Performing A Freshwater Tank Water Change

A quick guide to doing a water change for a freshwater fish tank. I review vacuuming, maintenance schedules, and all that good stuff. Enjoy!
Fluval Gravel Vacuum: amzn.to/2Gyr1ok
Mag-Float Cleaner: amzn.to/2H7yHPy
Tap Water Conditioner: amzn.to/2Ip3Qx7
Follow me on Twitter! @RealFishTankGuy

[@George7763]

from people trying to correct you and saying you sound like Kermit, you've shown what a nice and humble guy you are.

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Well thank you...I appreciate that. I'm just making videos for fun and to possibly help some people out. I've always found that life is a bit easier if you don't take yourself too seriously :)

[@ArdaBland]

Yes I agree they were rude you do not sound like Kermit the Frog at all I mean come on

[@jay.631]

@MrBLESTER75 for question 1 just let it get room temperature

[@lothedownlow4149]

I love his voice it’s clear and soothing

[@Lefster101]

​@@TheFishTankGuy😊

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Thanks for watching! As a disclaimer, I would like to mention that you should ALWAYS use a water conditioner such as AquaSafe when adding tap water to your aquarium. I am lucky enough to be in a location where our tap water is free from most harmful chemicals, but for most people that is not the case. Sorry for leaving this out of the video, and good luck with your aquarium at home!

[@caroa.2230]

quick question! do you suggest the API water conditioner or the AquaSafe more?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

@@caroa.2230 I have always have a good experience with Aquasafe, so that's my go to... That being said, I haven't used the API conditioner, but in general, I think API makes good products, especially in the freshwater space. Hope this helps!

[@BootyWorm_v1]

If it's a new tank should I add some quickstart as well?

[@tbhshy7364]

When you condition the water, do you add a full dose (i.e. 5ml for 10 gallon) or do you just condition the amount of new tap water that you’re adding?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

@@tbhshy7364 either will work. I usually just treat the new water in putting in, but adding more conditioner will not hurt anything!

[@davidgurzau8370]

wow i find this tutorial very helpful and beautiful aquarium!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Thank you very much, glad to hear it!

[@wakeupdizzy]

What do I do if I have small pieces of gravel

[@aspen-1277]

Katdill you’ll have to try and avoid it

[@MitziKatzPersians]

I think it’s important to condition the water before adding the new water to the tank. Other than that, very helpful video!

[@bandawhat33]

can you explain more on how to do that and how long? I know you add the dechlorinater to the new water ... but how do you mix it in before adding it to the tank?

[@Tinsletooth]

Add the conditioner to the existing tank water before adding the new water. That’s what all the professionals do, so that’s what I do. I don’t see why adding it to the we are adding would be a huge issue though. I use seachem prime. With prime, you can add up to I believe 6 times the dosage and it will still be completely safe. So I just add a capful to my 45 gallon tank water which is enough for something like 50-60 gallons. Then add the water and everything is good. Seachem prime also removes a bunch of other toxic elements that may be in the tap water, as tap water varies in make up depending on the treatment facility and existing water per meters of your municipality. Definitely want to be conditioning water though. Chlorine is bad for fish and that is not debatable. Chlorine can also crash a tank by killing bacteria especially on a newer tank. This guy is giving some horrible advice on that part. It will effect the longevity and health of the fish if you add direct tap water and in some cases just flat out kill your fish.

[@lukeshsundar]

@@Tinsletooth Will putting the conditioner in the water, with the fish, hurt the fish?

[@annacole5735]

thank you for your help. I am starting my own 10 gallon tank today and have many questions. My dream is to eventually graduate to Saltwater tank. first, I must startoff on smaller scale. But still very important....... these little guys are counting on us to do the right things.

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Definitely! Glad to hear you are starting a tank. I actually just checked out your video today and the tank is looking pretty nice! See how you like keeping the tank for a while and then maybe make the leap to saltwater :) Good luck!

[@hayden_7986]

Anna Cole same

[@annieshi883]

Nice you got this I got my 9 liter tank a long time ago then got my first fish and I'm also looking forward to saltwater tank with coral

[@ary_thedinolover771]

Yes same helped me alot

[@lilkio9941]

Hey I know it’s been 4 years but how did I go I just started a 10 gallon and 29 gallon

[@saad-bc1by]

his fish are so tiny what if they go in the siphon 😮

[@TheFishTankGuy]

+Mohammed Hussain I'm extra careful 😊

[@Wokewomen2024]

And I noticed his fish seem to stay at the very top..

[@thevenom2731]

@@Wokewomen2024 They know, they're smarter than they look!

[@thomasafrica9724]

I got a goldfish three days ago. Thanks for this tutorial! I feel much more confident going into water changes :)

[@hayleyboley6754]

I bought my first 10 gallon tank. I’ve never taken care of fish but I am freaking out when it comes to cleaning the tank and the whole water change. I don’t want my glo fish to die!!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Don't worry, you'll do just fine. Don't replace a ton of water, try to get the temperature of the new water close to that of the aquarium, and be sure to condition the water. You'll be fine! :)

[@turbohall2]

Thanks for the tank tips. I’m fairly new back to the aquarium world. Your info was very useful👍🏼

[@TheFishTankGuy]

I'm glad it was helpful, good luck with your aquarium!

[@GrimAsEverA7x]

Thank you! You made me feel a little better about using tap water in my fresh water tank. I was stressing that I need to use all these chemicals before using the water.

[@wrenmoss2070]

You do need to use water conditioner before putting tap water into the tank! Without it the fish will be slowly (or quickly) poisoned by chlorine and chloramines. It's a mistake a lot of people make, so it's understandable! Treating the tapwater will help your fish live their best life without suffering from chlorine burns

[@beetlejuice2805]

You should use it, the water conditioner isn’t expensive

[@nickgordon4954]

“And you just unleash the kink” 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Let it fly!

[@Larissas-Jungle]

loll

[@krizzy99]

Thanks for this. I just got a new tank and was wondering how I would change the water. This is great information. Really appreciate your time making this

[@TheFishTankGuy]

You're welcome, I hope it helps!

[@raymondheath7668]

Thank you for the info. I recently became the owner of an orphaned tank and fish that was way overdue for cleaning. I am going to look for a tank syphon and a new filter to at least get me started

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Great idea, good luck!

[@asmrrandom7548]

Woah.. your video was so easy to watch and understand without hurting my brain! You made something most people would make very difficult looking to something that was a piece of cake! Thank you! I’m glad I clicked on your link big time!

[@LowkeyCoqui]

+1 👍🏽 Thank you for typing exactly what I was thinking 💭

[@asaelguerrero3721]

your fish tank looks really nice and I love the decoration thank you so much for sharing☺

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Thanks very much, thanks for viewing!

[@stephanieelliott5801]

I found this video very helpful, better than some of the others out there. I just started a new aquarium last week, I'm doing my first water change for a 20 gallon so this is what I needed. I only have one betta in and one decoration so I shouldn't have very many problems lol. Thank you!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

20 gallon for one betta! Whooo boy, you are a nice fish owner, he must feel so FREE!! :)

[@stephanieelliott5801]

The Fish Tank Guy Yeah, I had him in a fish bowl but he got clamped fins and just looked kinda fuzzy or blurry. I put him in the 20 gallon and he looks so much better. I plan on getting him tankmates, there's so much room! First time fish owner 🤗

[@MarysPlace]

I recommend you get him a few luffy buddies its moss balls and live plants those plastic ones will wound its fins You could also add snails and some shrimp to help clean the plants and glass and use a heater Betta's need to be at least at 78 degrees they come from warm waters not cold. I raise betta's myself I think they are smart and beautiful.

[@MarysPlace]

Oh I forgot they need a hiding place but never add anything that has not been treated to be in a tank and never add real shells my friend killed all his fish that way. I have though used a pv pipe part before.

[@stephanieelliott5801]

I've been researching as I go and that was my next step, moss balls and real plants! I've also ordered 6 small schooling fish. And I planned on getting ghost/glass shrimp and maybe some zebra snails? If I can find them. I also purchased my betta a "hammock", it's just a big rubber leaf. I got the heater before I put him in the 20 gallon 😆

[@mckenziekimball2448]

I would definitely add the water conditioner in the bucket of new water before you add it to the tank

[@dynasteve]

Wait. Doesn’t the water need to be treated?

[@plentiiface_young1583]

What does it mean to treat it?

[@Let-it-rainn]

Yes it does need to be treated all the time because the chemicals in the tap water will kill your fish 🐠

[@Annie-oo4yk]

yeah water conditioner

[@quirkypurple]

@@plentiiface_young1583 Removes chlorine to allow healty bacteria be reintroduced to the ecosystem.

[@jaygandara12]

New fish owner here! Fount this video useful thank you so much I didn't know how I was going to start cleaning the tank lol I've never had fish in my life but my daughter wanted some so here I am doing research on how to properly care for her fish an the tank. I do have a question however where I live I wouldn't be able to add water just from the tap. How would I do that should I prepare the water before adding it ? Also its 3rd day of switching the fish from one tank to a bigger one but the water since then has gotten a lil foggy what should I do? An help is greatly appreciated

[@TheFishTankGuy]

You'll definitely want to invest in some Tetra Water Conditioner, you can add that to your tank and hopefully it will clear up any issues you might have. Depending on how poor your water is, you can use the water conditioner and you'll be fine. If you can't use tap water, you'll want to buy reverse osmosis water from the grocery store. It's about 85 cents a gallon :) Good luck!

[@samwashington4604]

Great question lol

[@bubbles185]

Thank you! I'm adopting a beta, and I want to learn all this before I actually got one.

[@bageljade2165]

Thank you for doing actual research! There are a lot of people who do not properly care for their betta.

[@gracevans5636]

this is super helpful i’ve been confused on how i should keep my tank clean. thank you so much!

[@MiddleNameR]

This is a helpful tutorial, thanks!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

+Allison Phinney great, thank you for checking it out!

[@chelseacallaway6100]

Great helpful video! My kids were just given a betta and a beautiful 3 gallon tank as a gift from a friend. She did get the water conditioner and the tank is equipped with a filter and aerator. However, I do not have a siphon/ gravel vac and really don't have the financial resources to be getting one anytime soon so I have a question. Is there another way to get the gravel as clean as necessary for the fish to be healthy? And is there another way to remove the water without causing the fish to be stressed or disrupt the environment? Any suggestions would be very greatly appreciated. Thanks for a great tutorial. Don't pay any attention to the jerks that are criticizing you and your methods and the ones who made fun of you. Your voice is very cute. Some people just don't know how to be kind.

[@debraflores7775]

Yeah, your the 1st video and the last video I need to see to clean my tank! Answered all my questions and was a short video, my opinion. Please tell me where you got your gravel vacuum. I looked on amazon and they all have open wide mouths. Don’t wanna suck up the gravel.

[@CanineGrowTime]

You should be doing weekly water changes regardless of tank size or occupants. Also, see how your fish are all at the surface almost always? Not good, means your tank is not aerated enough, toxic, or you feed flakes. ALL bad things. I doubt these fish are still alive, but if so, hopefully you learned about proper tank care including the need for airstones, water dechlorinater, cleaning filters, and properly timed water changes. Pretty tank.

[@TheFishTankGuy]

+CanineGrowTime Hi there, thanks for the comment and advice! Actually, pretty much all of these fish lived up until the day that I sold the tank. The main reason they were at the surface of the water is because every time I would approach the tank, they would think it was feeding time. In my experience, freshwater tanks have been very easy to take care of. You are right that ideally you should perform water changes weekly and include airstones etc. For me, I change the water out once every 1-2 months, feed the fish daily, and everyone is happy. It also depends on the type of fish you have as well. Thanks for you opinion though, I appreciate it!

[@adamwelsch7308]

+The Fish Tank Guy why would you sell your tank?

[@Idgixgxjgx]

thanks! now i know i need to find a different video on proper cleaning. maybe you can give advice? i am getting a 10 gallon tank with a pump. i havent seen it yet, a friend is giving it to me. so I assumed i will need a heater and filter as well. and i bought 10 of rocks. some decor (i slightly filed the clay castle it had a rough corner on the inside and i dont want the betta's fin to snag and rip). i have water conditioner too since i have read that betta don't do well in distilled water. so this male betta has been our pet for 1 week and is currently alone in a 1 gallon betta bowl. i think its not big enough so i have the 10 gal tank coming. i also want a black snail and maybe some neon tettras, I've read that these are easy to co-exist with bettas. what are some good live plants to help keep the balance? how many fish is appropriate for 10 gallon tanks? 1 male beta, plus 1-2 snails, how many tettras? how often should i do complete tank change? where i clean the rocks and decor then refill with clean water. or are the live plants and regular maintenance enough? sorry for all the questions lol. i just want to be a good fish owner :)

[@skeezer2217]

@@Idgixgxjgx A good rule pf thumb for any tank os 1 inch of fish per Gallon, if you get tetras I'd recomend at least 5 as they are a schooling fish, I'd also reccomend watching how the Betta reacts to them as each betta is different, I'm still pretty new to the hobby but I do have a betta and he had 5 neon tetras with him, I have since moved those 5 into a 10 gallon tank. most importantly try to feed them very little, bettas will eat as much as they can but their stomach is only as big as their eye and they can be picky eaters and remember they are carnivores so make sure you feed them with the right food, hope this helped :)

[@Kont3rfit]

Very good tutorial, I feel comfortable going to do my first water change. I do have a question. When you say established tank and only needing to change your filter every few months instead of monthly, how long is the tank need to be up and running for the status "established"?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Excellent question...unfortunately I don't have a simple answer for you. It depends on the bioload in your tank, but I would say we're talking 6 months to 1 year.

[@aleemmandol1965]

That vacuuming is such a satisfying thing to watch. Can’t wait till I got poop to suck up! Do you test the water or just wait till it looks gross to start cleaning out? Or is this a routine weekly thing?

[@youdeservethis]

Thanks! I just got a tank and this is very helpful!

[@fenfrk]

I enjoyed this video and it was helpful. Thank you so much! I must say I am pretty appalled at the bad manners of people today. What gives people the idea their insults are interesting or humorous. They are neither, they are the indicators of boorish bad manners. You do not sound like Kermit. You sound exactly how a young man should sound. And by the way, voice is my profession.

[@tonyawilson1856]

fenfrk agreed!

[@marimcmahon8014]

Thanks so much. Terrific. Very common sense not too much over the top and very pleasant to view! Thanks fish tank guy!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

No problem, thank you for the comment and complement, I appreciate it!

[@troublesomethree8656]

Instead of gravel, I have fine sand, but Im afraid if I vacuum the sand it will just suck up and not sink back down, will this happen or not and if it will how can I prevent it? Tysm!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Well, I've avoided fine sand just for this reason. It's very difficult and you will always pull some sand up with the yucky stuff. A slightly larger tube will encourage the lighter particles to get sucked up and leave the sand. Put the tube in the sand, watch the yucks fly up, then kink the hose and let the sand fall back down.

[@sandypar00]

This was very informative. Thank you! I subscribed!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Thanks for the sub!

[@Danae78]

3 months?!!! Wth. I can't go without a waterchange for a week. I need to know how I can do a serious waterchange without giving my fish PTSD. They're super scared of me. Tap water ...straight into the tank?! (That's iffy in my opinion) I pre-mix tap water with my conditioner, PH balancer, and meds (if needed). I've had goldfish die from dropsy.

[@crazee635]

His tank must be a toxic haven and the fish have adapted but would not be thriving. What with the fake plants, 3 month water changes and not using water conditioner I''m amazed anyone would listen to this. Go to the other water change videos where they give real advice.

[@Xerxez22]

@@crazee635 Ha! This is what I came here for! Thanks! Poor fish (his), right?

[@BraiytryeneGibbons]

I can't believe you said don't do a water change for a few months

[@TheFishTankGuy]

+Braiytryene Gibbons Crazy right? Freshwater fish tend to be very hardy and become accustomed to varying levels of nitrates over time. It's not that you can just forget about water changes, but when life gets busy, make sure you take care of those saltwater tanks first.

[@TheLauren3305]

Should do a water change at least once a week 20% of water. I do water change 2x a week 20%. But sometimes life gets busy and I’ll do a water change every 2 weeks but change 50% of the water.

[@ejbrinegar]

Dear Sir: The video was very informative and enjoyable. Although guppies are very hardy and can withstand the chlorine in an over 50% water change (don’t forget to subtract water displaced by the gravel and decorations) I’m sure that much chlorine is very uncomfortable for them, in particular “burning” their gills. Dechlorinators don’t actually remove chlorine from the water, but strengthen the “slime coat” on the fish. For their comfort, I would add “dechlorinator” when doing this large of a water change. Replacing the filter cartridge in a hang-on-the-back filter is expensive and counter-productive. It would be better to “optimize” the filter by using a sponge specifically made for aquarium use that fills as much of the compartment in the hang-on-the-back filter meant for a disposable filter cartridge as possible. That way, rather than having to purchase replacement filter cartridges, you can simply wring the sponge out in the used aquarium water from the water change, getting as much of the detritus out of it as possible, without killing off the beneficial bacteria which complete the nitrogen cycle for the tank. Additionally, the more frequently you do water changes (preferably at about 10 to 20%) the better conditions will be for the fish. I'd recommend small water changes at least every couple of weeks. To each his own, but I would recommend a backdrop for this tank. It will add a dimension of depth, making it more ascetically appealing and also give the fish an added feeling of security. You did a very nice job of this video and I applaud your efforts. Thank you for welcoming constructive criticism. Your fish look health and happy and that is the main point of the hobby. Thank you. Sincerely, New Subscriber, E. J. Brinegar

[@TheFishTankGuy]

EJ! Firstly, thanks for becoming a new subscriber, I really appreciate it! Secondly, thank you for a constructive, well-written comment. I'm happy to get your feedback and you make a lot of great points. Where I'm located I have very good tap water, so I don't always feel the need to use dechlorinator, but I often will still. I should have highlighted that aspect of water changes a bit more in this video. As for the larger volume of water, I tend waver on performing regular maintenance. Sometimes I get 20% every couple weeks, but if I miss a few, I'll do a larger change, but I do know that smaller more frequent changes are preferred. As for the filter cartridge...I never thought of using an aquarium sponge instead!! That's a great word of advice. Someone actually asked me about replacing filter cartridges at all...to which I replied I'm going to do some research and answer the question on my next podcast, but I think the alternative of using a sponge is pretty awesome. Thanks for commenting!

[@Library_of_Lunacy]

Declorinators do remove chlorine and Chloramine by binding to them rendering them harmless. Chlorine itself will evaporate if the water sits for a short while. This is why water departments went to using Chloramine which does not break down the way chlorine does. Yes most water conditioners do have additives to help the slime coat but that's not why declorinators are used. If you fail to treat your water to remove Chloramine you'll have dead fish. While chlorine alone will breakdown quickly prolonged exposure will damage the gills, fins, and immune system killing the fish. This is especially true to many fish that require high quality water. Great video my friend love the tank!

[@mollychrisa1]

Thanks 💞😇☯️🌱🐟

[@christinegrimmond7164]

Okay, so what you are saying is to take out the Filter and replace it with a Sponge. AND then when it comes to water changes remove whatever % of water and rinse out the sponge in that water and put it back because it has good bacteria that will colonize the new water you just added in your water change?????

[@ejbrinegar]

Dear Christine Grimmond: Beneficial bacteria grows on all of the submerged surfaces in an aquarium. Using a sponge that fills the chamber maximizes the number of bacteria that come in contact with the tank water, as is passes through the sponge. A filter cartridge doesn't have as much surface area; clogs quickly; and, can't be used indefinitely. When you first put a sponge in the filter, it has to be colonized by bacteria. It is helpful to leave the used, filter cartridge in the tank for several days to give bacteria time to migrate to the sponge. Wring the sponge out in used aquarium water, when necessary, so that much of the bacteria remains in the sponge. Using chlorinated water would kill the bacteria. Thank you for your interest. Sincerely, E. J. Brinegar

[@schumache101]

Your tank is beautiful!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Thanks, I really wish I have kept up with it a little better. I should do an update on my remaining freshwater tanks! Thanks for your comment :)

[@erikaguevara7074]

We did exactly this because we spoke to the fish experts at persmart and our fish died while we were doing the change...we were devastated. We had about 3 weeks with the fish and did 2 water changes only bc the water was very cloudy. What did we do wrong 😭

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Did you use water conditioner? What temperature was your tank at? There are a lot of factors that cause fish to die, but likely they are stressed in some way.

[@napaea9460]

Do you have a water softener? Because with a water softener you cannot use that water for a freshwater tank.

[@krissiaosorio90]

You should ALWAYS unplug everything before doing a water change. Especially when you have heaters. I would recommend to unplug a heater 15 minutes before doing anything.

[@psycho478]

Krissia O thanks for the tip, I always turn off every thing but i didn’t know to wait 15 minutes for the heater before doing anything

[@Fonybolony]

Nice video and great looking tank!

[@dylanchristiano3969]

This video is so informative and as a new hobbyist I really appreciate it. I do have a quick question! I’ve read that turning your filter off and then back on can spew debris back into your tank and can be harmful for your fish. Is that true? If so, how do I avoid this when cleaning my tank?

[@onlydansx]

The problem is that if you don't turn your filter off, you will break your filter.

[@Apollo_Blaze]

One of the best water change vids I have ever seen, and that is a beautiful tank....can def see the gravel "junk" getting taken up... Thanks for this video, you do an awesome job showing us how to do this!

[@cindycrosby9436]

Thank you, very helpful!

[@mr.alpaca2884]

Videos awesome it was a big help I don’t know how much water conditioner to put in for a specific amount if you could give me any tips on how to figure that out that would be awesome just don’t know if you can add too much

[@TheFishTankGuy]

As long as you don't go crazy, I don't believe you can put too much in. Every conditioner out there will have guidelines and directions on the label as to how much you'd need to use. More than likely it's just a capful whenever you do a water change. Hope this helps.

[@metroidfn4572]

I would defo recommend to do water changes MUCH more often than once every 4 months. At least once a month

[@serendipitymoments4684]

Thank you for a clear and easy to understand tutorial. It will be my first time to use my siphon gadget to do water change in my 10 gallon fish tank, and you just answered the questions I have in my mind....thank you, my dear friend!

[@his_city_girl]

WOW! you said 3 or 4 months ago! and it's soooo clear! for mine, after 4 days it's super cloudy! 😬

[@UMR_Four]

Do you wash your filter with tap water? It is important to keep from washing your filter with it because the helpful bacteria will die, you will also end up putting unwanted chlorine in your tank

[@zinmayzumbaandaerobic6405]

Is freshwater tank or saltwater tank is the best

[@TheFishTankGuy]

This is definitely a question that I cannot answer! It all boils down to personal preference and what you like to see in your tank and also how much maintenance you want to do. I can make a couple statements in general though...if you want a more colorful tank, saltwater is the way to go, but if you want an easier to keep aquarium, freshwater is best :)

[@andrewsarbar]

? Have a 10 gallon freshwater as well but water has been cloudy it cleared up for about a day its now been bout a week and has been cloudy if u move a plant or such u cam see debries floating all over would u say already time to clean?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Yes, it sounds like you need to do a water change. Make sure you are not overfeeding the aquarium. How many fish do you have in it?

[@tammymarie4265]

I have a 55 gallon tank with 20 gold fish and 2 sucker fish. It is a new tank and not established. What do you recommend to add to the water for PH level control and de-chlorinate the tap water also how often to change the filter?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

How new is the tank? Did you cycle the tank at all? If not, all of your fish are going to struggle and possibly die...I hope you did cycle first! As for what to add to the water, I swear by Tetra Aquasafe Plus!

[@tserfass9]

When starting a new tank when should water changes be done.After the cycling or during it? I started a 10 gallon a month ago

[@TheFishTankGuy]

If you have no fish in the tank while you are cycling, you'll want to do your water change after your cycle is complete. You want bacteria to build up in your tank during cycling and changing the water out will decrease the amount of bacteria building up. Good luck!

[@kristiandowning9913]

LOVE the tank, man! Wow crystal clear water, Gorgeous decor! Happy Chinese New Year BTW🌃🐽

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Thank you! Really appreciate you checking out the video!

[@xmlponyluverx]

I'm not trying to be rude and I found this video very useful, but the whole video all I could think about is that you sounded like Kermit the frog.

[@TheFishTankGuy]

I've gotten a few comments about that on this video in particular. Maybe I was have a froggy kind of day.

[@xmlponyluverx]

+The Fish Tank Guy haha I just looked through the comments and saw that. And here I thought I was being original😄

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Hahaha :)

[@phoebeheapequestrian5669]

I can't unhear it

[@cabbage9926]

Geen Naam I don't hear it but I'm kinda bias because I think he's cute.

[@yvetteriley2279]

You need to put the top part of the hose down in the tank, let it fill with water, put kink in hose then, pull hose over the edge of the tank with water in it, Then release Kink. It will instantly flow, very Easily.

[@serendipitymoments4684]

I have your notification bell on so we can continue the friendship.

[@VinayKumar-fl5hx]

Thank you so much for this vidoe

[@eyasumelake5442]

Useful info. Thanks dude

[@ellanuman5407]

Thanks for making this fairly easy to understand, im currently doing my first water change and this video is definitely a huge help thanks!!

[@claireryan9825]

Around 2.0 on the salt water test it's like a dark green colour the water in the test tube it's hard to explain without being able to send you pictures of what I mean

[@TheFishTankGuy]

I know exactly what you mean...were you able to get this sorted out? This is a huge ammonia problem...did you cycle the tank before adding fish?

[@stephanyalameda7535]

Best tutorial I’ve seen so far. I have a small bucket like yours when adding water. Do I put the conditioner for each time I fill the bucket? Like it takes two buckets to fill back the tank, so two times? And last time my tank had algae, can I clean it with a sponge?

[@myusernameissoobnoxiouslyl1466]

Thanks! Do I need to be careful when adding water back? Will it stress my goldfish?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

I would say the only thing you really need to do is try to temperature match the water you'll be pouring in...extreme water temp differences could shock them!

[@myusernameissoobnoxiouslyl1466]

The Fish Tank Guy Whoops sorry, I already learned ALOT this summer in keeping my goldfish. I felt dumb reading my comment again 😂 Thanks and keep up the good work!

[@luisamariad9634]

I completely changed the water and moved my glofish to a smaller tank. Do I need to start the process as a new tank and wait 7 days adding the stabilizer before put in them back? Thanks for the info. Will follow your guide next time.

[@luisamariad9634]

*putting

[@MerylTPaul]

What can I clean the tank walls with of I don’t have that gadget you have? Would paper towel work?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

You can use a sponge...just make sure it contains ZERO soap or any other chemicals. Get yourself a plain sponge and use it exclusively for your tank.

[@Orophile_303]

I clean my water weekly cause man does my otocinclus poop.

[@TheFishTankGuy]

I've heard!

[@TheHellokitty055]

Did you condition the tap water before adding it ?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Yes, that is a best practice. Where I was living when I made the video I had exceptional tap water, but I always recommended folks condition tap water when doing a water change or starting a tank!

[@ipmangaming187]

very cool aquarium

[@colleenswink2703]

Great video. Love your tank. I have tank envy lol.

[@Mskiki1942]

being a brand new fsh owner I would have likes to see the steps or areas you fast forwarded

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Ok, thanks for the feedback. I will consider that for future videos!

[@смерть-з5я]

Hey, if your still keeping fish I need to warn you that you have to do a 10% water change weekly.

[@wrenmoss2070]

Uhhhhhhh even if the tank is established you still need to treat the water. The filter doesnt get rid of the chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals that are in basically all tap water. So the fish might look fine but they're getting chrorine poisoning and it burns their gills. Yes, chlorine more or less evaporates over time but the other stuff doesn't. Im sorry I know you mean well but I cant imagine why a person who has experience in the hobby would tell people they dont have to treat their water in good conscience. This is misinformation which is especially dangerous for new hobbyists who look up how to videos and think they can just plop fish into untreated water.

[@wrenmoss2070]

Like sure if you somehow have completely pure tap water it might be fine but this is a very dangerous thing to tell people without any disclaimers or information why the 99.99% of people NEED to use water conditioners

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Appreciate your comment and constructive criticism. I made this video many years ago and had a small mindset when it came to providing information to folks. I grew up with well water and our water was pristine, luckily. I have added a public comment on the video to clarify this point, but unfortunately I cannot add text to the video anymore etc. with KZbin's newest iteration of video editing. Hopefully my comment will clarify this point.

[@luirey2724]

I did a water change like a week ago and I have never done one before cuz i was careless but now I have done research and know a bit more but I did one and Idk is this is good but my water was very cloudy and I don't know I did it right cuz there was still alot of uneaten food floating and other stuff am i doing it wrong? I did exactly what u did in this vid

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Are you churning up the gravel and using a gavel vacuum? If it's been a while since you did a water change, you might need to do another one!

[@darya7473]

Test your water with a water test kit ( you can get them online or at most pet stores) If there is lots of uneaten food that may mean you are over feeding. Only feed what your fish can eat in 2 minutes anything left should be taken out so ammonia doesn't build up and kill your fish. Depending on the size of your tank and amount of fish a weekly water change of 10-25% of water sure be ok.

[@BiohazardBunney]

Thank you for this video I'm new to fish keeping and I was clueless on how to clean the tank

[@CJ23taylor-animales]

nice video, it really will help me know how to do a water change with my 29 gallon aquarium. thanks man keep up the good work!

[@pungr]

just tap water without using dechlorinator or anything?

[@liltalent2381]

pungr no you have to add dechlorinator and beneficial bacteria starter

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Lil is right, at the end of the video I mention dechlorinator...where I'm at, the tap water is good enough for freshwater setups, but you'll want to use one just to be safe. My favorite is AquaSafe: amzn.to/2RBMymF

[@puertoriconnect4611]

Thanks, my guy! Great video! I’m gonna be doing my first water change today. Would it be okay to add the water conditioner and good bacteria to the water before I add it to the tank?

[@lynnstefanuk7763]

How many gallon your tank is? I want to start a small fish tank due to the small apartment.

[@TheFishTankGuy]

I would recommend starting out with a tank no smaller than 10 gallons. A 10 gallon tank is manageable as a starter!

[@kalyaling7904]

He’s correct but he is wrong about not putting the tape water solution because tap water has chlorine and other stuff that can kill you fish so rlly don’t think you should take his advice on that Bc his fish are gonna die when he least expects it

[@TheFishTankGuy]

You are correct in that I should've recommended people use something like Aquasafe everytime they are putting water into their tank...for me personally, I grew up in a house that had well water, and our water was almost perfect. I made this video early on in my KZbin "career" so I wasn't thinking about covering the topic for folks from all over. Good point!

[@kalyaling7904]

The Fish Tank Guy yep that’s alright this video was like 6 years ago! So shocked that you responded but good thing that you now know and everybody can be happy!

[@davidhernandez1496]

Nice decorations link?

[@GoldieSoViciousEnt]

Great video, thanks for sharing!🥰

[@TheFishTankGuy]

You're very welcome!

[@josephmallett2054]

Should you add water conditioner to the tap water to get rid of the chlorine or whatever?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Yes....some people have pristine water from the tap, but most do not. Where I grew up, we had excellent well water and it wasn't necessary to add water conditioner, but I would recommend you do just to be safe.

[@fooman530]

as soon as i saw that magnetic glass cleaner i went and bought one on amazon, g'looks

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Well done, makes cleaning much easier!

[@waxdragon7140]

My first water change for my gold fish was successful

[@jacass1020]

What about air supply for the fish

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Good question. As long as you keep up with the cleanliness of the tank and don't have too many live plants, the surface agitation of the hang on back filter will be enough to keep the water oxygenated!

[@lilycash4242]

What size tank is this? Looks awesome by the way!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

+Lily Cash Simple 10 gallon tank, and thank you!

[@roy9161]

I love you video buddy... have you ever thought of putting real plants inside and a air pump

[@TheFishTankGuy]

I should step up my game and give it a go!

[@barbdavis1695]

I live on Lake Erie, (If that makes a difference) and the water is horrible so we definitely need the conditioner. I had to learn the hard way, losing some fish. If this could save anyone that grief, I just wanted to mention it. Also, I loved the video! Thanks!

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Sure thing, I appreciate it! I'm from Erie, PA by the way :)

[@mikealt79]

Thank you for your this! I'm new to having fish and found it very helpful! Is it a good idea to let tap water sit for an hour or so with that aqua safe stuff then add it to the tank or can you add it directly into the tank? Cheers

[@TheFishTankGuy]

You can add it directly to the tank. Freshwater fish are fairly hardy and for the longest time, I had decent water and didn't even condition the water (not recommended though). Should be just fine to add the water and use AquaSafe at the same time. You can always add it to your bucket of water before pouring it into the tank, but no need to let it sit!

[@slytherin9439]

Just put my betta in its new 2.5 gallon tank yesterday after much time of waiting to buy a tank. I'm a new fish owner so I'm taking things step by step. This video really helped. Thank you

[@TheFishTankGuy]

You're welcome! Enjoy your new tank :)

[@michelehuttonthewes2366]

so dont take the fish out? and dont change the entire tank water? ok . how many fish does a 5 gallon take comfortably hold? and when I introduce them should I keep the in the bag the way I did in the beginning? there are 2 goldfish in my new tank right now.

[@Colia00]

so when do you add chemicals such as stress coat etc? In your bucket? or after youve added tap water to the tank? when it says add (example) 5mls to a 10gallon tank. do you do it according to your tank size or the amount of water you replace?

[@jwoodard621]

Hi so how long after do you put your new fish in and how many fish for 12 litre tank gold fish and how many water changes do you use ph strips thank you for video KEEP SAFE

[@grantdilley3574]

Never knew you could just add warm tap water and not have to add any chemicals with it

[@TheFishTankGuy]

If you have decent water where you live, then yes you can just add tap water. However, I recommend using a Water Conditioner if you are unsure of the water quality

[@grantdilley3574]

Thanks

[@xzlio__7572]

How do you keep your tank so clear

[@Gabonita22]

What is the magnet thing called sorry if I seem silly just think its cool.

[@TheFishTankGuy]

It's called a Mag-Float! I added a link to it in the video description if you are interested in getting one.

[@alexisyoder1692]

Thank you for sharing your routine, I’m paranoid I’m going to cause my fish irreversible damage. It was reassuring to watch your video so that I know what to do when I clean my fish tank!

[@MicailaB]

shouldn't you treat the tap water before you put it in?....like with aqua safe and such to get rid of the chemicals????

[@TheFishTankGuy]

+Micaila Breashears I personally have never had much of an issue with it, but to your point, it is the safe way to make sure your water is prepared for fish. Everyone has different tap water and quality can vary greatly. Good point, I appreciate you mentioning it!

[@MicailaB]

thanks :)

[@LauraB-ph6rc]

Yes, you should definitely put prime in the water bc fish can live w the bacteria in tap water

[@brianhamilton2205]

How often do you feed your fish?once a day or twice a day?

[@watermelonlalala]

OK your tank decorations inspire me to get a little more ambitious. I just scrounged up a few pebbles, an old archway decoration, second hand, and a little dark green bottle. I like your opinions - I just set up a tank for a goldfish and I love to hear, don't bother with this and that. I would have had two fish but one died the first night.

[@trillerj4566]

Hey I have a 10 gallon fresh water tank. This is my 1st fish tank and I've had it for a month. I can see some some of the water has evaporated.Does this mean I should go ahead and do a water change?

[@TheFishTankGuy]

+TRILLER J you'll need to find a water change schedule that works for you. Some people have gotten upset that I don't do a Freshwater water change every two weeks... I can go months, but my system is stable. Once a month should be ok especially if your fish don't look stressed. Water evaporation isn't a sign you need a water change though, it's just a sign you need to add some water 😊

[@joystickjonjo]

Thought you had to entirely take the water out and the fish

[@TheFishTankGuy]

Nope! You actually should NOT take all the water out...but growing up, that's how my mom always did it! We've learned since then though!

[@joystickjonjo]

The Fish Tank Guy thanks

[@calicali2874]

How many caps of conditioner or aqua safe for a 10 gallon tank? If I use filtered water do I still have to put conditioner?

[@jessicawashington1412]

Do I add the water purifier before adding more water?