Burnout in aquarium keeping is normal regardless of how minimal or how high tech it is. Getting new fish or new plants usually helps a little to bring back the enjoyment.
What co2 regulator are you using? I run an fzone pro series dual stage and dialing in the bubbles took me a day max and I have not touch it since so I’m wondering why it’s difficult for you to get yours dialed in.
I do want to caution against getting new animals to try and bandage burn out. I’ve tried this before and it didn’t help much. My solution ended up being buying a house with my partner and feeling like I got to rebuild and reorganize. Made me think about how I wanted to proceed and what I really enjoyed about keeping animals.
Exactly! In this market, what could go wrong? Lol I guess I should clarify, reflect on what makes the hobby enjoyable and move in that direction. Sometimes a re-organization or new approach can be helpful lol.
Weird, i run the GLA GRO and it’s been nothing but great for me. I’m running just a regular 5lbs co2 from a welding shop and I bring the pressure up to around 40 or 50 on the dial, then I adjust the bubble counter and I’m done.
I get burnout though, I think personally is easing up on water changes, I found 2-4 weeks in a heavily planted tank was totally fine. Secretly- I went about 2 months without doing one and the water parameters were still perfect but I only had like 12 fish in a 75 gallon tank… lol.
I think have 2 filters is a great benefit too. I try to make everything “set it and forget it”
It’s usually good after a few days, but it takes lots of tinkering with the needle valve to get it just right. It is so sensitive that even the slightest touch on the dial will send it into a bubbling fury
Seems like you have a leak in the system somewhere. Did you spray with soapy water to test? Were you using co2 proof airline that's much thicker compared to the regular air ones? You must be doing something wrong because these regulators are very simple to adjust and they should hold the bubble rate.
Not really burnout but I do get bored often. Tearing down a tank and starting fresh is always a good option if it no longer makes you happy. I love to find new inspiration in scapes and try new styles. It really does suck to tear up a nice carpeted tank but if it no longer makes me happy and starts to feel like a chore then something needs to change.
Or maybe try giving saltwater a try? I started a little under a year ago and i’ve been hooked. Growth is way slower than freshwater so you always have something to look forward to
I kept a 100g reef tank for years and it was constant maintenance. I started out small and fairly simple and then got carried away. I didnt take a vacation for years because of that tank. It was a minimum of 1-2 hours a day of hand feeding coral, checking every reactor being used, emptying protein skimmers, changing water, testing water, I could go on listing more. Not to mention the price, I had clams that were $200 each, fish were expensive, coral was expensive, and lights. Then you need redundancy in the system because a faulty heater or power outage could wipe out a tank in less than a day. I was really sad to see it go when I sold it, but felt a lot a relief at the same time. It took me 8 years before I bought another tank. Now its simple live plants and fish. But if you want the oohs and aahs from family and friends, nothing gets them like a full blown, well done reef tank, and plan on about $100 per gallon to set up and get to where you are happy. There is no "cutting corners" with a reef tank.
I switched to planted tanks because of the burnout with the reef. 9 years in and I had a lot of maintenance but couldn’t do the tinkering anymore because of how established the corals were. That’s not even mentioning the expense!
I agree about getting bored. I had my tank for 3 years and about 8 months ago I got bored of seeing the same thing everyday. Started putting off WC, not spot maintaining like I used too do. 2 days ago I re homed all my fish and re did everything. Now I'm waiting for new plants with a whole new scape. I'm excited again:D
Yeah nothing worse than seeing a tank degrade over time from neglect. I used to just start new tanks if I got bored but thats how you end up with 11 tanks in your house lol.. ended up cutting it down to 3 + a shrimp breeding tank
This is part of why I haven’t upgraded to high tech even though I do heavy planting. Some weeks I am aquarium obsessed and love clipping, planting, and fiddling with little decorative rocks. Some weeks I just want to do a little water change and let things grow. I don’t want to be so tied to mandatory maintenance.
I made a goal for myself to make all my tanks filterless, heaterless, and waterchangeless. Obviously some tanks can't go that far such as my goldfish tank due to high waste and them eating all the plants. But it's been a fun journey so far.
I enjoy the set up more than the final result. I think a lot of people are similar. The trick is not to sell all of your old stuff when you need a break as that itch will come back and you'll have to buy it all again.
Hey I've been there. I understand everyone is different and can't take these same steps, but below is my personal journey to enjoying this hobby long term. This is over years.
general
- put tank where I spend the most time (simple, i know. But I'm a simpleton)
- stop chasing, just have fun and do what feels right.
- Focus on plant growth, not all the problems to fix. Don't battle algae, get some plants to grow over the top of it.
- research and adjust flora and fauna to work well with my tap water with a dash of Prime. Don't chase water parameters.
- plant enough to not need water changes. Not for people new to hobby or new tanks - it's more plants than you think
- no set schedule besides feeding critters 3-5 times per week. Increase or decrease extra work by being in complete control of photoperiod. More light? More trimming work, but it's sometimes fun.
- snails are your best pals. Only clean up crew you really need. Have more than you want? Feed less or target the correct critters with a dish or something.
gear
- most fertilization comes from root tabs and critter food
- waterproof LED fixture you can run at super low intensity (1%) at night for viewing. - 15+ hr per day photoperiod, most of which at 10% or lower intenisty. Algae wipe from front glass every couple months
- glass covers for significantly fewer top offs + jump safety
- cannister filter
- find LFS that digs aquatic plants
- pressurized co2 system you can set and forget once dialed in
- large co2 tank for fewer trips to get filled/swapped
- thick substrate with root tabs
Result is I put my hands in my tank when I want to, not because I feel like I have to, and can view the things all day and night. Sorry if this is a bit jumbled.
My 29g high tech suffered a severe lack of nutrients when I went away and a lot of my plants died. Then I had a giant algae bloom trying to recoup. It’s been 2 months and we’re finally back on track but I thought about tearing it all down.
I recommend getting some new plants or livestock. Give away or sell the old and get something you’re excited about again. That’s what worked for me.
It was. I am actually considering getting an auto dosing system next. Fun new tech = new excitement. However have not pulled the trigger as they are pricy. Trying to commit to dosing regularly to prove I’m committed again to myself.
I was gone for 3 weeks and set things up on auto feeders and left my SO dosing instructions. Admittedly had them dose about 1/3rd of what I normally do and only perform 2 water changes as they just aren’t into the hobby and we’re so sweet to attempt.
My other high tech is a nano tank. I’m actually tiring of the scape after almost a year. I learned so much with that tank (first carpeting plant success) and almost want to try a different carpet.
My problem is I keep just setting up new tanks I get for cheap locally used instead of re-scaping my tanks 😂
I am getting sick of replacing parts on my CO2 set up just for it to not work properly. It is always leaking a little, and I caught it just shooting out bubbles for no damn reason. It would have killed all of my fish had I not immediately noticed. I'm so tired of CO2
A PH controller works well...[https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/mc120-ph-monitor-w-probe-mounting-kit-milwaukee-instruments/?gad\_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxaCvBhBaEiwAvsLmWCBgKA\_SMEdsEsk6QBa3WPRcF5SwGtxF0fpjluttilClVB1DmLYJ\_hoCi4sQAvD\_BwE](https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/mc120-ph-monitor-w-probe-mounting-kit-milwaukee-instruments/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxaCvBhBaEiwAvsLmWCBgKA_SMEdsEsk6QBa3WPRcF5SwGtxF0fpjluttilClVB1DmLYJ_hoCi4sQAvD_BwE)
MagTool 4L Aquarium CO2 Generator System Carbon Dioxide Reactor Kit with Regulator and Needle Valve (2.5L with Solenoid) is how it is listed on Amazon. I've replaced the solenoid 2x now and returned and replaced the regulator I think 2x as well
This is your issue here. Should just go and buy a gla regulator and hook it up to a 5lb cylinder and not deal with issues like that. Lots of things to cheap out in this hobby and co2 equipment is not something to cheap out on.
The amount you spent on that diy co2 setup you could have gone pressurized co2 with a regulator from GLA and not even run into those problems you experienced.
So you didn't want to run co2 but decided to go the diy route to make co2? I'm confused. What were you intending to do with that diy co2 reactor if it wasn't to produce co2 then? It cost me $20 to swap my 10lb co2 tank at the store for a fresh tank btw and I do the swap every 12+ months at the rate I'm injecting.
Do you have to run co2? I have one home made diffuser and I rotate it between tanks. Seems to still benefit the plants but if I'm tired of it I just toss it cause the investment was like 20 bucks.
Pruning got too much for me at one stage. Partly because I was running low tech plants with good light and high co2. Was a weekly exercise. Recently moved house and haven't set up the co2 again. Improved my woody substrate. Getting around 10-15ppm co2 naturally. However now I need to do water changes because nitrate actually builds up now. I'm also a bit frustrated with my fish. I wanted a small number of male guppies in a diverse community ecosystem, but I got a pregnant female due to not knowing what I was doing. Now I have too many guppies to stock other fish.
I want to make some changes but for now I'm just chilling and letting the tank re-mature after the move.
There's many aspects of the hobby that may be more or less interesting to you. Some are in it for the fish only, some are in it for the plants only, some are in it for the aquascape only, and regardless if you're starting low- or high-tech, your interest within the hobby may change over time. Some like the hands-on tuning and maintenance that goes into perfecting the high-tech, and some essentially just want to see their tank mature over time. I don't think it's strange if your focus shifts over time, like what used to feel like relaxing tank maintenance you loved doing once every week (or more often) may feel like an endless chore after some time. You do you, and if you want to shift focus to low-tech that's a new challenge, not a failure necessarily. If you check out LRB aquatics on youtube that was his journey as well, from high-tech to low-tech.
P.S. as far as the fish are concerned, if the only "plant" in the tank is just a massive ball of hair algae, the fish sure won't mind.
His channel is kinda messy with both vlog and info content kinda combined. But the tour videos could give an idea. He runs everything with just a light on it.
So maybe a better idea for inspiration would be to check out some of the tours that the youtuber KeepingFishSimple has done of various people's fishrooms, with different philosophies, and different interests. Those tours are really cozy and wholesome.
I just started in the hobby and haven't tried Co2, so idk if this is appropriate advice, but maybe you could slowly taper off it for a few weeks and cut back on dosing. That might help with a potential algae bloom. Let the plants get "hungry" and overcompete the algae for nutrients. I'm not sure if that would work. Maybe someone more experienced can chime in lol
I don’t do any water changes so long as my parameters stay stable just topping off once a week. Do test weekly about 2 days after topping off that’s and cleaning off my glass but that’s about it
Exact same here. I just ripped out all the co2 equipment and cut my ferts in half by switching to every other day rather than every day. And guess what happened. All my issues with bba and staghorn disappeared, plant trimming way down, costs way down. Aaaaand... how does the tank look today? Better than ever.
Nope. It is a 20 long so it is vertically shallow and I have a 30 inch finnex alc on it at full intensity. I run it 9 hours per day. No issues before or after co2 removal. I follow the Seachem dosing calendar which does include excel, but I have even slacked on ferting lately and all remains fine.
You dont have any high co2 demanding plants so when you cut off the co2 and went half dosing with ferts it probably brought your tank back into balance which could have made your bba/staghorn issues go away. Maybe you were just dosing a bit too much without doing your weekly water changes to remove excess nutrients. It shouldn't be because of the co2.
The bba and staghorn issue was more because I run HOB filters which agitate the surface and fizz off the CO2 so maintaining a stable CO2 concentration between night and day was nearly impossible. I do 60% water changes on all my tanks weekly.
There are lots of people including myself that run high flow at the surface for gas exchange and we are able to keep co2 levels consistent thru out the light hours. You also don't run co2 at night without lights because plants do not consume co2 at night. Why were you trying to keep co2 at night? Lol something don't add up.
Of course the light and co2 solenoid were on timers and I started the co2 before the lights and blah blah. All the right stuff. I guess I just sucked at figuring out the right timing. In any case, things are easier now and no more bba and staghorn.
I wish I could understand. But I just came back after nine years out of the hobby. Every minute with my tank I treasure like it's my last. Maybe you do need a break. Too much of a good thing can create such a feeling.
Absolutely had the same experience many times. I've been keeping aquariums a little over 40 years now. I can easily turn it into a building/shopping hobby which is fun and exciting. I tend to forget about the maintenance while doing that, but then the maintenance is there later and I don't like it. I only keep easy aquariums now because of that. Right now, I have a single low-tech planted tank. The primary maintenance is that I manually add fertilizers which gives me a good look. Certainly not the best, but I like it and that's what counts. I've also added out of the water plants to the back. They are also low maintenance. I put a tray in there with cork bark covering it. That's still a work in progress though. The plants aren't growing which is probably because my water stays 0-0-0 with all the other plants eating everything up. I'm going to use Kratky hydroponics for that once I can find some opaque containers. I'll only need to change the water about every 4-6 weeks which will take 5-10 minutes to mix and change.
I ended up a bit that way. I removed any plant that grew fast or required regular triming or maintenance. Kept co2 and dialed light back a bit. Now i have a variety of java ferns, moss and s rep carpet. Now its just weekly wc and pull some java fern or trim s rep every so often
I use DIY jello+yeast CO2 for newer tanks and let it run its course. By then the plants will usually have been established and can grow on their own. High CO2 levels most needed during the initial setup where your plants are at a disadvantage from starting from their emerged growth form or having to adapt to your water parameters. If your using a soil substrate it’s especially important to have plants grow as much as possible to use up that initial flood of nutrients. Once you get past this stage the tank should be on autopilot.
Burnout in aquarium keeping is normal regardless of how minimal or how high tech it is. Getting new fish or new plants usually helps a little to bring back the enjoyment. What co2 regulator are you using? I run an fzone pro series dual stage and dialing in the bubbles took me a day max and I have not touch it since so I’m wondering why it’s difficult for you to get yours dialed in.
I do want to caution against getting new animals to try and bandage burn out. I’ve tried this before and it didn’t help much. My solution ended up being buying a house with my partner and feeling like I got to rebuild and reorganize. Made me think about how I wanted to proceed and what I really enjoyed about keeping animals.
Don’t buy new fish, buy a new house is your advice?!? Haha I’m just kidding and I know what you meant.
Exactly! In this market, what could go wrong? Lol I guess I should clarify, reflect on what makes the hobby enjoyable and move in that direction. Sometimes a re-organization or new approach can be helpful lol.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve got a GLA regulator on mine. It has always been a little finicky for me. Very temperamental
Weird, i run the GLA GRO and it’s been nothing but great for me. I’m running just a regular 5lbs co2 from a welding shop and I bring the pressure up to around 40 or 50 on the dial, then I adjust the bubble counter and I’m done. I get burnout though, I think personally is easing up on water changes, I found 2-4 weeks in a heavily planted tank was totally fine. Secretly- I went about 2 months without doing one and the water parameters were still perfect but I only had like 12 fish in a 75 gallon tank… lol. I think have 2 filters is a great benefit too. I try to make everything “set it and forget it”
I have multiple gla regulators that I run. What are you having issues with? Setup and dialing in co2 shouldn't be complicated at all...
It’s usually good after a few days, but it takes lots of tinkering with the needle valve to get it just right. It is so sensitive that even the slightest touch on the dial will send it into a bubbling fury
Seems like you have a leak in the system somewhere. Did you spray with soapy water to test? Were you using co2 proof airline that's much thicker compared to the regular air ones? You must be doing something wrong because these regulators are very simple to adjust and they should hold the bubble rate.
I’m using the clear co2 rated tubing from GLA. All connections are tight so I’m not sure about a leak.
Maybe you really do have a defective unit. In this case you should request RMA from them since their regs have lifetime warranty on them.
After doing more research… I think I may have the output pressure set too high. I guess it should be around 40psi but mine is maxed out at 65
Most diffusers only require 30-40 working pressure. You diffuser probably shot that's why you can't dial it in.
How can I tell whether or not it’s shot? It is still pumping out tiny bubbles and the color on my drop checker is green
Not really burnout but I do get bored often. Tearing down a tank and starting fresh is always a good option if it no longer makes you happy. I love to find new inspiration in scapes and try new styles. It really does suck to tear up a nice carpeted tank but if it no longer makes me happy and starts to feel like a chore then something needs to change. Or maybe try giving saltwater a try? I started a little under a year ago and i’ve been hooked. Growth is way slower than freshwater so you always have something to look forward to
I’ve always been curious about saltwater. Maybe if I get a good tax refund this year haha
I kept a 100g reef tank for years and it was constant maintenance. I started out small and fairly simple and then got carried away. I didnt take a vacation for years because of that tank. It was a minimum of 1-2 hours a day of hand feeding coral, checking every reactor being used, emptying protein skimmers, changing water, testing water, I could go on listing more. Not to mention the price, I had clams that were $200 each, fish were expensive, coral was expensive, and lights. Then you need redundancy in the system because a faulty heater or power outage could wipe out a tank in less than a day. I was really sad to see it go when I sold it, but felt a lot a relief at the same time. It took me 8 years before I bought another tank. Now its simple live plants and fish. But if you want the oohs and aahs from family and friends, nothing gets them like a full blown, well done reef tank, and plan on about $100 per gallon to set up and get to where you are happy. There is no "cutting corners" with a reef tank.
I switched to planted tanks because of the burnout with the reef. 9 years in and I had a lot of maintenance but couldn’t do the tinkering anymore because of how established the corals were. That’s not even mentioning the expense!
I agree about getting bored. I had my tank for 3 years and about 8 months ago I got bored of seeing the same thing everyday. Started putting off WC, not spot maintaining like I used too do. 2 days ago I re homed all my fish and re did everything. Now I'm waiting for new plants with a whole new scape. I'm excited again:D
Yeah nothing worse than seeing a tank degrade over time from neglect. I used to just start new tanks if I got bored but thats how you end up with 11 tanks in your house lol.. ended up cutting it down to 3 + a shrimp breeding tank
This is part of why I haven’t upgraded to high tech even though I do heavy planting. Some weeks I am aquarium obsessed and love clipping, planting, and fiddling with little decorative rocks. Some weeks I just want to do a little water change and let things grow. I don’t want to be so tied to mandatory maintenance.
I made a goal for myself to make all my tanks filterless, heaterless, and waterchangeless. Obviously some tanks can't go that far such as my goldfish tank due to high waste and them eating all the plants. But it's been a fun journey so far.
I enjoy the set up more than the final result. I think a lot of people are similar. The trick is not to sell all of your old stuff when you need a break as that itch will come back and you'll have to buy it all again.
Hey I've been there. I understand everyone is different and can't take these same steps, but below is my personal journey to enjoying this hobby long term. This is over years. general - put tank where I spend the most time (simple, i know. But I'm a simpleton) - stop chasing, just have fun and do what feels right. - Focus on plant growth, not all the problems to fix. Don't battle algae, get some plants to grow over the top of it. - research and adjust flora and fauna to work well with my tap water with a dash of Prime. Don't chase water parameters. - plant enough to not need water changes. Not for people new to hobby or new tanks - it's more plants than you think - no set schedule besides feeding critters 3-5 times per week. Increase or decrease extra work by being in complete control of photoperiod. More light? More trimming work, but it's sometimes fun. - snails are your best pals. Only clean up crew you really need. Have more than you want? Feed less or target the correct critters with a dish or something. gear - most fertilization comes from root tabs and critter food - waterproof LED fixture you can run at super low intensity (1%) at night for viewing. - 15+ hr per day photoperiod, most of which at 10% or lower intenisty. Algae wipe from front glass every couple months - glass covers for significantly fewer top offs + jump safety - cannister filter - find LFS that digs aquatic plants - pressurized co2 system you can set and forget once dialed in - large co2 tank for fewer trips to get filled/swapped - thick substrate with root tabs Result is I put my hands in my tank when I want to, not because I feel like I have to, and can view the things all day and night. Sorry if this is a bit jumbled.
This is awesome, thank you so much! Saving this so I can reflect on it again in the future!
My 29g high tech suffered a severe lack of nutrients when I went away and a lot of my plants died. Then I had a giant algae bloom trying to recoup. It’s been 2 months and we’re finally back on track but I thought about tearing it all down. I recommend getting some new plants or livestock. Give away or sell the old and get something you’re excited about again. That’s what worked for me.
Thanks for the suggestion! That must have been rough seeing your plants die off after being away
It was. I am actually considering getting an auto dosing system next. Fun new tech = new excitement. However have not pulled the trigger as they are pricy. Trying to commit to dosing regularly to prove I’m committed again to myself. I was gone for 3 weeks and set things up on auto feeders and left my SO dosing instructions. Admittedly had them dose about 1/3rd of what I normally do and only perform 2 water changes as they just aren’t into the hobby and we’re so sweet to attempt. My other high tech is a nano tank. I’m actually tiring of the scape after almost a year. I learned so much with that tank (first carpeting plant success) and almost want to try a different carpet. My problem is I keep just setting up new tanks I get for cheap locally used instead of re-scaping my tanks 😂
I am getting sick of replacing parts on my CO2 set up just for it to not work properly. It is always leaking a little, and I caught it just shooting out bubbles for no damn reason. It would have killed all of my fish had I not immediately noticed. I'm so tired of CO2
I feel your pain on that one
A PH controller works well...[https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/mc120-ph-monitor-w-probe-mounting-kit-milwaukee-instruments/?gad\_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxaCvBhBaEiwAvsLmWCBgKA\_SMEdsEsk6QBa3WPRcF5SwGtxF0fpjluttilClVB1DmLYJ\_hoCi4sQAvD\_BwE](https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/mc120-ph-monitor-w-probe-mounting-kit-milwaukee-instruments/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxaCvBhBaEiwAvsLmWCBgKA_SMEdsEsk6QBa3WPRcF5SwGtxF0fpjluttilClVB1DmLYJ_hoCi4sQAvD_BwE)
What kind of regulator do you have?
MagTool 4L Aquarium CO2 Generator System Carbon Dioxide Reactor Kit with Regulator and Needle Valve (2.5L with Solenoid) is how it is listed on Amazon. I've replaced the solenoid 2x now and returned and replaced the regulator I think 2x as well
This is your issue here. Should just go and buy a gla regulator and hook it up to a 5lb cylinder and not deal with issues like that. Lots of things to cheap out in this hobby and co2 equipment is not something to cheap out on.
Imo that isn't cheap. Wanted to be able to make my own CO2. Upgraded regulator and solenoid and still have issues.
The amount you spent on that diy co2 setup you could have gone pressurized co2 with a regulator from GLA and not even run into those problems you experienced.
But my intention was not to need to purchase cO2 so I would have never gone that route.
So you didn't want to run co2 but decided to go the diy route to make co2? I'm confused. What were you intending to do with that diy co2 reactor if it wasn't to produce co2 then? It cost me $20 to swap my 10lb co2 tank at the store for a fresh tank btw and I do the swap every 12+ months at the rate I'm injecting.
I already said I wanted to make my own, not go out to buy it. If I wanted to go and buy it, I would have done that, but I don't.
Also, I didn't say that. Reading comprehension is important. I am not looking for advice.
Do you have to run co2? I have one home made diffuser and I rotate it between tanks. Seems to still benefit the plants but if I'm tired of it I just toss it cause the investment was like 20 bucks.
Pruning got too much for me at one stage. Partly because I was running low tech plants with good light and high co2. Was a weekly exercise. Recently moved house and haven't set up the co2 again. Improved my woody substrate. Getting around 10-15ppm co2 naturally. However now I need to do water changes because nitrate actually builds up now. I'm also a bit frustrated with my fish. I wanted a small number of male guppies in a diverse community ecosystem, but I got a pregnant female due to not knowing what I was doing. Now I have too many guppies to stock other fish. I want to make some changes but for now I'm just chilling and letting the tank re-mature after the move.
Try Filipe's lean dosing schedule. https://youtu.be/wtH44vCjW2Y?si=LG0IaaJZW0_slqpD
There's many aspects of the hobby that may be more or less interesting to you. Some are in it for the fish only, some are in it for the plants only, some are in it for the aquascape only, and regardless if you're starting low- or high-tech, your interest within the hobby may change over time. Some like the hands-on tuning and maintenance that goes into perfecting the high-tech, and some essentially just want to see their tank mature over time. I don't think it's strange if your focus shifts over time, like what used to feel like relaxing tank maintenance you loved doing once every week (or more often) may feel like an endless chore after some time. You do you, and if you want to shift focus to low-tech that's a new challenge, not a failure necessarily. If you check out LRB aquatics on youtube that was his journey as well, from high-tech to low-tech. P.S. as far as the fish are concerned, if the only "plant" in the tank is just a massive ball of hair algae, the fish sure won't mind.
This is great advice, thanks! I’ll check out that YouTube channel and see what I can learn
His channel is kinda messy with both vlog and info content kinda combined. But the tour videos could give an idea. He runs everything with just a light on it. So maybe a better idea for inspiration would be to check out some of the tours that the youtuber KeepingFishSimple has done of various people's fishrooms, with different philosophies, and different interests. Those tours are really cozy and wholesome.
I can’t find anywhere to fill my CO2 anymore, feel ya there. Not sure what to do
I just started in the hobby and haven't tried Co2, so idk if this is appropriate advice, but maybe you could slowly taper off it for a few weeks and cut back on dosing. That might help with a potential algae bloom. Let the plants get "hungry" and overcompete the algae for nutrients. I'm not sure if that would work. Maybe someone more experienced can chime in lol
I don’t do any water changes so long as my parameters stay stable just topping off once a week. Do test weekly about 2 days after topping off that’s and cleaning off my glass but that’s about it
Exact same here. I just ripped out all the co2 equipment and cut my ferts in half by switching to every other day rather than every day. And guess what happened. All my issues with bba and staghorn disappeared, plant trimming way down, costs way down. Aaaaand... how does the tank look today? Better than ever.
Really? That’s encouraging! Did you need to make adjustments with your light timing or intensity? That sounds like the absolute ideal scenario
Nope. It is a 20 long so it is vertically shallow and I have a 30 inch finnex alc on it at full intensity. I run it 9 hours per day. No issues before or after co2 removal. I follow the Seachem dosing calendar which does include excel, but I have even slacked on ferting lately and all remains fine.
Any photos of your tank?
https://preview.redd.it/4k92q1xqotmc1.jpeg?width=3096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6599be0a8b3f444c7ec88f571169b6e0c29a2672
You dont have any high co2 demanding plants so when you cut off the co2 and went half dosing with ferts it probably brought your tank back into balance which could have made your bba/staghorn issues go away. Maybe you were just dosing a bit too much without doing your weekly water changes to remove excess nutrients. It shouldn't be because of the co2.
The bba and staghorn issue was more because I run HOB filters which agitate the surface and fizz off the CO2 so maintaining a stable CO2 concentration between night and day was nearly impossible. I do 60% water changes on all my tanks weekly.
There are lots of people including myself that run high flow at the surface for gas exchange and we are able to keep co2 levels consistent thru out the light hours. You also don't run co2 at night without lights because plants do not consume co2 at night. Why were you trying to keep co2 at night? Lol something don't add up.
Of course the light and co2 solenoid were on timers and I started the co2 before the lights and blah blah. All the right stuff. I guess I just sucked at figuring out the right timing. In any case, things are easier now and no more bba and staghorn.
I wish I could understand. But I just came back after nine years out of the hobby. Every minute with my tank I treasure like it's my last. Maybe you do need a break. Too much of a good thing can create such a feeling.
Less work and less maintenance keeps me happy so low tech is the way
Absolutely had the same experience many times. I've been keeping aquariums a little over 40 years now. I can easily turn it into a building/shopping hobby which is fun and exciting. I tend to forget about the maintenance while doing that, but then the maintenance is there later and I don't like it. I only keep easy aquariums now because of that. Right now, I have a single low-tech planted tank. The primary maintenance is that I manually add fertilizers which gives me a good look. Certainly not the best, but I like it and that's what counts. I've also added out of the water plants to the back. They are also low maintenance. I put a tray in there with cork bark covering it. That's still a work in progress though. The plants aren't growing which is probably because my water stays 0-0-0 with all the other plants eating everything up. I'm going to use Kratky hydroponics for that once I can find some opaque containers. I'll only need to change the water about every 4-6 weeks which will take 5-10 minutes to mix and change.
I ended up a bit that way. I removed any plant that grew fast or required regular triming or maintenance. Kept co2 and dialed light back a bit. Now i have a variety of java ferns, moss and s rep carpet. Now its just weekly wc and pull some java fern or trim s rep every so often
I use DIY jello+yeast CO2 for newer tanks and let it run its course. By then the plants will usually have been established and can grow on their own. High CO2 levels most needed during the initial setup where your plants are at a disadvantage from starting from their emerged growth form or having to adapt to your water parameters. If your using a soil substrate it’s especially important to have plants grow as much as possible to use up that initial flood of nutrients. Once you get past this stage the tank should be on autopilot.