How do I get rid of black beard algae? Also I have red spots on my glass at gravel level also will my clown loaches be alright at 78 degrees?? Have you ever bred clown loaches???
Thanks. This video was extremely helpful. I have a new heavily planted 240L aquarium, 4 weeks in, plants are growing like crazy, algae bloom - bit out of control, yet the test kits are all continuously showing zero. I was confused as to whether the tank was cycling or not.
@@dennisjusti4189Im not an expert on this whatsoever. Im going to build my first planted tank soon within the next couple of weeks. In my research, I've found that plants and algae are in direct competition with eachother for nutrients.....Id begin with lighting....If I were using the brightest setting and saw alot of algae developing I'd cut the lights intensity and duration.....Im going to begin with a real time 24/7 day/night simulation. Many hours of light at different intensities....then I'll watch for algae and learn from there. Also if plants are growing, I'd stop with the fertilizer. Im going to try root tabs as that will be locked under a sand cap. I wish you luck, just keep at it and you'll experience that light bulb moment. I expect to have many of those myself. I love em....its when it all clicks and youre good from that moment on! Wish me luck too please! Lol😅
"If the tank isn't living, don't put living things in it." A great memorable quote that summarizes an excellent video - thanks Cory! I was very perplexed over a couple of things, but this video makes so much sense and now I get it.
It’s amazing how this video is 6 years old and still there is so little info on cycling an *only planted* tank. I am on week 2 of my new planted tank, no fish, no animals period. And I was always so confused with my test kit, constantly googling and never finding the right answers. This video definitely put my mind at ease and let’s me know that I’m doing everything right. Thank you 🙏
I'm a newbie who a few months ago, started by getting my son a Betta. I just started my first aquascape a few days ago and I really couldnt have gotten this far without you. You've really helped me understand the process and other valuable info. Still tons more to learn but thank you, thank you, thank you!
I’m a beginner in this hobby. And I’ve been watching a lot of your aquarium plant videos. I was inspired to grow my own aquatic plants rather than put a bunch of plastic decorations in it. And from watching these videos I see the value of taking care of live plants along with the fish.
Grew up in the late 70s. Lots of plants, lots of fish, happy tank. Raised guppys and Angels in the early 90s, I did the same thing and it worked really well. Starting back up over the last few years and start reading a bunch of stuff and now what I did back then will get you yelled at on the internet a bunch. Cory makes so much sense, and this is how I have been doing it. Start up the tank, add plants, and fert. After a week or two start adding fish, testing the water every few days to make sure you don't over do the bio load. Seems to work well.
You are absolutely the most effective AND entertaining educator I have ever encountered in my 52 years of life. I sure wish I had someone like you teaching HS Chemistry and College Biology classes. Putting the past behind me, I'm glad I found you now. I'm certain my fish and plants are too.
Thank you. I can’t imagine not having plants in a fish tank. I’ve been away from the hobby for a long time but have been thinking of restarting. The idea of using plants as a bacteria starter is marvelous. It’s quite logical but not at all obvious to a newbie or almost newbie. Excellent video.
I started my 5 gal tank the way Cory explains in this video. I only have one fish in the tank, a male betta, and my plants and fish are doing great. I started the tank 9/19/19 adding plants immediately and then adding the betta after 3 or 4 days. I used API Quick Start in my RO water along with Equilibrium, and ferts for the plants. My fish and plants are growing and look healthy. It is so much better and more enjoyable cycling a planted tank. Thanks Cory for sharing this with us.
This makes it so simple! Thanks Cory! I’ve been sitting around for weeks wondering why my new & planted tank doesn’t show Nitrite or Nitrate. On forums folks have been saying you have to start again using Ammonia but I’ve read up and that’s quite risky. This is so helpful. I’m going to keeping feeding my plants, start noticing the plant growth and when I see some solid growth on a few plants. I’ll start stocking lightly and build up. This has taken a LOT of stress out of the cycle process! 👍🏻👌🏻😎
I'm glad I found this video, has been trying to cycle my planted tank and was wondering why I'm not getting the nitrite and nitrate readings but the ammonia has gone down to 0, plants have doubled (even tripled) without the fertilizers :D.
@@JarretMinkler I'm right there with ya! I've had my 20 gallon tank for almost 3 months...5 Live plants, 1 Dwarf Gourami, 2 common Mollies, 4 Guppies, 1 Golden Mystery snail. I am changing my substrate from lame colored gravel over to pool sand and Eco-Complete to see if that will clear my water. :) Any luck with yours?
So greatful I found this. People told my tank wasn’t cycled and it’s too fast and what not. But no one told me that heavily planted makes the whole process completely different.
Exactly! Im not the kind of fish keeper that rely too much on test kits.. I just look for plant growth and bacteria build-up on my filter to check if things are fine. It's very cost effective for me. This topic is a "must listen/watch to" to every beginner aquarist.. Thank you, sir cory!
Thank you!!!! This was the answer I was looking for but couldn't find on typical cycled tank discussions! I've been trying to cycle a new tank for almost a month now and kept test for the markers ( ammonia, nitrites, nitrates etc). On the third week of my tank doing, what seemed like nothing, it dawned on me that because my tank is so heavily planted, it's probably eating everything I'm testing for. The floaters have started sprouting, the aquatic plants are doing well, and algae has started to bloom. Looks like I'm closer to finishing the cycle than I thought!
Cory, I wish that this information was available 20 years ago when I had my last aquarium. The information you have provided is invaluable. I am considering a Nano tank, I plan on buying one soon. I keep bio-active paludariums, and I am a huge plant enthusiast, so a very heavily planted tank is exactly what I plan. I have watched at least a hundred aquascaping and aquarium fish keeping videos and I'm a voracious reader, but you laid out the absolute distillation of truth in this video. I hope it reaches the people who need it! Thank you, Lee
This helped me understand so much better, not only the method of cycling I should use but why we cycle and what I should be looking for in a properly cycled tank
Great informative video! I always use anubias and anacharis when cycling. The anubias is tough and fairly easy to work with, and the anacharis grows fast so I can watch the life begin, and thrive, prior to stocking the aquarium.
@@myaquascapingjourney1255 even then, BB will still grow slowly so bio filtration via filter is still good so you will basically have a super tank with plant and BB Filtration
I totally agree with the principle. I have a 50 gal. Planted Tank with no filter in it. It has been running for about 2 years now without the filter with only a Wavemaker for circulation. The clarity and cleanliness of the water, I attribute to the plants ability to filter the water, regular partial water change and the usual maintenance, it is about 65% to 70% planted. Of course I do not over stock, I have 8 Pristella Tetras and some Cherry Red Shrimps. I like the principle of Cory on cycling a tank with plants, it just makes sense. We should learn more on how nature works. Sometimes we forget all about the basics and rely so much on modern tech, until you come across a video like this and rethink how we do things.
Great video! Ever since my sister bought her fish it's been making me itch to get more since I haven't had them in years. When I was younger I never paid attention to stuff like this and it showed in the health of my fish. Now I have a 10 gallon in the basement and I'm debating on buying more fish, but this time I want to do it right.
WOW. Absolutely mind-blown. This is such a helpful video! I've been having trouble cycling my tank and I tried your method of organic setup and the tank cycled easily. Once again you have saved me and my tank :D
This is by far your best video. All of my successful aquariums was setup using plants as the main filtration. It usually takes 9-12 months to get the cycle going, but the rewards are incredible. Happy fish, beautiful plants and very little maintenance. Keep up the great videos.
Cory’s revolutionary concepts: 1. Seasoned Tank Time 2. Aquarium is an ecosystem 3. Fees the ecosystem and not the fish 4. Canister filter is a Ferrari which in most cases not required to commute! 5. Cycling with plants and fertilizer
So appreciate this explanation. I feel the “internets” advice on water changes is a bit OCD. I have gotten back into the hobby after many years away. I got a little overwhelmed by the current over-abundance of co2, water changes, layers of substrate, etc. I followed my gut and after some trial and error, my tanks are thriving. Great info and best tip is to follow your gut once you observe and learn what works.
I just started a planted aquarium, properly..as far as I know...and now I am adding couple snails and a few shrimp... the types you have pointed out as being friendly. I wil be watching all of your stuff and wanted to thank you for putting it all together in a training type sequence that holds interest. Loved the series where you went to S. America and got the fish. I have had fish tanks for years 30+ and I have learned more in a few months watching your channel it is amazing and interesting and nicely done. Kevin O
This was the most informative video I've seen about cycling and how plants work. I'm so glad I have the internet these days because 25 years go wasn't fun trying to learn how to do a planted tank. Thank you for doing this video. Now I just need a video why certain plants are harder to take care of over another.
OMG thank you so much!!! You’re the ONLY one I’ve come across on YT that actually explained why I’m not getting all the water readings I’m “supposed” to get.
This is one of, if not thee best, and most informative videos on cycling a tank out there . You do a great job , easy going, easy to understand. Besides, plants make a tank way more visually appealing and interesting and most small community type fish thrive and act much more naturally in a well planted tank.
I was searching about stages of algae in newly setup tank and wanted the process of cycling a planted tank. The internet was showing me only nitogen cycle without involving any plants or algae. This was the only video that actually spoke about it. great video. Thanks!
6 years later… i just watched this for the first time while researching tank cycling and this is by far the most informative, honest video on the topic so i just wanted to comment to say thank you! It gave me the confidence to get back into fish and shrimp keeping 😁
I love your videos. They always touch on things other videos/articles on the internet don't talk about. When I first started learning the Nitrogen cycle I was never sure how live plants factored into it because I couldn't find all the info in one spot. Your videos are great and you speak in such a way where its easy for the everyday average person to fully understand. THANK YOU!! Please keep making awesome and helpful videos!
i am setting up my 1st 50 Gallon dirt tank , read ton of articles watched hours and hours of videos and after setting it up finally yesterday i was feeling very scared but after watching this i feel much more relaxed.i think i am on the right track. Hopefully my tank will be alive soon.
I really appreciate you man. I've learned a lot about this hobby. Also I stopped being afraid of snails or algae like I was when reading other stuff from the internet. If I have a good planted tank there's always a bit of algae, but nothing too much. Snails are great, they also make good fish and shrimp food. I have multiple tanks for different reasons. But I do keep a tank without any fish, just plants, I love it.
I'm new to the hobby, got myself a 40 long and a 5 gallon. Planted both in aquasoil, added quick start bacteria, waited about a month, some die off and a good amount of growth later, added some fish. Used this video as an education tool, like most aquarium co-op videos
you're the only person I plan to listen to from now on. you explain everything so well. the internet has overwhelmed and confused me so much. thank you!!! going to buy plants today!
I LOVE THE ANOLOGIES! YOU always make sense.. watching this video on my birthday and I also got aquatic plants as a gift.. couldn't have planned this any better!
this is the most knowledgeable and simplest tank cycle video I have seen on RU-vid and on the Internet it make me more confident in starting my own aquarium... Thank you so much keep up the great work.
Plants do the vast majority of my filtration... a lot of my 50+ have no filter except plants, only an air stone... thanks again and keep up your awesomeness and go enjoy some nature today...!
Love seeing two of my favorite aquarium channels share knowledge and work together. That's why I love this hobby and the aquarium community in general.
I was SO happy to finally find this video! I'm starting a 44 gal corner unit and want to try live plants. I wanted to know at what point during the cycling process I could add plants. Turns out plants can be part of the process! Thank you Cory and Aquarium co- op for being straightforward.
I've just started to get interested in aquarium vids and I love how your way of explaining tank know-how, it makes it really easy to understand and visualize. Thanks! Might start my own planted tank someday.
Re-watching this video just to double-check I'm not getting things wrong with my new tank. Because honestly, this is my first fish tank in 7 years so I consider myself a re-beginner... I set the tank up two days ago and I probably won't make changes - but watching you talk about plants reassures me that I will be okay once the plants start thriving. (28 gallons, 12 small vallisneria and 20-25 stems of various stem plants, planted in aquasoil.) I guess all I need now is patience. Because I want to put in fish NOW - and I know I have to wait. The time will come. Until then I guess I can watch excessive numbers of RU-vid videos about stocking ideas, even though I already kind of know what I want.
Only recently seeing RU-vid videos have I learned everyone is pronouncing it diaTOMS. 40 yrs I've been keeping fish I've been saying Die Atoms. I'm so embarrassed. 🙈
Greetings, Cory. Your videos are great. I am pleased to find avid fish keepers helping others. I use to watch Paul Spiece in The guppies to groupers, on PBS as a youngster. Your videos are very informative and down to earth. Thanks.
OMG Cory! You just saved my life! After 30 years I’ve decided to set up my 20G again. I’m also setting up a 15G with a black divider with multiple small holes drilled in it, so I can have 2 male Bettas in the same tank. I’m waiting for a 3D background to arrive and my fish store guy to make the divider before I can start. I’ve really been concerned about all this “cycling” that I need to do, that I really don’t understand. You have simplified this in a 20 minute video. What you’re saying about cycling with plants sounds so much easier, so much better,so much faster, and less complicated than the other methods I’ve seen on the internet and read in books. I’m not afraid of this process any longer. I can’t thank you enough! I really enjoy your other videos as well. When I first started doing research on aquariums (realizing that equipment, upkeep and quality care have changed in the last 30 years), yours were the first videos I discovered on YT. Thank you for helping all of take better care of our fish. All I want is for my fish to be healthy and as happy as they can be. You’re awesome! 👍😘😉
"You wonder why you're going from ammonia to nothing..." Thank you! My plants are growing like wildfire in my 40 gallon breeder with 5 Zebra Danios. I did add 5 Otos, (who are very happy), when the diatom bloom broke out. I'd see an ammonia reading of 0.25 and then nothing. It's been 4 weeks! Have trimmed and planted the trimmings. I now know I most likely will never see Nitrites! Will proceed slowly, but will proceed!
Amazing........Why ? Because you explain , in a logical sequence , what actually goes on in an aquatic self contained eco system. I have not even got my first tank started yet , but getting so much closer to understanding how to. A big thank you Cory , brilliant !
This is a total game changer for me. I’ve been watching hundreds of “first aquarium” videos so I don’t kill my first community. None stressed live plants. Thank you..!!
Oh my gosh, this helps me so much. I just got my first tank ever and I decided to use live plants in it and now am attempting to cycle it. But there isn't much information on how to do that! This helps me so much! Thanks!
👋🏾👋🏾 2021 here! I decided I wanted a fish. Dove into research. I ended up learning that bringing a fish home is a lot more involved that I’d ever known. After intense research, I’ve decided that I wanted to start with live plants from day 1. I’ve spent money on everything but the fish-my plan is to start/cycle my tank with the plants. This video was EXACTLY what I needed to better explain how to do that and what to look for! I actually have some Easy Green on the way (along with my sponge filter and other items). I’m happy to know I can use that to get that seasoning going. I’ve seen you mention a seasoned tank in another video-I plan to nerd out on the plants in the tank for a few months before I add fish. Your straight forward approach is just what I need and I’m super grateful!
OK. I just watched this video for the third time and I think I'm starting to "get it". I have growing plants and confidence that I can soon be able to safely add a few fish. Thanks for an understandable explanation of a complex subject. BioChem was not my favorite college course. 8^)
OH.MY.GOSH! I have had a planted tank for two weeks. I add stability every day and have added Flourish liquid twice a week. My plants have grown immensely but I have not measured any nitrites or nitrates on my test strips or the tubes. I have been waiting for the nitrates to register 20 ppm before adding my fish. Thank you for explaining this!
best cycling video I have ever seen! Thanks so much for this valuable info. I will pay attention to my plants more than some other stuff. I just started my 2nd aquarium 1st week and everything looks amazing. My first aquarium was a failure and here I am now... Plants look good I have some snails and soon I will make a strong healthy environment for tetra neon, Otocinclus all together with my plants. Hey in your experience how many neon tetras can fit in 25 Gal tank?
Hi there, so plants don't 'Eat' ammonia, the bacterium in the presence of moisture, convert the ammonia into the nitrates which is then used by the plants. Plants are amazing because in a lack of nitrates they will 'die back' slightly, drop some leaves and when they rot they produce more ammonia which then becomes the nitrates which then keep the plant alive. Plants are really just amazing contributors to the balance of any ecosystem. Think of them as the ultimate stabilisers. Theoretically with enough plants and light, you won't need to perform water changes at all in the right conditions. Look up the closed ecosystems.
fantastic video. i just got back into the hobby, and i thought i really understood cycling a tank. however, with plants, i hadn't realized how much more efficient my tank will be. thanx for sharing this
Hi Cory, i like your style and way of thinking, it takes me back a lot of years to before a lot of the newfangled, canister filters, water scrubbers etc. I have been away from aquariums for a lot of years, having said that i do have a 5000ltr(1350gallon) aquaponic system now in its 7th year, it runs on Koi and large golfish and i can grow almost any plant/vegetable faster and tastier than from the garden. For christmas my wife gave me a small 25gallon fish tank, to give the cycle a helping hand could i use some of the substrate(mostly expanded clay balls)to get bacteria into the sterile enviroment? or more especifically are the bacteria in a cool system the same as those in a warm system like an aquarium. The water in my aquaponic system ranges from about 10°C 50°F to 20°C 68°F or slightly more in the hight of summer. I have never in all the time i've had my aquaponic system had to change water, it gets topped of when it rains and the plants take care of all the nitrate. TIA, Derek
@@jeffalbillar7625 yes I had thought about it but the main problem is getting stock, i'm in spain and unfortunately the law does not allow it, even koi carp are ilegal, classed as an invasive species.
I know this is an older video, but after seeing this and multiple other videos Cory has made about plant “cycling,” it worked. I put some java fern, dwarf saggitaria and another carpeting plant before I put fish in and I never got a reading of nitrites or nitrates, and the plants were growing with algae as well.
I've just recently started doing some research for a paludarium (and we hope to put come shrimps in) and I swear to god I wasn't understanding a single thing about cycling until I found your video. Great, flexible and easy to understand info, thank you so much!!
Thank you for this Cory!! I just started a 5 gallon tank with a pile of Java fern from a mature tank - this helps a lot. So little info out on the good ol interwebs about cycling with plants in the equation.
This is awesome. I was doing my water changes, and didnt understand why when i neglected my tank i saw new growth on my plants, but when i ws doing weekly water changes, my plants would grow very slowly and sometimes even the new growth started to die. Ill play around with my water change schedule to maximize my plant growth
Thanks Cory. I'm starting back into the hobby after being gone maybe fifty years. Lots has changed. I am fascinated with all the fertilizers and technology we now have.
ABNJIM10 Hey, a little late but I believe the plant is 'Crinum Natans' - a type of 'onion' plant. The ones in the tank in the back are just very large.
I just experienced a huge algae bloom of (what I think is) hair algae about Feb. 15. I've been cycling since Jan. 27. I added live plants a week after I started. Some plants have melted but we are doing really well. My betta is so full of spunk! I was worried it wasn't cycling but this video is making me think otherwise. Thank you!
REALLY great video on breaking down the process! I went from 75 gallon planted tank tank that I had to sell because I am moving long distance, to a 125 gallon, that I will be starting from scratch in a month and I have a better idea of where to start and what to expect. Keeping it simple is the best way....plants are the best option in aquariums and the best measure of success! Thanks again!
This was actually very helpful, I was sooo confused why my cycled tanks never show nitrate but are totally alive. Come to find out from this video it's ma plants. Thanks Cory.
I want to get a betta tank and I just wanted to make sure I am understanding the content. So if I put plants in the betta tank I don't have to cycle the tank? (If it is a new tank.) Also are there certain types of plants that do better at naturally cycling then others? I Just want to make sure I am doing the best for my fish If I do end up getting one.
You would want to get plants growing before adding a betta yes. The faster the plant grows, the more nitrogen it uses, but really any planted tank should be able to keep up with a betta.
I have a betta tank (7gal or so) very planted with no filter at all. Betta is doing fine, but the tank is VERY planted so keep that in mind. And I always let the plants establish first
I followed this excellent advice on my new 29 Gal. I set my tank up with a 2" base of Eco Complete, topped with about 3/4" of fine black sand, and a heavily planted aquascape. I added a full 4 oz. bottle of TopFin Readistart Bacteria Starter on that 1st day. 4 days later the water was very cloudy, but began to clear on the 6th day. 10 days after the initial set-up, the water was crystal clear and some of the plants were already showing some new growth. I then performed a 20% water change and the next day I added 10 neon tetras. I lost one of them, but the others thrived. 3 days after that, I added 2 small Cory Cats and they thrived. My new aquarium is now a living, breathing ecosystem and all my family and friends are awestruck by its beauty.
