Hey Ben, Merry Christmas my good friend!

Ben. Merry Christmas!!!! to you and your family. Thank you for all your hard work I speak on behalf of your subscribers we really appreciate it

Always love the long view

Never a dull moment with my 5 Tanks!!!

My first aquarium was a gift from my Grandfather in 1965. It was a 5 gallon aquarium with stainless steel trim and a slate bottom. I've kept aquariums on and off throughout the years. Mostly I've kept freshwater but for several years in the 1970s I kept a saltwater aquarium which was a challenge but it looked beautiful. Today I have one aquarium, freshwater, which is a pleasure to watch. Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah!

Pink Floyd. Love it Ben.

I love that you have artificial plants and talk about how to "care" for them! I have Silver Dollars and can't have live plants in my 125. I'm so sick of being bullied into trying live plants. I don't have that option! THANK YOU for acknowledging the care of fake plants! MANY THANKS!!!!!!

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

We're in the same boat regarding plants. Sure, I'd love to have real plants, but they would be shredded in minutes by my cichlids. I'll experiment with them i the community and betta set ups. Never let anyone bully you about what you do with your tank.

Ben, I started following you in March 2020, it's good to see how you really enjoy this hobby, I 'm just like you but now that I live in a apartment I only have one aquarium of 120 gallons and the other is small 30 gallons, but I can't live with out this hobby since already 55 years in it, but always learning new things , since a lot of things continues improving, great video, Meet Christmas. 👍

Ben, you and Kev at kaveman aquatics have the best looking tanks and fishrooms on you tube hands down. You guys really put in the work and it shows. Each of your videos is an inspiration. Thank you for sharing with us.

Hey ben. ! 🪑. 🐠. 🎵. You left one thing out……. 🍺. A sud. 🤣

Hi Ben, I have 14 tanks. It's not too bad. My setups are very stable. The fish are happy!!! I also work over 50 hours a week. I am over 60 & I love it!!

@janmargelowskyakacrittermo1101

Жыл бұрын

I have 14 tanks too, I have a rotating schedule so they don't all need major maintenance at the same time.

@jayfuller3709

Жыл бұрын

@@janmargelowskyakacrittermo1101 Mine are so stable, very little maintenance is needed. Just service the HOB's when needed.

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome Jay! 😀👍🏻

Hi Ben, I got burned out yrs ago after being in this hobby since the early 70s. So I took a break from it for several yrs and finally got back into it. Right now my better half, she told me I should down size and just put all my time and effort into maintaining one nice big tank. As long as you enjoy/love what your doing, it does not matter how much time you put into it. One great thing about this hobby is that It’s just not an Art but a science too.

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Great points

Yeah it is worth the work 😎 I spend about 3 hours on Saturday & 3 hours on Sunday doing aquarium maintenance. Then just kick back and enjoy them through the work week 😀

Hahahahaha when u asked google to play Pink Floyd u activated mine and it’s playing right now 😂😂

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

That’s epic

Thanks, at the end of the video you made my google play Pink Floyd as well. Lol

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

Ben. Been in the hobby for many years. African and South American cichlids. Coral and pebble substrates in two of the African tanks and pebbles in South American tank. I learned the hard way years back when I did deep vacuuming it caused an ammonia spike which killed several fish. Then learned to only do 1/4 of bottom deep cleaning which did not cause a spike. For the past 4 years i never go into the substrate with the syphon I don’t even get the syphon close to the substrate and have never had any issues. I do a 30% water change every 7-10 days.

👍😎 Merry Christmas to you and your family Ben. Going to be 🥶, get that space heater ready. Pink Floyd, my favorite by far. Your tanks always look great, at least what we see. I for one am glad it’s worth it to you.

I totally understand. As I've said in the past, your tanks always look pristine!

Awesome video ben

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😀👍🏻

The only aquarium maintenance I hate is gravel vacuuming. I have eliminated substrate and I like the remaining maintenance I have to do. Nurturing, timing my plants requires time but I love the enhanced beauty from working in my aquatic gardens.

Hi Ben, Always enjoy your videos and have used alot of info and tank setups in my own tanks especially the Cannister filter setup and maintanance ones....And it works perfect!!!!!! Thank you... I honestly believe that a Aquiruim isnt work... BUTif you neglect your maintanance on a tank its gonna become work!!!! I also found that after cleaning my tank its very rewarding and satisfying... This hobby should not be work,but rather a passion..... Merry Christmas and the best for 2023... Keep the vidoes coming in.... Thanxs

Hey, ben, first you're tanks look great as usual. I agree about the work as you know i have 10 tanks and yes it's sometimes gets to be too much but if you're a person who has had fish for like forever then well i actually love it especially when all the work is done and my tanks are pristine. Sitting in my fish room looking around is rewarding. Well, to me, it is. I still work full time, and after my heart attack in 2020, i have only half my heart left. The docters say the reason I'm alive is a had a athletic heart due to playing semi pro football and lifting weights until i was 42. I say this not for people to feel sorry for me but to tell people anything is possible. I will never give up this hobby. When you talked about the substrate, it's true what you said. If you go with sand instead of gravel, you'll reduce the amount of time it takes to do the work. I hardly ever vacuum the sand. Water changes and front and side glass for tank cleaning and filter cleaning when needed. Also, the more fish you have, the more chance you have to treat fish with issues. And yes, you must really love fish, in my opinion, to properly treat these wonderful creatures. Take care and merry Christmas to you and family see you after the new year

We just got a 240 set up and yes I think it's worth it especially when friends come over and are in awe

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Especially when they ask, “Are these salt water fish?” 😉😀👍🏻

Merry Christmas to you and your family Ben. 🎄🎇🎆🎁🎂🎉🎊

Merry Christmas Ben I never miss one of your videos always watch at some point and another tip for keeping multiple tanks is too make it easier for yourself figure out how to make it faster for water changes and vacuuming. I have one saltwater tank and I put mixing tub in basement with pump and heater I just flip a switch too turn on and ran pipe up through floor into sump I use my phone too turn on big pump too pump water into sump works awesome and cuts down time Ps. Tanks look awesome good job my friend

I don’t consider it work……. I like doing my maintenance…… nothing like a. Clean tank. 💦. 🐠. Great video ben ! ✅👋

I have four nano tanks, which I have acquired over the past three years. They still give me joy every day!

Hey Ben it's me again I know exactly where you're coming from when it comes to work in the fish room, I'm 63 years old I work 50 hours a week for a trucking company and I run 21 tanks in my fish room it definitely keeps me busy I don't have time from too much TV and I never watch sports ,so it's a great Hobby ,my wife wishes she saw me a little more that's the only problem

Yes it is worth it. I only have one tank, a 120, so I can't imagine multiple tanks but yes, it is worth it. Went lazy on mine for a few months but after spending a few hundred dollars for new equipment, the tank is looking really nice. The colors are coming back out in my cichlids and you get a feeling of accomplishment when you stand back and look at your effort.

Im glad ur doing it too ben keep bringing that content !

@GSP-76

Жыл бұрын

Hey Salient Aquatics!

@TheSalient1

Жыл бұрын

Hey gurv!

@GSP-76

Жыл бұрын

@@TheSalient1 How's everything going? Merry Christmas my friend 🎄⛄

@TheSalient1

Жыл бұрын

Going good thanks and u

Your tanks are looking great 👍. The marineland pro 450 should get here Tuesday.Can't wait

When you have to do water changes on your tanks with babies, you can try putting panty hose on the end of your syphon. Just a suggestion that I heard somewhere. I don't know how well it works, but it's worth a try! ;-)

I did a video on sand vs gravel

Three fish tanks are enough to look after. I don't know how others with more than that cope. 😕

The biggest grain size I will use now is 2.5 or Reef grade sand. Works great for avoiding trapped detritus. I would like to try a little smaller grain size because I love watching the fish sift through it.

I am placing a 12 inch wide rolled up piece of polyester from Walmart about 2 feet long into my socks. I use pot scrubbies rolled into the 2 foot length to expose more surface area of the polyester. Result? My socks hold st least 10X more detritus and fish feces. Downstream sponges remain cleaner for a longer time and socks require less cleaning

we love you Ben

Respect your commitment!

I have 3 tanks. For now. Thts enough……. I work alot….. so. I dont wanna overwhelm myself….. 🐠. If i was retired. I know for sure id have 10 to 15 tanks….. been in the hobby since a child

Your fishroom is looking great ! Interesting thought.. The reward for me is I enjoy the work/hobby.. I have pool filter sand in my 450g aquarium. About 300Lbs of it.. The water movement and sandsifters keep it from accumulating detritus. Also, cleaning the 450g isnt much of a chore, because it only has front glass. Its 9ft 8inches x 2ft.. but only 1 glass panel

I work so much overtime at my job it only allows me to have a 56 gal mbuna stocked tank... I could never keep up with multiple tanks ,even though I would like to have another tank...Especially with my other hobbies of hunting,fishing and target shooting...

When I go wild with fish I get frustrated after a few months because of all the work I have to do. Some people have 2, 3, 4 tanks in the house but very few keep them all clean and perfect. I rather have one tank that is clean and perfect than many dirty tanks. For a hobby at home I think just one tank is enough.

I was so excited when I was learning all I could about my fish tank and making sure fish safe and perfect before I got the fish and realised it was not for me :( just the fact that having 3 kids was busy enough for me - the youngest 2yrs old .. would distract me caring for fish n then worrying about the tank and if fish are happy or poor things - like suffering. I didn’t want to neglect the fish once I brought them to house. I’m a bit sad packing up all my fish products yesterday but realised I guess it’s not for me :(

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

You might come back to it after they have grown up. That’s what I did.

I went thru the M.T.S. phase and nearly got burned out… took down more than half of them and it allowed me to breath a little …. But I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before I’m out of the hobby …. I love my fish but maintenance can be very burdensome

The tank with your Severum and Larger Geos, I believe the one you said you liked the substrate in. Would you happen to know the brand/color of that substrate? I have very large Geo Sveni and I'm planning a change from their current white moonlight sand.(live and learned) its too light weight and blows all around the tank when they sift. I need something heavier and yours really looks nice.

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

I bought it from a guy here locally who told me it was from California. The bag it came in said, “Lapis Luster”

Hi Ben I was wondering what is the name of the gravel that is in with your GEOS I really like that color it looks great

I had enough with 9, Tanks I’m now down to 2 it’s to much especially when you’re working full time on top of it all. But that’s not the reason I got rid of the tanks the main reason was my health. 👍🏻

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Nine is a lot to take care of by yourself. I hope your health is better now.

Lovely tour of your fishroom. Could you do a anoxic aquarium setup that dr. novak advocates?

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Honestly I don’t think I’ll be going the Dr Novak route. Not because I don’t like what he suggests but because my hands are full with what I currently have.

@aghosh5285

Жыл бұрын

@@BenOchart Then I will be looking forward in future for such setup of yours.

Pink Floyd 👍👍👍

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

“Us and Them” came on which is a perfect fish viewing song😀👍🏻

@peterbdavies

Жыл бұрын

@@BenOchart The other appropriate ones would have been "Time" and "Money"! 🤣

Did you use PVC glue on your fittings? I just didn't see any. Just curious. Great job though. Thank you! 😊

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

I used clear pvc cement with the 300 gallon sump. You can see the purple/blue with the 210 fittings

HI BEN; I KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT....I HAD A LOT OF TANKS MYSELF....I CUT DOWN THE NUMBER OF TANKS AND ELIMINATED THE SUBSTRATE....ONLY BARE BOTTOM TANKS...I USED THAT PAPER FROM AMAZON ON THE OUTSIDE BOTTOM OF THE TANKS.....THE INSIDE LOOKS PRISTINE...DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, AND TRY DOING A COUPLE OF TANKS BARE BOTTOM....YOU WILL NEVER DO SUBSTRATE AGAIN....MY TANKS ARE IN THE GARAGE LIKE YOURS.....ITS NOT LIKE THEY ARE IN THE HOUSE AND EVERYONE IS GOING TO SEE THEM.....ITS A GARAGE.....THE TANKS DON'T HAVE TO BE EXTRA FANCY LOOKING.....TRY IT BUDDY....YOU WILL THANK ME IN THE FUTURE.....YOU WILL SAY...WHY DIDN'T I DO THIS SOONER.....HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.....YOUR LAS VEGAS BUDDY

Is doing what you love worth it?

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely

Hey Ben u have a place to get fake plants now that elite cichlids shut down?

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Haven’t found one that comes close to what they were doing

I have 7 tanks I put 10 hrs in every week I like gin clear water

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

Love that “floating-in-air” look 👍🏻

what are the heaters behind you?

@GSP-76

Жыл бұрын

I believe you're looking at Ben's heater controllers. I think Ben is using Inkbird controllers for his heaters.

@pa.fishpreacher6166

Жыл бұрын

@@GSP-76 thanks

@GSP-76

Жыл бұрын

@@pa.fishpreacher6166 👍

@BenOchart

Жыл бұрын

JBJ “TruTemp” controllers. One has an Eheim plugged into it and the other has a Cobalt heater ( ext- therm)

@GSP-76

Жыл бұрын

@@BenOchart Sorry for misinforming Ben .I thought you were using Inkbird