in the small space. Its been super fun and am thinking of getting a 10 gallon tank with guppies and shrimp.

[@Diosesdepapel]

@Ricardo ... Go bigger ... tanks easier to keep than smaller tanks , your fish will appreciate the extra space

[@generic3592]

@@Diosesdepapel I would upgrade their tank if they looked or showed sign of stress. I like the amount I can micro manage and groom my plants. Pea puffers aren't that large as I have a shrimp who is their size which I find hilarious. I have scrapped the idea of a 10 gallon in replace of a 20 gallon solo Amazon puffer tank.

[@Diosesdepapel]

@@@generic3592 ... Great .. if you can get a 20 Gal Long they will have more room to swim ...Good for you and your fish.

[@Gesa1991]

I started with Nano Cubes because the larger Tanks seemed intimidating and I wanted small fish. In hindsight, I think a larger tank would have been a better choice. At least 60 liters which is around 15 gallons. It is just harder to balance the small ones in terms of nutrients, you get algea outbrakes more frequently and plants grow too large etc.

[@sunchildmoongoddess5455]

I really wish I would’ve started with a bigger tank. I started with a 10 gallon, thinking I’d only want a betta and a few snails. Now I’m up to a 55 gallon after upgrading to a 29 and now my current one. I quickly realized I wanted more than just a betta.. also I would’ve stayed away from goldfish. I started with a small 9¢ feeder goldfish in a 29 gallon who is now 6 inches long and growing daily. I see another upgrade in tank size just for him.

[@anneliesetheros7736]

I am new here and I just bought my first aquarium it is a 5.5 gallon aquarium. I got this size for several reasons first being I am on disability and budget would not allow for over $100.00. Second my health conditions are such that I wanted one that I could clean quickly and set up would be easy and inexpensive. I want in my tank one betta, a couple neon tetras or guppies, and a small placostamas or algae eater of some sort. I am a happy camper and can't wait to see happy little fish swimming in a well cared for home :)

[@paskrell]

Bought my father in law fish for his aquarium as early Xmas gift. First time I paid money for fish without going to eat it! I think I will need to get my own setup now 🤪

[@janetrothstein8618]

I just upgraded from a 20gallon to a 55 gallon for my three goldfish. I haven’t set it up yet. I have had trouble Keeping the ammonia level down in the 20 gallon I had to take the sand out which I think was a problem . Large water changes every day! You are right about knowing how much water is required for each fish. Goldfish require 20gallons for the first and at least 10 for every additional fish. Even more for goldfish since they will get so much bigger. The bigger the fish the bigger the waste. I might go gravel free to avoid debris hiding in the substrate. I hope I can get to water changes once a week only instead of 25%-50% daily like I’m doing for this 20 gallon tank. It’s a workout. I love my fish. They have great personalities. Oh I’m not sure you mentioned stands. I kept the 20 gallon on a dresser but the 55 gallon weighing 600lbs or more needs a stand made to handle the weight. Some people may think they can just put it on regular furniture. Yikes

[@Joey-rs7uq]

On the topic of tanks, I'd love to hear what you had to say about cracks/scratches and how to avoid/repair and even determine what the differences are. Especially with glass aquariums.

[@Diosesdepapel]

Love your videos Man ... always very informative and funny , after keeping a 55 Gal tank for many years i am starting a 20 Gal Long planted tank and definitely a 55 Gal tank is a very enjoyable tank to keep can not go wrong. Tks for the video Tks for sharing

[@daveb8890]

Like this video. Lots of good info on getting started. But the 1 piece of information I would add is, THINK HOW YOU WILL CHANGE THE WATER! It has to be done and buckets on big tanks get tedious and beginners will quit. If you tank is big and you keep it by a window (out of the sunlight) you can drain it quickly. Also filling it is important. Tropical fish need the temperature to be right. I use a hose from a shower or mixer tap to fill my 100 gallon tank. Again good video.

[@horrortherapyhysteria]

Great video! So glad we could provide you with a clip of our acrylic tank you could use! 🙂

[@josemontalvo4532]

Great advice for newbies, and / or novices! I’ve had tanks for most of my life. I sold my tanks when I moved to Yuma. Arizona, Because the water is so bad here. The minerals in the water here is just as bad as the arsenic in the water. All along the Colorado River has arsenic in it from the Gold Rush Days. Arsenic was used to clean minerals off of the gold. Don’t worry, 85% of all Lettuce, Broccoli, and a bunch of vegetables and fruits come from El Centro, California to Yuma, Arizona are consumed and sold from here, which means there is Arsenic in the food we eat. This is information that they don’t mention. Anyway, once I move from here; I’ll start up my hobby again. I’m ordering a 6’ long tank.

[@zaink7037]

Funnily enough I was doing an experiment in uni to see if arsenic trioxide can reduce the expression of the HPV virus. A virus which is known to increase the risk of cervical cancer. We found the higher the concentration the arsenic trioxide the less or no expression of the HPV virus gene. Might be good that it's there for you BUT don't know if large consumption of it is bad

[@TruthLivesNow]

Look at used for Acrylic Aquariums. I have 3 Acrylics and 3 Plastic. Great deals out there, and they look super!

[@sarab3888]

I ended up getting a 20 gallon and I think I should have gone with a 30 to open my options a bit more. I wanted to get harlequin rasboras but both stores were sold out. I went with pristella tetras instead (x-ray fish) as well as some cory catfish that i am enjoying a lot. 2/3 is heavily plated with live plants and the rest is bare swimming space with a small feature rock. I also added a indian almond leaf to release some tannins for a more natural "blackwater" look. Either way i've had it running for 4 months (2 with the actual fish in there) and I like how it turned out.

[@lilybeaumont683]

If you are going for a small tank..don't go for live bearers.. Unless its a same sex tank..guppies etc can over run a small tank in months..small tanks need a show fish a betta and maybe 5 neons if its a 10g..snails and shrimp for cleaning.. I don't rec Cory's for a 10g..I only have snails in my 10g tanks for cleaning and only one and she does a great job..

[@cathyrussell9280]

Love your videos , fantastic advice but with humour

[@hugatree75]

One thing that I wish I had known before starting fish keeping that was not covered in this video is if I had wanted to keep a planted aquarium or not would depend on the substrate used. Not knowing I got the normal gravel and now my choices of live plants are limited because of the substrate that I have. I have had luck with the hardy plants that I have chosen but it would be nice to have more choices.

[@Lotus14S2]

I guess, as with everything, acrylic tank prices have gone way up. Many years ago, when I got into tropical fish, I had 8 tanks ranging in size from 25 to 40 gallons (in a big wall display I made), and they were all acrylic. At the time, many tropical fish dealers made their own tanks, and the prices were reasonable. Of course this was back when glass tanks had metal frames, to put it in perspective. I’m thinking of getting back into tropicals, and am studying the tanks. I might make my own acrylic tanks, as I learned the process from an old long gone dealer.

[@katheymann2334]

I no longer keep fish because I live in a 21 year old travel trailer. I started with (2) 5 gal, then (1) 10 gal, then (2) 20 gal, then (1) 55 gal, and finally (2) 75 gal in a period of 5 years. I kept bettas, mollies, fancy guppies, tetras, angels, fresh water puffers, gouramies, leopard bushes, plecos, and cichlids. The leopard fish, puffers and cichlids were my favorite.

[@kinnikuzero]

I wish you touched a bit on the insulative properties of acrylic and glass

[@deidrebotha5696]

Hi love your advise and you forgot if your pet shop does not know how to care for the fish than do some research to know more about your tank soon to be 😊.

[@gibsonindistress418]

Cycling my 20 gallon for the first time. Still trying to decide what kind of fish to get. I'm thinking a few corydoras, a few guppies, and some schooling fish.

[@zaink7037]

Sand for me actually isn't bad to maintain. Try to get a courser sand so when you gravel vac the poo will get sucked up easier when your closer to the substrate than the sand. I've had corys in my sand substrate in my previous tank and they loved to burrow into it. You'd see the sand go out their gills which to me makes it natural.

[@lilybeaumont683]

I need a tank for my young male guppies so I am going for neons as tank mates.. I use sand I don't find it hard to take care of..for a 20g try pygmy Cory's.. My Cory's are huge and they use all my 65g..they are on the go all day..I do over stock my guppy tanks which is fine if you do lots of water changes..guppies are great fun they are happy in large groups..half my tank is always empty looking because my guppies all stay together..

[@nickdubbin2636]

I would recommend panda Cory's, guppys school kind of (they do in my tank.) i would also recommend basic shrimp and snails, the shrimp should breed and keep things clean. Don't forget a clean up crew, very important.

[@sarfarazulhaq4577]

20 gallon long or 40 gallon long, which is better for beginners?

[@TheRealtalk617]

My mistake was buying a 20 gallon tall. I would have got a 30 gallon instead or a 20 long. If i knew what i know now. That little extra space would have giving me more options and the fish could move around more.

[@Ladyswift25]

The next time I go to a carnival, I’ll try not to play the games where you win goldfish. I have three and I’m still learning how to keep them healthy and happy. (3 goldfish in a 20 gallon with a aquaclear 110) I’m up grading soon.

[@MrRawr2013]

Buy a smaller 10-20 gal to quarantine. You could have a 55 gallon with $100-200 invested in live stock get wiped out because you chose to add something that was infected, and have to start over. Bring the fish home quarantine....then add to your main tank.

[@demonpride1975]

you just had to show that giant acrylic tank didn't you, jesus that thing is absolutely beautiful. i tend to go with acrylic, and i like the larger sized tanks, so much easier to take care of, even more so if you are not over stocking. and know how much your fish eat. i have 2 75 gallons a 46 gallon bow front a 30 gallon rectangular 2 20 gallon hexagon tanks and 2 8 gallon hexagon tanks. i find the smaller i go, the more difficult it can be to maintain.

[@YehoshuaMenachem]

Make sure the canopy or cover is as versatile as can be: so that any filter or lighting system or heater can be used, when your present equipment wears out or becomes obsolete. Some lids really limit you in these respects.

[@faithjoe99]

Hey Al can you make a video about different species of glofish going in the same tank or maybe even some info about them

[@paulriggi4252]

Good advice, I'm starting to really like this channel u got going on.... Good job

[@lilybeaumont683]

I will also add the temperament of the fish you want needs to be taken into account when buying a tank...people buy angel fish as first fish and they can be fine..I have a large one in my community tank..but even he had his moments with the small young guppies..I have watch people on KZbin take back their angel fish once they get bigger because they have no idea how bossy they become..

[@ryanhill6927]

I don’t know if someone has point this but you forgot about the total weigh of the aquarium. You need to know what type of foundation your house has, there’s two types. One is a slab foundation which is a solid concrete block which can hold a lot of weight the second foundation is a pier bean foundation which piers holds a wooden frame that supports the whole house. Pier beam can’t hold as much weight as the slab foundation. Unless the beams are reinforced with more beams and piers

[@debohaver4747]

Thomas... I'll say it again, you rock and give me laughs. Anyway, I wanna know where you got your pink shirt with the fishies on it. lol So, I have a 10 gal. community planted tank. It's 1.5 yrs established. My 4 zebra danio, 7 neons, 2 albino corys ate well until I got my beauty showcase flame red gourami. He is a pig and a fast swimmer. His belly is full and he is pooping...yay, no bloat. I guess if I can't get enough food into my fish, I'll need to bring him back, huh? Ideas? I love this fish but not at the expense of the others.

[@annabay7480]

Hi Thomas. I have a 5 liter tank, which is one I got for Christmas a couple a years ago. I watched your freshwater setup videos back then and everything went great. I don’t have fish anymore since I did a lot of moving and want fish again now that I’m settled. Can you do a guide a guide on how to set up the tank for the second time and tips on keeping a small tank. This is only the second time I have fish and am still clueless in some areas Thank you

[@sunnycal2293]

You are too funny. Great information. I really enjoy watching your video's. You have a lot of knowledge. I personally love the 40b print size over a 55g. Sometimes with an aquatic equipment sale we can put together our own tank/equipment much better than those tank kits. Such as picking out a better glass thermometer, better filter with gph, and higher light needs, depending on live plant choice. But, I can possibly see a new hobbyist being overwhelmed with all the choices. I remember when my daughter was in grade school she wanted goldfish. (I knew nothing about fish keeping) We put two small goldfish in a 10g tank and learned very quickly (like a week or two) that was a no no. As a parent I kept doing what I thought was right and I kept upgrading the tank over several months. I wish I had learned what you discussed here,. Do research first and get a tank that will be suitable for the species. Long story short, I finally had the appropriate size tank for three fancy goldfish. A 60g. 4feet x 18inches and I think it was about 17inches high. What I've learned over the yrs now is that I would only keep 2 fancy goldfish in that 60g tank now if I had it still. (I sold it all)

[@stephanieladouceur509]

Just got my tank in the mail, and I'm setting it up tonight and getting my fishes Saturday, my mistake was getting a 5.6 gallon (plastic of course) instead of 20+ gallon 😭 and I have plan for 3 fishes (2 females 1 male) hope they survive in there 🤞🏼

[@crittercousins8987]

🎶 Tank on me 🎶

[@BigAlsVOD]

Using this!

[@aidencargo7138]

Thomas B (tank on me)

[@cmdel07]

Based on my experience over the years, a 55 gal. with a complete starter kit is a good place to start for most. I now have 8 tanks and 2 ponds, but I'm always considering how to improve things. I sold my original 55 gal. tank a couple of years ago and now have some larger and some smaller. Some tanks are for fry(babies), some for passive fish, some for aggressive fish, and some growth tanks.. My only real problem is my African Cliched tank over populating with too many babies. Maybe I feed them too well and they rarely eat their own, so it gets over populated. I also have had turtles and lobsters along with fish, which keep things interesting. If you buy a pleco fish for your tank you will rarely have to clean the inside of the glass. I have at least one or two plecos in each tank.

[@eamon6300]

My favorite fish are red male betas and black and white clownfish but I don’t know what to get I like clownfish a lot more but betas are easier to take care of

[@reallymentalpig1173]

Beta fish fight. But clownish need an expensive tank. And they need coral.

[@isabellem6447]

Diego Aguirre just get one Betta then 👍🏻

[@aquaticmaniac8979]

@@reallymentalpig1173 1. They only fight when their are 2 males (they get along quite fine with other fish) and Clowns don't need coral. Just a tank and water

[@aquaticmaniac8979]

If you're new to the hobby, try beta fish first. Then try and move to saltwater if you want to:)

[@simonamos9468]

great vid im new to tanking and i have a 55 gallon and i want nano fish and shrimp and corys .plus could i keep pea puffers with them .

[@freakygoblin3068]

As it gets larger, don't forget to consider weight and consider if the floor can handle the weight. Rocks, water etc can weigh a lot more than people realise for larger tanks.

[@justinohall1273]

I am getting a 20gallon long tank and i dont know if I should build a small sump fillter or should i get a hang on filter. I plan on having a planted tank with a betta, a couple neon tetras, cherry shrimp and maby a couple of guppys for my first setup

[@zombierocker11]

You should get a h.o.b filter or a sponge filter.

[@sanguinemde5031]

In a 40 litre tank, you can have around 40cm of fish, maybe a little more with over the top filtration. A beta and some white clouds and corries in a 40 litre tank is very doable now a days. As an example, in a 40 litre, I had 2 Kribs, 6 neons, 3 corries and some snails. My ammonia was always good and...the Kribs bred, so the water conditions were good.

[@AwesomeShrimpTank]

What kind of filter do you use?

[@sanguinemde5031]

@@AwesomeShrimpTank At the Moment I am using an Aqua One Ocellaris 400. Its rated for 60 litres. Good thing about it is that, the flow rate isnt over the top. It gives some good flow on the surface for agitation, but, not enough that my Betta cant find somewhere to just chill...as they often like to do.

[@Its_sabribri]

Thanks! I hope to get an aquarium soon so this is really helpful! (Also those bloopers were too funny!)

[@MissWendydoll]

what the best way to do a water change for goldfish? like a step by step?

[@BestOnThursdays]

Always check with your housing mangers because I had a 30g and had to give it up as my place only allows 10g

[@TheBubblypumpkin]

there's a reason why they say, "give your fish just a teeny tiny bite of food..." UNLESS you like scrubbing your aquarium caves and plants (insert face palm) turns out left over food in the tank... likes to settle AND make brown spots :P

[@justheart3369]

Hi Thomas I have 29 gallon tank how many glow tetras could I put in my tank and also what other fish make good tank mates thanks Nik

[@MT-jf1tn]

What abut weight? If you leaving in 3rd or 7th floor apartment

[@kerrypitt9789]

Thomas are the boxing week aquariums of the same quality the others are? Thank you, love your work!

[@koston777]

7:19 "its waterproof." Hmm. Never thought of aquariums being waterproof.

[@oddfuture42O]

i got two acrylic tanks one 5 gal one 6.8 gonna upgrade soon they are really nice tho

[@rickybrough2975]

These videos really do help

[@jesuscolin4438]

Hi. My name is Jesse and I'm a fisherman looking to keep minnows alive long term for bait. I've seen a few of your videos and I do find them informative. Though I'm wondering if there is anything in specific for keeping minnows alive long term?

[@kaylaw1519]

Awesome Viedo! I have a question. When I do a water change and I replace the water do I put the water conditioner in before I put it In my new water or not. And yes I have hard water. Thank you!! ~Kayla

[@johnnichols7332]

Personally I use a syringe, I divide the amount I need to put in and add it to the bucket before adding the fresh water, I then check the temperature using a temperature gun so it matches the tank and just add. At least I know it's mixed in well before going in the tank, but I've seen people adding directly into the tank too.

[@dennisballegaard6438]

That is good advice although I personally would recommend the 55 gallons more as a beginner tank than the 20 gallon. For exactly the same reason said that you mentioned🤘 AND where the hell do you buy those t-shirts they are absolutely 100-percent awsome??? 😂😎

[@sarahmustafa7138]

I’m getting a tank that is 3 gallons and I’m only putting one female Betta. Is a 3 gallon good for a Betta? I did research and it said the minimum is 2.5 which makes sense but I still want to know if 3 gallons is good. I am also getting all of the filters and etc. I’m asking because he said 10 gallons is good. Thanks!

[@sarahmustafa7138]

I did all my research but I am asking because I sometimes don’t trust the internet.

[@christinemchale6572]

I started with glass aquariums, then went to acrylic but they scratch like crazy in no time, so I'm back to glass. Buck for buck, glass is still the best bet and with a little common sense and care should last many years.

[@christinemchale6572]

Even above average aquarists avoid acrylic, I think. I found that even with the greatest of care the sides at the bottom of the tank got scratched up easily because of gravel cleaning during regular maintenance, and in my opinion, it wasn't worth the headache. After all, are you supposed to not clean the gravel? No way. And how on earth do you buff out the scratches when they're on the inside? Dismantle the whole tank, etc., etc.?? Nah! Glass is best. Also, modern glass techniques make glass stronger than ever. Yes, you have to be careful, but that's just common sense. @@NaturalAquaria

[@christinemchale6572]

I never tried ironing glass. That will be my Christmas project. Ha, ha! I really love watching all the vids. You are one of the most informative people on the topic of aquariums and you are out of this world hilarious at times. I get both educational and entertaining vids all in one. Love it! So I am wishing you et al a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May all tanking in the new year be a positive experience. Now I will see if I can get my wee little betta, Mr. Dibbles, to finally agree to hang his Christmas stocking from the filter outlet nozzle.@@NaturalAquaria

[@troycarter2734]

I think it's a really good idea to figure out what kind of fish you want first and then learn the nitrogen cycle. I started with a 29 gallon and decided I want African cichlids, so within 2 weeks I had 2 65 gallon tanks and a 29. If I would have started with a 90gallon I would have been set. If you think to yourself that's big enough, go bigger. Bigger is better no matter what your wife says

[@carlscottamos6501]

Acrylic is Plastic. Acrylic or thermoplastic, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a stable, transparent, hard, shatterproof polymer. The Plastic (a wide range of synthetic compounds) tanks, are just cheap plastic.

[@Cattt6666]

Hey guys sorry, but I recently got a tank as a gift it’s called Betta falls, I believe it’s about 2 gallons in total and it’s divided into three parts like a waterfall, and I was wondering if anyone could help me think of something to keep in there because I wouldn’t want to be rude by not using it. Maybe like two feeder minnows per tank? Or a shrimp or snails per tank? Any ideas?

[@junito1957]

MIN TANK SIZE TO START WITH 29 ,40 BREEDER OR 55 GAL - 10 GAL = FAIL SO DONT START AND WAIT FOR THE $1 PER GAL SALE FROM PETCO OR PETMART

[@Addictedtomyphone1]

Can you please do a video on how to look after ryuking fish and other goldfish

[@johndeato5362]

Planted Aquarium substrate Question: Does Floramax midnight really convert fish waste into nutrients for plants?

[@m0tek]

Great video , Thanks !

[@gggggggh8501]

Hey if i wanna put 1 cichlid in a 10 gallon whags the biggest breed i can get

[@ramendrasingh3379]

75 gallon fresh water tank . Best combination of fishes .?

[@petercho8910]

Hey Al I have a 1.5 gallon tank for my 2 inches goldfish is that too small. I don’t have much space for 10 gallon tank. What should I do?

[@williamsyang8447]

My mom always gives me a 20 dollar budget...

[@aidencargo7138]

Mr. Rage wow, that’s enough to kill a betta in a 2.5 gallon setup!

[@williamsyang8447]

Nah that’s not true dumbass

[@aquaticmaniac8979]

Dollar per gallon sale my guy

[@phiillzzz807]

Also Thomas, i really want to get a tank around 90-120 gallons! What is your best recommendation for filter setup and lighting? I want to throw some tiger oscars in there (the most beautiful fish sold at your average petstore) and some live plants and rocks! (what's some good plants u'd recommend for oscars?)

[@steg245]

I have a question. Im from UK and we work in litres, but everyone seems to quote gallons when discussing tank size. Is it an imperial gallon or US gallon. There is about 20% difference I think. Trying to estimate the fish numbers for my proposed 200litre tank using 1" to 1 gallon and i'm not sure if the conversion is to a 44 gallon or 53 gallon tank. Another great video, especially as i'm at the stage where i'm planning. I really enjoy Thomas' enthusiasm. Have a great holiday.

[@Tass...]

Gallons of either form are so antiquated. Litres should be mandatory. They just make so much more sense especially when you are trying to calculate net volume after substrate and hardscape has been adjusted for. Gallons are just too vague. Come on America/Canada get with it.

[@steg245]

6mm of fish / litre? 😂😂

[@zaink7037]

Yeah I tend to use Google to convert the units. I have a 130 litre tank so that is I think around 37 gallons. Lol if only there was one unit used for each thing in the world like mph being used globally then kph

[@steg245]

I think in UK we are worse than anywhere when it comes to imperial / metric. At least most places use 1 or the other we seem to have a random mix. For temperature we use both. Metric for when its cold, imperial when it's warm.

[@ramancity]

Personally, I always assume when anyone says gallons, they mean US gallons. Cause I hardly hear gallons used by Brits, but I could be wrong. As in Malaysia, we're also using liters.

[@AdelardRen]

Asking the employee about the fish is one thing, but I really wish you had said to also do research on your own. The nearest store near me is a Petsmart, next to that a Petco, and a Wal-Mart. While some of those employees may know their stuff, many of them don't. The nearest actual fish store is way out of town.

[@halbailman]

Remember, dedicated aquarium stores are generally much more expensive. So if budget is a concern, then a general store often has great deals on the same kits seen in aquarium stores.

[@sspreadfire]

Hi Thomas, i bought a 75 gallon tank with a metal stand but there are gaps between the stand and tank along the side (about 1mm). Should I worry about it?