The 55 Gallon Tank: Who's afraid of mulm! 

Saw the thumbnail so looked you had me at 27 secs. Not into white gravel, or neon ornaments "I just want my fish to be happy." Subbed. Have a good one from Australia :) Now to watch the rest of your video. Take care. edit : Yeah I agree with Stutter, can't see your filtration but a dirty old sponge filter always has mulm on it, maybe it's a circulation issue? You said you use you handy pandy baster I laughed, to apply to areas. idk. Nice tank, and all. Just my thoughts. I gather you are in USA but here yeah, just go for a walk in the park for wood the prices are outrageous. (No conifers) I look for wood that's died on trees and is still up there preferably with termites eaten out, nice and dry (not rotten).

Your 55 gallon tank is beautiful 😍 👍

You can make driftwood by using a deciduous branch (I used one from a pear tree) as coniferous trees have too much strong sap, and then soak it in water outside for a season till it gets waterlogged ( I used my pond and left it there during our frozen winter) and then the next summer bleached it in the sun, and by then most of the bark was gone, but removed the remaining bark and soft branches. I’ve used it for years with no negative effects…

I enjoy your videos very much! I’m thinking about going for a walk near the lake or creek near my house today to see if can find a nice piece of wood. I plan to watch all of your videos- you’re voice is so soothing and I love your guiding philosophy of making your fish happy. 😊

I like your aquarium. I like to set up my tanks with natural materials also. If you get a piece of wood from the forest it may turn your water brown like tea for some time but this is caused by the tannins in the wood that are kind of like what tea leaves do when you make tea, You might not like it but many of your fish will love it. Some aquarists try to create this on purpose for their fish, with wood, dried leaves, etc. Also, when you first put some wood in your tank it may get coated with a white film that looks scary but is harmless and will go away in time and some of your fish will even eat it. Some I am sure will tell you not to use wood that has not been boiled and prepared for use in an aquarium. I have put wood and rocks and other things I have found in my tanks for many years with no bad effects but if you don't want the tannins I would suggest getting a cheap plastic kiddy pool and soaking it for a while to get rid of most of the tannins, I am a senior like you and can not afford to pay what they are asking at the pet stores for driftwood so I find my own. After all where ever the pet stores got it from I guarantee that some somewhere got it from the woods to sell to them. Also, it may take a while soaking it before it gets waterlogged so that it will not float. There are lots of nice pieces out there just waiting to be found.

You should talk to Father Fish AquaPaula. He’s been doing this for 70 years.

They shouldn't all die because mulm is always being created. What should happen is that the amount of bacteria that are alive in your aquarium are just enough to keep eating the mulm but not enough to completely deplete it. You want to see mulm. Try trusting that the bacteria that are still there will reproduce enough to keep it in check.

Yes! Don't be afraid of mulm.

I have joined the dirt/sand planted aquarium movement for my guppies and tetras. Trying to figure out how to modify my koi setups for more natural.

I never gravel vac either and it's fine. The mulm increases the beneficial bacteria because it feeds them and keeps the colony alive when there's no other source of waste. Gravel vaccing is really only a vital practice in aquarium store tanks because they tend to be way overstocked & underdecorated for the BB to handle. At home with an aquarium with proper fish husbandry, gravel vaccing is only an aesthetic choice. Lots of betta keepers nowadays are promoting the "natural substrate method" which is basically just dumping leaves and twigs and any other natural goodness in the tank and leaving it to break down. They make for some of the most beautiful scapes and healthy fish. (Also, I don't know why your video got promoted to me a year after posting it, but consider me a new fan

Very interesting! Following. 😊

Thanks for the tip AquaPaula

You only need one heater. It also looks weird without the water all the way.

Well done

Good video!

Hello mam. What's the Big plant in middle

If your doing a natural tank, get more plants and get some sand, soil. Don't use chemicals.

Mulm interesting

Yes I’m a mulmist …..it’s a good sign……but I do take out some

Informative video. Thanks!

Hi look up father fish on RU-vid he has some good videos on how to keep your tank natural the way you like it for your fish

2:25 use less pristine.

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