Unhappy/Kinky Anemones, Worst Directions Ever, New Tank Getting Cleaned, The Gallery Episode 29

[@ramesis]

You make the best beginner videos ever. I can relate to all of your frustrations. Such good content.

[@stevenpavan327]

Also I could watch hours and hours of videos like this. Keep them coming - please!!!

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Steven... You are too kind! :-)

[@RobBoryckiGolf]

Great job matt

[@aftamatt]

Nice Video!! I also setup a Reef Octopus Classic 1000 HOB (exact as yours) on my 40 breeder about 6 months ago. I put ceramic media balls in the smaller chamber for added biological filtration, and I use glade press n seal and cover the open “draining area” to reduce salt spray. Also, in the event your collection cup starts to get very difficult to take in and out, use food grade silicone lubricant like DOW 111. What a difference! Also the screw on the top mount is meant to go under a rimmed aquarium so not a huge deal. Oh and I cut a large square of carbon infused filter pad from PetCo and place that over the top of the collection cup. That way the skimmer exhaust holes on the top don’t stick up the room. Plus a jug of Ona Gel nearby makes the whole thing odorless!

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Under a rimmed aquarium! I had no idea and boy those "direction" sure didn't help! Great tips all around Matthew. Sounds like you have been happy with the hob? What is ona gel? I'm going to check this out for sure! Geez, you are a pro at this!! Thanks!

[@paulharvey5443]

That's my protein skimmer lol just kidding great video as always.glad to see you using the skimmer

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-)

[@barthellemans6062]

always nice to see I'm not the only one that looks to instruction after first thinking I cand do without ;)

[@MyFirstFishTank]

You and me both!

[@eaglescout1974]

🤣 This is too funny. Glad to see the good and the bad.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-)

[@Brad.Hobbies]

Helping the algorithm 😏 Thank you for the videos

[@MyFirstFishTank]

You are appreciated!

[@frankstanks4399]

Did you ever find out why they knotted up and fell apart? On your anemone? Was it water quality?

[@MyFirstFishTank]

No, but somebody has to know right?

[@Starganderfish]

I used one of the blue AquaMaxx HOB skimmers years ago on my 60 gal. The tank wasn't plumbed, had no rear chamber or sump so everything was Hang on Back. I found the HOB skimmer worked pretty well, pulled a lot of gunk out and the rubber gasket made adjusting the height of the cup relatively easy. I was able to run a waste line off the cup into a container and gather a fair amount of pretty dark skimmate. The issues I had were that the hang on back design was awkward, with a big hunk of equipment off the back of the tank as well as towering up above the waterline, the stock pump was a bit weak (I upgraded to a more powerful pump and that improved performance) But the biggest issue I has was one that we saw a hint of when you tried to drain some water out. It's a big, clear acrylic box, all glued together with very limited access and its hanging in the back, underneath your aquarium lights. Algae growth inside the skimmer was inevitable and getting into it to clean out the skimmer main chamber was a nightmare. I pretty much had to completely unmount and disassemble every few months to clean out the algae that would grow inside the unit, and getting brushes and cloths inside the box was a nightmare. It was a little noisy as well. But for scenarios where you can't run a traditional sump based skimmer, it worked pretty well.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

This is really good advice, thank you for taking the time to write this. I had a similar problem recently with my GFO reactor that I put in the rear filtration chamber. I didn't even think about the skimmer having the same problem but you're absolutely right. Did you ever come up with a solution? Maybe I should spray some of that black plastic on the side facing the tank?

[@SickTheory]

How do you keep up with water changes with all those tanks!? I just acquired a 40 gallon aquatop, been up for 5 months with a slight diatombs bloom, installed a UV sterilizer that's been on 24-7 and its helped a little. I'm keeping up on weekly water changes, this hobby is fun but requires quite a bit of upkeeping.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

yeah, super fun but a lot of work. But as the years go by, you'll be better and better at it, and things will speed up. I definitely have a lot of tanks to clean, and when I used to do it myself it would take me 8 hours every weekend. But I now have somebody come in once a week to do the water changes and water testing for me!

[@stevenpavan327]

Kinky Anemones would make a great band name.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Agreed!

[@tylerneal5390]

When it comes to buying a pre made Sump for a 75 gallon where is the best place to look for sumps that are not to pricey? I really want to run a sump but dont want to DIY one cause im brand new to this

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Hey Tyler, great question. There are of course these pre-made sumps from BRS. On the expensive side though. www.bulkreefsupply.com/sumps-tanks-refugiums/sumps.html. You could pick one up for under $300, but that is still pricey. If you want to go this route, send me an email with your exact tank, and I can help you choose one. contact @ myfirstfishtank .com. Or, you can buy one of these diy kits and then just buy a 10-20 gallon standard glass tank. Takes a bit of diy because you will have to silicone the baffles into place though. But a lot less expensive. amzn.to/32AhcGl

[@bigbowlowrong4694]

I’ve had nothing but an easy time with anemones (except for a green one that was always moving around that I got rid of). Stony corals on the other hand I always kill, so I just stick with softies and nems😆

[@juliarumpler6567]

Im thinking of buying the same hob skimmer. What are your thoughts?

[@MyFirstFishTank]

alright, so I just set it up yesterday, but so far so good. It's already pulling some dark skim. It's big, and bulky for sure. And there will likely be algae growth in it because it sits above the tank, and it's not simple to put together. But seems high quality and I'm hopeful it will produce a decent skim. Stay tuned though!

[@OldBullRanch]

15 seconds looks the best

[@Elbslayer]

so what is the resume of your harem tank approach?

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Not exactly sure what your asking, but my harem tank failed. The tank was definitely too small.

[@indigo2939]

how do i make an aquarium more silent

[@MyFirstFishTank]

It depends on where the noises coming from. Typically the noise comes either from the movement of the water, or vibrations from pumps. If it's from water movement then you have to figure out a way to adjust the water height. If it's from pump vibration there are several things you can do such as adding silicone padding around it, or even upgrading your pump from an AC pump to a DC pump. You could even go as far as plumbing an external pump, that will make it run virtually silent!

[@indigo2939]

@@MyFirstFishTank what do you mean silicone pads thank you ahead of time

[@PracticalReefer]

Great video! I used vinegar once and it stunk 😅 citric acid is beautiful stuff! Did the same with a 2nd hand tank, filled it as a leak test and added about 15g/L citric acid and coraline algae and everything else just came away so easily! Great stuff! 🙌 Citric acid is also a great way to find any cuts you have though! Stings! 😂

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Yeah, I'm definitely a fan of citric acid, and I think it works better anyway! It sure does sting though! :-)

[@anniejefferson4642]

Omg your a hot mess. Lol so real. Keep it up Matthew. Get the wifi controller on maxspect. Makes it a Lil easier. Also mesh guards.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Hey Annie, I should get the wifi controller! That would be easier, because it is confusing trying to program them! I do have the mesh guards, but I basically forgot about them! Time to break them out!

[@RogueAquariums]

That Reef octopus 1000 will work really well on that tank. I have the same one on a 40g breeder at work and it pulls some pretty good skimmate. Your nems look like they’re getting some good flow. Don’t know why the other ones are knotting at the ends. 🤔

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-)

[@fishpony1211]

The flow looks much better on the nems. When i read kinky anemones, my mind went straight to breeding anemones. Shows how mature i am lol

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Ha ha! When I wrote kinky anemones I knew some people would be curious to see what I meant! Yeah, I totally agree about the flow. I'm hoping you'll be a lot happier now. Do you have any idea why those anemones are kinking at the end?

[@fishpony1211]

@@MyFirstFishTank my guess is the lack of alternating flow. There isnt much information on anemones out there. I wish there was.

[@dusk1947]

When I was brand new, I looked at that skimmer and said: Nope!... It looked far to complicated and I worried about it overflowing outside the tank. I'm sure it runs great, they are a great brand; and the skimmer I want to upgrade to next is a Reef Octo (one of their Ext's). But for this application, the Tunze Comline DOC skimmers are a great alternative. A hang-on will never look amazing, so I prefer the in-tank over the external. Albeit, it's complete personal preference.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

I totally agree with you. I really dislike HOB anything, especially on an AIO tank that is meant to look slick! It's super frustrating as well because I have the reef tank so stocked, that I think it's just going to have to stay on there permanently. I may end up getting a smaller skimmer for the rear filtration chamber, but whatever I get certainly won't be as powerful! We'll have to wait and see what happens!

[@kings2727]

Should do some type of smaller predatory tank

[@MyFirstFishTank]

What would you put in it?

[@kings2727]

@@MyFirstFishTank I would probably go with a dwarf lion fish , beta, non reef safe wrasse so you can enjoy one plus a bristletooth tang for any possible algae and a smaller eel. I'm sure with the sump and rear filtration you could pull it off. What ever it is I'm sure we'll be impressed

[@kings2727]

@@MyFirstFishTank or cuttlefish tank

[@seancolinclark]

👍👍

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-)

[@gunpowder97]

Get a frog fish for the new tank.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Ooooh, a predator tank eh?

[@gunpowder97]

@@MyFirstFishTank something small and easy. Frog fish don’t do well with corals or small fish, so maybe an eel in with it?

[@gunpowder97]

@@MyFirstFishTank would be interesting!

[@CalcioFan4Ever]

Do a christmas tree worm tank with the tank from the neighbors :v

[@MyFirstFishTank]

I love this idea!!!

[@Brad.Hobbies]

Thought I'd do you a favor and leave this comment here as I remember you saying you don't get comments on the brs channel. Semi weekly is correct, bi weekly is every other.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Thanks Brad, much appreciated! Glad I ended up getting it right! I still have to stop and think about it though!!!

[@faridpouria389]

Watch out for overflow. During the break in period it will overflow. I had one before. Put a bucket under it and watch it carefully. Good luck.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Yes, mine did the same! I had another friend say anytime he had to turn it off, every time it came back on it overflowed! That seems like a design flaw right?

[@tashacloutier3345]

Hi how are u doing today

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Well thanks!

[@freakygoblin3068]

No idea where you actually are. Sounds somewhere "hot". Probably far from a beach? If not have you considered doing a "local beach tank". Depending on legalities getting stuff from a local beach can be great, especially if you have kids to do the exploring and finding things. In the UK we used to have a coldwater marine tank. Not as colourful as tropical marine/reef tank but as a kid, getting stuff from the local beach throughout the summer was great. Great excuse for spending most of the summer holidays at the beach. Shame "coldwater marine" isn't something you can do through commercial methods.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

You are correct. I live in Palm Springs California, which is just two hours east of Los Angeles. So I'm not that close to the beach, but I have definitely thought about doing a local beach tank. It would likely have to be some sort of cold water tank, and there are really strict harvesting laws in California. I would have to get a permit to be allowed to catch any livestock. I'm actually hoping to do this in the future and even make a series where I get released scuba certified and learn how to catch livestock for my tank.

[@freakygoblin3068]

@@MyFirstFishTank Personally I like the idea of "rockpool aquariums". Thing is with rockpools the creatures are used to a wide variety of temperatures and even salinity.

[@michaelross5674]

I want a predator tank

[@MyFirstFishTank]

What types of predators do you want?

[@michaelross5674]

Wish my neighbor would give me a tank

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-). Although I will say that I set it up for them, and maintained it for them, for free. So I probably had hundreds of hours into it!

[@HonicBlue]

I dunno man, I'm starting to think that you just have way too much going on at once. It might be time to take a step back and prioritize, you seem to be getting pretty stressed from a hobby that should be enjoyable? Shrug.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

I hear you for sure, but I think I just look more stress than I actually am! :-) And this is actually my full-time job. I make two videos a week for bulk reef supply and then when I have time I make videos for my own channel. And I do still enjoy this hobby very much! But thanks for looking out for me!