Thanks for the shoutout, John. I love seeing what you come up with for your videos and the amount of work and care you put into them. No surprise, I think the original blue tank with the three piece lid still reigns supreme. Like you said, it looks cool and it’s super functional. 50 years later and it’s still my favorite. I also love that it was originally referred to as the “Micro-Vue Ocean-Zoo.” That name alone makes it sound more special. If anyone is wondering, the custom lids that John sells on his website are spectacular. He’s taken all of his practical experience and combined it into lids that are highly functional and look fantastic. They’re a great cost efficient way to take your Ocean-Zoo to the next level. Thanks for being such a great ambassador for the Sea-Monkey brand. We’re lucky to have you and your content growing the community and hobby. - Tod
I like how it's shaped like a flask so you can keep it in your coat pocket and sneak a swig of seamonkeys anytime you need just a lil something to take the edge off
I was so happy and excited to see the footage of the orange glow tank! It looks so fancy, spinning on that turntable. I'm going to have to give it the crown of "my favourite tank of all time". I do prefer the simple tanks, without ornaments inside. But the ghost ship looks soooo cool with all that algae
I bought my first sea monkeys ocean zoo when I was vacationing in California some days ago. And I’m currently waiting for a mini air pump before starting it. Needless to say, your channel directly inspired that choice. I’m sure with all I’ve learned from you, my first foray into this hobby has good chances of being successful. So thanks!
My ocean zoo arrived in the mail last week and I just fed my sea monkeys for the first time yesterday. My plan is to eventually move them to a fishbowl type set up that would look cool to display. I'm fascinated at the idead of these guys building a tiny little somewhat self sustained eco system. Thanks for the content!
the gen 1 tank has the added fauna because it has no lid heh.. it let everything and sundry get in and make a neat little alien world for the pond primates :3
I'd only ever read descriptions about the second tank with the stereo-magnifying lenses in the lid. It was nice to finally get to see the one Tod lent you here, as I've always wondered what it actually looked like. This one is in such good shape, too! I sometimes think I'm more addicted to collecting the Ocean Zoos than raising Sea-Monkeys, so your overview of its history was fascinating to me. And you are convincing me of the pros of algae, which I always went to great lengths to clean up. As a food source as well as a means of naturally generating oxygen, it seems pretty awesome. Finally, your microscopic examination of the murky water this episode was fascinating (as usual), & also unsettling to watch, ha ha. The writhing, translucent nematodes look like truly alien lifeforms!
That’s a big part of what I am to achieve with this channel :) so much of this stuff only has slight references to them online , or small pixelated photos that makes it difficult to see the products. I’m glad I can finally share info about these items in HD. I still have so many videos left on my “to-do” list though 😅
@@pico-cosmosI really enjoy your microscopic views also! I'm so so happy that you include those, they really add a completely unique perspective! One thing I think is fascinating is seeing close up how the different food sources affect the sea monkeys. I've been wondering- Do you think it's possible to make rainbow sea monkeys by feeding them different color foods one color at a time? 😮🌈 🦐
If or when you run out of stock for the 3D printed lids, are you planning on releasing the model? It'd be great for the open source community to remix the design and iterate on it
I don't actually have the model, I got a talented friend to design the lid for me. I do have a coupe STL files on my website though for very similar lids - you should be able to download and modify those 👍
plus it would be a lot cheaper for people internationally to get the files printed themselves instead of shipping from New Zealand. the price of shipping is what's keeping me from buying one :(
I got a Magic Castle recently and its my favorite I like the hole in the top to put my mini usb heater in and it fits perfectly in the middle of the castle walls. But if the Ocean Zoo had a big hole in the top like the older version I would consider getting it too
I like both but the themed one are a good change of pace. Currently the me and the wife have 2 ocean zoos( 1 is neon), magic castle, on mars, 2 aqua dragons (volcano and their basic tank), and 2 DIY tanks 1 gal & 1qt
I had the red one back in the late 70s early 80s nothing fancy just fun my mom actually sent in for it !! Which took several weeks for it to arrive !! I was filled with much anticipation and excitement until the day it arrived oh the memories 😊
Great video, John! I also like the older ones better than the newer ones. While I enjoy the classic beauty that the Ocean-Zoo offers, I do like the novelty of some of the other themed tanks too. Also, you should open up that orange one. Still kicking myself for not buying that.
Thanks Jon! I’ll definitely get around to opening and reviewing that glow in the dark Moose Ocean-Zoo at some point - though it feels like my list of videos to make is never ending 😆
I wish they made black tanks. I know they’re marketed towards kids but when I was a kid I still loved black and was a little upset how hard it was to find things I wanted in black. Especially toys that came in multiple colors Some things don’t change 🖤
I'm interested to know if you'd ever be open to the idea of uploading a video about your own custom sea monkey aquarium(s). I would love to know how you raise them outside of the use of a kit as this is something I've been interested in to know.
Have you had any luck in transplanting seweed from one tank to another? I would love to have a tank for my desk and think the seaweed is just gorgeous.
One quick question , just got two new tanks to check out , and I can’t believe that the magiquarium comes with a lid perfect for aquarium accessories, it’s just blows my mind why they wouldn’t adjust the ocean zoo to the same lid? And to be honest , for all of there tanks 🤣 I understand it’s a market probably more aimed at kids , but they need to understand there’s adult kids to🤣🤣 I’m only joking but would be a great if they did lol
I think my favorite is the modern magiquarium variant as the lids a 2 piece with a center magnifying glass which is really nice for adding a air pump and light well keeping it's iconic look
I'd just like to say these videos are amazing. I had no idea how cool these kits are and how fun all the different types of tanks are. I also just saw the pirate treasure tank and agree that its probably the coolest. Do you happen to still have the seller you got it from? I want one so bad but im not sure i trust the sellers I've found. But again, great videos!
I much prefer the most elaborate tanks. Although, I never had one. The one I had as a kid was a blue Ocean-Zoo. Also, here´s hoping you do an ENTIRE video on each Ocean-Zoo. Please. ...and tell us your favorite colors. One more thing, I´d like to know how the "crater" design at the bottom came about and what is supposed to represent.
I will probably do a video review for the orange Moose Toys Ocean-Zoo tank that I showed in this video at 4:13 - though it's pretty low on my priority list as I don't think many people will be particularly interested in it :/ That's a good question about the crater design! hHonestly I'm not entirely sure why they went for that - it'd make more sense if the tank was moon or rocky desert themed, seems a bit weird for a castle though
@@pico-cosmos Well, here´s hoping you fund an answer for the crater. If it is meant to be a creater. I mean, if they went to have a small design at the bottom the most common thing would be either a simple rock or a coral. But why a crater? And why they kept the design forever.
Hi I really like your sea monkey video I can't wait to see more I think old aquariums are cool but I thought of another creature you might like they're called triops their little Crustaceans and they are cool too
Curious as to if you get alot of salt build up on the top of your tanks with air pumps. If so, what do you do to reduce it if at all? Do you just clean it off daily or just before filming?
Love watching your videos they have learnt me alot it would be good if they came with live little plants in them instead of being bare and blank I love raising them from baby's to adults this hobby is great I love it
I was thinking about starting a brine shrimp tank as food for my other fish, but now I'm starting to think having a tank for them that resembles their more natural habitat might be cool, instead.
In 1975, maybe '76, I owned the single casting, red tinted design. Of course, as with many owners of that era, the brine shrimp died within a few months. Naturally, I kept the distinctive tank. I would likely still have it today if the plastic had no developed a collection of striated micro fractures. I don't recall the micron level cracks being deep enough within the acrylic to let liquid leak, but it ruined the look so I eventually tossed the tumbler sized aquarium. Like you, I preferred that single casting design, the color resulting from a thin coating of paint to the inner side of the base region. I would occasionally place one or two "grain of wheat" filament bulbs underneath (LEDs of the "white" variety for general illumination did not exist back then) and I'd imagine the sculpted crater was on the verge of eruption. The modern tanks, to be fair are still recognizable, but I was disappointed they switch to a two piece design. At least they occasionally sell tanks with the base cast in translucent plastic, hearkening to the '60s model tank.
I have a very small round 1 inch air stone which I used in a 1 gallon fish tank at one time. Is it safe to use this in my aqua dragon tank? Currently i am using the original tank which came with the kit. I am thinking of putting two kits into a 1 gallon tank. I am thinking I will have the proper balance of nutrients needed. thank you so much.
I also like the more true to life illustrated brine shrimp on the on current packaging. I wonder how much of that is just needed for legal false advertising reasons or an artistic choice.
Hi, my Sea Monkey tank is saying don't feed the fish until 7 days after opening the eggs, but google and other youtubers (and some of your videos) say don't feed it until 5 days afterwards. Should i stick to what the package says or??
my seamonkeys did not hatch at all, took a month to see 5 small ones and then they die off. Got a replacement package with eggs that did the same. Used AquaDragons eggs and instant hatch with so many colored brine shrimps. Never was lucky with sea monkeys.
I also have a marine fish tank in my house, so it’s possible they came from there. I often use the same maintenance tools amongst different tanks, so I think that probably helps things to spread
If someone wanted a different aquarium that was a bit larger than a traditional Transcience LLC tank, what are the best options? I would like something larger and more rectangular, something with enough room for the Picocosmos heater and air pump.
I have had my tank for about a month with air stone, heater and grow light but I haven’t seen any algae also all my sea monkeys are males does water temperature have effect on the gender? ( 79F)
I had one as a kid, and loved it so much! I also had the blue and the green-yellow one. They were for sure my favourite tanks, and I hope they re-release them one day! Although I won't hold my breath ^_^;
