I Tried to Make an EASY Aquascape for Shell Dwellers (ft.
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- I took down my 10-gallon aquascape because it was too high maintenance… and then promptly turned around and tried to see if I could make a low maintenance aquascape instead. 😅 Huge thanks to Zenzo from @TazawaTanks for the shell dwellers and Kenny from Natural Technique for the beautiful petrified wood as the hardscape. I’m not sponsored but feel free to visit his Etsy store at www.etsy.com/shop/NaturalTech... to see all the beautiful hardscape sustainably collected from New Mexico.
Check out my second collab video with Zenzo about stocking ideas for a 20-gallon long tank! • Top 5 Fish Ideas For a...
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🛒 MATERIALS I USED
(As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from the links below. Also, I work for Aquarium Co-Op but do not receive commissions from their links.)
▶ Aqueon 20-Gallon Long Aquarium: www.petco.com/shop/en/petcost...
▶ Aqueon Versa Top 30" X 12" Hinged Glass Aquarium Top: www.petco.com/shop/en/petcost...
▶ CaribSea Aragonite Aquarium Sand: amzn.to/38vLXj5
▶ Heater, 100W: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Sponge filter and accessories: www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aq...
▶ Petrified wood: www.etsy.com/shop/NaturalTech...
▶ Water sprite: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Finnex Stingray LED light: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Timer for light: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Easy Green fertilizer: www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
▶ Escargot snail shells (prewashed, food grade): amzn.to/3FRqcXk
▶ Cichlid salt (if you have soft tap water): amzn.to/3Pm7ACY
▶ Water test strips (to make sure you have high pH and GH): www.aquariumcoop.com/products...
📚 RESOURCES
▶ Shell dweller care guide: • Guide to Shell Dweller...
▶ How to install a sponge filter: • How to Install a Spong...
▶ Aquarium cycling experiments: • AQUARIUM CYCLING EXPER...
🦐 EXTRAS
▶ Instagram: / girltalksfish
▶ Merch store: girltalksfish.creator-spring.com
EDITOR: Matt Gray at www.grayfamilyfilms.com/ and / mentalityfilms
ATTRIBUTION
Music from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra... (if you use my referral link, I get 1 month free 😀)
Music from SoundStripe:
- Desert Dessert, by Anchor; INR1CECDLXCUGUKY
- Animal Balloons, by Dresden, The Flamingo; IRI5K7MFPZM3OOPS
- Easy Goer, by In This World; QSIHCJVC8IUXDOIH
- Punch Clock, by Nu Alkemi$t; JDJFYOWIFXCEMRYL
- Distant Water, by Chelsea McGough; IHHRG8MG6LOHBVSD
- Reverencia, by Alice In Winter; GS2QPJ8N4VEPZN6P
#girltalksfish #shelldwellers #aquascape
0:00 Can I make a shell dweller aquascape?
1:13 Step 1: fish tank and lid
1:32 Step 2: substrate
2:14 Step 3: heater and filter
2:49 Step 4: aquarium cycling
3:32 Step 5: hardscape
5:03 Step 6: live plants
6:02 Step 7: snail shells
6:52 Step 8: cichlid salt
7:42 Step 9: get the shell dwellers
*Check out our second collab video on Zenzo's channel about stocking ideas for a 20-gallon long tank! **czcams.com/video/ypEteycErg8/video.html*
Shell Dwellers are perfect for someone uncreative like me because they'll just make their own aquascape, can't wait to see the progression of this!
Haha, exactly! So far, they've only dug up this one area in the front left side, but the hardscape is too heavy for them to move so it still looks pretty cool.
Such a bummer about the shipping losses. Glad you were able to get more that survived. The shipping situation is so frustrating right now... I adore the idea of using petrified wood in a shell dweller tank. That's on my bucket list for future tanks.
I loved the collaboration with Zenzo! Very cool Irene!! I have recently made a multi tank with petrified wood too!
me too! they have a good chemistry, feels like 2 co-hosts and less like a collab. love both their channels
Tazwa tanks got me interested in my shell dwellers. Within a couple weeks they had fry. No turning back now. Love them 💕
Such a fun video! I love this format, and as always I love your transparency around what worked and what didn't.
Thanks for adding the detail about "burping" the shells! It took me a while to figure that out when I was setting up my shelly tank!
Haha, it took me a while to figure out which direction to turn the shells too!
I planted jungle Val’s in the back wall of the 50 gallon long that I used to have with neolamprologus multifaciatus cichlids. I used a mix of African cichlid sandy substrate, and white pool filter sand.I never used any rocks or hardscape in their tank and they were happy. They love to dig and change their lil spot in the tank a lot especially where their escargot shell home is. So no matter how much you may resmooth the sandy substrate, they will rearrange it all over again.
I have a Red Devil Cichlid named Bob the Builder who is constantly moving the sand. He is very fun to watch. :)
I really enjoyed this format - the collab with Zenzo was fun!
*Watch our other collab video where we talk about our top 5 dream fish for a 20-gallon long aquarium! **czcams.com/video/ypEteycErg8/video.html*
thank you for writing the temperature in celsius.🤗
Nice tank and layout 😃
That aquascape is simple functional and looks awesome I love it
I’m so excited for you! When I saw Zenzo’s video with you I hoped he’d suggest multies! I just got a 20L and multies 2 months ago and they have been FANTASTIC! I even saw fry after only 3 weeks. Hope you enjoy them as much as I am!
V nice work team!
Hi, Irene. I’m surprised you were able to get the aquarium full of water into the house, as I’m sure it was quite heavy. I’m glad you didn’t run into any issues with it. A couple of years ago, I bought an 80 gallon aquarium and hired a company to move it for me. They showed up at my house having drained most of the water from it, but all the substrate and decorations were still in the tank. I didn’t understand until I came across someone’s CZcams video that it’s safer to move it empty. I’m not sure of the cause, but two weeks after I got that 80 gallon tank I came downstairs in the morning to a strange noise. Turns out, the tank had sprung a leak, and there were 40+ gallons of water all over my Brazilian cherry hardwood floor. I definitely won’t ever move a tank unless it’s empty in the future.
Tempted with shell dwellers... tank looks great!
Wow it was an perfect aquascape wonderful i love it. Also thanks for teaching us about how to make an easy aquascape.
My pleasure! Can't get much easier than only using 1 kind of plant and 1 kind of hardscape.
@@GirlTalksFish Your welcome thanks for replying to my comment. Yeah.
Ngl I’ve been putting off watching this so I can save it for later. I caved 😂. I’m sorry you had to deal with seeing dead fish on arrival. That’s truly the stuff of nightmares. Anyway, the scape looks great and it was soooo adorable seeing that little multi tucked into the shell!
Haha, I never saw them do it again, so they must be feeling more comfortable in their new home. Glad you enjoyed the video!
Poor lil fishies!! I’m so glad the next round survived! Irene your tank looks so beautiful! The multis are so cute sitting in their shells! 🥰 God’s creatures are so cool! So blessed we can keep these guys in our homes!!
We have 7 tanks, 6 are 20 gal long, the other is our show tank 120gal. We love our 20gal longs for what we keep. Loved this aquascape, what a unique fish to keep.
So pretty, I LOVE that wood. Wow!
The petrified wood was a fantastic idea. Love how it looks.
I could not agree more with regard to the choice of fish. I currently have two 40 gallon breeders with shellies. Besides the tendency for the fish to rearrange the 'scape (you seem to be pretty chill and won't be bothered by this) your biggest challenge is what you will do with all the fry. These little guys are quite prolific - best of luck, love the video. Greetings from just up the road in Rapid City, South Dakota
Irene, I'm so happy you got multis! I just got them a couple weeks ago. They're in a 20 long as well. They're my first African cichlids, too, and I'm already in love. They are so active, fun, and enjoyable. I also got them from a fellow hobbyist through the mail and I was nervous because they were gasping for air when I opened the bag, doing a weird shimmy like yours, but happy to report they are all in good health.
I think the algae on the snail shells is inevitable and they will mess with the scape by burying rocks and shells, creating mounds. Just enjoy them for the amazing little creatures that they are. The scape is always secondary to functionality with these guys. Hope you enjoy them. Take care.
Liked the video...please update us on how they do and when they start breeding. They supposedly are like rabbits! I just rehomed my multies after 2 years of them not breeding like everyone says they should. This definitely made me miss them!!
Best of luck, Irene!!
Will do! I need to start hatching more baby brine shrimp, for sure.
That is a beautiful tank! It was a little sad that most of the fish in the first shipment died. I'm glad that they all lived the 2nd time around.
Love the hardscape!
This is perfect! I’m in the research phase of setting up my own multi shell dweller tank!!
Great collab with Z. You guys work well together and the content is fantastic. I catch myself constantly checking for new stuff from both of you and Jimmy. Keep up the great work!!!
Awesome Idea! Cant wait to see how it turns out!
Irene! How did you read my mind. I discovered these guys a couple of months ago. So tempted to set up a shell dweller tank!
I know, right? Such interesting behaviors. I'm looking forward to seeing little babies.
I love watching videos of other fish keepers’ tanks and fish, the problem being, I have a tendency to WANT all the fish, shrimp, etc., I see in these videos. I am retired, so funds are limited, and I have to convince myself to be content with what I have, which is 1) 75 gallon tank with a Tiger Oscar, a Jack Dempsey, and a common Pleco; 2) a 55 gallon tank with one Red Devil named Bob the Builder; 3) a 40 gallon breeder with Platys, bristlenose plecos, neon tetras, and a betta from KGTropicals; 4) a 20 gallon long with baby bristlenose plecos, neon tetras, and Amano shrimp. That SHOULD be enough to satisfy me, right?
Of course, now I also want shell dwellers. That tank of yours is beautiful. I wish you success with them going forward. :)
What a super fun project. Loved this video. It came out sooo pretty, congrats!
That’s rubbish the shipping let you down - it’s a beautiful scape x
It came out beautifully 😍 ❤
And the earrings! Nice touch
Thank you! They're laser cut goldfish earrings from Etsy! Very lightweight and not loud at all when I shake my head.
That's a great live plant! Really like how it looks as a floating plant
I love your scape idea! I wish i have ideas like that. u make it look simple and beautiful. the fishes must be so happy with this new home.
Great setup! What a timely video! I just saw this after getting my first colony of multis today. I’ve got them in a 40 breeder with a large river rock and driftwood scape. I did use a couple different types of both Anubias and Java fern in the scape.
Yesss! I love my shell dwellers!
Amazing looking tank and neat fish!❤
You are an amazing fish keeper and you have inspired me so much! Thanks for all your hard work! (;
awesome tank
Nice! I could tell you were going to end up with some by the article. FYI: You can take the lil Water Sprite offshoots(that have roots) and attach them to driftwood to make trees (instead of moss)
Shipping issues, both cost and delays, have destroyed many a hobbyists plans and it always sucks. $200 bucks is mad wild. I'd say next time if you're going with USPS to get one of their priority boxes and go from there. They're free and standardized.
Really enjoyed the video and your setup looks great.
U is good girl Irene! 🥰🐶
great video love shell dwellers ive just set up a cichlid tank myself i have severums convicts and yellow labs hoping to get a nice collection 👍
It's great to hear from you because I'm too starting my first cichild tank 😁❤️
Very cool! What kind of cichlids?
Grear video! I absolutely love my shell dwellers! I was watching to make sure I am doing everything right.
How have they been doing for you? Mine are kinda shy, but if I sit in front of the tank and don't move, then they come out and play.
@@GirlTalksFish Yes, I have had mine for over a year and the still dart into their shells with any sudden movement in the room. They have been easy to feed, I use flake and frozen brine shrimp. I love to watch them moving the sand.
OH! A shell dwellers tank is among my next projects! Although It'll have to wait as I'm relocating countries soon. Need to say goodbye to my current tanks 😭
Love your scape, Irene and I might take some cues from it for my future shellies tank 💕
They seem like pretty cool fish and I hope one day I get to try them out! I have a 40g tank with less than five fish that I been thinking of starting over with since sadly it seems cursed to killing most fish I put in it. If/when I do start over I been thinking of these types of fish.
Love it
Finally you got some Shellies!
Wow. I absolutely loved your thumbnail.
How do you get your fish to swim backwards into the net? Wish mine could.🤔
Lol, I forgot to give my editor the B-roll for when I caught them so he just reversed the footage as a joke for y'all. 😂
Omg this tank is goals, want a set up like this 💯, where can we purchase these kinds of cichlids
I love your shirt Irene!
Thank you! I don't like to go shopping, but my mother-in-laws loves going to thrift stores and helped me find this one.
This format is so good though im not thinking of keeping shell dwellers anyrime soon. I wish you do this kind of videos to all types of fish. Need guide to set up my congo tetra fish.
That looks cool and he was to👍
I love your tank setup! I want multies so bad but am worried about overpopulation. The petrified wood is so beautiful and interesting. I have a powder blue dwarf gourami, Frank, along with 2 female platys who he relentlessly attacks, and ember tetras in mine. I love the 20L. In another 20L I had dwarf emerald danios and guppies.
Thanks for writing down temperatures in celsius for us Europeans :)
Sucks about the fish loss. Im in FL and recently ordered some wild caught cories from south FL about 5 hours away. They got lost in the mail. A week and a day later they arrived on my porch. Expecting the worst, I only had one out of 6 DOA. It helps to send one fish per bag, minimal water and maximum O2.
Great video and collaboration with Zenzo. Can't wait to see the follow-up video on the progress of your new tank of multis. If you want to learn more about multis and other shell dwellers, you should check out Prime Time Aquatics on CZcams. Go through his Playlist and find all the ones on shellies. He's got a 50 gallon lowboy tank with a whole colony of Multis. Good photography in the videos.
Very cool. I got a free 20 gallon high that I haven't set up yet because I still really like 20 gallon long foot print much better
20 long is just a great great tank
The 20G Long is my favorite size. Just wait till you get a 40G Breeder. It's like a 20G Long, but JUMBO!
"I don't like sand. It's coarse, rough, irritating, and it gets everywhere."
😂🤣😂
Definitely a star wars fan 😏
Okay...... so as the leader of the sand cul... club I will say one thing. Change your sinful ways.
After adding Aquarium planting soil to my tank. I had a giant bacterial bloom and I couldn’t figure out why because I also put it in the two outdoor ponds 54 bucks for a bag of soil I can’t imagine the hassle of sand but I really liked The beachy vibe that sand gives . Whenever it gets warm enough I’m going to put my guppies out in the two patio ponds I built by the way the same exact bag of aquarium soil and no bacterial bloom I think I’m going to redo my indoor tank into a beachy Aqua scape. Now where can I find palm trees for the aquarium. Plus I have rainwater it’s the only way we have of collecting water we don’t have city water we don’t have a well we just collect rainwater off of our roof into our double cistern. So all the tips on getting the water harder after a meltdown of over 15 packages of plants was a big hard lesson to learn because The plants do not like reverse osmosis, distilled, or rainwater. I put two little seashells in my tank. But Cory says that you need to put some crushed coral to bring up the ph in the tank. I never thought how expensive this was going to be just raise some guppies.
@@omaeve
"These aren't the ̶d̶r̶o̶i̶d̶s̶ comments you're looking for."
I really like this tank. I am curious as to where you found the floating water wisteria. It looks Like the plant cory is always talking about.
Hey! That's such an informative video! I am looking forward to make my first shell dweller tank and I am sure this is going to help a lot. By the way that gourami tank behind you looks so beautiful, how old is it?
Personally like to go heavy on plants and keep shrimp, and cobra guppies, I also have one with a betta and some shrimp. The 20 longs are great for display
I do fish in cycles, daily water changes I also keep extra media in other tanks
You put the shells on two opposite ends of the tank... You're going to start a war lol.
I have had nothing but horrible experiences with USPS with live fish and just normal packages. For anyone who wants to by a fish online definitely recommend checking with the supplier to see so who they ship with and sadly you will always have to end up paying 3x more (regardless of who ships it) than what the fish is worth in shipping. Good on him for switching and paying more for the fish to arrive alive. Sorry to hear about the first batch. :(
They aren't that difficult to find here on the Front Range. I suppose the shipping fish was about inhouse favors? I love the petrified wood and finished aquascape. Nice Job!
Irene, I have a huge colony of Multi’s…. You want some, say the word 😇
How do you find the wood affects the PH? Beautiful tank BTW.
I'm local to you Irene, if you need any more multis.
Nice looking tank. I definitely know what it feels to lose so many fish due to late shipment. Where I live at online order is basically the only way to get fish and I really hate that. Extremely high price plus 2-3 days shipment from another country and constantly worrying will the fish make it.
Oh no! How terrifying!
I've had my multies for 6 months, they haven't had any babies. It's sad haha. I tried Brevis shell dwellers and they all vanished over night. I found one outside of the tank, guessing it jumped, but idk where the others went.
Sorry but I wanted to post on your most current video so I can get answers from anyone paying attention. Had an ammonia spike and now have three sick fish (and one died) as a result. Treating all with paracleanse, maracyn, maracyn 2......BUT. I'm on day 4 and I still see velvet on one of the fish. I wanted to wait a couple of weeks and then continue treatments but now I doubt it's an option. I was planning to try coppersafe but I don't see anywhere how long I should wait, or if there can be interactions with the other medications I've been using. Any advice is appreciated.
I'm surprised u didn't plop the multies in the tank like u did with ur betta lol despite ur methodical, meticulous, step by step approach in fishkeeping.😅
What size and kind of light did you?
How do I get some shell dwellers my local stores have none
When you say “easy for shell dwellers” i hope the shell dwellers you are referring to are introverts and that all the hard scape you can find indoors. Thank you.
Jungly is cool.
minute 3.10, what is this spiral, please? is it what i can't believe it is?
3:08 is that a spiral poop..?
I had put a piece of petrified wood in an aquarium and it started to dissolve, for want of a better word
love you irene
First!
Why didn’t Zenzo use a plastic bag and oxygen to ship?
I started with 7 that survived shipping. Now I have many hundreds, maybe 1000+. What to do with all these fish? 😂 They are so interesting. In a 22 gallon I have 3 x 36 packs of escargot shells. Creating an aquascape is pointless. It will not last an hour.
You hate sand because of the way you're rinsing it. Keep it in the bag, cut the the top corners, maybe 2" - 3" off the corner. Stick a hose in, turn it on, it will "fluidize" the sand, the sand will be too heavy to escape and dust you don't want, will float away. Watch the magic happen, love sand.
Use ammonia instead of fish
Yep. Never put fish in your tanks, there's always going to be nitrates in there. Better to keep a bleach aquascape.
Poor fishes the ones that died 😢
They didn’t survive 😭😭😭😭😭😭noooooo I can’t
So... what's the deal with that fishy's curlicue poo??
The term aquascape is being used very loosely. This is a normal aquarium
Looks like you have a lot of males.
Oh no, I hope not! I believe they're all juveniles currently.
Don’t like the fake chat back and forth love the content but this isn’t for me x