How To NOT KILL Your Fish While Redecorating Your Aquarium, Tank Talk Podcast Episode 10

Wanna redecorate your aquarium without hurting your fish? Well in this episode John and Lisa discuss the best way to do it.
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[@user-ug9pg6ph1k]

I just want to say thank you John and Lisa for all your inspirational videos I love what makes your gears turn about everything to do with the aquarium life, I'm having to drive to Texas now for the hurricane storm relief and I have dedicated my whole 11-hour drive to having your videos playing..

[@johnjwedrall4290]

Yes Yes I want and will love to keep a dark water tank.thank you guys. ❤👍❗️

[@tricillagirl7915]

Hi Lisa and John! You both taught me about fish years ago I got up to 9 tanks now just 3. God Bless you two❤

[@kevinullery8749]

Great advice Lisa. When I feed I will watch tank for a couple mins to make sure everyone eats. I also enjoy to just watch my tanks. For beginners just watch your tank you learn a lot.

[@karenstewart5034]

I also think watching too many aqua scaping videos is like watching home improvement channels. You start looking at what you have and not being satisfied.

[@johnjwedrall4290]

Very informative and interesting video 👍👍😊❗️

[@carlwagers9829]

Hey John and Lisa! I just wanted to share my experience with having to redo my 55-gallon planted tank. Now, you may ask why!!!???!!! Well, I needed to reseal the aquarium and lost sleep over it. I also had to move into my basement! 1. I had an empty 75-gallon aquarium that had some , canister filter, and driftwood in it. Then, I filled it up with all the water from the 55. 2. Put the canister filter from the 55 on the 75. 3. Then I put all the fish and floated the vallsinara (floating the vall hurt my heart because it was just starting to fill in 😢) 4. Took all substrate out of 55 and put it in buckets with airstones. 5. Cleaned and resealed aquarium (took 2 days for silicone to cure) 6. Put gravel back in 55 gallon, put old filter back on, and put plants/decor, too. 7. Let the 55 cycle 8. Add all fish back and no feeding for about 4 days and then added prime and zyme 7 every day. Overall, that's what I did and it worked well for me. Everything doing great in there other than I needed to fix my lighting schedule. But no losses and if you have any questions I'm ready to answer.

[@samlindsey8978]

Bless you both for helping those kitties and for the good , educational content you put aout. It has been very helpful for imy in my fish keeping journey and has helped me recognize issues before they end up completely catastrophic.

[@jodysees19]

Thank you for sharing this information. I likewise think it 's utmost importance to talk to your fish! They can hear and do respond.

[@juliev123]

Great advice thank you both!

[@piperpete89]

Loving the channel. You're helping me feel the waters getting into the hobby. One video I would love to see is how you go about buying a used tank. Where to buy, what to look out for, questions to ask, how to service the tank before you get it started. Just a gap in the combined knowledge of KZbin fishkeeping that I've noticed.

[@jerrygoebel9152]

I think John did a video about a year or two ago about buying a used tank.

[@stewartfooter3580]

Great to see you both,great stream as always and very helpful

[@sinister1891]

Lisa and John I think your both awesome I just ordered some of your cholla wood and I'm glad to be a member of this great community.

[@CrystalmarieGrz]

I’m planning to change a few things in my tanks. I will definitely run my new filter with the one I have now for a month before taking it out. I’ve changed filters before but not while also removing and adding rocks and wood.

[@memydogsandi]

I might be biased, but I love "Meow Meow' as a name. I had a cat called "Mao Mao/Meow Meow" when I was a kid.

[@sparrowsfish]

This couldn't have come at a better time for me. Thank you!

[@terrygorsch386]

Live plants are a game changer 😜🐠🎸

[@terrygorsch386]

Diane bring s the hobby to another level 🤓🐠

[@tricillagirl7915]

Good show so nice seeing you too again. God Bless!!!

[@krisdog88]

This could NOT have come at a better time! I'm relally needing to do a re-do... I have a bit of old tank syndrome going on, and want to freshen up the look. Thanks, guys!!

[@richardmccullum9604]

I found this very useful as I will be moving three tanks to make room for another. Not only good for redecorating but for moving tanks.

[@donnauk2493]

I once had a friend who put her new decorations on top of the sponge's in her sump before she put them in her tank so it grows some bacteria before they entered her tank and I had to explain to her that she didn't need to do that but also told her I admired her commitment to keeping her fish safe xx

[@BreakerInc]

Hey, no harm.. Little funny to do, but good for her! :D

[@donnauk2493]

@@BreakerInc yes indeed she just thought she was doing the best for her fish and there's nothing wrong with that but it is funnier not we both still laugh about it xx

[@josephdebiasi7895]

I watched one of your videos about the sicce space eko. So that same day I bought it. They have the best customer service

[@johnlanger7852]

thinking of going with them for my tank when I set it up based on Johns review

[@josephdebiasi7895]

They are so quiet. And even though you have to email customer service, they respond back fast.

[@jerrygoebel9152]

I have a 200 on a 40 gallon tank, and a 300 on my 55 gallon. They keep the water crystal clear, and I like having all the trays in one single removable stack.

[@Whips_World]

If you still sell them, those eucalyptus roots are great at making blackwater. I have one in a 10g hospital tank that has turned the water coffee brown, and it is over a year old... I think.

[@BreakerInc]

Found a dollar per gallon sale and have finally crossed into MTS (Multiple tank syndrome) - I am SO glad I added a ton of extra sponges in random spots in my current tank to gather.. well.. life, for IF I did get a second tank. Now I'll be able to add a couple to the new tank - Just a ten gallon, the 20 gallon long was 3 inches too long for my stand D: - And get things kicking a bit faster. This does give me more confidence in altering my main tank eventually, though of course I'll be cautious, I always am very OCD about that stuff now XD I go through so much testing stuff... I'm not past needing to test, sadly XD

[@Sophie-em7og]

I got way to exited when I saw that y’all posted😂

[@tricillagirl7915]

I know it’s been a long time like 8 yrs maybe

[@karenstewart5034]

Kaste69 is me. Just initials so pronounce anyway. Thanks for the response to my question. I think I just wanted to make it look nicer. I do like the advice to just be patient, really look at it and think it through. I am going to back burner this for now. The tank is running well, the fish are happy, my pleco loves it. This is one of the only two tanks I have that does not have molly's in it. Like this is my special tank. :)

[@curtiscrump7153]

I would do the slow roll as well to make a big change. I heard about the cats and could arrange to take one. 😀

[@ajaysummer]

Lisa and John, first off, thanks for all the help. I have my first tank cycled and running. I now have brown algae. It’s my daughters 10 gallon Betta tank (she’s 4) and she picked out decorations so everything is fake (aside from some moss arch I just put in). I added a couple mystery snails to help out until I can clean the tank. The decor is filthy. I had heard I can use peroxide and a toothbrush to clean the decor (I would rinse the decor in conditioned/dechlorinated water prior to putting it back), but I’m afraid to do anything right now that could mess with the cycle. Should I clean one thing at a time to avoid crashing the cycle? Or am I ok to remove the decor to clean it as long as I’m leaving the substrate and filter media alone? Can I clean the decor with the next water change? I’m just afraid to do too much at once, but I work 84 hours a week and have limited time to attend to the tank. This would be the first water change since it became fully cycled about a week or two ago.

[@heythere5817]

I don't know if you'll get a response, but if it's brown you have something called diatoms. In my experience back in my beginner days many years ago I solved this very quickly by adding some live plants and an inch minimum of substrate (I love sand). If you google what critters specifically eat diatoms there will be a list of fish and I think there is also some snails that do - even just one in your tank will get to work. Change water as necessary, only if testing it shows issues. It will clear up as the tank matures and it won't come back unless there is a major imbalance in the aquarium. I haven't had it come back in 8 years. But yeah I do feel the live plants coupled with a diatoms eating snail for example will fix it up for you. You can clean the decor, even the sides of the glass, just don't go doing massive water changes unless there's a clear reason to

[@renahays7988]

Lisa, the momma cat will breed again while nursing a litter. Best thing is when you do find the kittens and know they will be fine for a day without her get her spayed as soon as you can. Look into TNR program in your area. Good luck and fix as many of the cats as you can. A humane live trap work’s wonderful 🐾☺

[@KGTropicals]

She actually brought me her kittens last week and I have her and them inside until her spay 😊 Lisa

[@garybarger3744]

Hi Lisa & John, that Tidal 75 is working great in my 55g aquarium... About that burn pile. Invite some of the neighbors over for a Halloween bonfire and use it to make friends. You live in a beautiful area of the country, enjoy it!

[@DirkDeadeye_]

What if I want to go from a planted tank, to a spongebob theme. :x

[@donnauk2493]

We say it's better to be safe than sorry 😂xx

[@Crazyfishlady7106]

I l change it out I leave the filter alone then in two weeks iclean the i rotated

[@danderson6290]

I just moved/upgraded my tank. I moved everything from my 10 gallon to 29 gallons. I'm not worried about it at all. Substrate, plants, fish, snails, rocks. I left the filter on the 10 so I could get new fish and quarantine them

[@Whips_World]

I'm gonna redecorate when I eventually move the tank to the other side of the room. The balance in hierarchy is already screwed up, so maybe this can help 🤷

[@Whips_World]

Hey, if you ever want to have a 3rd World up there at the end of the show, I'm up for doing 3 minutes of Whip's World's, ummm... World 🤔🤭😉

[@melwohl37]

I keep hearing of bettas getting stuck in cholla wood 😅 how best to stop that?

[@doxiediane6274]

Rent a grinder! They look like so much fun to use! My tree guy had a REMOTE CONTROL ONE!

[@maxkat1749]

have you ever used any fossils in any of your tanks? are they safe to use? or do they need to be "prepped" in some way?

[@Whips_World]

Heck, you guys basically did a "remodel" when you moved last year. Everything was drained. I'm willing to bet you lost all the beneficial bacteria in the tank itself making that drive from the old place to the new place. Those filters, sponge or HOB or canister or filter, were invaluable for having the success you had. I'm not so much worried about losing the cycle when I move my 210. I was stressing over the remodel. Now that things are kind of up in the air in their, even that worry is gone, because I'm already dealing with it... if that makes sense.

[@Whips_World]

Geesh! That was supposed to be "sponge or HOB or canister or sump", not "or filter", but whatever 😆

[@TheLegendaryLinx]

I did a major redecorating and none of my fish died but about 30+ cherry shrimps died over the course of 4 days. Now im down to 4. So frustrating

[@fishypetkeeping]

I really hope those kitties are okay! ❤️

[@Lisa-KGTropicals]

I'm doing my best ❤ I'll be posting more about them on my rootsnwhiskers channel so I don't drive people crazy about cats on a fish channel 😂

[@fishypetkeeping]

@@Lisa-KGTropicals I'll be sure to follow the updates! ☺️

[@terrygorsch386]

I had Blue substrate and I hated it 🤔 I went natural and I love it 🤓🐠🎸

[@mitchepley5315]

Stumps, if that easy, put a chain around it and pull it out with your truck

[@1997goldwing]

Have you ever resealed a 200-gallon aquarium, I'm in the hope of getting a good results from it. I had a great going one-year-old tank in perfect balance and it sprung a leak!😢

[@NagThaGamerYT]

First

[@-AndrewR]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@staceygaspero7035]

Hi there how are you both Just wondering what do you mean by dark water please

[@heythere5817]

Usually tannins in the water, like from wood or leaves

[@tricillagirl7915]

So true everything was fine then I got that fish he mostly killed ell the other fish it’s like the whole tank is for him. I want to get rid of him and get fun happy fish

[@sheilabuss8721]

Thanks so much for helping them and for getting them spayed and neutered otherwise they could reproduce into so many cats xxx

[@JB_72]

Hi John and Lisa. My question is at what point can you dig out the aquarium store, for selling you "bum" fish. I get that it's my water if they die after a few weeks. Although I have other fish that were bought on the same day, and quarantined together, that are thriving. It was 7 geophagus that popped off one at a time. Heavy.

[@heythere5817]

Have you watched episode 11? Not to sound shady but kinda sounds like your situation 😅

[@BillSaunders-zl6hm]

stick it in your tank lol.

[@josephdebiasi7895]

2nd

[@Whips_World]

I removed the Jaguar Cichlid, who was the tank boss, after he beat the bajesus out of my oscar. That move has upset the balance in there, and now the Texas might not pull through. 🙄

[@Boogly83]

If I have a large multi part question, what is the best way to ask or where? Post here in these comments? Email? It's a question I'd like answered on a live stream, problem is, I don't make it to live streams but watch later after aired

[@Whips_World]

Is that aquarium gravel, or did you go to Lowes or Home Depot for it?

[@KGTropicals]

Tomorrow's video I'll be talking about the substrate 😉

[@bradpott5231]

I got a snow white oscar and a red one that I've never seen before with 4 silver dollars in a 400L tank with sand...... It's a terrible idea to have sand because of the waste being seen on the bottom... but God dam it looks good..

[@kylesim6085]

i once added a single rock to my aquarium and my Oscar decided to call it home that one action changed the entire behaviour of the tank he attacked everything that went near it regardless of its size. like you said when you got something good leave it alone

[@danl981]

My friends just start a bonfire around there stumps and burn them to the ground.

[@Sophie-em7og]

Hi!

[@Scrapla1]

The biggest thing new comers need to know is beneficial bacteria and the nitrogen cycle. When I fist got into the hobby as a teenager I had no idea and would always keep my tank spotless and never cycled it. I got lucky and rarely lost any poor fish but I wish I would've known that nasty stuff is gold and you want it in your tank.

[@kevinullery8749]

I want Selina so bad. Keep building trust and she my bring kittens to you.

[@Lisa-KGTropicals]

She brought them to me 3 nights ago at 2am. All 4 of them and her are in the laundry room for now 🙂 and Robin came back NOT pregnant 🤦‍♀️

[@kevinullery8749]

@@Lisa-KGTropicals funny how cats just know. Robins probably not far behind

[@naegwut]

Hopefully future bicher gang here

[@ILIKEUALOT]

Sorry, fish are creatures that need plants, and an aquascape. They will go mad just swimming around an almost empty tank. It's very cruel.