NEW MERCH CLICK HERE: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/md-fish-tanks Time has flown so so fast. It does not feel like I got Timmy 1.5 years ago but that is exactly right. Any time I have guests in the studio (family or close friends) he is definately the favourite. He probably has about 6 more months of being in this size tank before we upgrade. I do actually have something epic planned... Equipment (all links affiliate): GOOD BUDGET LIGHT:: US amzn.to/2MDfjk1 UK amzn.to/3iYlfQQ SMALL HANG ON BACK FILTER: US amzn.to/2Mw63OO UK amzn.to/39rx3b5 NANO INTERNAL FILTER: US amzn.to/3oxGBWm UK LED FLOODLIGHTS: US amzn.to/3t6HOHD UK amzn.to/3orIdRv CANISTER FILTER: US amzn.to/3iNeVtW UK amzn.to/2Fo774a GOOSENECK CLIP ON LAMP: (similar as product is now discontinued) US amzn.to/2IlwLVA UK amzn.to/2LNat13 MINI WATER PUMP: US amzn.to/2oAmf5y UK amzn.to/2mjHDez TANKS: US amzn.to/2SOocHG UK amzn.to/2SPA24i STRIP LED LIGHT: US (similar) amzn.to/2SNgbm7 UK amzn.to/2Fn9aW1 ASTA LED LIGHT: US amzn.to/3k9EmpY UK amzn.to/3p5XUPY AQUARIUM RACKING: Shelving: US amzn.to/2SrYZ5k UK amzn.to/2GFWKJ2 AIRPUMP (FILTER SYSTEM): US amzn.to/31z8FA9 UK amzn.to/37GIoUa FILTER SPONGES: US amzn.to/3dQLUfM UK amzn.to/3dS2k7K MEDIA BAGS: US amzn.to/34Kaf2N UK amzn.to/3lAj3z1 STAINLESS LILY PIPES: US amzn.to/2FqHpvR UK amzn.to/2RlfrnC BOWL AQUARIUMS: US amzn.to/2M4FwFO Amazo UK: amzn.to/2Vx73CL HARDSCAPE AND PLANTS: www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/
believe it or not md but wood actually uses up a lot of nitrates to decompose. were you would think it would create it. so the bit of wood with the algea on it. I would replace that before changing the filter media. also interesting fact... a lack of nitrates in the water causes fish to not grow. so probably what happened to the discus. so if you see this comment. change the wood first because there's a good chance you've a dodgy bit that's using all the nitrates. oh and timmy is awesome 👌
I like how you always keep it real and show the problems with keeping fishes, its not always sunshine and rainbows. There are always times, where i come across where one of my fishes have a disease i havent treated, and recently i did have to help my neon rainbow with dropsy and it didnt go right. Just glad you show everyone that its not bad to go through an issue and encounter a failure with it.
I really appreciate the insight to the Cyanobacteria! I watched the video at work and when I went home I realized I have the same problem! Hopefully increasing nitrates will work as a fix! Thanks MD, love the videos and stoked for Amazon aquarium 2.0. Maybe I’ll redo mine!
@@MDFishTanks He's always been my fav. Closely followed by Ember and that cute butt wiggle. Sorry about your losses, but thanks for sharing - I've got the same lily pipes and didn't even realise the bottom twisted to change intake flow. Something I'll keep an eye on.
Also, never stop keeping it real. Thats why I love your channel, you aren't trying to make the 'perfectly presented video'. You be yourself, enjoy and share the silly moments, and share when things don't go right. Thank you for being you!
Glad you’re keeping it real - especially the bit about too low nitrates! Turns out that’s what I’ve got in my tanks too, so now I’ve got some ideas on how to fix that - thanks to you. And amazon 2.0 hype! I need inspiration for the 75g I’m planning for the fall.
Absolutely love how real and forthright you are about all of your fish friends. The honesty and more importantly integrity that you have with exposing the good, bad and the ugly about your fishkeeping experiences. Can't wait to see the build video on Amazon tank 2.0 and hope you're able to get another female gold ram to experience some more breeding. everybody loves baby fishies! Lastly, thanks for the insight on the filter/nitrate issue. I'll definitely be checking mine.
I've been watching your vids, a couple hours a day for a week. Started a 55 gallon, 2 weeks ago. Got about $300 of plants...lol worth it. Tank is worth $1500 so far, with no fish. Wish I could post a pic. Thank you for all of your knowledge and vids.
I would just like to say thank you, MD, I have been watching your videos for a few weeks now, I think your enthusiasm and love for the fish and the scraping is brilliant, must not forget Timmy as well 😀. I now have my own 105 litre tank with Penguin Tetras, Glowlight Tetras and Diamond Neon Tetras all from your favourite aquatics shop, near Wellington, you have got me hooked. Sorry to hear about the discus, like you said , “nothing you could’ve done” it’s nature. Every day is a school day, always learning and the Ram tragedy won’t be happening again. 🙁 Looking forward to Amazon 2, thanks again, keep up the good work.
As someone who has euthanized a fish before, I understand exactly where you're coming from. I'm glad that it seems you know you did everything you could and the way you let the little guy pass on peacefully, as well as give them a burial, was the right thing. Hope you have a lovely rest of the week
I can't wait to see the Amazon 2.0!!! That's exactly what I want to do!! I have a heavily planted 65gallon tank with Colombian tetras, neon tetras, a bristlenose pleco, Shrimp and snails but I'd like to redo it as a true biotope.
So great to see Timmy. I just found a musk turtle, newborn. Still had ots umbilical cord, which was a new thing to learn. That's the reason I kept it. It's the size of a dime. And growing w eating blood worms and garden worms. Thank you for your content 🇺🇸
Awww so cute 😍I have two fire bellied Florida terrapins Called Mike and Dave although Dave is a girl. They are now 16.5 years old and I have had them since they were hatchlings sourced locally. They are currently chomping down on their cucumber.
Part of the reason I love your videos, MD, is your honesty: sharing your failures as well as your successes; trying things out to see whether they'll work; mispronouncing the names of a few plants and fish (honestly dude, you could work out how to say them before you make the vid!). And your admitting if you're not sure of something, or that you're learning how to do something. It's all honest and from the heart. The other reason I love your content is your sheer bloody enthusiasm! It's inspirational!
You're such a good and caring fishkeeper! Wish all fishkeepers were like you. I always watch your videos to the last. Started watching you when George Farmer recommend your channel and have watched ever since.
Thank you for being honest 💕 sorry for what happened to your fish , they had a great life . I Love Timmy 🤗 happy you made an update video on him . Can’t wait for the Amazon 2 tank 🌸👍
MD, I'm so sorry for your losses...I'm the same. Your point about the nitrites has totally helped me out, so THANKS for that! And I'm here for the Amazon II Tank! 😉🌎
I cannot believe this much time has passed and how big Timmy has gotten 🐢 Who's our favorite little musk turtle......TIMMY🥰 I hope you and your family are having a wonderful day MD.. much love my friend 🙏🌿🐟🌿🐢❤️
Great video MD! I really liked this one, longer and informative. More videos like this, it's always great watching your videos. I've been kind of putting the least amount of job possible in to my tanks lately but videos like this really ignites the passion again. So I went out today and bought some new plants. Rescaping and rethinking my 4 tanks. Keep it up mate!
Hello MD! 👋 I am sorry for your fish. And I am glad, that you used clove oil to make your fish feel no more pain. I had a few goldfish in the past who had swim bladder issues and got so bad that I needed to put them to sleep with clove oil. It is a though decision and only those can understand this, who have a very strong bond with their fish. Do not feel akward if you feel a relief after doing it. I understand. It always make my blood boil when someone suggest to put a sick fish into the freezer or to flush them down the toilet. 🤬 You did the right & the best thing. Thank you and take care! Love from Hungary 🇭🇺♥️.
I have horses and dogs in addition to my aquariums, putting an animal out of it's misery when there is no other recourse is the most honorable decision we make as caretakers of animals. Kudos to you for making that call, and I too have felt that relief when I needed to make that decision as well.
not sure if you can have too much bio filter driving down nitrate, always enjoy the videos, look forward to seeing more of the Amazon tank again that was one of my fav build series
Watched the whole thing and enjoyed your perceptions regarding your tanks/aquariums. Very sad for your losses and I was like you for many issues of fish health. However, I had to learn that letting them go is better than them suffering. God bless and good luck!
Love the Amazon tank and can't wait for you to do another one. Found it very interesting about the nitrate because I was having a problem with my plants recently in one tank and tested and mine is on 0 thanks MD 😊
Real nice, Timmy is looking really good... I bought a Loggerhead Must Turtle (named Logan) because of Timmy's cuteness. I keep some rummy nose tetra and a siamese algae eater in with him...
Also...I'm so excited you're doing a more authentic biotope! It's the kind of tank I generally build and I'm really excited to see how you go about it! Oh and if you want diversity in terms of leaflitter, I can really recommend dried Magnolia leaves they're tank safe and have an amazing glossy, tropical look to them. Banana leaves too if you can find any!
Thank you so much for keeping it real with all of us. I truly appreciate what you have been able to accomplish. Been following along since January last year, and you have done wonders for my understanding of live plants, which has translated into my own tanks. Ordering my merch soon. Cheers from NY!
Omg, I never would have guessed about the plants! I have a 20g and a 55g now, and have 2 whale 220s on the 55g out of concern about having enough bacteria. And yet, the 20g only has a sponge filter on it. I thought it was just the light or tannins making my 55g plants thrive less than my 20g plants.
I had 4 of these musk turtles in a tank and they loved it we named them. Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and of course Raphael ours got a little more bigger than yours so you may well expect some more growth, ours would go mental for blood worms and prawns and follow you about when walking past or near the tank I generally believe they loved the interaction cause they would also follow my finger and stuff too, probably thought it was food lol, they also loved to sit out of the water on a rock quite a lot basking under the light.
Definitely wasn't your filtration that made your nitrate 0. Those big sword plants are brilliant at sucking nitrates up. Packing your canister with good media is always a good idea as it increases the general stability of the system. Nitrate reduction with a filter doesn't really occur unless you deliberately create anaerobic conditions.
I've also had the 'problem' of zero nitrates in my (240l) planted tank...and had to start adding Flourish Nitrogen to get plants to perk back up. I too changed out the supplied filter media in an Oase Thermomaster 600 for the mega efficient porous ceramic tubes always recommended online. Maybe time to get the original foams out...
Hey MD, your filter won't get rid of nitrates. At best they are processing ammonia and nitrites. Nitrates are pretty much exclusively used up by plants and algae.
Sorry about your losses. I had to euthanize one of my tetras a week ago. I can't imagine having to do a discus. Love what you are doing and very grateful for all of the information that you share with us.
Love your Videos, Timmy was the reason i went and got 2 Reeves Turtles, they are in a tank with 8 Cardinals and 3 Albino Corys. they love it and the interaction between the 2 is minimal. They Bask on the rock every now and then but i have noticed that although they are being fed the same one is getting considerably bigger than the other. They love Bloodworm.
Super stoked about the Amazon tank. 😊 Sorry to hear about the Ram and discus. You bond with these creatures and it def hurts when ya lose them ❤️. Glad to see Timmeh growing and doing well.
Loved seeing Timmy, he's really a cute little turtle. I also appreciate hearing the updates (both good and bad) on your tanks. I learn so much from your experiences.
Hi MD, long time lurker and first time commenter. You might want to swap out those minnows for the following reason "Apart from the possible parasitic infections, these fish contain a particular enzyme called thiaminase. When ingested by a turtle, it can interfere with a turtle’s metabolism and cause muscle pain". Clearly Tim Tim hasn't caught any yet but he may well catch his first when you're not around.
What the heck! I thought that zero Nitrates was perfect! now I know why my plants struggle to grow in one of my tanks. Thanks for this insight :) looking forward to seeing the Amazon tank take 2 ;)
TIMMY! looking forward to the amazon 2.0. Though I love the tank so much I get what you are saying, sometimes a rescape is needed but keeping the same theme to make the tank better and more usable for the fish. Recently rescaped my little nano, almost the same as I had before but with aquasoil and slightly changed set up getting rid of holes that could collect detritus and its been so much better since I have! RIP little ram and discus ❤
I have fish with my musk turtle, and I have to say I also noticed that Shelby did not seem too happy when she was in her tank all by herself. But as you said, everything is food in her mind lol I bought a couple a dwarf frogs which use to even sit on her shell, then one day they disappeared.
2.0! 2.0! 2.0! Amazing video md, great advice on the oase filters, often things are made and our human nature is to try and Improve or customise.. sometimes we need to take steps back to.move forward. 👏👏
I appreciate you showing and explaining mistakes made. Thanks for keeping it real! TBH you probably just helped a lot of people battling the same issue.
I had a runt albino corydora that started deteriorating for a long time. It started by losing its whiskers and fins so I quarantined him and gave him medication and kept thinking he was getting better so I kept putting him back in his tank. Well at one point it was actually losing parts of his face I think because his mouth looked perpetually open. He eventually passed on and it was such a relief to know that he wasn’t suffering anymore. I’m sorry your discus had to pass on but I completely understand not wanting them to suffer anymore. I buried mine in my biggest and oldest house plant.
Sorry to hear about the Ram 😞 I had the same thing happen to my Betta. My khuli loaches also like to find their way into the filter, they at least are small enough to come out alive though. I'm thinking of trying to attach some mesh over the skimmer 🤔
You did whatever you could and more as far as the Discuss was concerned. Thanks for sharing the failures as well as the successes. May the latter far outnumber the former. Now as far as Timmy is concerned, he is doing great and I can't wait to see what's up your sleeve as far as his next enclosure is concerned. But as far as the Amazon Tank is concerned, I absolutely love it - especially for the Peace Lilies hanging at the back and everything else that comes with it and am a bit anxious about Amazon 2.0. But I am also certain you will figure out a way to make it ever better. All the best... Fingers crossed!
I can't wait for the amazon 2 aquarium, totally understand your reasons for change, and D I salute you sir, honest aquarists are as rare as hens teeth, gutted for your loses mate, but I take my hat off to you pal, that's why your so liked and popular, 👋👌👍
Pro tip use the water from you tanks to water the "house" plants the go crazy when you do it. Also makes water changes easier to deal with because you're doing setting with it.
Again, another great MD video. Sorry for the loss of the discus. That one was my favourite. LOVE Timmy updates and the voice you use for him. Oh, and the word you were trying to come up with...iridescent.
Good info shared. Sorry about your losses. You tried your best with the discus. Try cutting a circle of pantyhose and attaching across the top of skimmer or a circle of thin foam inside opening.
Looking forward to the Amazon 2.0... also I have not seen it done, but I thought about trying. When the light going straight down is not working, how about tiling the light so it shoot from the front top to the bottom back?
Sparkling gourami are my favorite!!! First time breeding fish, & I now have 15+ juveniles! You can tell their gender pretty easily by being backlit, & looking for the orange triangle (ovaries), or just a round stomach for the males. Plus, the females get thiccc with eggs when they're breeding. I'm obsessed!! 💙💙
Love the Amazon tank but looking forward to seeing something new. Sad to hear about the discus, but you know you did your best to help it, including right to the end.
amazon tank 2……just set up my first scape after watching you for like 2 years it appears…lol. thank you for you inspiration, looking forward to the journey!
I'm sorry to hear that a couple of your fish died - it's always hard when we do everything we can and nothing works. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Amazon tank.
Sorry for your loss. I feel terrible when I lose a fish. They're like one of my little buddies, depending solely on my care. You do a great job. Thanks barb
Ah I can’t wait for Amazon aquarium #2. My favorite style aquarium. It’s going to be amazing. Don’t keep us waiting too long lol. Thank you for the wonderful video. I am sorry about the fish, it is always difficult to lose a pet. We learn from our mistakes and become better caretakers. Take care.
When you were talking about the discus that died the other ones stayed super still as if they got the vibe and took a moment for their friend as well ❤️
I totally love Timmy, so much I want my own musk turtle. You make everything look so easy..but I feel like I’ve created a train wreck! Bought black onyx sand ( recommended at fish store ) It’s very cloudy and decided to buy White sand. It’s called Caribbean live sand added to tank and now it’s super cloudy. I planted 6 little plants. Now I’m confused and discouraged. With these substrates can I have a fresh water tank for a turtle or does it need to be Saltwater?
Hello, I was wondering if you do requested setups? I have spotted turtles and i would love to see what you could on a build. So if you ever get a extra turtle, get a spotted turtle! I think a blackwater marsh setup would be perfect for them, but i know that you will build it really good!
