A topic to consider is beginners excitement/loss perhaps. My mother and I jumped into fish keeping and quickly got overwhelmed. It seemed fun and easy at first, but after some time (and a lot of money) we're only realizing just how much money it costs to keep up and how time consuming it is. At the start it didn't seem so intensive and the fish were cheap, plus getting tanks at half price gave us incentive to keep going, but now.. I have so many regrets. Like that $50 bag of fluval dirt.. We've spent well over 5k at this point, we have more tanks than we honestly have room for and almost no motivation to keep fish anymore. Also don't want to get rid of the tanks, but we want to downsize as much as possible which is hard to do when most of your fish are betta... Most of the unoccupied tanks are going into storage. My mother just lost a couple of her favorite ones she raised from babies/saved from bad health, they dropped dead in less than a handful of hours with no explanation the other day. The other fish who were in the same tank are fine. We've saved fish from dying, but we've also had a lot of fish die for several reasons and it's so disheartening. Between mistakes, illness and early misinformation I've lost so many fish myself. It hurts so much because we've only tried to do our best with the information we had and it's a such a waste of money. People made it look so easy, but reality is fish keeping is rough. I would have never taken on so many fish in the first place if I knew it was going to be like this (I have only betta). I don't regret them, I just regret not feeling like I'm giving them their best life and that I bit more than I could chew. If I could go back, I'd have only gotten *one* (cheap) fish, with *one* tank and focused all my energy on that. Cheap because I lost a $20 fish in a week, that's a different kind of hurt.
Irene, I hope you feel a lot better very soon, and pray that your family doesn't also get sick. As to time saving hacks, one suggestion is if you have multiple tanks, try to have them in the same area rather than scattered around the house. It makes maintenance and feeding much more streamlined. Another suggestion - maybe another video idea? - is something I'm working on at the moment: getting my supplies organized for optimal efficiency. You could get viewers to email you pictures of the areas they have got "dialed in," to illustrate different points. For example, I recently hung up a shelf above my tanks, and it has hooks on the bottom. Not only a great place to hang my nets, but I haven't misplaced my scissors in weeks! Last night I also bought a rolling cart, designed for crafts, which a lot of my supplies are going to go in. I also grabbed an accessory that will let me put a towel, or a roll of paper towel, on the side.
Flu season is in full swing. I got the flu this week, thankfully it wasn't Covid, and so I'm nearly healed. Still, I haven't been able to do aquarium maintenance this week. Hope you get well soon!
*What time-saving hacks have you discovered in the fishkeeping hobby? I must know! Also, don't forget to catch the rest of the "Aquarium Hacks" series here: **ru-vid.com/group/PLlBBJ7xBuquaCDdWtTameTTRZgZOImqQr*
If I don’t have too much sand to clean, I put some into a bottle, add some water, shake, pour out and refill. Repeat about 3 times until the water runs clear and it saves spending a lot of time with a shower head and bucket. Also, the bottle helps with putting it into the areas of the tank I need.
I don't know if this will be useful for you, but if you buy a gallon jug of bottled water you can fill it up again with dechlorinated water once it's empty. Store it under your tank and every time you need to top off the water pour a little in.
Great tips. I use them all except the Python. I have a bathroom right next to my fish room and still use buckets. I don't have that many tanks and only need to water change maybe once a month. So it's not a big deal to me still at this point. Hope you feel better soon, Irene.
If you started to use a Python you would quickly realize that that it is a bigger deal than you thought. I know because I thought the exact same thing until I used a Python, it was a game changer. A Python can be a bit of an investment but will very quickly pay for itself 10 fold. In some cases it will pay for itself the very first time a person uses it lol. Oh and if you go as far as to add the quick connectors (which can be a little pricey) then Bob's your uncle. I can do a 50% water change on my 90 gallon tank in 20 min or less without spilling a drop of water or ever having to lift a bucket of water.
Please don't ever feel obligated to upload if you're as sick as you were this time of the video, thank you so much for all these tips on behalf of me and my partner, we are always putting what feels like hours into simply changing the water sometimes! Finally got a big water container that holds around 20 gal. Glad to see you more healthy in todays videos
Irene, you are sick and still took the time to make this video for us??!! You are way too kind 🤗 Excellent tips. Tank size is a biggie. I love nano fish, but it does not mean they can't be in a 15 or 20 gal. I am in the process of upgrading all of the 5-10 gallon nano tanks in my fishroom to 20 longs. So far, everyone loves the changes. I hope you feel better STAT!
I totally wasn't planning on making a video, but since I was already going to talk about time-saving hacks and I happened to need them while sick... it seems like too good of an opportunity to miss for story reasons. I definitely paid the price though and collapsed in exhaustion the rest of the day. 😅
I also have problems with my water parameters. Ph 7.2-8.0 and my Kh 3.0 and lower. You are so cute. I suspect you have a Chineese-American origin. I am a singel father with 2 adopted daughters from China. I would like to know you closer. You are so beautiful.
The biggest time saving hack to me is a pre-filter sponge for my cannisters filters, I clean these weekly and it's amazing how much gunk I remove that would have been in my filters!! Went from every 2 months cleaning to 4 months and it's pretty darn clean!!
I know how you feel. I just got over covid last week, and it's May 2022. I tried hard not to get it too. But these are great tips. Over feeding is such a problem. That fish feeder looks awesome. Of course, it would be from Cory. I know that you work for them, but they do have well thought out and tested products. So, if any of you reading this think Irene is shilling for them, know that they have great products. And I am not affiliated with them at all. Irene and Aquarium Co-op hands down, have the best aquarium videos I've seen. Irene has the awesome 5 things series for quick to the point information. And the Co-op has the in depth educational detailed information that is key to caring for your aquarium. So, it's kind of cool that they hired Irene a short while ago because they really complement one another! Irene's number five is the best out of these tips for saving time. Plants are awesome! I would recommend anyone starting a new tank to get some potting soil from your local hardware store and sand or gravel on top of it and put some plants in the tank first with your decorations. And watch her aqua scaping video first too! Fill it and let the plants grow for a while before adding fish. This will keep the algae down. Then when you add fish, the poop will fertilize the plants and you won't have to worry about vacuuming as much. This saves so much time! I love doing tank maintenance, but I don't miss vacuuming the poop! I don't even vacuum my planted tanks anymore. I have Nerite snails and one bushy nose pleco, and the plants do the rest and I have no algae!
I am so sorry you got sick I wish you and your family the best you are my favorite u tuber you explain everything in a very nice and clear way I appreciate it very much.
Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. Hope you recover quickly and get back to full strength in no time! Pretty dedicated to pop out a video while under the weather. Kudos to you!
Ms Irene I am praying God heals you soon! That so much for the tips! Having a python or any kind of aquarium vac that attaches to the sink has been life changing for me!! Not only is it easier, but I spend less time cleaning up water spills….which happen often. 😅
Hello irene,im proud on how you make videos especially that right now you have covid,please do take breaks from it from time to time especially right now since you are sick.
I totally feel your pain. I got a bronchitis infection in December & then I got Covid in Jan. I am saddened to say I was not a good fish keeper during those 2 months. I am back at it now though!!
I hope you get to feeling better. Just think, you’ve got full protection now. My sister gave me a python years ago and I’m just now starting to enjoy it. I hook the whole thing up to the hose. That way I only have to go pull the end piece to refill. Love your videos, glad you had some energy to make this one.
Irene, you are a sweetheart! I would have skipped making a video, if I were sick. You gave awesome tips! When my bachelor Betta is no longer, I am getting a much bigger tank. I want a 30 or 40 gallon community tank. Keeping up with the water parameters in my 5 gallon, even with plants and only one fish still means cleaning more than I like. My betta is happy and healthy though.
I can so sympathize. Had the virus myself and was SO glad I had live-planted tanks that were balanced, so my fish only needed to be fed for a couple of weeks. I could manage that. Hope you feel better soon! Girl, I definitely second those Aquarium Co-op test strips! I test weekly, to monitor the water quality in my tanks. I can do all of them one after the other and finish testing in a couple of minutes. HUGE time saver.
Hope you get better soon ! 😇🙏 And I have amaño shrimp and those little guys always sneak into my FILTER and I have sponge 🧽 around the suction area and I think they just jump in lol which is weird because I have plenty of food (algae) for them to eat 😂😑😑😂
Hope you feel better soon Irene! Thank you for posting despite being sick, you trooper! Can I ask about how the python would work if you have to use water conditioner / dechlorinator before adding to the tank? I'm in the UK, England specifically, and our tap water usually has fluoride and chlorine, and traces of heavy metals from the pipes. Would you just use a bucket to add the conditioner before putting it into the tank(s) in that situation?
A lot of experienced fishkeepers say that it's absolutely fine to add the dechlorinator to the tank just before / as you're adding the new water. When you do that, you dose for the total volume of the tank, rather than just dosing for the new water being added. That's the way I've been doing it, after hearing that it's ok from enough people I trust. Hope that helps!
Keep in mind if you have a small tank the python no spill water chnage system can actually be more work not less. Its great for larger tanks but if you have a 20 gallon or smaller. Our go to tip is a small regular python siphon and a 5 gallon bucket. This is easy enough to move around and can even use the bucket to refill the tank as well. Then leave the bucket and siphon out to dry and your done. Moving and trying to store that larger python system for small tanks became more work then a small bucket and small siphon
I keep almost killing my plants 😪 before it was I needed plants so I didn’t have to water change so much, then they got BBA so I treated them w carbon & a few almost died from that, then I got Co2 to prevent that, then it wasn’t enough light, so I got better lights then it was too much light UGH I’m on the verge of giving up on aquariums because I’m disabled & so water changes are really really painful 😣😪💔 but I’m gonna keep trying til the plants are just completely dead, then I’ll know for sure I’m just not cut out for this which hurts my heart cause I love my critters & I’ve spent WAY TOO MUCH $$$ already trying to keep my aquariums & not have to water change so much (BTW I buy everything possible from aquarium co-op since the beginning!)
If you really love it don't give up!! There is usually a sweet spot for plants to grow and sometimes it's harder with some than others! Try easy plants first, and start from scratch, don't try too much at once, because then you won't know what the problem is. One thing at a time and watch. Good luck!
I'm a disabled fishkeeper too. You don't have to give up. The key is to make choices based on what you are able to do. Keep things super simple. I choose hardy species of plants and fish that don't require a lot of maintenance. I don't do weekly water changes. (GASP!) I use simple floating plants to help keep water quality decent. I keep mostly guppies that I've bred to be hardy. I feed once or twice a day and fast the fish one day a week. If I'm having a week where I'm really struggling I feed every other day to keep the wastes produced lower. I made a DIY water changing system with a garden hose (drinking water safe), a python hook, and a powerhead attached to it so when I do occasionally need to do water changes I can do them much more simply and use way less energy. You CAN still keep fish if you're disabled. Just keep it simple and choose hardy fish and plants that aren't overly sensitive. 💖
I like to use an inline declorinator along with the python for filling the tank. Not sure how much time it saves versus adding dechlorinator liquid but it certainly saves money over the course of a few years.
Great videos…I wanted to ask if you’ve had success using sand on top of, or mixed with you’re planted substrate? I’m a big fan of you’re content and I hope you feel better soon.
PSA: 1:38 WARNING script deviation. Irene was SUPPOSED to say NO SPILL, Not NO WATER CHANGE SYSTEM. We return you to your regularly scheduled program. We thank you for your attention. Thank you Irene, we love you and feel better!
Hi Irene, with the python, since the water is going straight from sink to tank, wouldn't the chlorine be bad for the fish and your beneficial bacteria in the tank?
Hi Irene, hope you feel better. I was wondering if you can help me... I rescued a betta about 3 wks now, he was in a pretty bad shape, but I got him better. But lately I noticed that he's slowly losing his vision, and currently he's unable to see the pellets I gave him. Do you have any experience similar to this? Need help
Love the video! I have a question, so I am moving my bettas' fish tank down the block ( literally one minute away ) and I was wondering if there is an easier way to move the tank rather than boxing up the tank, bagging the fish and all of that just to move the fish a minute away. Like could I somehow keep the fish still it the tank, I don't know. (P.S. I hope you feel better!)
I got a python water changer and it doesn't fit on my faucet or my shower. :( Any advice on troubleshooting the water changing system? Can't seem to remove the aerizer on my bathroom faucet and my shower isn't quite the same size as the water changing system.
I actually went to a local hardware store and showed them the Python water changer and the aerator (which I was able to unscrew to remove), and they helped me find the correct adaptor. 👍
🤒 Take care of yourself, and your familie. Incl the fish. Get healthy in a save and hopefully easy way. 😊 Your tips are as always very usefull and well resharch' 🖖
Personally I think if your the super lazy type then you should find a different hobby or pay a company to come in like a maid service and maintain your tank. I also think a big part of a beautiful tank is the effort that goes into creating a beautiful tank. It is one thing to look at a work of art, it is another thing when you created that work of art. The effort is part of the beauty that makes a beautiful tank beautiful, don't be lazy and cheat yourself from the beauty of the experience. Here's to healthy fish and happy fish keeping, Cheers!
