Another tip: If you have hard decorations that feel sharp sandpaper is your best friend.

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

wow thats a great suggestion!

@PrinceWinter2010

4 ай бұрын

Another another tip: a beta's stomach is the size of its eyeball so one pellet twice a day is enough

@josephnicols4964

2 ай бұрын

@@PrinceWinter2010 not true 3

~ Yesterday, I got a bettta that a family member gave me suddenly - she didn't want to take care of him anymore.. And I didn't have a cycled tank - but I put him in my empty five gallon with a bit of stress coat, and I put pothos stem with roots ( that I had been growing already ) in the tank so that there is a live plant to feed on Ammonia, Nitrates, ect. ~ I use a thermometer as well to keep a constant monitor of the water temperature - it's within the range the bettas like because my bedroom stays warm. This morning, he had a bubble nest at the top.. 😅 ~ He's not eating yet, due to being moved to a bigger and new environment, but once he relaxes and learns he's environment, I'm sure he'll start eating again.. It'll just take time.. 😌

@f2hw6

18 күн бұрын

Same. I got tank and fish same day he had bubble nest by morning and it's been about a week and I've been testing the water and it's at perfect levels thank God ❤

Good to see another video from you. I've watched a lot of videos from different youtubers over the last 15 months, and I honestly think you have the best videos on betta care. Keep them coming! You should try to show us all your fish sometime soon.

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

means a lot, thank you!

Bro you have the perfect approach to these videos no filler just straight information and a great KZread voice

I've seen a lot of your other videos. Thank you so much for spreading awareness on how to properly take care of a betta.

Piggy backing on leaving enough airspace at the top of the tank- make sure you leave enough room between the surface of the water and the filter so the surface tension breaks and oxygenates the water! (Unless of course you have a sponge filter/airstone). I recently had an incident with suffocating my fish by accident 😢 After I did a water change I forgot to pull my filter back up enough, and it was level with the surface of the water. When I went to check on him the next day he was gasping at the bottom of the tank 😭 I quickly realized my mistake and fixed it- he was fine within 10 minute. But the stress I think almost killed him because he hid and did not eat for almost a week. Poor guy 😔 he seems to have made a recovery though thankfully!

Such a great video!! Your video should be seen by anyone who wants more education on Bettas and even ones who have owned fish before. You are honest, speak well, and humble. Thank you!

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words!

Actually pretty useful information here. I appreciate the content 🙏

I had a siamese fighter nd he absolutely loved my ship wreck on the day I got my first siamese fighter I searched for him nd stressed but then I realised he was chilling inside the ship nd he often put his head through the hole and layed in it

Awesome videos man , it’s helped me a lot to set up my beta tanks 👍

Hi! I'm a first time viewer. I got a betta about 8 months ago and added a rabbit snail and 4 glowlight tetras into my 10 gallon. I just want to say that I have these neat little stick-on water testers. They last you a year and one measures the pH and one the ammonia. It probably won't work as well as the API or tetra test kits, but they last a whole year which is super nifty.

@jazztiger07

6 ай бұрын

whats it called

Hi … quick question does this heater turn off at whatever degree you set it up to? For example I want my heater to shut off at 80 and to turn on when it’s at 75 degrees

Wooohoooo welcome back! I was wondering if you had moved or had another large life change. Hope everything is going well, and it's delightful to see your videos again, whenever you are able to manage them.

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

renovations definitely take more time than i thought! glad to provide content when i can though

Great info, again...thanks.

Good info. Happy to watch.

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

thank you!!

I like how you take care of your fish. Some of these betta people are messed up. I bred bettas n managed not to overcrowed my grow tanks, but some of these guys just pack them in or jar them in literal cups, no lids either

great video! I just have one question. can I have a male betta with a bristle nose pleco in a 20-gallon tank? thanks

You have to put an Indian Almond dry leaves for protection in bacteria or fungus in tank another benefits for betta is for quality of water having good apetite

Great advice!

Hi there, many of the 10 gallon tanks come with mirrors on the side. Is this a no-go for Betta?

Love these beta fish videos ❤saved me a lot of work. I bought heaters filters n lights u recommend 🐟 🐠 🐟 I have a 10 gallon n a small bowl n I switch them every 2 weeks.

Yesterday, I suddenly got a betta fish from a family member who didn't want to take care of him anymore.. She kept him in a 1 gallon bowl.. So when I got him, I set up a 5 gallon I already had and placed some pothos plants (only the roots and stem, not leaves) in the tank with him to help with ammonia, nitrates, ect - I also put some Stress Coat in the water to help him relax after the move... I have a floating thermometer in the water to constantly keep check of the water temp.. My bedroom is naturally warm, so the water stays within the temp that bettas like (which is between 75 - 80 °F).. He's doing okay, and is active.. and he is very nosy.. When I'm near his tank, he comes to the front to see what I'm doing.. LoL.. This morning I found a bubble nest on the water's surface. I'm not getting him a girlfriend.. 😅

@mrdomomrdomo

5 ай бұрын

Oml same, currently freaking out making sure he will live and not die immediately from stress, even worse, he came home from the person who didnt want him in a vase :( AND WALKED HIM TO MY HOUSE IN THE WINTER, got a 10 gallon tank, getting everything ready, I know he said not to immediately put them in a tank but im so afraid of him dying cause i had no intentions of getting a fish and wasnt just gonna let him die a horrible death

@Clairvoyant2020

2 ай бұрын

Hi 👋 I'm a new Betta fish owner and I'd like to put live plants 🪴 in my 5 gallon tank plus I have a green thumb

Omg my poor betta got stuck behind the filter once and I legit thought he died. But once I removed the filter from the side of the tank, he came shooting out! Hes fine. I put a little aquarium salt in his tank in case he injured himself, but he still ate for me shortly after the incident. Needless to say, I made sure there was more space there so he wouldnt get stuck again. I was so happy yet so pissed at him 😅

hi i have a crowntail beta fish and he hasnt eaten in a while i havent changed anything and the water is good Temperature and i dont think hes sick do you know why?

excellent video....um doubt haunts me is it necessary to cover because I have seen aquascaping aquariums with open bettas, since I read that it pops out?

Do you have any tips for glasssurfing and plants (have holes and have brown colored areas) rotting and floating to the top? There is also a biofilm ressembling somewhat of a rainbow shimmering oil film at the top of my tank (even with sponge filter) and my fish has become more aggressive for food, trying to bite my finger when administrating it. He jumped out to get the food in my hand today, and he had a fin tear from me picking him up from the floor, i believe (only minor one, tho). What can I do? Im really distressed about it. i love my buddy

I’m not sure what heater to get. Im in between FUMAK Mini Aquarium Heater Adjustable 25W Submersible Fish Tank Heater with LED Digital Display, or this one FREESEA 25 Watt Aquarium Betta Fish Tank Heater with Aquarium Submersible Thermometer what do you believe is best for my aquarium it’s a 6 gallon and it’s also for a betta and my room gets hot as 80 degrees during the summer and during the cold since I have in Ac up to 70 degrees

Hey man wondering where you purchase your bettas from?

I was just going through your channel earlier today and wishing you had a new video up haha. Any more vlogs coming soon? :P

Where do you buy your betas?

Do we still need to add almond leaves if ph is 6

Can u do an update video on 5g fluval Spec V on the spray bar?

Thank you ❤

I just got a betta fish, the tank i bought him is 5 gallons, and he has driftwood and live plants in his tank, but hes' very skiddish and shy, hes not interactive, and i noticed he has fin rot. What do i do?

As a labmanager with a tank at the lab, it is easy to just measure my water parametres there

Question: Can I use a Southern Magnolia leaf to float in the top of the betta tank??

As a hobbyist who was "scouted" by a petco asst mngr to be stores aquatic specialist after having a candid fish my rambling caught his attention. Me being blunt, whitty and humorous asks; " So would I get fired if I told guests all these little tanks should be illegal?" While kindly suggesting they could be a nice hospital tank, or small scaped shrimp tank even at that anything under 3G not advisable. 🙄 I got the bettas are found in hoove prints long expired bs answer. 😊 I replied: you could put me in a small closet w light, air, feed me, and give me a bucket to potty in, at some point it's it'll stress me, cause illness, my happiness would fade, maybe I become aggressive, out of character but gets ignored, boredom sets in, until I lose hope and die. I'm not able to take the position currently anyway, it's wonderful to know my knowledge caught his attention and unfortunate his um.. knowledge caught mine.

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

what a great analogy haha - hopefully the manager learned something that day ;)

I made the cholla wood mistake twice. The first time I fortunate only had to readjust the log to let him free, but the second time I had to use forceps to pull him out. I got rid of them and my java ferns after that scare

Is it true that for these fish it is very important that the ground be dark and the background too? I made a white background and poured light sand (I also made an island composition of stones and plants in the middle). It was pointed out to me that this is wrong..

LISTEN: my wife got my kid a beta fish and assumed it would live in the .5 gal transport tank/ in route i have a 6 gal tank filter heater sand and silk plants she had no idea how ready i was: her response was:the fish i had as a kid lived for "weeks" in the cup we got it in... smh

Hello! How are you? Very informative video!

This is a great video! Keep it up 👍 😊

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

this helps a lot i think i will send this to my friend who has 1 beta fish

Keep it up love your vids!

I got a 10 gallon for my betta who was in a 5 gallon. It's one with an LED bubble wall, and this guy wedged himself between the air tube and power cord for that wall. I thought he was stuck, but he wiggle out. Regardless, I still filled that gap with gravel, so he wouldn't get stuck.

Great video. Being relatively new to this, I have a mignon 60 filter, how often should I clean the filter and do I use tap water to do so?

@uzay4242

Жыл бұрын

Not sure what type of filter that is but u dont need to clean the filter unless its clogged up. If u decide to clean it tho i would suggest using tank water to keep all the beneficial bacteria. Tap water has chlorine and it can kill ur bacteria thus crashing ur cycle. Hope this helps!!

@nathananderton8546

8 ай бұрын

If I may comment; cleaning your filter media with tap water is only ok if your tap water does not contain chemicals such as chlorine or chloramine. City water contains these dangerous additives to kill bacteria - the very thing you need to neutralize bi products of fish waste (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.) If you use water with these chemicals you will kill the beneficial bacteria in your filter. The exception would be if you have a well or fresh spring water. I recommend the Father fish channel on KZread for more information on natural planted tanks with deep sand substrates.

I have a question. Can I place a 10-gallon tank against an outside wall? It's a Sourthern-facing wall. It would be 2 feet from a window with a blind that I never open or raise the blind.

@Pharmaquatics

Ай бұрын

I think you should be fine. You may get some algae issues with the regular sunlight intervals but I would be more watchful on any potential fluctuations in tank temperature. Depending on how thick the blinds are

One of the too small tanks wasn't even a tank. Those cages are usually used for bugs. I use them for bugs anyway. I give them to my rat sometimes. People, do not use bug cages for fish..

@Pharmaquatics

7 ай бұрын

makes for a great ant farm

Can we get a tank tour soon?

so is there any fish doctors her? i had a betta who was happy as a lark but he then tilted sideways and after like a month he finally died. and my first betta died within three days. could anybody explain?

Mine got caught in some floating plants that had offshoots.

Welcome back!

This dude needs to be hosting a TV show. Or something with wider appeal!

Thank you mine just died I’m so sad 😢

Great Video

I have raised Bettas in the past. These are good recommendations for almost any fish. That said I plan on starting the aquarium thing again. It's been 20 years since I had a tank so I'm getting some refreshers and new info before starting. (There is so much new stuff available and better tanks these days!) I used to have a 100g saltwater tank. (never again, waay too much work and expense) I'm thinking about a 55g freshwater natural system with soil and live plants. I will add a filter for water flow. I love Bettas but as you can only have 1 male to a tank my new tank will probably be geared toward a community tank. I just need more info on good lighting for the plants. I'm also looking for good tank mates for Bettas. I like fancy guppies but I hear those big fins may look too much like another Betta. (BTW I'm a nurse)

@domepiece11

4 ай бұрын

r/BettaFish, r/PlantedTank

about the cycling... is it like you just let it run for almost 8 weeks without adding something? like i do have water test kit, but am i going to put something for cycling? or just set it up and good beneficial bacteria will just come in by just letting it run for 8 weeks? that is actually what I am confused...

@nathananderton8546

8 ай бұрын

Cycling a tank is very important when all new materials are used and there is no source for healthy live bacteria; clean gravel, new plastic plants, etc. By placing a half inch layer of organic potting soil under a 2 inch layer of rinsed sand, and adding live plants, you introduce all the necessary bacteria to cycle your new tank in a few days. Father Fish channel on KZread is a great source for more info. Adding a deep sand substrate also provides the anoxic areas for these beneficial bacteria to thrive. And no, there aren't "dangerous" gas bubbles that will kill your fish. Every tank I have started this way, for myself and friends, has never had ammonia or nitrite but skipped directly to nitrates. We have done close to 20 such tanks now in many sizes from 2 gallons to 65. All have incredibly stable water parameters and rarely need water changes; as in months to years. We've also never lost a fish to water parameter issues- not one.

Awesome video! I didn't see the link for the beneficial bacteria?

@clarkcac2584

Жыл бұрын

look up quick start by API it has worked for me for a while

@Pinkeed

Жыл бұрын

I use Seachem Stability.

@jazztiger07

6 ай бұрын

he the link is titled conditioner or something

I had to move my small 5 gallon Beta tank from it's spot due to work being done in my house. We picked up the tank with my Beta in it and moved it to the kitchen then back the next day. While in the kitchen, he hid on the bottom of the tank and never ate. It's been a week since moving him back and he still hasn't eaten. He is still on the bottom of the tank and I think he is dying. Should I have taken him out of the tank before moving the tank? This same thing happened to my last Beta but he was in the kitchen for a longer period of time so I didn't think this would happen again. My kitchen isn't hot.

!!! If you have a higher powered filter, you can use things like hardscapes and plants to slow the current !!! I have a 20g long with a 35ish gallon filter. I have a wood hardscape and hornwort to slow the current.

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

great tip!

I agree fully great video.

does anyone know why my bettas keep getting stuck to my all in one aquarium intake? Like its not strong enough. I did put a plastic mesh over the intake with tiny holes. Are they that weak of swimmers and like the top of aquarium thats why?

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

some bettas actually intentionally perch themselves to the intake just to chill lol as non-scientific as that sounds. a few of mine have done that in the past

How long do I have to wait for the green stuff? Also I bought my tank 2 days ago and I bought my betta yesterday is that fine?

@knoxflaro61

Жыл бұрын

He said cycle your tank for minimum a month. You waited a day 😂

@uniquelykmee9688

Жыл бұрын

I wait a week on day 4 I put my beta in the water NOT in the tank, to get him acclimated on day 6 he's in the tank.....2yrs an counting he's great. I'm not waiting a month

@haleyburnett5252

4 ай бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/a3ep09ulkcTRY6g.htmlsi=ZZPB9LxCH3Kt8a7j check out this video, it helps for when you added a fish before the tank cycles!

Amen@ Cycle, cycle, cycle FIRST. Anything less is cruel at the least. A death sentence at worst!!! Don't disgard any of the other advise either! It's all NECESSARY.

The API master water test kit is exactly what my wife bought when my previous beta was sick… We kind of made a decision based off what it says about it… Turns out, we made a really good choice!

I made the mistake on getting an Aqueon and I don’t recommend getting one at all. The tank itself is good for starting out but the filter gets loud overtime and taking off the lid shakes the tank which scares my beta fish overall 3/10

I got a betta fish kinda thrown onto me so i went and bought him a 30 gallon tank and you can tell hes much happier

@Pharmaquatics

2 ай бұрын

A dedicated 30 gallon is magnificent!

Yo pls make more content 🙏 I wanna watch more betta vids

New subscriber but i enjoy your videos

Great video. Every person who has never owned a Betta should watch this. The only one that I would take issue with is filter flow. I have a 10 gallon tank with an Aquaclear 20 at full flow, and I watched my Betta purposefully and repeatedly swim under the outflow from the filter just for fun. :) Of course, you don't want a strong current swirling the tankwater around so fast, the Betta can't swim against it, but I've never seen a normal outflow of water harm them in any way.

@missselizabeth5696

Жыл бұрын

My betta also plays in the flow. I do have a female. I think the issue is with long finned males who are too weighed down to swim against strong flow. A plaket would probably be a-okay.

awesome video

The smallest Betta tank should be 6,7 but that is the absolut minimum! And just for the very long-finned. The minimum for a short-finned are 8 Gallons. The maximum Tank size is around 15-16 Gallons. Please choose something in between and not the minimum.

My betta fish eats mosquito larvae but when i give him pallets he spits it out is it too big for him ?

@zohebm9866

4 ай бұрын

Where do you find mozzie larvae?

My betta doesn't flare, but he is super active. Why is it so?

Beginners should know about this cycle specially if they are young or those people who just bought it because it's cute and after that they don't find it exciting anymore. For advance fishkeepers or betta keepers we already know what we are doing and will actually invest on things that we need. For me, I have testkit, stressout, liquid supplement, methylene blue, epsom and aquarium salt, nitrifying bacteria on bottles just to be prepared. Yeah it's good to keep something instead of not having (I learned this on the hard way).

Oh no! I was hoping to have a betta in the 10 litre (2.6 gallon) tank I got from my mother in law... If this is too small, are there better fish alternatives? Guppies?

@stride3051

9 ай бұрын

Guppies would still be too big especially since they are a schooling fish. If you want you could try a shrimp or two!

wish i wouldve watched this BEFORE i got my beta

@PrinceWinter2010

4 ай бұрын

same

Ngl if my betta gets stuck I'm calling that natural selection

@Pharmaquatics

2 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

Whenever i buy a betta or any fish.. first I go to our local glass manufacturer ie. Windows, sliding doors, table etc. They make aquariums also if you want a costumized size just give them a drawing and talk or bargain for the price.. instead of pet stores selling you those sh*tty tanks..

Wow, I guess everybody has different information. Anyway, good video.

@Pharmaquatics

2 ай бұрын

Always good to diversify your sources of info! Trust but verify

My sister in law gave my son a Betta a few days ago in a tiny tank, I've never owned a fish before and realize I've gotta move quick to care for it Update: sadly my wife found "Dodger" stuck in the plant at the bottom of the tank a couple months ago. I like the idea of getting another fish or maybe some tiny breeds so we can keep a small tank.

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

better late than never!

@CathedralRabbit

9 ай бұрын

This has just happened to me too!

@nathananderton8546

8 ай бұрын

Check out the Father Fish channel; natural planted tanks with deep sand substrates. These tanks have very stable water parameters and can go months without water changes. Gravel basically turns a tank into a sewer because it is course and permeable while a deep sand substrate is not. This creates a septic system of sorts- giving you much less waste washing back into the water column and providing incredibly stable water parameters. We have done nearly 20 such tanks in all sizes and find they skip the ammonia cycle and go straight to nitrates. Such tanks can go months without water changes and remain totally healthy.

Waiting for another upload about fishes

@Pharmaquatics

Жыл бұрын

soon ;)

Bro when are you going to post again?

you can circumvent cycling if you or a friend have an established mature aquarium. Just put the bio-media in that filter for a 1-2 days. A single Betta isn't gonna produce a big bio load

@Pharmaquatics

4 ай бұрын

very true, my LFS offers cycled filters

Do bettas need access to sunlight?

Can I use hydrogen peroxide in my betta tank 24 hours before I add my betta I keep getting worms and other parasite/living organisms in my tank even after weeks of treatment

Your videos are 🔥🔥 now make another video with your skincare routine this time 😂😂

Yes please... The last tip. It's the easiest thing to do and people aren't still doing it.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Can male bettas have females in sight permantely? I haven´t been able to find answer to this anywhere. I know males cannot live with females and I know females can live with other females. However I have a 30 gal tank where I have 4 females. I rescued a male from a relative, and didn´t have a thermostat to put him in a tank by himself (water´s very cold where I live) so what I did was make a small division in the large thank to give him about a 10 Gal section and the other 20 for the females. The division is clear (glass) so he obviously had the females in sight and would react to them. I had him like that over a perior of a week and noticed he would make egg nests pretty much every day, as in preparing for mating. I don´t know if this is safe for the male long term or if will place him in a constant state of stress since the nests never get used and the best thing would be to get him on his own tank as soon as possible.

@ghostg8030

Жыл бұрын

Ive actually had pairs who lived together permanently n peacfully, but mostly i have to seperate them, or they fight, good question tho since its not usual for them to pair up like two pairs i had

@kurenainatsume5802

Жыл бұрын

Only let male and female stay together until they lay eggs, after that you should take 1 of them out. Male betta shoudnt stay together with it own kind even if it a female

Are you done with videos?? I would love to see more of your videos

@Pharmaquatics

8 ай бұрын

planning on ramping back up soon! what would you like to see?

@aquazatchb1426

8 ай бұрын

@@Pharmaquatics i want to see how you clean your tanks or what ACTUALLY goes into making them look as good as yours for these videos 😉

Ive had my 3 betas for 1 year. I have no issues with a non filtered tank. So is all this actually necessary

@Pharmaquatics

5 ай бұрын

me pushing in the hobby that a filter isnt necessary would be negligent but congrats on your success! maybe share additional context of how your tank is set up? so someone reading this comment can learn something from it!

@graceyoung2182

5 ай бұрын

@@Pharmaquatics I like to always have a healthy aquatic plant in their tank but they are each in a large fishbowl. The largest I've been able to find while keeping the traditional fish bowl shape. I feed them high protein pellets and bloodworms for a snack. I have them close to natural sunlight for lighting and I change their tanks twice per month with same temp water treated with aqua safe water drops.

cycling ur tank isn't needed. Never once in my life had an issue aslong as you use springwater and put live plants in the tank, done this 15+ years never once had a fish die from ammonia.

You can live in a jail cell; but would you thrive and be happy? No. Same goes for animals. Fortunately I became addicted to aquarium information and started watching all kinds of videos after I got a residential client a betta fish. Eventually after a couple weeks got the fish a 5 g tank after pet store had sales on them.

Feeding was not covered

One thing you didn't mention. Don't put betas with other betas or fish that can stress them out. Betas do better alone but some betas are ok with tankmates. Some are not. Their personalities differ just like people.

@Pharmaquatics

2 ай бұрын

very true! it's coming up in a video I have recorded

‘DON’T buy the fish and tank at the same time, wait 6-8 weeks to buy the fish’ Me: (I just bought my betta earlier today) 😟 Edit: I will get quick start drops but how long can my betta stay in the cup? I know it can’t be for long, I grew up with my dad and I having a few bettas but now I’m an adult so I don’t remember much

@haleyburnett5252

4 ай бұрын

Hey! So some people do fish in cycling with a daily dose of prime and stability . Both products are made my seachem!

@haleyburnett5252

4 ай бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/a3ep09ulkcTRY6g.htmlsi=ZZPB9LxCH3Kt8a7j

great😍

But there is so many different comments

Great tips. Thank you. I am sorry for your loss. I got one of those cute small 1.7G Betta Kit Tanks. Within a few weeks, I tried a 6.6G kit tank since I am limited in my apartment. I like it, but soon realized that I still need to get a larger tank since I want to get a few more fish for his Clean-up Crew. So, I rearranged the apartment to make room for a 55G Aquarium to become my room-divider between the living-room and kitchen-dining area. This way I can see it from where ever I am in this open design apartment. I need this open space since I still have those days when I need the walker. I currently use a cane, but getting stronger and try not to use it too much at home. I just picked up the 55G Aquarium and waiting for my neighbors to help me to get it out of my car and bring it inside and place it on the stand. My Betta is doing okay, and he can see the new Aquarium that will be his new home. I already have a 40G Water Filter and a Sponge Filter (with an air-stone) for a 55G Tank starting in a separate 5G tank. I used a used Filter Cartridge from a filter change crom a previous water & filter change to jump start these 2 filters, and have a bag of Ceramic BioMedia balls that I can use in this new filter that I will get when I get a great coupon from the local pet store comes by. I know what Water Filter to buy that has 2 adjustable settings for water turn around. The sales associate opened up the box and explained to me how it works. The size that I need is on backorder. And, I am also planning to buy an adjustable heater. I have 2 smaller heaters that I use to warm up water for water-changes. I will add them to this new tank to help to speed up warming the water... that way the biological filters will be happier being placed in warm water like they have been used to for this past month. I am still planning to wait 2 months. It will give me time to play around with the aquascaping layout. I plan to add a long air-stone stick and only use the smallest air pump that I can find. This will add air into the tank without jarring the water too much. This tank will have 4 viewing sides with one end about a foot from the wall. I'll have the water filter on this narrow side. I am going to place a few flat rocks in the corner of the opposite end... the aisle side and place rock caves and plants around it to somewhat hide the big Sponge Filter to make it less noticeable. This will also help to circulate the water and with the air-stone stick in the middle of the Aquarium, there shouldn't be any area that has stagnant water. This is my plan so far. I appreciate you sharing these tips and about your favorite rocks. I looked at the Pagoda Stone and found them to be easily filed to remove any potential sharp edges. I bought a moss covered half coconut shell for him to use, but mostly see him hiding among the large clump of Anubia leaves.