You're Being LIED To And I CAN'T Take It Anymore!

[@KGTropicals]

🛒*Wanna order some Fritz Monster 360? Buy it here* bit.ly/47iyKnf

[@pkendlers]

This was a really good video. There is a lot of unnecessary products & equipment sold in the aquarium hobby. Rather than loading your aquarium water with all sorts of bizarre chemicals, a simple weekly waste removal coupled with nerite snails (& maybe a couple of shrimp) takes care of most waste issues in an aquarium. Beginner Aquarists spend a lot of money at most pet shops and get poor results. And that turns them off to the hobby. Fish keeping does not have to be elaborate or expensive. If you become a crazy fish keeper like the rest of us then yes it can get a little expensive lol. But for beginners, the pet store is generally the worst place to start your hobby. Watching FishTube videos like this one is really where a beginner needs to start. PS: I advocate natural fish keeping with minimal chemicals. Plants, animal cleaning crews, beautiful fish, low tech. Truly cheap and easy fish keeping :)

[@TwinkleStar987]

Damn. It’s a shame. The best thing about chores is when they become comforting. I love cleaning the aquarium and interacting with my fish. The grind is the game.

[@CarolynnMc01]

Thank you John! I never used any of these products. I have a 4" sand capped gravel tank and my substrate cleaners are trumpet snails. I don't gravel vac a sand capped tank, obviously. I'm sure if I broke the tank down and removed all the substrate it wouldn't smell that great beneath the sand because of bacteria breakdown -- but as it is, I have no water quality issues and haven't in a long time. I appreciate your review.

[@karenhann8956]

Too true! Too true! Not long ago I was talking to another Flowerhorn enthusiast ~ asking him about pellets to recommend. He laughed! Said to feed them koi pellets! I was surprised to learn that most of so called Flowerhorn foods were pellets that were bought in bulk and people were putting their own labels on them! 🤔

[@steveoscarus6064]

so well said. hope viewers take note of what you have told them

[@sulemanibnmoosa]

I have been using your simple gravel vac suggestion for over a decade and it works. Keep it simple and keep it consistent. Thank you for the great honest advice as usual

[@Nickel_palovich]

....just gravel vacuum and be done. I get people wanting the easiest way to keep things clean, but you own the pet no matter what kind, do right by them and do the work.

[@williamavery1758]

John that is why I love watching your videos cause you tell it how it is,, everyone is just tryn to make a fast buck instead of tryn to help keep there fish thriving. You and Lisa go into full detail of good fish keeping your the best brother keep up these great videos

[@brianbrigg57]

My favorite was the Microbe Lift substrate cleaner but it is very expensive in Indonesia where I live. Pristine is more affordable.

[@billlansdell7225]

This ties in with something the Aquarium Co-op guy said the other day, about the manufacturers doing little to produce videos and provide information. It leaves a nice gap in the market for people like you to create content, but they do themselves no favours. There are many ways of doing marketing. First is selling the lifestyle, eg. "Fish keeping is what all the cool kids are doing" Next you have the "It is the simple, one shot, answer to your problem." -- this may be expensive, it may be cheap, but it is the ONLY answer you need (it seldom is). Then you have the environmentally friendly option, not only does it fix your problem, you get to save the planet at the same time. And if it's natural, it must be good, right? There is another way, but it takes time, effort, isn't particularly effective in the short term, but in the long game it is best. That is, to use education in order to build trust. There is no reason the big companies can't do this, they have labs, they have scientists. While "It's complicated" is not the best marketing tag line, if you explain why it is complicated, what is going on, exactly why the products are designed the way they are, it will over time build authority and trust. This is exactly why Aquarium Co-op are so successful. It isn't just that they simplify things like Easy Green. The great irony is, mediums like KZbin make this easy, all they would have to do is invite somebody like you into their labs, and you would spread the message for them.

[@erickborling1302]

Great vid. I advocate starting (and staying) small for up to a year by using a 5-gallon tank with small critters from your local waters. Add technologies and upgrade as needed.

[@erickborling1302]

That way you "innoculate" the tank with all sorts of bacteria. What parasites?

[@rantsandreviews]

Great video and I am glad your going to do more of these. In this particular case I really don't understand the need for any of the "de-sludging" products mentioned. I have used the same maintenance routine for decades and never needed a bio product to clean or "de-sludge" my substrate. In planted tanks I just do a 25% water change weekly or bi-weekly depending on the nitrAte level and I do not gravel vac. On the unplanted tanks I do a weekly 25% water change with gravel vac. My water clarity is all I could ask for and the tanks have no offensive odor. This includes the 120 with 2 Oscars and 1 Bichir. You know how messy those guys are! So who are these products really for? I think all 3 are just for folks too lazy or uneducated to do the required maintenance. Maybe i'm wrong...I guess I could just be old fashioned...YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!

[@100FactChecks]

Sludge can be your friend! You don't need chemicals -- you need plants! Cap the sludge and gravel off with sand. Stick plants in the sand. The sludge forms a nutrient layer for the plants. The plants clean the water, the algae stays in check, and it was all free, natural, and non-toxic. I am doing fewer water changes, and my plants seem happy. The algae has really slowed down. My nerites are completely controlling the algae in one of the tanks, and my fish are fine!

[@azntactical4884]

Same. I only do top offs and have plants. I just moved and had to empty tanks. I was really scared partially tearing it down because everything was going so well in my tanks. Time will tell how well my tanks recover.

[@DeeGee-mv6eq]

Father Fish, is that you???

[@100FactChecks]

Father Fish convinced me to try to go as natural as possible-- it is working!!!

[@hummingbird3771]

@@azntactical4884 I had to move my 100 gallon and aside from diatom algae and and a stress ich outbreak things went smoothly. Wishing you the best!

[@medkow7415]

What's funny is I always thought every brand of that type of product was a hoax. Great video.

[@angiebear8727]

Me too 😂

[@lemonlizard1]

same! I always followed the saying "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is"

[@TwinkleStar987]

I as well.

[@MrHominid2U]

I still think it's a hoax. Very few bacteria can survive in a sealed container especially without refrigeration for very long and even if a bacteria could consume wastes in a fish tank the bacteria themselves are going to produce their own wastes. They aren't going to just poop sunshine.

[@vampgaia]

If it sounds too good to be true, it is!

[@Gobrian44]

Contract manufacturing is in every industry. Like kirkland, great value, etc. i work for one. But you are right marketing and sales copy are definitely something that needs to be looked into.

[@Cerealbowls4]

Hey John I'm new to the channel and love the content! One thing i will say is for the one product instructions you read bullet 4 (9:50) and not the use instructions (bullet 5), which says to use adter water changes or gravel cleaning. Not trying to defend this product as i know nothing about any of the products since i am new to the hobby. Just curious why you didn't read that bullet but the other products you read the use/directions?

[@lulswiper2441]

Idk it seems to work for me, obviously you still gotta do water changes and clean the substrate. But it really does work imo doesn’t hurt my fish

[@aquahobby1982]

The absolute necessary rant we wanted 🎉🎉.. i would agree to their advertisement technique , it's quite misleading and solely aimed to boost their sell 😳😳

[@toddmarr1400]

Off topic question going with a tidal filter of a 75 gallon and I like to overfilter…. Would you go with 2 tidal 55 or 110? I’m concerned with surface agitation. Thanks

[@melanieholmes6596]

I just started using pristine in one of my blackwater tanks and I do love the results but I did not expect to never have to do maintenance again. Crazy.

[@hummingbird3771]

Do you think it's generic Sea-chem at a fraction of the price? I'm always trying to save money (for more fish, lol!!)

[@q.d.mcgraw]

Fake reviews are a big problem on the Devil's website. I often read reviews that say something that makes it clear that it was written for something different from what I was looking at. If you write a review make sure you mention exactly what you're writing about in the review.

[@aqhan]

This needs to be heard!

[@Lookin4LoveInAllTheWrongPlaces]

I think the bottles of "pre-conditioned" water at $8 a gallon is shady.

[@RackCrossStudio]

Thanks for looking after us John!

[@Cassundera]

I have 2 tanks and watched hours of videos for months before I got them and really keep up on the videos my favorite, including y'all every day. Keep it up, the silent masses are watching!!! 🎉

[@c_ALVA310]

Youre looking amazing man. Good for you. Keep it up

[@linetteevans8337]

Never heard of gravel cleaner. Would never use it. Less chemicals the better to me. Use a vacuum!

[@hellohello1398]

When you said “eliminate order” my brain screamed -a healthy tank should never stink, water change have to done.

[@earlyjicama4302]

Yeah, I have stick my whole face over the rim of the tank to get any kind of scent and it's just a natural, normal, subtle fresh orangic smell

[@drewsta005]

Vacuum your darn gravel people!!! Buy a python, you won’t regret it. It’s the best piece of aquarium gear I own!! 😅

[@oneup12]

As John would say, don’t be lazy ! 😂

[@azntactical4884]

I hardly vacuum gravel. My plants and fish do just fine. I mainly just do top offs.

[@drewsta005]

@@azntactical4884 good for you! That’s killer

[@vitociaccio7289]

I drop a pump in tank. Do 75% water change weekly. Gravel vac every two weeks and fish are thriving. Easy.

[@MimicNature]

@azntactical4884 is right. And that is good for them. The less work it takes to maintain a tank the better. Who wants to have to water change and gravel vac once a week? If you do...good for you. I prefer to create an ecosystem that maintains itself with as little input from me as possible.

[@cammiluna]

i never heard of gravel cleaner before! i used to get whatever water conditioners were available at my local pet stores and switched to Seachem when relocated across the US and my twitter followers recommended it. I never went back.

[@crainbolt5155]

Because of You Tube videos like yours I have not killed my fish. I own the filter Tidal 35 & 55 you recommended Saved me $$$ (purchased @ a real fish store not a box store)❤️ Personally if it’s not a known fish brand I won’t buy it. Love your sage advice!

[@tvMage]

As a 6month+ retired pro gamer and now new fish keeper with three tanks now. I thank you for making this video. It's so confusing going to the store where petsmart employees can't really tell you which chemicals do what and you just want your fish to be okay so you get lied to and you buy whatever bottle they say. Then your fish die and then you go back to the store and they won't sell you any fish. In addition they claim to do water tests but they don't know how to properly conduct the tests so you get what you pay for, so I just got a master test kit. But again thanks for making this video. You rock

[@Whips_World]

Ive known for a long time that there are only a few morher companies out there that allow their pructs to be sold and rebranded, but hearing you confirm it still makes me mad! 😤 Whip SMASH!

[@Evil_Genius_888]

nothing really takes the place of water changes.

[@GlassSurfing]

"The devil's website" 😂😂😂 great talk as usual, John!

[@LogacysAquaticLove]

Finally someone blasting these ppl! 💯🤙🏼

[@meikahidenori]

This was why my dad loved under gravel filters. It's hard to buy them now, but those where great for tanks without sand/substrate as they helped alot! (My dad keot goldfish so it was perfect for keeping them clean in-between water changes)

[@letsgonow5641]

They are still readily available even Pet/Co/Smart sill sells them...Just not many people use them now a days..

[@Lhogchristmas]

Excellent video thank you 🙏🏻 so much for the facts and how deceptive these product is!! Yes it says 4 things in one!! Buy Fritz it’s awesome 👏🏻

[@hummingbird3771]

OMG, did you get bobble-heads of you and Lisa made?! You are such a dork, I love it!!! Are you saying that stuff is a generic Sea-chem at half the price, and we just need to follow Sea-chems directions? I know a lot of make-up and skincare lines do the same thing, and they're selling the same product at CVS or Nordstrom.

[@chrisdaly7802]

To many people get into the hobby not realizing what goes into it. When people realize it takes work and research to succeed they check out.

[@sdmcdaniel2255]

While I know some chemicals are necessary (water softeners and bacteria start-ups) I would MUCH rather have an aquarium where the waste and fish by product is handled the way Mother Nature intended: being used as fertilizer for plant growth and scavengers like shrimp and snails.

[@gmansmoking]

L have 3 glass catfish 3 kuhli loaches with 2 African dwarf frogs and 3 panda corydoras in a 20 gallon tank is this a good combination

[@pbking442]

I have not bought a single fish related product off Amazon. I prefer to support local businesses and smaller businesses like yourself when shopping online.

[@tuttabob]

I fell into this trap, luckily realised quickly after two bottles.. pristine for now.. want to try fritz next

[@stefreed9244]

It literally says on the label to put 5ml per 10gal and then continue to use every week and after water changes. Yes it was hyped up as some magic product but it still provides more instruction than you give credit for

[@mattkinsella9856]

Really useful advice for casual fish keepers and I don't mean "casual" as a bad thing because as you said they are by far the main people in our hobby. I also agree that Amazon are evil and their whole system is set up to sell the cheapest junk by the most money hungry bots whilst simultaneously driving the genuine and helpful retailers out of business.

[@cameronfleming5519]

Can we get an update on the Mbuna tank? Please. Just got a 60 gal and I’m set on making it a Mbuna tank.

[@erickborling1302]

It's almost as if, with that "gravel cleaner" you can poop in a bucket for eternity, and the poop will allegedly just disappear.

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

John we can always count on you to tell us the truth! Thank you for that. Gina

[@James_Hande]

Yep, another product aimed at those whom hate that dreaded four letter word, WORK. Other than meds in QT tanks the only chemical I normally use is sodium thiosulfate to neutralize chlorine. I love my Python!

[@desmondjohnson412]

Great informative video

[@lukeboswell8627]

I don't understand why someone would willingly put chemicals in there tank when it's not needed 😒

[@antonfelice5284]

I feel bad for those boring empty aquariums that doesn't have plants

[@Aegishand]

I'm a fisherman in south Florida I catch ans release I want to make a bait tank or pond I get if you don't approve of using fish as bait but I want to make a good habitat. How would you do it? I use golden shiners.

[@donnauk2493]

Can't beat get them hand in and getting them wet that's the best thing taking water out and putting new water in that's what fish need xx. Great video can't argue with the truth is what I always say xx

[@hellrazor2050]

Which one would i buy none of them, But i can see how it would appeal to someone who doesn't have close on 300 gallons of water in various glass boxes dotted around the house

[@deneng0259]

Quiet Riot: We Aint' gonna take it anymore!

[@Demius66]

I literally just saw this stuff at the pets other and thought about trying! So glad I chose to stick my good ol Fritz!!

[@matthewblankenship7968]

I 100 percent agree ..all I ever use is water conditioner ..prime and stability by seachem ..all my tanks are crystal clear but heavily and lightly planted ..been doing it for years ..people that have clean tanks put in a lot of time scraping glass and weekly water changes and maintance ….people don’t buy this junk and support your local fish stores ✌🏻

[@stevenbrogan6563]

How do you feel about API stress zmye?

[@1poonaikutty]

im using dechlorinator only, no other chemicals, and my fishes are happy as always

[@Bwizzle89]

So true

[@Chris18o0]

Can this method work with Trumpet Snails, Sulawesi snails, and other sand stirring critters?

[@herbertmorales3290]

Welcome to the world of lies and doing it with a straight face, they tell you what you want to hear and as most lazy people that most of us have become we believe exactly what we want just as long as it sounds simple and quick just as you explained drop it in the tank and we are done, NO we need to research everything about our fish keeping so that we can learn how to be a loving keeper to our fish. We need all the truthful help that we can get in order to keep our fish healthy and then we can completely enjoy our fish with the fact that we are doing everything that our fish need to stay strong and healthy, I feel that that’s the way to be a great fish keeper and watching your healthy fish swim around in their habitat is the greatest reward !!! 🐠🐟 enjoy your hobby and keep learning about the best things to keep happy and healthy fish !!!!

[@Natural_Power]

The big yt channels and Reddit are the only ones I trust, ain't taking advice from a bottle

[@Ridingwheels1]

Well said

[@v-man372]

Love a good rant 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@mandycrago]

It's you, John and Lisa that have stayed true in my eyes. I use gravel and by staying with my vacuuming program my 13 rescue bettas stay happier than if I chose to buy lazy crap products. Im a beginner and I feel doing the work is the best way. Just do the work. It's the best part of the hobby and the bettas love the attention.😊

[@axelleaa]

“They’re not watching hours and hours of videos on fish” me watching hours and hours of fish videos: 👁️👄👁️

[@overlandingdan7362]

Recently saw that same product at my local PetSmart. Laughed as soon as I saw the label and wondered how many new fishkeepers got duped

[@ChaosAquatics]

I saw that product this weekend at petsmart. I really don't like that they named it that

[@Lefty3213a]

I love John and his war against amazon haha

[@miked6335]

So if Natural Rapport relabels Pristine and sells it for less than Seachem, I guess Seachem is gouging its customers?

[@hummingbird3771]

My thoughts exactly. Buy Pristine products and follow Seachem's directions, lol!!

[@oneup12]

What’s your opinion on clear fast from nutrafin

[@krispy3681]

Do not be fooled by the water conditioner either. I almost just lost $5000 in imported fish, because I went cheap on my water conditioner on Amazon. I'll never ever do it again.

[@macc224]

well said john👏

[@ChrisPopp-s3t]

So I was in my local Petsmart and guess what I saw on the shelf....the very same product that was in this video. I laughed so hard that the person working 2 aisle over came over to see what was so funny.

[@Thisguycqc]

good info

[@brianholdridge1860]

That is funny. I thought the same thing when I saw the product. People in marketing make lying a career.

[@joeader6046]

Some people are always looking for the easy way out

[@LakeMissoulaAquaticsandPlants]

Thank you John

[@UpInThePocket8611]

I use there water conditioner... Works fine for me

[@reapings6912]

amen. saw this yesterday and was appalled.

[@dianewurzer]

Thank you ,thank you ,it’s about time someone came out with the truth on some of their crazy products. If I posted this no one would pay any attention. So I’m saying this again THANK YOU !! ❣️. ( never used it )

[@sallyb7472]

I “hate” that website too!

[@robertwayman7974]

I love your rants, because they're all true !

[@AngelFlores-zm4ub]

Uuh I thought it was going to be Lisa’s tank video😢 I guess we have to stick with Jason😂 this time.ops I mean John

[@anthonysanchez8304]

That’s how marketing works though….I’m not understanding the overall message.

[@cliffnorman8153]

Hey also just do the work ....👊👍

[@jerrysfishroom3579]

While I understand your issue with this. If what you are saying is happening with the companies buying from another company and I believe it does happen. Those companies are complicit. I am sure they aren't too upset with their checks. Those companies are enabling what you hate.

[@sandrayala]

I wouldn't buy any water conditioner made by a brand I don't know & trust, and I wouldn't buy a cheap brand... Cheap ends up being expensive. How much were your fish?? Is it worth risking their lives for a few dollars??

[@marekb7375]

I love how you hate crapazon.

[@lamontwatts9398]

Thank you

[@billwatkins1041]

I’m a Fritz fan.

[@stephenschofield8594]

I would never use either one

[@desmondjohnson412]

The devils website! lol

[@thefishpharm]

Oof. I’m saddened by the racist remarks and the video of the person in the chair. I completely agree about the poor and untrue product mislabeling (I am a pharmacist and it is rampant in the pharmaceutical industry). However, I think keeping the main thing the main thing here would be more useful and better received by all. I do also realize you said, “lazy Americans” maybe attempting to balance out the Chinese comment, but it is also irresponsible to generalize Americans as well. Please understand I think we are all learning and I too make mistakes. I think it is important to keep educating ourselves and each other and this is why I am commenting. Warmly, Becky Hoss

[@KGTropicals]

At no point did I say anything negative about the Chinese so get over yourself.

[@miked6335]

@@KGTropicals Isn't that the head of the Hunan lab? You know, the lab that didn't develop Covid 19.

[@arthurpellett2844]

This is why we need channels like yours to tell the truth