STEM PLANTS BUNDLE SALE - Over 75 plants - 15 Species for $59! Limited Time OFFER so HURRY! father-fish-aquarium.myshopify.com/ For Special Soil Supplements, Plants, FIsh & Merch in your country: fatherfish.fish/
I bought a plant bundle from this man and honestly I got tired of planting plants 😂 by far the best deal I’ve seen!! Completely filled a 125 for 54 dollars one of the only person I’ve bought from that you’ll actually know you got your money worth all the plants were super healthy as well thank you father fish for all you do!!!!
@@michaelalepor9650 go to .... father-fish-aquarium.myshopify.com The link 🔗 is in the description. Also one can go to discord and join in the conversation on the Shoal. Also in the description. Sorry not smart enough to copy n paste or drag n attach. My bad. Blessings friend Crawford out 🙏🏻🔥⚒️🧙🏻♂️
Father fish should be nominated for a Nobel environmental and ecology award. He has taught the world a better way of looking after aquatic life. Everyone should nominate this legand for his pioneering work in making the world a better place ❤
tottaly agree! i've just find out this chanel and from yestarday to todary i've watched more then 12 videos of him and particulary it changed all my thoght about aquariuns... amazing (sorry fo my bad english. Im kind a rusty.)
@Awsimilate Hi, thanks for your comments. As always, it's good to share what others feel, and ovcourse everyone has the right to have their opinion shared. Much appreciated 🙏
Father Fish! I just found your videos today and ordered a fish tank online! I have a creek running through our property full of leaves.... Planning on setting up exactly as you have explained. I had tanks in the past and filtered, changed water, vacuumed the gravel... I'm very excited to see the results of doing it your way. I have a huge jar to create the resurrection jar. Always was fascinated with pond water when I was a kid... putting it under a microscope. This will be so much better! Thanks and God Bless!
Three dirted tanks three years old thriving in my home attest to this system of keeping fish and plants in a glass box. Puts the joy back in the hobby and with less toil at that.
I tried his method a couple of months ago in a small glass bowl. The plants have now tripled in size. The water looks great and the fish seem to be happy!!!
After years of aquarium troubles I followed father fish's advice soil sand plants its now been two years not had one sick fish or even a death water changes hardly ever mostly top ups.
I set a tank same as you explained and it was so heart warming to set it . Collecting the mud and sand from near by river , also plants from the same river and few fishes too And yes some rocks too The feeling of setting a tank is best part than watching a finished tank Like looking at child growing Thank you father❤
Just discover this channel its re ignite my passion about fish keeping, i quit for 2 years emptied my 3 tanks due to something personal, i like the video its like im talkinh to my grandfather.
I use sand soil and natural tumbled gravel. I start with layers but overtime it naturally mixes and or is redistributed by my fish. I have tanks from 5 1/2 to 75. Ive always admired your content because your tanks look real.
The guy I bought my 55 gallon from suggested I use a big, expensive canister filter, all I added was a sponge filter and tons of plants and every fish is happy and thriving.
I totally agree on going natural. I have an overfeeding problem causing high nitrites and my cycled canister filter eliminated them and ammonia. If you overfeed the most filteration is the best!
I set up a small aquarium following your instructions and it has been going about 8 months, I think it is balanced. No algae, a few snails and plenty of guppies. I don’t normally have live bearers so this was an experiment. It is in the window so gets natural light.
i just found your channel today and it is great. I have two tanks that are set up exactly the way you describe, but I didn't follow any internet guides. I just tried my best to copy the environment found in local ponds. I have one tank stocked with wild caught minnows, two brim, and all sorts of snails and worms and bug things that came in with the drift wood and pond mud that I used. I have not done a water change a single time since setting this tank up nearly 5 years ago. My other tank is stocked with neon tetras and a gourami, and is set up the same way. It has been doing fine with no water changes in over 6 years.
Very interesting and incredible! please answer - how is water filtration arranged in your aquarium? do you have an external or internal filter installed in your aquarium?
Hi Father Fish, thank you very much for all your advices, everything you say makes sense, just copy what nature has always been doing. That's amazing! 😊😊😊 I've started a new dirted tank just a few month ago (just following your deep substrate system adding leaf and mulm collected from the wild) and hitherto I'm delighted with the results. Finger crossed for what the future holds! 🤞🐟🐟🐟
Powerhead is all I have along with substrate and sand on top as you told me. My setup is working great since than. Thanks Mister F. FISH!!! U R a GREAT man! God bless you always. Nelson from south Brazil 🙏
I followed your directions and tank is clean and fresh and and my 5 fish love it. Another tank I added sand I got from the beach on a vacation. It’s loving it in that tank as well
I have first thought everything was relayed on the filtration. Throught experience and by your knowledge I have learned the filter helps with moving the water around. I do not now use any top on my tanks I angle my input up towards the top so it helps brake the water line which in turn helps with the carbon dioxide and oxygen Exchange. I have always added some aeration to the tank to help as well with oxygen in the water. The real filtration here is what you use as your substrate if you have a great foundation for your substrate and you provide the right Aquascape both of these will be able to provide all your bacteria that you need to help break everything down. At this point in my tank I could substitute my filtration system for one or two small power heads. Angle them a little up towards the surface just so they're breaking the surface line and my tank will be able to be self-sufficient. I currently have 30 gallon tank fresh a 75 gallon fresh and 125g saltwater. I rarely with my freshwater tanks at this point even do water changes. Because I don't have any Lids on my tanks my evaporation rate is anywhere between 1/8-1/2 gal per day if you add this all up you're looking at it being just about sometimes two to three gallons a week that I'm using to top my tank off. So I will come back maybe once a month and do a 10% water change. Ever since I have taken a step back and let my tank do what it needs to do just like you would in nature or my guppies is starting to have babies my mollies are having babies. All I get to do now is sit back and enjoy my fish. Thank you father fish. For my substrate I use crushed coral layer dirt and sand on top with smaller pebbles I run a fluval 110 on my 30g Fluval fx4 on my 75 Fluval fx6 on my 125g (salt)
As a devoted aquarium lover, I can say the only time I've ever been more delighted in enlightenment was when I understood the Gospel !...LOVED this video ! Thank you !
I have a fair bit of African wood in with my cichlids. The wood yellowed the water quite a bit, but didn't seem to affect the fish. I use a Fluval C3 in my 30 gallon. I replaced the carbon filter media in it with Seachem Purigen. Within 6 hours the water was beautifully clear....tannins gone and toxin free. Purigen is awesome for removing organic waste (ammonia, etc) and stripping tannins. Plus, you can recharge it up to ten times. It may seem expensive but considering you can reuse it ten times.....it's very affordable!
90 gal - 26 Tiger Barb tank & pelco I use 2 HOB filters & air stone pump & wave maker to move water & i change water 20% from gravel every 2 weeks & Prime water conditioner & small amount of tank salt .have not lost fish in a yr ..good info
QUESTION: I made my tank up with the mud and sand. Initially I had not added enough sand and the water was dirty the day after I carefully added it. I did many 20% water changes and eventually added more sand to block out any mud from leaking in. I have the tank up and running, plenty of plants and added a few fish. It looks beautiful, but for some reason I can't seem to get the water to go crystal clear. Now, I think I may need to give it a little more time to clear on its own, but want to make sure there isn't anything I'm missing. Any feedback is much appreciated. Thank you in advance, and keep up the incredible videos! I love your channel and your fish-wisdom.
I found this channel through the comments on aquarium co-op and I'm so happy I did! Thank you, sir, for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us. I will always be fascinated with Nature's perfect and complex design.
Enjoyed your youtube channel. Your insight opens a new light and perspective. You by far have become one of my favorite fish keeps. Thank you Sir for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. Take care of yourself and God bless you and yours.
You help confirm my intuition a bit more. Do as the earth do. For my pond i am pumping to a planter bowl, half rocks to hold the hose and the other half silty sand and trailing pond plants, tubifex worms and to my surprise a few baby water snails. This flows over the plant side onto some rock in the next tub then through the fine grain sand in the next half of that tub which has an air stone buried under it, to promote oxygenation not only of the water but of heavy minerals out of the water, before waterfalling into a rocky corner of the pond, where my second air stone is. And there are plants in every section, though the pond has the most by far of plants sand and soil
I found your videos about 4 days ago and I think you are amazing I watch a lot of fish videos but I've learned more watching your videos then any of the other videos I watch I'm going to be get stuff from you and change up my tank I have a 5 gallon tank it was a gift thank you for your videos keep up the great work that you do.
I got to agree the best filter for biological purposes is the substrate if done correctly. I know for a fact I can rely on my substrate alone in the event of having to replace my entire filter and all its biological media. If you have a strong substrate then a filter is purely there to keep the water looking pretty and to help oxygenate the water if required for your fish. However a good substrate can support most fish with no filter providing you got plants and a really balanced eco system.
I would like to say thank you for all the information you give. Just about to start a new tank and trying to manage a natural system according to your help. Best regards from Germany
i have tried that, it's nice. what i do now is i leave a 1/2 inch trench on the sides and front that i fill in with the top layer sand so there is no dirt out to the glass.
Hello, it’s my 5th tank and I did all what you said. It’s all natural with roots and stones picked up from the wood behind my house 😁 Used some filter media from different tank and placed fish after two weeks. They doing just fine , really happy fish. I have Black neon tetras and Apistogramma cacatuoides. I wish I coul lime pictures here ehhh 🙏
Yes , Father fish is right indeed.....I have set up my dirted tank 6 months ago and added leaf mulm from nearest pond a month ago.. Really my tank is thriving well, with happy fishes in it...as if they are living in their natural habitat. I feed very little amount of food , 2-3 days a week. Father fish, my question is , how often or what is the frequency of adding leaf mulm in our fish tanks. I added a month ago, the leaf litter had subsided and formed a layer above sand. Next time when should I add leaf litters? Thanks in advance.
I have gravel and use a gravel cleaner in my aquarium. I did have snails but the discs are em. I have plants and tetras as well as discus. They are doing fine and I add some leaves from time to time. I prefer you to kaveman aquatics to many chemicals. Bless you brother
If anyone is looking at diy filters keep in mind... Siporax is not the same as siporex.. one is inert and building material will make your water hard and high in PH ... They even look the same :D
for me the BEST filtration is a well balanced one! I like to use many different filtration media stacked so that there is a lot of different media to hold lots of good bacteria....also key is lots of oxygen...if you have good dissolved 02 in your water you will get good bacteria production
@@FatherFish the challenge for me is my Koi fish love to eat plants LOL. I actually created a separate settling pond not attached to main pond where I keep my floating pond plants at...that in itself keeps my water crystal clear in full sun
For my marine tanks I use only aragonite sand. It's fantastic. I swear by the stuff. For my freshwater tanks, because they are planted, I tend to do mixed media. Sand and some substrate (like Eco-Planted). I typically do a layer of sand, then the planted substrate, and a layer of sand on top of that. That way I can have the sand down low to create an anoxic zone. What are your thoughts on layering substrate in this way? Do you think it would be better to have all the sand on top or all the and on bottom?
Aragonite works well for a while in brackish setups as well. I had at least six months without detectable NH3 and nitrites right off the bat, with barely detectable nitrates.
It's all about the substrate and plants. Do you see filters in rivers and seas? No! The biggest con in fish keeping apart from all the liquid additives you don't need, are expensive external filters. A cheap internal filter will do the job.
I'm at 0:24, you asked "What is the very best filter for your aquarium?" I would think plants rooted only in mud & sand, decayed leaves & twigs. Fish play a part in the natural filtration system too.
This is why I always say that the old fashion filters work much better then any power filter, for example scientist created the box filters where mechanics created the power filters, who do you think knows more about biology? Someone that spends all their time under a car or someone that masters in science ? I tried power filters before, they can’t ever work as great as a box filter. I have them in all my tanks starting with the 125 gallons all the way to the ten gallons and had never regret it.
[thank, you father fish for you're video. I, been using a commerical swimming pool filter system it is over kill but it works great but now it pulls on the electric bill]👍
Second load of sand today , m'y aquarium looks so much better, seeing as the bottom is gravel and not substrate will my plants survive or will i have to replace them often?
That's how most of my shop is set up, or more specifically sand/gravel blends (to change looks from tank to tank) over dirt. That along with all living decorations with the exception of the driftwood as a lot was dry. Greatly simplifies things and everyone complements on how good they look. Blows their minds when I tell them it's a lot less maintenance.
@@natereinhold6180 I think you’re over simplifying it. There’s a lot of variables such as stocking level and type of fish and also the local where the fish are from. That definitely wouldn’t work with my heavily stocked rift tank and other fish such as crenicichla that come from high current heavily oxygenated areas would probably not do well either. I think this method could work great for lake and low current species that don’t dig too much
@@NotSure876 I've had that issue with Oscars.. I do DEEP sand but, the damn fish just dig down into it & toss the sand around nonstop lol. Had to change that tank around and just set it up to maintain with changes 😔 at least until I can figure out a better idea
@Prison Mike my rift lake tanks are definitely not set up that way. And you can dirt with digging fish, cover it with geotextile fabric, they will not dig through it. As for over simplifying, the biggest majority of fish come from soft, slightly acidic waters and do extremely well in dirted sand bottoms. There are a few outliers, like you stated, but that's over complicating things for the average aquarist. When people want to move into fish with specialized needs, that becomes a junction to educate on specific needs.
FatherFish, I have a question I wanted to ask you for a long time. This video suits this question. What is the motor to move water through the sand filter ? Greets from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
I wish I went with soil when I built my tank, it has only sand for thr substrate. Some plants do grow in it though. I also have a lotus plant but it's growing in a pot with soil.
Hi Father-Fish!! First of all thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with us. I have a doubt... If your tank is to create a freshwater aquarium and you use that sand from the ocean... What about the salt? If we boil the sand, we're going to kill the micro-life... But we do not want salt for our fresh-water aquariums... 🤷🏻♂️ Do we? And what about calcareous level? We shouldn't put calcareous rocks inside our tropical tanks... and the sand from the ocean (or from the sea) is mostly composed by calcareous rocks' sand and shells' rest... Right? So... we could have a trouble (or more than only one problem). So... What would be the way? What would be the option and the process to use sand as our filters? Thanks in advance and all my admiration from Seville (Spain). All the best, Father-Fish!!
its interesting when i grew up in the ninetees in the czech republic we just used plastic foam medium where in the middle was a perforated plastic pipe where compressed air sucked up the water through the foam and expelled it out on the top. additionally we used an bubble stome, and that was it. but today we don't use air bubble stones at all but instead inject co2 addtionally into it, and for filtering purposes we use a pump. But it seems to me, that you don't necessaraly need to inject co2 into the tank, as i don't see it in that video. thats interessting.
Hi Father Fish .I have loved watching all your videos . When i set up my next Aquarium , which will be a dirted Tank .Does ot matter that im tanking leaves etc from a stream that will a lot cooler than my tropical Aquarium water ?
You are the filter 😉 Everyone is his own filter. If do nothing healty for your aquarium, you don't need from filter, everything will be finished catastrofaly. Evry filter can work for you, IF YOU WANT THIS. Best Regards
Hi father fish, I've just found your channel and I can't get enough, I'm from Canada and very new to this, when you kept saying sand i keep thinking of sand from the beach! can i use that to put in the tank? I have some gravel already and two plants because I want a natrual environment but i'm still wanting to learn Please let me know and it would be great if we can have a conversation sometime.
I am setting up a new aquarium and I am going to use your method of soil and sand, but I have a Fluval 207 canister filter that I bought before finding your channel. I would like to use it in conjunction with your method. Can you recommend a filter media that I can use to enhance the method that you use? I have had aquariums as long as I can remember and I don't remember ever having big problems with any of them, but I have always tried to re-create nature in my aquariums.
I use alot alot alot of plants a small hang on backfilter with sponge on pickup with ceramic media differ corse sponges and also a small sponge filter powered by ziss air stone
Your not gna like it but it's 3 inches in front and about 4 to 5 inches of natural small river gravel .. started tank with little experience . But have cryps swords and other rare bulb plants thriving with a heavy fish load ... have a 20 long that iam going to do the father fish substrate method next
I have a question? If you have a sterile tank and fill it with water. That doesn't have any algae in it or zero life. How does algae start to grow just from sunlight? Where do they come from? How do you get something from nothing. Are they present from the start?
@@FatherFish are algae a spor producing plant? I understand bacteria even fungus. Algae is neither one of those. It's like a magical life form that just appears with sun light. So does algae become airborne? Like a virus.
@@FatherFish thank you for responding to me. This is just fascinating to me. I have several tanks. From five gallon to several hundred. With very large fish to small common fish. I want to do a pool pond that's is 1000 gallons. I think the fish will destroy the substrate if I do it the way you describe. Do you think it is doable with large fish?
I set up my 55 gallon discus tank with dirt and pool filter sand. Both of which were very wet. But now I am getting huge air bubbles emerging from the substrate that stink to high heaven.
@FatherFish thank you, I was concerned because I heard that if you don't agitate sand frequently it forms toxic air bubbles. But it's only been 3 weeks.
I like the idea of adding leaf litter from a natural system. I live in the Pacific northwest so my local sources for river or lake water leaves are from cold water. Will this be acceptable for a tropical temperature aquarium?
Great advice. I'm going to setup a new 20 long with this process. Should i just go out and collect dirt or buy some top soil without fertilizer? I'm going to pull some sand from a natural spring in Florida with some debris from the water also. Thanks, again.
The very best filter is the ecosystem itself. In my aquarium i have just a little lifter with a spingefilter, which barely moves the water. Important is the bacteria living inside the sponge. This is why i never ever clean it. And it works.
You mention the filter will help with ammonia, I’ve also seen where it’s recommended that floating plants are critical to take care of ammonia. Is the filter, and regular plants enough to beat the ammonia or are floating plants a must have?
Father Fish I bought a 60 gallon aquarium and I want to put gold and turquoise severums just a couple three or four silver dollars small cichlids Cory cats a planted tank I plan on getting some mud from the creek here in California and some leaves possibly some wood this will be the first time I've done I used to have a 90 gallon aquarium I had for severums they did quite well I had a pump I didn't do any of your ecosystem I find it fascinating I'm asking how many plants to plant in a 60 gallon aquarium this is going to be rather expensive I feel I would appreciate any input you could give me thank you love your Channel
Wanting to start a 20g tank. I’m planning on using 1 inch of dirt from my backyard, and two inches of pool sand. Should I put the seeded lake leaves on top of the sand layer or underneath?
So I would like to take on this challenge and try to set up a natural 10 gallon tank with dirt, sand and plants as described. However it's winter time here in ohio so most of the streams are frozen over. Would all the beneficial bacteria fungus still be available in the leaves coming out of the nearly frozen streams/lakes or should I wait for spring.
I live in Kansas, surrounded by farmland so I'm worried about fertilizer run off in sand and leaves from natural sources... Will pool filter sand and leaves from my yard work as well...? And where would I collect some "clean" aquatic biodiversity...? I was thinking I could go way out in the country and find a nice little creek, but I still don't know if there's a farm upstream creating runoff into that creek.... I'm a 40+ year fish keeper and really want to do this with all my tanks (except my saltwater).
If there is life in the creek - fish and macrofauna - the runoff is not creating a problem. Typically it is beneficial. Only in extreme excess does it become a pollutant. Farmers are very aware of the cost of wasting fertilizers by using so much they create runoff. It is uncommon for an intelligent, money conscious farmer to allow this to happen. It hurts his pocket book.
@@FatherFish That makes sense... But there has been times we were told to not even touch the Arkansas river water...? I really wanna do this natural system in all my tanks...! I will probably go WAY out in the country and find a nice little spring feed creek... Thanks for your reply.
I did everything you said FF, I have 1 inch of dirt on the bottom followed by 2 inches of sand, I planted 13 live plants and waited 2 weeks before I got an Algae eater and 2 small Oscars in the tank. I took a water sample to the store and they said my water was perfect. My fish and the plants look fine and the FIsh eat when I feed them and swim all over the tank. Im only concerned that the water is really GREEN. Is it because I leave the light on 12 hours a day ?? Im only doing it to GROW the plants, maybe drop it to 6 hours a day ?? Love your videos and trying to learn your ways - THANKS !!!!
I just discovered this great channel and have been binge watching - Thank you! Father Fish (and viewers), have you ever experimented with ways to encourage flow downward through the sand? I have well-water, and I'm considering trying a constant drip-exchange with a peristaltic pump. Instead of a traditional overflow, what if I put some uptake tubes under a screen under the soil that then go up-and-out so that the exiting water would be taken from the very bottom? Would that increase the efficiency of the sand as a filter?
Hi, Sorry but I am not clear on what is humus? My impression is that is can be leaves/grass that were mulched and became compost? Thank you in advance.
10:35 Can I use Catappa leaves in my tank and wait for the food web to form? The idea of using leaves from my outdoor pond makes me cringe a bit. The water in that pond has no filtration and is stagnant and quite stinky. My tanks all contain driftwood and are over 5 yrs old. Do I already have a food web?
A mix of leave species will be more beneficial. You have a food web limited by the microscopic life that has been able to find its way into your tank. If you can locate a clean running creek with some leaf mulch in it you will be able to bring a fully diverse food web into your tank. You could create a resurrection jar with some material from your pond.
If I have just smal gravel in my aquarium, can I add sand later too? I mean without waterchange, maybe left the 1/3 water in the aquarium, get out the fishes and snails things like that and add the sand, leave it a day or two and load back the old water and the creatures, could this work?
Wait, so if I have your prescribed substrate and plants, I can add just an air stone and don't need a sponge filter or powerhead or hang on type filter?
After watching couple of you videos about dirted tank..I want to give it a go. What type of sand should I buy, is it fine or grainy? Is it ok to buy a builders sand like the one they used for paving or any sands would be ok from the hardware shop? Sorry for asking too many questions. I am a beginner & done already too many mistakes & this time I would like to do it right. Thank you Father Fish
@@gk9417 I got a sand from my local fish store & I did rinse it out couple of times. So not sure with play sand. One year on..my tank is thriving & so my fish☺
Hello father fish…I bought a 20 gallon kit everything included, can I use the power filter it cam with or buy a sponge filter? I am setting it up with dirt and sand per your directions! Thank you God bless you and your family 🙏🙏
I followed your advice and have a layer of dirt with everything you put in your soil and then sand over top about 3 inches. My question is do I need a filter at all like a canister filter or will the air stone with the leaf mulm do enough?
Can I put sand without the soil? My tank already has fish inside… Should I start again with a new tank?? I have another tank but no cover for it…🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
STEM PLANTS BUNDLE SALE - Over 75 plants - 15 Species for $59! Limited Time OFFER so HURRY!
father-fish-aquarium.myshopify.com/
For Special Soil Supplements, Plants, FIsh & Merch in your country:
fatherfish.fish/
Do you offer shipment for overseas countries?
We need a UK 🇬🇧 Father Fish!!
@@FatherFish I absolutely love your videos and products
I bought a plant bundle from this man and honestly I got tired of planting plants 😂 by far the best deal I’ve seen!! Completely filled a 125 for 54 dollars one of the only person I’ve bought from that you’ll actually know you got your money worth all the plants were super healthy as well thank you father fish for all you do!!!!
Wish i could say the same. I recieved a lot of small stems. Had to go but more from the store. :/
Excuse me,I have tidal 55 and its outstanding
How do I buy them lol
When my tank is ready I plan on buying plants from him 😊
@@michaelalepor9650 go to ....
father-fish-aquarium.myshopify.com
The link 🔗 is in the description. Also one can go to discord and join in the conversation on the Shoal. Also in the description.
Sorry not smart enough to copy n paste or drag n attach. My bad.
Blessings friend
Crawford out 🙏🏻🔥⚒️🧙🏻♂️
Father fish should be nominated for a Nobel environmental and ecology award. He has taught the world a better way of looking after aquatic life. Everyone should nominate this legand for his pioneering work in making the world a better place ❤
tottaly agree! i've just find out this chanel and from yestarday to todary i've watched more then 12 videos of him and particulary it changed all my thoght about aquariuns... amazing (sorry fo my bad english. Im kind a rusty.)
@@tiagobejart check out my UA-cam channel l will be showing how to set up tanks from beginning to end 🐠🐟💦
Agreed!
@Awsimilate Hi, thanks for your comments. As always, it's good to share what others feel, and ovcourse everyone has the right to have their opinion shared. Much appreciated 🙏
@Awsimilate hahaha. You're mad...lol
Father Fish! I just found your videos today and ordered a fish tank online! I have a creek running through our property full of leaves.... Planning on setting up exactly as you have explained. I had tanks in the past and filtered, changed water, vacuumed the gravel... I'm very excited to see the results of doing it your way. I have a huge jar to create the resurrection jar. Always was fascinated with pond water when I was a kid... putting it under a microscope. This will be so much better! Thanks and God Bless!
Three dirted tanks three years old thriving in my home attest to this system of keeping fish and plants in a glass box. Puts the joy back in the hobby and with less toil at that.
When you know the true joy of fishkeeping you will never go back (to gravel and plastic plants). lol
@@FatherFishyes indeed !!! Something that puzzles me though 😮 Doesn’t potting soil break down and become acidic after 1 or 2 years ? TIA 😊
@@Just_Lurking8 Yea, looks like FF doesn't like you. 😀JK!! I'd like to hear the answer to that question as well! ✌
I tried his method a couple of months ago in a small glass bowl. The plants have now tripled in size. The water looks great and the fish seem to be happy!!!
After years of aquarium troubles I followed father fish's advice soil sand plants its now been two years not had one sick fish or even a death water changes hardly ever mostly top ups.
Amazing!
I set a tank same as you explained and it was so heart warming to set it .
Collecting the mud and sand from near by river , also plants from the same river and few fishes too
And yes some rocks too
The feeling of setting a tank is best part than watching a finished tank
Like looking at child growing
Thank you father❤
Just discover this channel its re ignite my passion about fish keeping, i quit for 2 years emptied my 3 tanks due to something personal, i like the video its like im talkinh to my grandfather.
He speaks with such a passion sounds like he's preaching the gospel of John.😊 I love it❤
I use sand soil and natural tumbled gravel. I start with layers but overtime it naturally mixes and or is redistributed by my fish. I have tanks from 5 1/2 to 75. Ive always admired your content because your tanks look real.
The guy I bought my 55 gallon from suggested I use a big, expensive canister filter, all I added was a sponge filter and tons of plants and every fish is happy and thriving.
Depends on what type of aquarium you want and how much you stock it.
Father fish, I think you should write a book, it would be a bestseller!
I think my videos are my book.
A documentary would be good.
I totally agree on going natural. I have an overfeeding problem causing high nitrites and my cycled canister filter eliminated them and ammonia. If you overfeed the most filteration is the best!
I set up a small aquarium following your instructions and it has been going about 8 months, I think it is balanced. No algae, a few snails and plenty of guppies. I don’t normally have live bearers so this was an experiment. It is in the window so gets natural light.
Sounds wonderful.
How is you aquarium doing this far?
Can you use a plastic thank for your FISH THANK With sand and muck
i just found your channel today and it is great. I have two tanks that are set up exactly the way you describe, but I didn't follow any internet guides. I just tried my best to copy the environment found in local ponds. I have one tank stocked with wild caught minnows, two brim, and all sorts of snails and worms and bug things that came in with the drift wood and pond mud that I used. I have not done a water change a single time since setting this tank up nearly 5 years ago. My other tank is stocked with neon tetras and a gourami, and is set up the same way. It has been doing fine with no water changes in over 6 years.
Very interesting and incredible! please answer - how is water filtration arranged in your aquarium? do you have an external or internal filter installed in your aquarium?
Hi Father Fish, thank you very much for all your advices, everything you say makes sense, just copy what nature has always been doing. That's amazing! 😊😊😊
I've started a new dirted tank just a few month ago (just following your deep substrate system adding leaf and mulm collected from the wild) and hitherto I'm delighted with the results. Finger crossed for what the future holds! 🤞🐟🐟🐟
Proud of you Adalberto. Your trust in the wonder of nature will provide you with an every changing aquarium filled with wonder.
Powerhead is all I have along with substrate and sand on top as you told me.
My setup is working great since than. Thanks Mister F. FISH!!! U R a GREAT man!
God bless you always.
Nelson from south Brazil 🙏
I followed your directions and tank is clean and fresh and and my 5 fish love it. Another tank I added sand I got from the beach on a vacation. It’s loving it in that tank as well
I have first thought everything was relayed on the filtration. Throught experience and by your knowledge I have learned the filter helps with moving the water around. I do not now use any top on my tanks I angle my input up towards the top so it helps brake the water line which in turn helps with the carbon dioxide and oxygen Exchange. I have always added some aeration to the tank to help as well with oxygen in the water.
The real filtration here is what you use as your substrate if you have a great foundation for your substrate and you provide the right Aquascape both of these will be able to provide all your bacteria that you need to help break everything down. At this point in my tank I could substitute my filtration system for one or two small power heads. Angle them a little up towards the surface just so they're breaking the surface line and my tank will be able to be self-sufficient. I currently have 30 gallon tank fresh a 75 gallon fresh and 125g saltwater. I rarely with my freshwater tanks at this point even do water changes. Because I don't have any Lids on my tanks my evaporation rate is anywhere between 1/8-1/2 gal per day if you add this all up you're looking at it being just about sometimes two to three gallons a week that I'm using to top my tank off. So I will come back maybe once a month and do a 10% water change. Ever since I have taken a step back and let my tank do what it needs to do just like you would in nature or my guppies is starting to have babies my mollies are having babies. All I get to do now is sit back and enjoy my fish. Thank you father fish.
For my substrate I use crushed coral layer dirt and sand on top with smaller pebbles
I run a fluval 110 on my 30g
Fluval fx4 on my 75
Fluval fx6 on my 125g (salt)
This man is wise. Let Nature do the work.
This dude is no shit, hard core. Just like my mom. He is 100% spot on.
As a devoted aquarium lover, I can say the only time I've ever been more delighted in enlightenment was when I understood the Gospel !...LOVED this video !
Thank you !
The workings of Creation demonstrate the love of the Creator!
@@FatherFish
"....so that men are without excuse."
@@anju-andrukat Amen brother
@@FatherFish
Amen.
this is mind blowing!!!
I AM ABSOLUTLEY MESMERIZED
I have a fair bit of African wood in with my cichlids. The wood yellowed the water quite a bit, but didn't seem to affect the fish. I use a Fluval C3 in my 30 gallon. I replaced the carbon filter media in it with Seachem Purigen. Within 6 hours the water was beautifully clear....tannins gone and toxin free. Purigen is awesome for removing organic waste (ammonia, etc) and stripping tannins. Plus, you can recharge it up to ten times. It may seem expensive but considering you can reuse it ten times.....it's very affordable!
Man’s right..just did it ..grabbed natural sand and sediments from a clean river out side my door in northern Ontario…
Works like a charm
90 gal - 26 Tiger Barb tank & pelco I use 2 HOB filters & air stone pump & wave maker to move water & i change water 20% from gravel every 2 weeks & Prime water conditioner & small amount of tank salt .have not lost fish in a yr ..good info
You go Rick!~
QUESTION: I made my tank up with the mud and sand. Initially I had not added enough sand and the water was dirty the day after I carefully added it. I did many 20% water changes and eventually added more sand to block out any mud from leaking in. I have the tank up and running, plenty of plants and added a few fish. It looks beautiful, but for some reason I can't seem to get the water to go crystal clear. Now, I think I may need to give it a little more time to clear on its own, but want to make sure there isn't anything I'm missing. Any feedback is much appreciated. Thank you in advance, and keep up the incredible videos! I love your channel and your fish-wisdom.
sometimes it takes a week or so to clear. A fine pore sponge filter helps.
@@FatherFish thank you for taking the time to respond. Will do! Keep you posted my friend!
You are awesome! Father Fish. I’ve just put together a pond and now you have inspired me to get an aquarium. I love watching your videos. ❤❤❤❤
I found this channel through the comments on aquarium co-op and I'm so happy I did! Thank you, sir, for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us. I will always be fascinated with Nature's perfect and complex design.
Welcome aboard! Thank you Shannon.
@@FatherFish I just found your channel & being
I'm a visionary person, I get what your saying
if you follow nature you will learn God's gifts.
@@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058 You understand the key to the channel.
@@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058 Join us on Discord. A wonderful fishy community. discord.gg/Tc84Xf5P
Enjoyed your youtube channel. Your insight opens a new light and perspective. You by far have become one of my favorite fish keeps. Thank you Sir for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. Take care of yourself and God bless you and yours.
You help confirm my intuition a bit more. Do as the earth do.
For my pond i am pumping to a planter bowl, half rocks to hold the hose and the other half silty sand and trailing pond plants, tubifex worms and to my surprise a few baby water snails. This flows over the plant side onto some rock in the next tub then through the fine grain sand in the next half of that tub which has an air stone buried under it, to promote oxygenation not only of the water but of heavy minerals out of the water, before waterfalling into a rocky corner of the pond, where my second air stone is. And there are plants in every section, though the pond has the most by far of plants sand and soil
This man is a genius! 🐟
I found your videos about 4 days ago and I think you are amazing I watch a lot of fish videos but I've learned more watching your videos then any of the other videos I watch I'm going to be get stuff from you and change up my tank I have a 5 gallon tank it was a gift thank you for your videos keep up the great work that you do.
Awesome! Thank you!
I also agree. The other channel just give publicity to the enterprises that sell all kinds of unnecessary products.
I got to agree the best filter for biological purposes is the substrate if done correctly. I know for a fact I can rely on my substrate alone in the event of having to replace my entire filter and all its biological media. If you have a strong substrate then a filter is purely there to keep the water looking pretty and to help oxygenate the water if required for your fish.
However a good substrate can support most fish with no filter providing you got plants and a really balanced eco system.
What is a strong substrate? Is it something I can just purchase
I would like to say thank you for all the information you give. Just about to start a new tank and trying to manage a natural system according to your help.
Best regards from Germany
i have tried that, it's nice. what i do now is i leave a 1/2 inch trench on the sides and front that i fill in with the top layer sand so there is no dirt out to the glass.
Hello, it’s my 5th tank and I did all what you said. It’s all natural with roots and stones picked up from the wood behind my house 😁 Used some filter media from different tank and placed fish after two weeks. They doing just fine , really happy fish. I have Black neon tetras and Apistogramma cacatuoides. I wish I coul lime pictures here ehhh
🙏
Post in the SHOAL and on Show and Tell on Wed nite live stream.
Yes , Father fish is right indeed.....I have set up my dirted tank 6 months ago and added leaf mulm from nearest pond a month ago..
Really my tank is thriving well, with happy fishes in it...as if they are living in their natural habitat. I feed very little amount of food , 2-3 days a week.
Father fish, my question is , how often or what is the frequency of adding leaf mulm in our fish tanks. I added a month ago, the leaf litter had subsided and formed a layer above sand. Next time when should I add leaf litters?
Thanks in advance.
The litter should be feeding an active culture of micro organisms. Adding new leaves once a month is probably not too much.
I have a pond and a tropical aquarium. Im a bit weary about moving things between them because of the risk of bringing in foreign diseases.
I have gravel and use a gravel cleaner in my aquarium. I did have snails but the discs are em. I have plants and tetras as well as discus. They are doing fine and I add some leaves from time to time. I prefer you to kaveman aquatics to many chemicals. Bless you brother
If anyone is looking at diy filters keep in mind... Siporax is not the same as siporex.. one is inert and building material will make your water hard and high in PH ... They even look the same :D
I truly respect your knowledge and wisdom
This one was an amazing video Father Fish congratulations on the 1K ❤️ so well deserved!! Thank you for all you do and teach 🙏🌿🐟🌿💚
Thank you Mary.
for me the BEST filtration is a well balanced one! I like to use many different filtration media stacked so that there is a lot of different media to hold lots of good bacteria....also key is lots of oxygen...if you have good dissolved 02 in your water you will get good bacteria production
With losts of plants no filtration is needed.
@@FatherFish the challenge for me is my Koi fish love to eat plants LOL. I actually created a separate settling pond not attached to main pond where I keep my floating pond plants at...that in itself keeps my water crystal clear in full sun
Thank you for explaining it in a way that is easy to understand. The wave and sand thing clicked for me.
Glad it helped!
Binge watching all your videos!
For my marine tanks I use only aragonite sand. It's fantastic. I swear by the stuff. For my freshwater tanks, because they are planted, I tend to do mixed media. Sand and some substrate (like Eco-Planted). I typically do a layer of sand, then the planted substrate, and a layer of sand on top of that. That way I can have the sand down low to create an anoxic zone. What are your thoughts on layering substrate in this way? Do you think it would be better to have all the sand on top or all the and on bottom?
I like aragonite in salt. Sand below and above dirt does not accomplish anything just like plenums do not accomplish anythiing.
Argonite is great in salt and high ph fresh tanks like rift setups or rainbow fish
What part of AZ are you? I just left AZ after 17 years
Aragonite works well for a while in brackish setups as well.
I had at least six months without detectable NH3 and nitrites right off the bat, with barely detectable nitrates.
thank you very much for all your advices😍
It's all about the substrate and plants. Do you see filters in rivers and seas? No! The biggest con in fish keeping apart from all the liquid additives you don't need, are expensive external filters. A cheap internal filter will do the job.
I’ve been told sand compacts too much and makes it difficult for plant roots to penetrate and can cause an anaerobic environment.
Those who make that claim have never used sand and don't get out much (into their local stream)
I'm at 0:24, you asked "What is the very best filter for your aquarium?" I would think plants rooted only in mud & sand, decayed leaves & twigs. Fish play a part in the natural filtration system too.
Everything you said is so true. Really enjoyed it, Father Fish. Take care, and god bless you.
Glad you enjoyed it Michael. God bless you.
This is why I always say that the old fashion filters work much better then any power filter, for example scientist created the box filters where mechanics created the power filters, who do you think knows more about biology? Someone that spends all their time under a car or someone that masters in science ? I tried power filters before, they can’t ever work as great as a box filter. I have them in all my tanks starting with the 125 gallons all the way to the ten gallons and had never regret it.
agreed
[thank, you father fish for you're video. I, been using a commerical swimming pool filter system it is over kill but it works great but now it pulls on the electric bill]👍
True dat!
Started adding sand today, 1/2" and already and plants and even if it has not setteld yet the aquarium looks so much better
Why is there a Bio-Magnet Clarifier with m'y sand ?I dont intend to use it and let the water clear itself
Second load of sand today , m'y aquarium looks so much better,
seeing as the bottom is gravel and not substrate will my plants survive or will i have to replace them often?
When should i add the " river water and gunk" once all the sand is in and setteld ?
Please someone when do i add?
The best filter is Mother nature. Father Fish has a sandy bottom. lol
More specifically a dirted bottom covered in sand. lol
That's how most of my shop is set up, or more specifically sand/gravel blends (to change looks from tank to tank) over dirt. That along with all living decorations with the exception of the driftwood as a lot was dry. Greatly simplifies things and everyone complements on how good they look. Blows their minds when I tell them it's a lot less maintenance.
@@natereinhold6180 I think you’re over simplifying it. There’s a lot of variables such as stocking level and type of fish and also the local where the fish are from. That definitely wouldn’t work with my heavily stocked rift tank and other fish such as crenicichla that come from high current heavily oxygenated areas would probably not do well either. I think this method could work great for lake and low current species that don’t dig too much
@@NotSure876 I've had that issue with Oscars.. I do DEEP sand but, the damn fish just dig down into it & toss the sand around nonstop lol. Had to change that tank around and just set it up to maintain with changes 😔 at least until I can figure out a better idea
@Prison Mike my rift lake tanks are definitely not set up that way. And you can dirt with digging fish, cover it with geotextile fabric, they will not dig through it. As for over simplifying, the biggest majority of fish come from soft, slightly acidic waters and do extremely well in dirted sand bottoms. There are a few outliers, like you stated, but that's over complicating things for the average aquarist. When people want to move into fish with specialized needs, that becomes a junction to educate on specific needs.
FatherFish, I have a question I wanted to ask you for a long time. This video suits this question. What is the motor to move water through the sand filter ?
Greets from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
I wish I went with soil when I built my tank, it has only sand for thr substrate. Some plants do grow in it though. I also have a lotus plant but it's growing in a pot with soil.
Hi Father-Fish!!
First of all thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with us.
I have a doubt... If your tank is to create a freshwater aquarium and you use that sand from the ocean... What about the salt? If we boil the sand, we're going to kill the micro-life... But we do not want salt for our fresh-water aquariums... 🤷🏻♂️ Do we?
And what about calcareous level? We shouldn't put calcareous rocks inside our tropical tanks... and the sand from the ocean (or from the sea) is mostly composed by calcareous rocks' sand and shells' rest... Right?
So... we could have a trouble (or more than only one problem).
So... What would be the way? What would be the option and the process to use sand as our filters?
Thanks in advance and all my admiration from Seville (Spain).
All the best, Father-Fish!!
Dry sand from high beach areas has little or no salt.
Thanks a lot for your answer,@@FatherFish
All the best from Seville!!🇪🇦
So, is that mean, that for good filtering, sand and air stone is enough?
its interesting when i grew up in the ninetees in the czech republic we just used plastic foam medium where in the middle was a perforated plastic pipe where compressed air sucked up the water through the foam and expelled it out on the top.
additionally we used an bubble stome, and that was it.
but today we don't use air bubble stones at all but instead inject co2 addtionally into it, and for filtering purposes we use a pump. But it seems to me, that you don't necessaraly need to inject co2 into the tank, as i don't see it in that video. thats interessting.
A deep substrate produces CO2 naturally.
What a great educator! Father Fish told it like it is no BS😊.
Hi Father Fish .I have loved watching all your videos . When i set up my next Aquarium , which will be a dirted Tank .Does ot matter that im tanking leaves etc from a stream that will a lot cooler than my tropical Aquarium water ?
Nope. It will be fine!
You are the filter 😉 Everyone is his own filter. If do nothing healty for your aquarium, you don't need from filter, everything will be finished catastrofaly. Evry filter can work for you, IF YOU WANT THIS. Best Regards
Hi father fish, I've just found your channel and I can't get enough, I'm from Canada and very new to this, when you kept saying sand i keep thinking of sand from the beach! can i use that to put in the tank? I have some gravel already and two plants because I want a natrual environment but i'm still wanting to learn Please let me know and it would be great if we can have a conversation sometime.
I am setting up a new aquarium and I am going to use your method of soil and sand, but I have a Fluval 207 canister filter that I bought before finding your channel. I would like to use it in conjunction with your method. Can you recommend a filter media that I can use to enhance the method that you use? I have had aquariums as long as I can remember and I don't remember ever having big problems with any of them, but I have always tried to re-create nature in my aquariums.
any media will do
I use alot alot alot of plants a small hang on backfilter with sponge on pickup with ceramic media differ corse sponges and also a small sponge filter powered by ziss air stone
Sounds good. What is your substrate?
Your not gna like it but it's 3 inches in front and about 4 to 5 inches of natural small river gravel .. started tank with little experience . But have cryps swords and other rare bulb plants thriving with a heavy fish load ... have a 20 long that iam going to do the father fish substrate method next
Best professor I’ve ever had.
I have a question? If you have a sterile tank and fill it with water. That doesn't have any algae in it or zero life. How does algae start to grow just from sunlight? Where do they come from? How do you get something from nothing. Are they present from the start?
There is never nothing. There are spore in the air and on the surface of everything that comes in contact with the water.
@@FatherFish are algae a spor producing plant? I understand bacteria even fungus. Algae is neither one of those. It's like a magical life form that just appears with sun light. So does algae become airborne? Like a virus.
@@FatherFish thank you for responding to me. This is just fascinating to me. I have several tanks. From five gallon to several hundred. With very large fish to small common fish. I want to do a pool pond that's is 1000 gallons. I think the fish will destroy the substrate if I do it the way you describe. Do you think it is doable with large fish?
I set up my 55 gallon discus tank with dirt and pool filter sand. Both of which were very wet. But now I am getting huge air bubbles emerging from the substrate that stink to high heaven.
It will stop. The bubbles are not a problem.
@FatherFish thank you, I was concerned because I heard that if you don't agitate sand frequently it forms toxic air bubbles. But it's only been 3 weeks.
Wont the fish starve? When do I start feeding them?
I like the idea of adding leaf litter from a natural system. I live in the Pacific northwest so my local sources for river or lake water leaves are from cold water. Will this be acceptable for a tropical temperature aquarium?
Yes. Micro organisms know no borders.
Great advice. I'm going to setup a new 20 long with this process. Should i just go out and collect dirt or buy some top soil without fertilizer? I'm going to pull some sand from a natural spring in Florida with some debris from the water also. Thanks, again.
All natural is all good.
Very true great information thanks for sharing
Thank you Mark
After putting in the outside matter can you keep your hanging filter going thank you
Juan
yes
The very best filter is the ecosystem itself. In my aquarium i have just a little lifter with a spingefilter, which barely moves the water. Important is the bacteria living inside the sponge. This is why i never ever clean it. And it works.
You mention the filter will help with ammonia, I’ve also seen where it’s recommended that floating plants are critical to take care of ammonia. Is the filter, and regular plants enough to beat the ammonia or are floating plants a must have?
All plants take up ammonia naturally.
Father Fish I bought a 60 gallon aquarium and I want to put gold and turquoise severums just a couple three or four silver dollars small cichlids Cory cats a planted tank I plan on getting some mud from the creek here in California and some leaves possibly some wood this will be the first time I've done I used to have a 90 gallon aquarium I had for severums they did quite well I had a pump I didn't do any of your ecosystem I find it fascinating I'm asking how many plants to plant in a 60 gallon aquarium this is going to be rather expensive I feel I would appreciate any input you could give me thank you love your Channel
The silver dollars will eat all plants to the root. The rest are OK. Cut that pond mud with peat or coir.
Wanting to start a 20g tank.
I’m planning on using 1 inch of dirt from my backyard, and two inches of pool sand. Should I put the seeded lake leaves on top of the sand layer or underneath?
Top
So I would like to take on this challenge and try to set up a natural 10 gallon tank with dirt, sand and plants as described. However it's winter time here in ohio so most of the streams are frozen over. Would all the beneficial bacteria fungus still be available in the leaves coming out of the nearly frozen streams/lakes or should I wait for spring.
Order those things from Father Fish’s store if you’re worried about that
Love it!One thing though what kind of water do you use?
I live in Kansas, surrounded by farmland so I'm worried about fertilizer run off in sand and leaves from natural sources... Will pool filter sand and leaves from my yard work as well...?
And where would I collect some "clean" aquatic biodiversity...?
I was thinking I could go way out in the country and find a nice little creek, but I still don't know if there's a farm upstream creating runoff into that creek....
I'm a 40+ year fish keeper and really want to do this with all my tanks (except my saltwater).
If there is life in the creek - fish and macrofauna - the runoff is not creating a problem. Typically it is beneficial. Only in extreme excess does it become a pollutant.
Farmers are very aware of the cost of wasting fertilizers by using so much they create runoff. It is uncommon for an intelligent, money conscious farmer to allow this to happen. It hurts his pocket book.
@@FatherFish That makes sense...
But there has been times we were told to not even touch the Arkansas river water...?
I really wanna do this natural system in all my tanks...! I will probably go WAY out in the country and find a nice little spring feed creek... Thanks for your reply.
I love it to listen the Godfather of fishes .
I did everything you said FF, I have 1 inch of dirt on the bottom followed by 2 inches of sand, I planted 13 live plants and waited 2 weeks before I got an Algae eater and 2 small Oscars in the tank. I took a water sample to the store and they said my water was perfect. My fish and the plants look fine and the FIsh eat when I feed them and swim all over the tank. Im only concerned that the water is really GREEN. Is it because I leave the light on 12 hours a day ?? Im only doing it to GROW the plants, maybe drop it to 6 hours a day ?? Love your videos and trying to learn your ways - THANKS !!!!
edit - I have a Fluval 307 pump, a Power head, and an Air Bubble in the tank as well .... 75 gallon tank ...
Yes 8 is fine
Love this challenge, thank you!
Good for you. Accept the challenge. Trust Nature.
What kind of soil and what kind of sand specifically please?
I just discovered this great channel and have been binge watching - Thank you! Father Fish (and viewers), have you ever experimented with ways to encourage flow downward through the sand? I have well-water, and I'm considering trying a constant drip-exchange with a peristaltic pump. Instead of a traditional overflow, what if I put some uptake tubes under a screen under the soil that then go up-and-out so that the exiting water would be taken from the very bottom? Would that increase the efficiency of the sand as a filter?
The water drawing through the sand is not good as it takes away the anaerobic processes.
@FatherFish Makes sense, thanks!
Father fish thank you for enlightment, i have a question, do we need filter in all type of natural aquarium and air pump
At first I thought it had failed, but when I turned on the corner filter, I found white worms and many other types of microfau
Sir in dirted tank 1 inch soil and 2 inches sand cap is enough? 🙏
Yes 👍Should be perfect.
I had put some sand from aquarium shop which i think is a crushed stone maybe , does that do the job the same as beach sand
You’re part of my family already, father! Regards from Brazil 🐠
Hi, Sorry but I am not clear on what is humus? My impression is that is can be leaves/grass that were mulched and became compost? Thank you in advance.
dried vegetation
10:35
Can I use Catappa leaves in my tank and wait for the food web to form?
The idea of using leaves from my outdoor pond makes me cringe a bit.
The water in that pond has no filtration and is stagnant and quite stinky.
My tanks all contain driftwood and are over 5 yrs old. Do I already have a food web?
A mix of leave species will be more beneficial. You have a food web limited by the microscopic life that has been able to find its way into your tank. If you can locate a clean running creek with some leaf mulch in it you will be able to bring a fully diverse food web into your tank. You could create a resurrection jar with some material from your pond.
If I have just smal gravel in my aquarium, can I add sand later too? I mean without waterchange, maybe left the 1/3 water in the aquarium, get out the fishes and snails things like that and add the sand, leave it a day or two and load back the old water and the creatures, could this work?
Add the sand on top of the fish, plants and all. Will not hurt Fish. TRUN OFF filter to protect impeller.
Wait, so if I have your prescribed substrate and plants, I can add just an air stone and don't need a sponge filter or powerhead or hang on type filter?
typically, yes.
After watching couple of you videos about dirted tank..I want to give it a go. What type of sand should I buy, is it fine or grainy? Is it ok to buy a builders sand like the one they used for paving or any sands would be ok from the hardware shop? Sorry for asking too many questions. I am a beginner & done already too many mistakes & this time I would like to do it right. Thank you Father Fish
Join us on DISCORD, Aida. You will get lots of help and encouragement. Yes, builder's sand is good.
discord.gg/YVzpEsdN
@@FatherFish Thank you Father Fish. I did!! Amazing & full of stuff of knowledge in there by just reading all the conversations. Thank you soo much🙏❤️
Can you use play sand 🙏✌️👍🇨🇦
@@gk9417 I got a sand from my local fish store & I did rinse it out couple of times. So not sure with play sand. One year on..my tank is thriving & so my fish☺
Hello father fish…I bought a 20 gallon kit everything included, can I use the power filter it cam with or buy a sponge filter? I am setting it up with dirt and sand per your directions! Thank you God bless you and your family 🙏🙏
What sand and what soil would be good there are so many brands. I don’t live near natural sand
We discuss this at length here: discord.gg/father-fish-shoal
I followed your advice and have a layer of dirt with everything you put in your soil and then sand over top about 3 inches. My question is do I need a filter at all like a canister filter or will the air stone with the leaf mulm do enough?
I like sponge filters/
@@FatherFish how often would you suggest cleaning the sponge filter? And great channel by the way. Game changer!
Can I put sand without the soil? My tank already has fish inside… Should I start again with a new tank?? I have another tank but no cover for it…🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
yes to both questions