All the links to info about setting up and cycling planted tanks How to Add Nitrogen Active Aquasoil to an Existing Aquarium substrate: ua-cam.com/video/DElDJQi2HD0/v-deo.html To cap or not to cap substrate: ua-cam.com/video/PotZy4LvC8E/v-deo.html Understanding nitrifying and de-nitrifying bacteria cycles ua-cam.com/video/rFXSEIsjvIE/v-deo.html A seasoned tank vs a merely cycled tank: ua-cam.com/video/pzuaehOMy0I/v-deo.html Creating a balanced, filterless," no tech" ecosystem in a bowl, jar or nano tank ua-cam.com/video/K2hxp5PTlUs/v-deo.html How to safely convert your aquarium into a filterless ecosystem ua-cam.com/video/n2Pa2sUUW04/v-deo.html Why Aquarium Plants Melt and or Die & How to Prevent it. ua-cam.com/video/1YV5ltAs9Aw/v-deo.html When to add plants to an aquarium. ua-cam.com/video/nNtxzt26tjM/v-deo.html
Hi Alex Another awesome info dump! I have an idea for you for a video series. Build a new tank from scratch, your "ideal/perfect" tank. Take it slow and talk through EVERY aspect. Selecting substrate, plants, tank size, aquascaping, water parameter monitoring, when to add stock, how you decide what to stock, etc, etc. The idea is to get insight into your thought process and problem solving
And then do weekly updates on the progress of the tank. How the parameters shift over time, how you manipulate or counter that shift, plant growth, future plans, live stock progress, substrate stratification, etc...
Sorry I also would like to know I have a planted darted tNk 2 inch organic potting soil with sand capped and some river peoples for some contrast...how can I tell if I need to add those additives liquid and pills or even add more soil into the tank...I have stopped gravel vacs once I realized mulm was good and then just learned that it will create its own layers
❤ This video is awesome. I have been off of alcohol for 13 months now. I was drunk daily for 15 years. In the last year, I have started 4 nano aquariums that I'm really proud of. I have so much to show for my sobriety. I'm getting ready to plant my new 46-gallon. I've learned so much from you. Thank you for your content. I can't even begin to express the dopamine I get from looking at my aquariums. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Right on my friend! My new "high" is literally learning things that im curious about. It works well long term, after the acute withdrawals slow down. Maybe you should journal your tank and aquarium hobby journey for others too?! Cheers and have an awesome week
It's great that you've become sober, congratulations 🎉 but you've basically just replaced 1 addiction for another (albeit a less damaging one) 😂 Be prepared to suffer from multiple tank syndrome and have every spare surface covered in aquariums soon 😂
Finally! The first aquarium/aquascape-enthusiast I can stand listening to! Thank you for not using a million smash cuts with stupid graphics and obnoxious voiceovers. So glad the algorithm finally got me here. Subscribed and alerts turned on 👍🏼 Love love love these deep dives and listening to a person who knows what they're talking about without injecting unnecessary ego, instead approaching topics with the genuine curiosity of an actual scientist, and is clearly very passionate about what they do.
Aww oh why thankyuh! You jist made my day! Im glad you're here as well! Welcome 🙏. Dont be shy if you have questions or thoughts...corrections or critiques. As long as its the truth, as far as science knows it.. it never hurts my feelings to make a correction. I strive to put out unique and solidly researched information here. The algorithm often hates it lol... but just stop by the channel's main page or search a subject with "@fishtory" before it on youtube search bar, and perhaps you'll enjoy one of the 1400+ videos I've created
I have to agree that despite being mainly a "talking head" you're very easy to listen to and stay engaged; the mark of a good presenter/lecturer. I prefer to watch at 2x; it super concentrates both the enthusiasm and the knowledge! I usually "skip around" videos with the 10-second button but with yours I find myself thinking that I don't want to miss anything. Quality, nutrient dense 😂 content.
I always had trouble growing aquarium plants until about 6 months ago, I dug a channel very carefully through the centre of my aquarium and back filled it with Aqua soil and then put my plants in, they have never looked back and they are now sending out aerial shoots. I love your video thank you very much for all your information.
Starting the research process before setting up a planted aquarium and your channel is by far the most informative I've come across. I'll keep deep diving your content!
@Fishtory - I’m new to the hobby and must say that of all the people making videos in this arena, you are by far the best! Very well spoken, extremely knowledgeable and smooth. Thank you for sharing all your years of hard work and dedication with us all.
This research is a game changer. There has always been one « deep substrate » / « natural » camp versus « high tech » or « green aqua » camp, and at the end of the day this proves we are all doing the same thing.
I only understand about 10% of what you say but I like it❤. Science gives me a headache 😂 Deep knowledge. Impressive. And also respectful of other people’s methods. New sub.
Organic dirt capped with black blasting sand for me. Haven't gotten shrimp to work with it but corys and guppys love it. Oh and the plants love it too.
I'm not sure. Its not temperature I know that. Water chemistry is fine. I even bought them local so the water should be fine. I might not of been feeding them properly maybe. We'll see though.@@randykoch1807
I have dirt/potting soil, sand, then regular rock substrate. Still in the cycling stage of the new setup but water parameters nice, along with plants, barely have to do water changes if any only do it to introduce new nutrients and feed more fertilizer.
I dod this but with a mix of thoroughly washed (until water runs clear) play sand and black aquarium sand. I'm pretty happy with the result. Bettas, neon tetras, platies, guppies, bristlenose pleco, corydoras, and otocinclus have all done really well with it in multiple tanks. I'll never go back to plain gravel. If I try aquasoil I'll still use a sandcap.
Congratulations, you have really nailed another one! This should be required reading for all new budding planted aquarium hobbyists. High class, enlightening, science based knowledge. Kudos and thanks for the contributions to the hobby,
Im honored and humbled. Thank you. I was fascinated by talking with all these people about the history and engineering of it, and just had to share part of the excitement and details that i felt I've missed until now, and probably many others have also
ALL THE LINKS AS PROMISED! How to Add Nitrogen Active Aquasoil to an Existing Aquarium substrate: ua-cam.com/video/DElDJQi2HD0/v-deo.html To cap or not to cap substrate: ua-cam.com/video/PotZy4LvC8E/v-deo.html Understanding nitrifying and de-nitrifying bacteria cycles ua-cam.com/video/rFXSEIsjvIE/v-deo.html A seasoned tank vs a merely cycled tank: ua-cam.com/video/pzuaehOMy0I/v-deo.html Creating a balanced, filterless," no tech" ecosystem in a bowl, jar or nano tank ua-cam.com/video/K2hxp5PTlUs/v-deo.html How to safely convert your aquarium into a filterless ecosystem ua-cam.com/video/n2Pa2sUUW04/v-deo.html Why Aquarium Plants Melt and or Die & How to Prevent it. ua-cam.com/video/1YV5ltAs9Aw/v-deo.html When to add plants to an aquarium. ua-cam.com/video/nNtxzt26tjM/v-deo.html
Watching this through again after a few months and i realized i'm actually learning and noticing things that were above my head before. Brilliant video, thank you 😊
Great informational video. However, I would argue that soil capped with sand is still king because of the price point per gallon depending on tank size. Aquasoil is great for anything smaller than maybe a 40 breeder, but you work your way to say a 125g (From my experience) you are spending $500-$1k on substrate... I've used both and honestly cannot tell the difference in plant growth. One downfall with soil is the soil getting loose above the cap over time, but I've found to fix that you can just put your soil in filter bags and then cap all the filter bags with sand. The roots still make their way into the filter bags. All that being said... If aquasoil was ever as cheap as organic soil, id use the aquasoil. Until then, soil wins me over personally.
I like planted aquariums. I found that instead of adding potting mix directly into my tanks, which will require water changes to bring down the nitrate and ammonia levels from spiking. Instead, I pre wash my potting mix, thus reducing the amount of fertilizer from the mix, thus eliminating any spikes, as my tested levals are now at a low level. Pre washing is far easier then doing water changes, and everything is happy.
I had been successful with just gravel and root tabs for years, but tried something different with my 75-gallon tank. I only wanted a line of swords across the back with a few Anubis's on some shale in the front with decoative polished stones to create an open moonscape look for free swimming shubunkin and fancy goldfish. I started with volcanic rock deep in the back graded to almost bare in front, a layer of white gravel and white sand cap. I didn't know that volcanic rock didn't have nutrients, so I had to supplement with root tabs and it did well. I had 8 goldfish in a 55-gallon that I moved in one at a time as ammonia and nitrites allowed for as it wasn't first cycled but heavily planted with swords and pothos clippings. I was glad that I didn't have natural nutrients in the soil as when I wet up my 5-gallon shrimp tank with aquasoil and aquasand it was leaching ammonia and nitrites for a few days before the vallisneria, hornwort, frogbit, ludwedia and moss bridge reversed the parameters. I know the biolode from 8 shrimp, even in an uncycled tank, couldn't have spiked ammonia and nitrites to 2 ppm each overnight, so the sand (which looks more like gravel) must not have sealed as I thought it would.
@@Fishtory Thanks, after 2 days ammonia was gone and nitrites dropped from 2 to .2ppm. The coconut moss bridge probably had a decent amount of biofilm and bacteria from 6 months in another tank which helped.
This clarifies a lot for me! I had seen a few Father Fish videos and still wasn’t quite sold on a dirt/soil base. I got some aqua soil instead and still plan on a sand layer on top. This tank setup is my Christmas present but I want to have it up and running by mid-December so I can start adding the first fish right around Christmas. I haven’t had a tank in about 10 years and itching to get back into things :)
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy the tank. I'm friends with Father Fish and enjoy his overall message, but sometimes we disagree on things like aquasoil... he thinks it's a conspiracy/scam for money... and I've spoken to botanist and aquacultural engineers, to understand how the aquasoils work...and to my surprise they are very useful, more efficient and complex compared with just a humus type soil or dirt & fert.
I've used half an inch of Nutra base by Colombo, mixed with 1 and a half inch of aqua soil, 2 inches all together. Used flourish root tabs pushed into the mix. I have then capped it with 1 inches of children's play sand, 3 inches all together. My tank is absolutely flourishing. I've had no algae issues, no outbreaks of disease, and it is completely stable in water parameters. Its growing hairgrass in low light conditions. I have bloody Mary shrimp and blue jelly shrimp in there, and crossbreeding the population is exploding. The tank has been set up for 4 months. When the tank evaporates 2in of water, I just top the tank off to the original level. No big water changes are the key. No drama, no fuss. It just does its thing 😂
I had extremely good luck with cherry shrimp the last time I had them. Made a good amount of money on the side rehoming them to other hobbyists. I'm thinking about trying kilifish at some point. Some of the African varieties in particular are insanely colorful.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us! I’m fairly new and to make sure I was creating a safe and thriving ecosystem for my fish, snails, etc I wanted to get all the knowledge I could so I could offer them the best life possible! Also bringing a slice of nature and its beauty to my home is such a blessing! It brings me so much joy to see my aquatic pet thriving in the environment I created. I’ve realizing that they seem the happiest when I have a low tech setup and recreate their natural habitat (to the best of my ability). I have learned so much from your videos!!
It seeps slowly in sand, but that's why you have soil at the bottom when you setup the tank. I'm not sure if you commented on this, I'm halfway through.
Yes. You can definitely "charge your deep substrate" its limiting for carpeting plants, and or moving plants around frequently if you propegate....but it certainly is a workable method
Great education! I didn't realize how much engineering went into aquasoil, that was incredible to learn and makes me interested in potentially using it sparingly in my mixed substrate tanks in the future.
I didn't know before a month or two ago... and i felt like it gets misused or under utilized, but for making tiered scapes, nursery tanks with things being moved, or just carpeting scapes, its the best out there in my opinion... all the top aquascapers use some form of it... without exception on ADAs 100 best list annually ( there are a dozen varieties and brands, but pelletized soil is the constant)
This video is so informative. I love your videos. Now that I’m back setting up a couple of tanks after a devastating loss after hurricane last year. I needed to find the “love” once again. Thank you 🫶🥰💕
@@Fishtory You remind me of Ryan Neil who teaches the fundamentals of horticulture as applied to bonsai. Knowing the why and not just the what/how are the difference between learning and understanding. If I may ask, are you self taught or are you a biologist by training?
I have some biology, geology and meteorology due to an archaeology grad schooling... and then history and anthropology undergraduate. So i was taught the way to research and the way to find good info, more than anything else honestly. Im teaching what i learn often...the week after i feel i fully understand it, so in that way i think we are all learned together on this channel
I just started this hobby, i put inch and half of potting soil mixed with blood bone fertilizer. Capped with an inch of play sand, pebbles and grit stones. Planted, but need more. Some "Father fish" leaves and pond water. My Platies love it, wizzing around, already 3 babies. Gases occasionally bubbling from the soil. The fish only fed every other day with a pinch, but see them constantly hunting something in the water and nibbling surfaces, fascinating.
Had a horrible time with Aquasol....got a tank of black water which I had to empty the whole tank, clean everything, and start over. Restarted with sand topped with gravel and now I have clear water. 5 gal tank with 1 beta fish, plants with fertilizer tabs down in the sand. Getting a better light to help the plants grow and it looks good so far....happy beta fish!
additionally -- the work that goes into your videos is fantastic and worthy of applause. Enough for us nerds but not too complex for a new person (someone like me, not new to any of this in theory, but new to planted tanks!)
I’ve been making my own compost for years , I’m gonna start adding moss from the ditches here soon when it dries up , I’ve done really well in multiple types of gardens with the home made stuff I’m in the process of tanks working on soil under sand I’ve gotta 5 gallon going and I’ve gotta 29 in the process right now Somebody left a tank at an apartment so I took it home and the tank was broken at the base which was a 10 gallon that would’ve been nice I’ve got some ideas mustering this stuffs exciting
Tom Barr, and you both do deep dives into what you recommend, and I trust what both of you say, simply because I KNOW you have done hours of research before you just throw a video up. 👍❤️👍
Yes indeed. Man, i dunno if ive earned Tom Barr approximation at all, but i do admire him, and have for almost ( yikes...2 decades?!) Lol. Thank you as always, though!
I went with father fish deep substrate method. I used ADA power sand at the bottom with ADA Amazonia aqua soil on top. In addition to this I added charcoal pieces, recharge mycelium mixture, 50 iron supplemented red clay balls, and father fish soil additive all mixed into aqua soil. I then topped it with black sand. I am happy with the results of my tank and all of my plants are fine. No big algae blooms. I only have one fish and a load of snails in it right now. 55 gallon with one sponge filter and an air stone. Been a month looks good. I'll add a CO2 generator permanently, probably when I fully stock the tank. In addition to this i have 80 tourmaline and maifanitum supplemented balls for shrimp next to my sponge filter to promote good bacteria and filter heavy metals.
Hmm I grabbed a bucket of mud from a creek and dropped that in my tank, along with 2 inches of sand cap. 2 years later everything going strong only cleaned my sponge once and everything is thriving. Just make sure you have enough fish to replenish the substrate I would have spent over $100 if I were to track down every ingredient.
@pennyrichards8019 its called blasting sand and for pressure cleaning / sanding. But its made from very hard crushed coal which is just carbon crystals almost like graphite. It should be at lowes or home depot. The most common brand is "black diamond"
Love the deep dive. Appreciate the time it must take to thoroughly research and figure out a way to present this information in a way the average person can understand. 😊
Thank you. Its a bit of a puzzle sometimes...and deciding if i want to mention exceptions or 1 offs to rules if rare etc. But im trying my best hebe. Thank you, and have a great weekend
Ok honestly I don't get it all but some is actually soaking in. Between Father Fish and your videos I'm getting an education. I've always had soil, and sand as a substrate. It's always worked fantastically. But now I'm getting a understanding of the mechanics.
Thank you for this great info! I lost all my fish after a recent house fire. Fortunately, we didn’t lose our home, but due to the fact the power has been off and no heaters or pumps are active in my fish tanks, nobody has survived. That being said, I’m taking this opportunity to rebuild my tanks from the ground up. I’ve been debating between the Father Fish method of substrate or aqua soil for growing plants. I do believe I’m going to save myself a headache and go with the Fluval Stratum. Thank you! 🙏
Honestly his tanks are great, but especially if you have more than one to do, the care and the looks, plus the diversity of plants that will thrive.... i think aquasoil is the way to go, and it took me 10 years complaining about the price and this and that to finally realize it lol. By the way, so sorry to hear about the fire. Keep your head up, and enjoy that fresh start as much as possible. Cheers. -alex
I like to do layers. Similar to FF method, but with with some aquasoil and active base layer. In my last tank I used layer of pond compost, Dennerle base layer, Japanese aquasoil and gravel. Several months later I'm seeing some algae buildup, so I'll probably add light layer of sand. Both aquasoil substrates have capping effect to a degree.
Before I ever found Alex or Father Fish I did my first 20g hex like that, it's still the easiest tank I have- layers of layers, but mostly eco complete red with sunset sand on top. So clean looking compared to most of my other ones! (I struggle lol)
This guy and father fish have made me look at fish keeping in a way more interesting light. Only problem is now I look insane to all the people in my family for how interested I am in it😜. Oh, and my wallet is kinda hurting too
Great video Alex. I use aqua soil in some of my tanks and l also use a mud substrate in some of my other tanks. A brave and daring subject to deliver. You did a good job 👍🐠🐟💦
I'm just about to start my next aquarium, buying new substrate. It's SO difficult to choose and because of the cost I want to get the right one... So thank you for these videos. Hopefully I dare to buy something tomorrow 😅
Great video , must watch again ? Was going to goemwiith a dirted tank but i am not sure now ? MD fish tanks uses some of thes methods . I will look atcskme of tyd pellets .. thank you
Great video! Thank you. This is something I have been playing with. Up until recently I used a small gravel only, but now I am using aqua soil with a coarse grain sand. Still trying different combos, and learning so this was timely. I still have my 15 year old tank that was started with the small gravel only and I can grow anything in it because it is so well established, but I also have a recent tank using aqua soil and sand that established way faster. Everyone should listen to this presentation. Like you, I don’t use CO2. There was a time when I played with it, but I prefer the simplicity of no CO2. Thank you!
Honestly what I do, which has lived greatlyyyyyyyy with my no co2 or filter setups, is normal indoor plant soil, and then aqausoil on TOP, works wonders
Your my favorite Chanel because you put every youtuber info into one informative video. Your method of explaining is the best. Question, can I set up a hybrid style as you call 'lasagna'. Porous rock on the bottom , plenum style. Dirt on top , walsted style. Maybe fluval. And then sand cap , father fish style. LOL this is what I gathered from UA-cam research. Will it work ? Because it's confusing info out there. It's similar to what you mentioned in this video. Just wasn't sure why the plenum is ehh 😁
Yep i have 2 tanks like that! So you're golden. I dont know if it's better or more diverse in microfauna/flora or whatnot...but the layered pourus rock is great for beneficial bacteria at first...then mulm fills in and itll be nutrients for plants all in between....while the soil or aquasoil above acts as an immediate plant fertilizer..and a sand cap will seperate the ammonia plus likley allow for some anoxic bacterial development ... so it wouldn't hurt to add a little iron, pottassium, magnesium and or even some compound with sulfur.. in that lower level of stone....then the bacteria can convert nitrogen compounds into trapped ammonia for the plants over 6 months to a year....and then onward. Lastly...make sure to use some stem plants, so the deeper substrate layers get utilizes and are biotically rich over the aging of the substrate. Best of luck and id love to hear how its going in 6 months or so... ( youll likely have one algae bloom about a month in... i have videos on dealing with that also) .
This is awesome thanks I still want to see sand sifting behaviors and have sand loving fish so I’m torn between going all aqua soil or trying separate sand and soil
The CEC capacity carrying ability of some thing like kitty litter, turface, and saf-t-sorb are also very high just like your aqua soils. I like using a gravel / large diameter sand mix cap . Luckily i was able to pick up tons of laterite for cheap to mix with the bottom layer. I agree with you the expensive aqua soil is great but runs out of gas after a year but that is why i do not gravel vac. I use a aqua soil as middle layer or i also like the organic soil. The 1 inch slow moving plenum seems to help move the water through the cap, but i am not sure and still it makes sense. Thank You Alex and Tom Barr. Jay from Jays aquarium has some very thorough expanation and experiments on the topic. Do not forget in the wild there are no glass bottoms , and i think that is another good reason for a 1" plenum to promote slow movement.
Fascinating - really had no idea there there was that much going on in the quality aqua soils. Will be interesting to see some of the studies. Thanks for doing this video!
The more I learn about mulm the most I like it! I understand now that it’s good for my plants and after sometime it would not affect my fish (rasboras). Would the build up of mulm affect my neocarradina shrimp or would they also benefit from it?
This was awesome. 👍🏼 Newly reintroduced to aquascaping fish aquarium after giving up for a few years. You're videos have been very helpful. Hopefully I'll have better success this time and learn what to do and not to do. Thanks for linking all the other suggested videos. I'll give them all a watch throughout this week.
@Fishtory Hi Alex, you might want to check out shrimp eye ablation and discuss that barbaric practice for your weekly segment. It might turn you away from eating shrimp 😢
im going to start up a big tank walstad method. gonna put some aquasoil at the bottom now, some laterite and something for calsium and magnesium too, then some pond and top soil, and to top it of filtersand and some stones and gravel.
@@Fishtory i will! i was facing the "suggestive" problem that the soil would run out of important nutrients after a year or so, but after you mentiont the importance of anaerobic bacteria and how aquasoil works i really think this wil solve a big problem later on for the low tech tank it will be. whats maby interesting is that ill try to use as much biological filtration located in a sump, ill fill the whole last chamber with sponge, while shrimp life in the middle chamber and can clean up the sponge and make if free from debree. i could potentially put fast growing plants in the middle chamber of the sump where the shrimp are to controle nitrate levels i got 7 tanks now lol its getting out of hand while im still "new" to the hobby( 1 year). gonna upgrade the tanksize to put most of them together! the plants are gowing too fast :')
This is great. Does the aquasoil get depleted over time and need to add root tabs or will it keep recharging with all the waste? (Never mind, this was answered in the last few seconds of the video, thats what I get for being impatient) Thanks for creating content that noone else is.
Glad to help renew the mindset hehe. And yes, i do tanks with a lot of detail as experiments and to learn or witness process ive researched in papers, but at the end of the day... i just love staring into a tank full of life 😌 ☺️
I've tried 1 inch of tropica substrate as botom "dry soil" 3-4 inch of bio-stratum mixed with eco-complete... went wild in plant growth, so much that in 1 month i needed to add root tabs already
Hi Alex, I like this review on substrate. Coz, it is the first one we put for planted tank. Changing decoration or plants can be done multiple times without cleaning the whole tank. But substrate is something we hope, once we put it in, it stays there for years even decades if possible. So, if we put budget aside, the best way is to put soil first, and put sand to cap, in case we have a very active soil like Amazonia? Why do you put gravel at the lowest?
Correct. And as for layering the substrate ... gravel...small gravel, soil then sand....it is for the bottom over time, for mulm and silt from the soil that usually forms a dense band...to instead fill in between the stones. Plus using pumice or lava rock can give you lots of surface area for bacteria and arachae to colonize. My apologies for the delayed response!
I moved from FF DSS tanks to sand capped aqua soil about a year ago and really like the results. I have swords that completely stalled in dirted tanks that bounced back and quadrupled in size after being replanted in capped aqua soil tanks. I credit your past information for moving to aqua soil. Now I’m eager to try straight aqua soil without a cap. Can’t afford it at the moment but as soon as the worm turns that’s my next project! Thanks for all your help! You’re my go-to source for all things aquatic.
Hey im glad to hear it's working better. FF DDS works fine, its just not good for lush or advanced care level/ colorful stem plants, carpets and so forth. I think there's a reason we see all 100 entries into the aquascaping contests around the world ranked...and its 98% aquasoil tanks and high light
@@Fishtory you are correct, some of the plants did good. Water wisteria for instance just exploded but the swords in particular really stunted. When I pulled them the roots looked terrible. The other thing I really enjoy about the aqua soil is no burping substrate. It’s just the better overall method for me but if cost is a hindrance the FF method is certainly a viable alternative. I feel fortunate that I moved in early may and had the resources for aqua soil.
All the links to info about setting up and cycling planted tanks
How to Add Nitrogen Active Aquasoil to an Existing Aquarium substrate:
ua-cam.com/video/DElDJQi2HD0/v-deo.html
To cap or not to cap substrate:
ua-cam.com/video/PotZy4LvC8E/v-deo.html
Understanding nitrifying and de-nitrifying bacteria cycles
ua-cam.com/video/rFXSEIsjvIE/v-deo.html
A seasoned tank vs a merely cycled tank:
ua-cam.com/video/pzuaehOMy0I/v-deo.html
Creating a balanced, filterless," no tech" ecosystem in a bowl, jar or nano tank
ua-cam.com/video/K2hxp5PTlUs/v-deo.html
How to safely convert your aquarium into a filterless ecosystem
ua-cam.com/video/n2Pa2sUUW04/v-deo.html
Why Aquarium Plants Melt and or Die & How to Prevent it.
ua-cam.com/video/1YV5ltAs9Aw/v-deo.html
When to add plants to an aquarium.
ua-cam.com/video/nNtxzt26tjM/v-deo.html
Hi Alex
Another awesome info dump!
I have an idea for you for a video series. Build a new tank from scratch, your "ideal/perfect" tank. Take it slow and talk through EVERY aspect. Selecting substrate, plants, tank size, aquascaping, water parameter monitoring, when to add stock, how you decide what to stock, etc, etc.
The idea is to get insight into your thought process and problem solving
And then do weekly updates on the progress of the tank. How the parameters shift over time, how you manipulate or counter that shift, plant growth, future plans, live stock progress, substrate stratification, etc...
Also do start to finish on starting white worms blood worms and daphnia and skuds cultures
Sorry I also would like to know I have a planted darted tNk 2 inch organic potting soil with sand capped and some river peoples for some contrast...how can I tell if I need to add those additives liquid and pills or even add more soil into the tank...I have stopped gravel vacs once I realized mulm was good and then just learned that it will create its own layers
Need to watch all videos apparently
❤ This video is awesome. I have been off of alcohol for 13 months now. I was drunk daily for 15 years. In the last year, I have started 4 nano aquariums that I'm really proud of. I have so much to show for my sobriety. I'm getting ready to plant my new 46-gallon. I've learned so much from you. Thank you for your content. I can't even begin to express the dopamine I get from looking at my aquariums. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Right on my friend! My new "high" is literally learning things that im curious about. It works well long term, after the acute withdrawals slow down. Maybe you should journal your tank and aquarium hobby journey for others too?! Cheers and have an awesome week
It's great that you've become sober, congratulations 🎉 but you've basically just replaced 1 addiction for another (albeit a less damaging one) 😂
Be prepared to suffer from multiple tank syndrome and have every spare surface covered in aquariums soon 😂
Congratulations on your sobriety. Life is so much better when you are awake and alert to enjoy it. Aquariums are a great hobby.
O m g, I love ur story. Congratulations!!
I hope u get dopamine from ur cute dog too
Finally! The first aquarium/aquascape-enthusiast I can stand listening to! Thank you for not using a million smash cuts with stupid graphics and obnoxious voiceovers. So glad the algorithm finally got me here. Subscribed and alerts turned on 👍🏼 Love love love these deep dives and listening to a person who knows what they're talking about without injecting unnecessary ego, instead approaching topics with the genuine curiosity of an actual scientist, and is clearly very passionate about what they do.
Aww oh why thankyuh! You jist made my day! Im glad you're here as well! Welcome 🙏. Dont be shy if you have questions or thoughts...corrections or critiques. As long as its the truth, as far as science knows it.. it never hurts my feelings to make a correction. I strive to put out unique and solidly researched information here. The algorithm often hates it lol... but just stop by the channel's main page or search a subject with "@fishtory" before it on youtube search bar, and perhaps you'll enjoy one of the 1400+ videos I've created
I have to agree that despite being mainly a "talking head" you're very easy to listen to and stay engaged; the mark of a good presenter/lecturer. I prefer to watch at 2x; it super concentrates both the enthusiasm and the knowledge! I usually "skip around" videos with the 10-second button but with yours I find myself thinking that I don't want to miss anything.
Quality, nutrient dense 😂 content.
I always had trouble growing aquarium plants until about 6 months ago, I dug a channel very carefully through the centre of my aquarium and back filled it with Aqua soil and then put my plants in, they have never looked back and they are now sending out aerial shoots. I love your video thank you very much for all your information.
Lovely to hear! Congrats!!!
Starting the research process before setting up a planted aquarium and your channel is by far the most informative I've come across. I'll keep deep diving your content!
Thank you. Welcome to the community, and feel free to ask questions or join our facebook group for help from other memebers and viewers!
Same. Absolute same. Your content kicks some serious butt my dude
@Fishtory - I’m new to the hobby and must say that of all the people making videos in this arena, you are by far the best! Very well spoken, extremely knowledgeable and smooth. Thank you for sharing all your years of hard work and dedication with us all.
Thank you so very kindly
This research is a game changer. There has always been one « deep substrate » / « natural » camp versus « high tech » or « green aqua » camp, and at the end of the day this proves we are all doing the same thing.
100%
I only understand about 10% of what you say but I like it❤. Science gives me a headache 😂
Deep knowledge. Impressive. And also respectful of other people’s methods. New sub.
Glad to hear that! Welcome to the community my new friend!
I like this channel because he always go back to scientific research and applications.
Thank you, I try my best
Organic dirt capped with black blasting sand for me. Haven't gotten shrimp to work with it but corys and guppys love it. Oh and the plants love it too.
hnmmm this video makes me want to try aquasoil as a third layer. Probably midway between the organic soil and the sand.
@@AnimalAceyeah I have the same set up.why don't the shrimp work?and yes the plant love it!
I'm not sure. Its not temperature I know that. Water chemistry is fine. I even bought them local so the water should be fine. I might not of been feeding them properly maybe. We'll see though.@@randykoch1807
I have dirt/potting soil, sand, then regular rock substrate. Still in the cycling stage of the new setup but water parameters nice, along with plants, barely have to do water changes if any only do it to introduce new nutrients and feed more fertilizer.
I dod this but with a mix of thoroughly washed (until water runs clear) play sand and black aquarium sand. I'm pretty happy with the result. Bettas, neon tetras, platies, guppies, bristlenose pleco, corydoras, and otocinclus have all done really well with it in multiple tanks. I'll never go back to plain gravel. If I try aquasoil I'll still use a sandcap.
Thanks for the complete comparison of methods - makes it easier for the rest of us!!
My pleasure! Thank you so very much for your support 🙏. It goes a long way! Cheers my friend
Congratulations, you have really nailed another one! This should be required reading for all new budding planted aquarium hobbyists. High class, enlightening, science based knowledge. Kudos and thanks for the contributions to the hobby,
Im honored and humbled. Thank you. I was fascinated by talking with all these people about the history and engineering of it, and just had to share part of the excitement and details that i felt I've missed until now, and probably many others have also
ALL THE LINKS AS PROMISED!
How to Add Nitrogen Active Aquasoil to an Existing Aquarium substrate:
ua-cam.com/video/DElDJQi2HD0/v-deo.html
To cap or not to cap substrate:
ua-cam.com/video/PotZy4LvC8E/v-deo.html
Understanding nitrifying and de-nitrifying bacteria cycles
ua-cam.com/video/rFXSEIsjvIE/v-deo.html
A seasoned tank vs a merely cycled tank:
ua-cam.com/video/pzuaehOMy0I/v-deo.html
Creating a balanced, filterless," no tech" ecosystem in a bowl, jar or nano tank
ua-cam.com/video/K2hxp5PTlUs/v-deo.html
How to safely convert your aquarium into a filterless ecosystem
ua-cam.com/video/n2Pa2sUUW04/v-deo.html
Why Aquarium Plants Melt and or Die & How to Prevent it.
ua-cam.com/video/1YV5ltAs9Aw/v-deo.html
When to add plants to an aquarium.
ua-cam.com/video/nNtxzt26tjM/v-deo.html
Watching this through again after a few months and i realized i'm actually learning and noticing things that were above my head before. Brilliant video, thank you 😊
Awesome. Thats what i love about learning about large systems in science.
Great informational video. However, I would argue that soil capped with sand is still king because of the price point per gallon depending on tank size. Aquasoil is great for anything smaller than maybe a 40 breeder, but you work your way to say a 125g (From my experience) you are spending $500-$1k on substrate... I've used both and honestly cannot tell the difference in plant growth. One downfall with soil is the soil getting loose above the cap over time, but I've found to fix that you can just put your soil in filter bags and then cap all the filter bags with sand. The roots still make their way into the filter bags. All that being said... If aquasoil was ever as cheap as organic soil, id use the aquasoil. Until then, soil wins me over personally.
Hi, I'm a new subscriber from Indonesia. I'm happy to see you guys creating content about nature aquarium
Thanks for subbing! Welcome my friend 🙏
I like planted aquariums. I found that instead of adding potting mix directly into my tanks, which will require water changes to bring down the nitrate and ammonia levels from spiking. Instead, I pre wash my potting mix, thus reducing the amount of fertilizer from the mix, thus eliminating any spikes, as my tested levals are now at a low level. Pre washing is far easier then doing water changes, and everything is happy.
Thanks for sharing
Try using organic potting soil. No fertilizers.
@deneng0259 works well! Just gotta be a little patient and or looove plants 🪴 ! Which I do as well
I had been successful with just gravel and root tabs for years, but tried something different with my 75-gallon tank. I only wanted a line of swords across the back with a few Anubis's on some shale in the front with decoative polished stones to create an open moonscape look for free swimming shubunkin and fancy goldfish. I started with volcanic rock deep in the back graded to almost bare in front, a layer of white gravel and white sand cap. I didn't know that volcanic rock didn't have nutrients, so I had to supplement with root tabs and it did well. I had 8 goldfish in a 55-gallon that I moved in one at a time as ammonia and nitrites allowed for as it wasn't first cycled but heavily planted with swords and pothos clippings. I was glad that I didn't have natural nutrients in the soil as when I wet up my 5-gallon shrimp tank with aquasoil and aquasand it was leaching ammonia and nitrites for a few days before the vallisneria, hornwort, frogbit, ludwedia and moss bridge reversed the parameters. I know the biolode from 8 shrimp, even in an uncycled tank, couldn't have spiked ammonia and nitrites to 2 ppm each overnight, so the sand (which looks more like gravel) must not have sealed as I thought it would.
Sounds like you sorted it out.
@@Fishtory Thanks, after 2 days ammonia was gone and nitrites dropped from 2 to .2ppm. The coconut moss bridge probably had a decent amount of biofilm and bacteria from 6 months in another tank which helped.
This clarifies a lot for me! I had seen a few Father Fish videos and still wasn’t quite sold on a dirt/soil base. I got some aqua soil instead and still plan on a sand layer on top. This tank setup is my Christmas present but I want to have it up and running by mid-December so I can start adding the first fish right around Christmas. I haven’t had a tank in about 10 years and itching to get back into things :)
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy the tank. I'm friends with Father Fish and enjoy his overall message, but sometimes we disagree on things like aquasoil... he thinks it's a conspiracy/scam for money... and I've spoken to botanist and aquacultural engineers, to understand how the aquasoils work...and to my surprise they are very useful, more efficient and complex compared with just a humus type soil or dirt & fert.
I've used half an inch of Nutra base by Colombo, mixed with 1 and a half inch of aqua soil, 2 inches all together. Used flourish root tabs pushed into the mix. I have then capped it with 1 inches of children's play sand, 3 inches all together. My tank is absolutely flourishing. I've had no algae issues, no outbreaks of disease, and it is completely stable in water parameters. Its growing hairgrass in low light conditions. I have bloody Mary shrimp and blue jelly shrimp in there, and crossbreeding the population is exploding. The tank has been set up for 4 months. When the tank evaporates 2in of water, I just top the tank off to the original level. No big water changes are the key. No drama, no fuss. It just does its thing 😂
Hello i have been trying to get nutri base i am in newyork is their a site u know where i can buy nutri base
Sounds very nice! I still love lasagna tanks!
Hi, how is looking the outcome of the cross? Do You have pics posted anywhere ?
I had extremely good luck with cherry shrimp the last time I had them. Made a good amount of money on the side rehoming them to other hobbyists. I'm thinking about trying kilifish at some point. Some of the African varieties in particular are insanely colorful.
I've thrown Lowes peat under river rock and didn't really think about it again. My water wisteria stems are like tree trunk size, 8th month
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us! I’m fairly new and to make sure I was creating a safe and thriving ecosystem for my fish, snails, etc I wanted to get all the knowledge I could so I could offer them the best life possible! Also bringing a slice of nature and its beauty to my home is such a blessing! It brings me so much joy to see my aquatic pet thriving in the environment I created. I’ve realizing that they seem the happiest when I have a low tech setup and recreate their natural habitat (to the best of my ability). I have learned so much from your videos!!
Right on! You do what works for you and your fish, the fact you care, means youll do great
Thank you! I really enjoyed the whole video. Very well put together. Cheers.
It seeps slowly in sand, but that's why you have soil at the bottom when you setup the tank. I'm not sure if you commented on this, I'm halfway through.
Yes. You can definitely "charge your deep substrate" its limiting for carpeting plants, and or moving plants around frequently if you propegate....but it certainly is a workable method
This topic never gets old
Love how u break down knowledge for those like me with out knowledge could understand .........salute to you. Alex
Glad it made any sense at all lol...it took me a while
Great education! I didn't realize how much engineering went into aquasoil, that was incredible to learn and makes me interested in potentially using it sparingly in my mixed substrate tanks in the future.
I didn't know before a month or two ago... and i felt like it gets misused or under utilized, but for making tiered scapes, nursery tanks with things being moved, or just carpeting scapes, its the best out there in my opinion... all the top aquascapers use some form of it... without exception on ADAs 100 best list annually ( there are a dozen varieties and brands, but pelletized soil is the constant)
This video is so informative. I love your videos. Now that I’m back setting up a couple of tanks after a devastating loss after hurricane last year. I needed to find the “love” once again. Thank you 🫶🥰💕
You can do it! I hope the channel can help. Best of luck to you and welcome back, friend 😊
Yes! You got the name! ❤❤❤❤ perfect
Hahah thanks
Thanks! Your knowledge and ability to teach are unsurpassed…
Thank you. Im honored to read this. Im just glad you enjoyed it. Cheers my friend!
@@Fishtory You remind me of Ryan Neil who teaches the fundamentals of horticulture as applied to bonsai. Knowing the why and not just the what/how are the difference between learning and understanding. If I may ask, are you self taught or are you a biologist by training?
I have some biology, geology and meteorology due to an archaeology grad schooling... and then history and anthropology undergraduate. So i was taught the way to research and the way to find good info, more than anything else honestly. Im teaching what i learn often...the week after i feel i fully understand it, so in that way i think we are all learned together on this channel
I just started this hobby, i put inch and half of potting soil mixed with blood bone fertilizer. Capped with an inch of play sand, pebbles and grit stones. Planted, but need more. Some "Father fish" leaves and pond water. My Platies love it, wizzing around, already 3 babies. Gases occasionally bubbling from the soil. The fish only fed every other day with a pinch, but see them constantly hunting something in the water and nibbling surfaces, fascinating.
Nitrates low, ammonia still high, interesting to see how it stabilises.
Great to hear
Had a horrible time with Aquasol....got a tank of black water which I had to empty the whole tank, clean everything, and start over. Restarted with sand topped with gravel and now I have clear water. 5 gal tank with 1 beta fish, plants with fertilizer tabs down in the sand. Getting a better light to help the plants grow and it looks good so far....happy beta fish!
additionally -- the work that goes into your videos is fantastic and worthy of applause. Enough for us nerds but not too complex for a new person (someone like me, not new to any of this in theory, but new to planted tanks!)
Keep up the good work Alex. Absolutely perfect. Love your stuff as always.
Thank you so much Dellsea ( Dell ?)
I’ve been making my own compost for years , I’m gonna start adding moss from the ditches here soon when it dries up , I’ve done really well in multiple types of gardens with the home made stuff
I’m in the process of tanks working on soil under sand I’ve gotta 5 gallon going and I’ve gotta 29 in the process right now
Somebody left a tank at an apartment so I took it home and the tank was broken at the base which was a 10 gallon that would’ve been nice
I’ve got some ideas mustering this stuffs exciting
Tom Barr, and you both do deep dives into what you recommend, and I trust what both of you say, simply because I KNOW you have done hours of research before you just throw a video up.
👍❤️👍
Yes indeed. Man, i dunno if ive earned Tom Barr approximation at all, but i do admire him, and have for almost ( yikes...2 decades?!) Lol. Thank you as always, though!
I went with father fish deep substrate method. I used ADA power sand at the bottom with ADA Amazonia aqua soil on top. In addition to this I added charcoal pieces, recharge mycelium mixture, 50 iron supplemented red clay balls, and father fish soil additive all mixed into aqua soil. I then topped it with black sand. I am happy with the results of my tank and all of my plants are fine. No big algae blooms. I only have one fish and a load of snails in it right now. 55 gallon with one sponge filter and an air stone. Been a month looks good. I'll add a CO2 generator permanently, probably when I fully stock the tank. In addition to this i have 80 tourmaline and maifanitum supplemented balls for shrimp next to my sponge filter to promote good bacteria and filter heavy metals.
Sounds like a plan!
Hmm I grabbed a bucket of mud from a creek and dropped that in my tank, along with 2 inches of sand cap. 2 years later everything going strong only cleaned my sponge once and everything is thriving. Just make sure you have enough fish to replenish the substrate I would have spent over $100 if I were to track down every ingredient.
You guys having gas buildup in your substrates? That stinks and these are big bubbles. When will they finish?
Where were you able to find black sand? I'm having zero luck finding just sand turn off the fancy pre-packaged stuff that's $25 a bag
@pennyrichards8019 its called blasting sand and for pressure cleaning / sanding. But its made from very hard crushed coal which is just carbon crystals almost like graphite. It should be at lowes or home depot. The most common brand is "black diamond"
Love the deep dive. Appreciate the time it must take to thoroughly research and figure out a way to present this information in a way the average person can understand. 😊
Thank you. Its a bit of a puzzle sometimes...and deciding if i want to mention exceptions or 1 offs to rules if rare etc. But im trying my best hebe. Thank you, and have a great weekend
Alex always explains it in ways we can all grasp well done yet again❤
Glad you think so!
Awesome that we can do your Amazon link to support you even if not buying any specific linked items!!!
Yes! Thank you!
Oh man I could have had part of a Japanese volcano in my new tank. Guess I’ll still use the eco complete since I already bought it.
Complicated topic explained so that I could understand. Thanks! I’ll reply several times.
Right on. Thanks for coming by
Alex, that was a amazing video I learned so much. Thank you for all the knowledge you bring to our community!
Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers Alan
One good thing about keeping goldfish, I never need to worry about substrate being undisturbed for too long.
14:22 that's a pretty massive positive at this point in time, lol.
I love the fact that i can look up my questions just in your feed though i do look at other videos but i look at yours firstish
Haha thank you for thinking of me! Feel free to let me know if im missing a topic too!
Awesome video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
I definitely wouldn't have guessed the expensive stuff actually worked the best. Thank you for the knowledge.
I wouldnt have either haha
Really enjoyed this one Alex. Thanks
Hey thanks Assiah
Ok honestly I don't get it all but some is actually soaking in. Between Father Fish and your videos I'm getting an education.
I've always had soil, and sand as a substrate. It's always worked fantastically. But now I'm getting a understanding of the mechanics.
That is awesome! It came to me in waves as people explained it. So much to learn!
Thank you for this great info! I lost all my fish after a recent house fire. Fortunately, we didn’t lose our home, but due to the fact the power has been off and no heaters or pumps are active in my fish tanks, nobody has survived.
That being said, I’m taking this opportunity to rebuild my tanks from the ground up. I’ve been debating between the Father Fish method of substrate or aqua soil for growing plants. I do believe I’m going to save myself a headache and go with the Fluval Stratum. Thank you! 🙏
Honestly his tanks are great, but especially if you have more than one to do, the care and the looks, plus the diversity of plants that will thrive.... i think aquasoil is the way to go, and it took me 10 years complaining about the price and this and that to finally realize it lol.
By the way, so sorry to hear about the fire. Keep your head up, and enjoy that fresh start as much as possible. Cheers.
-alex
I like to do layers. Similar to FF method, but with with some aquasoil and active base layer. In my last tank I used layer of pond compost, Dennerle base layer, Japanese aquasoil and gravel. Several months later I'm seeing some algae buildup, so I'll probably add light layer of sand. Both aquasoil substrates have capping effect to a degree.
I do the same type thing frequently also
Before I ever found Alex or Father Fish I did my first 20g hex like that, it's still the easiest tank I have- layers of layers, but mostly eco complete red with sunset sand on top. So clean looking compared to most of my other ones! (I struggle lol)
Thanks for sharing! Loving the editorial style content! 👍
Good to see you again. Always, always excellent advice. I've learned so much from you.
Thank you kindly. I keep making videos, but only some of them make it out of the gates and into notifications lately hehe
@@Fishtory that's what I figured!!!!
Haha, you're absolutely correct alex, i got like beach sand and the pH just so alkaline around 7,5-8 across my tank.
Lol well... congrats its perfect for shellys and or livebearers?!
This guy and father fish have made me look at fish keeping in a way more interesting light. Only problem is now I look insane to all the people in my family for how interested I am in it😜. Oh, and my wallet is kinda hurting too
You and me both! ... oi lol
thank you for reminding me to hit the like button. it is the least I can do. thank you for the hard work you do for us.
I appreciate that. Thank you
Great video Alex. I use aqua soil in some of my tanks and l also use a mud substrate in some of my other tanks. A brave and daring subject to deliver. You did a good job 👍🐠🐟💦
Thank you kindly. I too like usong silt or mud as a boundary or cap
@@Fishtory definitely 👍🐠🐟💦
well said! thanks for researching and sharing it in a easy to understand way!
Thank YOU. and im so glad it was understandable and not too dreadfully boring lol
Very educational video thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks 🎉
I love a good deep dive!
As anyone done a sand then the mud like father fish says then sand on top or mixing sand into the mixture and have a complete dirt and earth type
Yup we've been friend the better part of a decade and ive made many father fish style and walstad style tanks
I'm just about to start my next aquarium, buying new substrate. It's SO difficult to choose and because of the cost I want to get the right one... So thank you for these videos. Hopefully I dare to buy something tomorrow 😅
Good luck! I prefer half ADA Amazonia aquasoil and half fluval stratum or brightwell volcan aqua florin if im keeping shrimp
@@Fishtory thank you ❤️ I will definitely take a look at those.
Great video , must watch again ? Was going to goemwiith a dirted tank but i am not sure now ? MD fish tanks uses some of thes methods . I will look atcskme of tyd pellets .. thank you
Right on. Use whatever works best for you!
Great video! Thank you. This is something I have been playing with. Up until recently I used a small gravel only, but now I am using aqua soil with a coarse grain sand. Still trying different combos, and learning so this was timely. I still have my 15 year old tank that was started with the small gravel only and I can grow anything in it because it is so well established, but I also have a recent tank using aqua soil and sand that established way faster. Everyone should listen to this presentation. Like you, I don’t use CO2. There was a time when I played with it, but I prefer the simplicity of no CO2. Thank you!
You are a wealth of knowledge
This is so informative! Great job, fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝 Keep it up 🙌
Thank you so much! I did work far too long on such a needy video lol
Got it... understanding better 😅😅😅
Nm you found it! Haha so glad. Cheers my friend
I love all your deep dives ❤ i learn so much its rediculous
Thanks
Love your videos, always learning new stuff,this is facinating about aqua soils,thinking of adding this into dirted substrate then capping with sand
Have fun! Ill get those videos pinned in the comments soon too
Congratulations- this is most helpful !
Glad it was helpful!
Honestly what I do, which has lived greatlyyyyyyyy with my no co2 or filter setups, is normal indoor plant soil, and then aqausoil on TOP, works wonders
Hey, lots.of methods work. Do what's best for you and your hobby/fish
Lots of good info. Cheers
Thanks Gary
What a awesome video with details that are easier to understand. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Great informative video, deserves more views
Glad you think so!
I LOVE your deep dive videos! You are the best!
Thanks my friend
13 minutes in..liked..and shared..Jersey fish friends❤
You are a rockstar
Your my favorite Chanel because you put every youtuber info into one informative video. Your method of explaining is the best.
Question, can I set up a hybrid style as you call 'lasagna'.
Porous rock on the bottom , plenum style.
Dirt on top , walsted style. Maybe fluval.
And then sand cap , father fish style.
LOL this is what I gathered from UA-cam research.
Will it work ?
Because it's confusing info out there.
It's similar to what you mentioned in this video. Just wasn't sure why the plenum is ehh 😁
Yep i have 2 tanks like that! So you're golden. I dont know if it's better or more diverse in microfauna/flora or whatnot...but the layered pourus rock is great for beneficial bacteria at first...then mulm fills in and itll be nutrients for plants all in between....while the soil or aquasoil above acts as an immediate plant fertilizer..and a sand cap will seperate the ammonia plus likley allow for some anoxic bacterial development ... so it wouldn't hurt to add a little iron, pottassium, magnesium and or even some compound with sulfur.. in that lower level of stone....then the bacteria can convert nitrogen compounds into trapped ammonia for the plants over 6 months to a year....and then onward.
Lastly...make sure to use some stem plants, so the deeper substrate layers get utilizes and are biotically rich over the aging of the substrate.
Best of luck and id love to hear how its going in 6 months or so... ( youll likely have one algae bloom about a month in... i have videos on dealing with that also) .
This is awesome thanks I still want to see sand sifting behaviors and have sand loving fish so I’m torn between going all aqua soil or trying separate sand and soil
I think half and half looks lovely!
nice workAlex!Have good experience both with anoxic and Father Fish but...Liked the idea of gravel under,probable help anker plants better
The CEC capacity carrying ability of some thing like kitty litter, turface, and saf-t-sorb are also very high just like your aqua soils. I like using a gravel / large diameter sand mix cap . Luckily i was able to pick up tons of laterite for cheap to mix with the bottom layer. I agree with you the expensive aqua soil is great but runs out of gas after a year but that is why i do not gravel vac. I use a aqua soil as middle layer or i also like the organic soil. The 1 inch slow moving plenum seems to help move the water through the cap, but i am not sure and still it makes sense. Thank You Alex and Tom Barr. Jay from Jays aquarium has some very thorough expanation and experiments on the topic. Do not forget in the wild there are no glass bottoms , and i think that is another good reason for a 1" plenum to promote slow movement.
Oh I agree with everything you are saying as well :)
Fascinating - really had no idea there there was that much going on in the quality aqua soils. Will be interesting to see some of the studies. Thanks for doing this video!
Alex is the Fishtuber that most often has me rapt and gawping- 'OH!'
Me too! Lol i just get stoked and want to share it with everyone when i have those moments too
Thank you for the info Alex!
You bet! Thank you for coming by!
Thank you for such an informative presentation! I've definitely learnt more about improving the plant growth in my tanks.
The more I learn about mulm the most I like it! I understand now that it’s good for my plants and after sometime it would not affect my fish (rasboras). Would the build up of mulm affect my neocarradina shrimp or would they also benefit from it?
Shrimp looove it!
This was awesome. 👍🏼 Newly reintroduced to aquascaping fish aquarium after giving up for a few years. You're videos have been very helpful. Hopefully I'll have better success this time and learn what to do and not to do. Thanks for linking all the other suggested videos. I'll give them all a watch throughout this week.
Glad your enjoying it! Welcome back!
@Fishtory Hi Alex, you might want to check out shrimp eye ablation and discuss that barbaric practice for your weekly segment.
It might turn you away from eating shrimp 😢
Yeah i don't eat shellfish, but the industry is nasty
im going to start up a big tank walstad method. gonna put some aquasoil at the bottom now, some laterite and something for calsium and magnesium too, then some pond and top soil, and to top it of filtersand and some stones and gravel.
Good luck! Let us know how it evolved please!
@@Fishtory i will! i was facing the "suggestive" problem that the soil would run out of important nutrients after a year or so, but after you mentiont the importance of anaerobic bacteria and how aquasoil works i really think this wil solve a big problem later on for the low tech tank it will be.
whats maby interesting is that ill try to use as much biological filtration located in a sump, ill fill the whole last chamber with sponge, while shrimp life in the middle chamber and can clean up the sponge and make if free from debree.
i could potentially put fast growing plants in the middle chamber of the sump where the shrimp are to controle nitrate levels
i got 7 tanks now lol its getting out of hand while im still "new" to the hobby( 1 year). gonna upgrade the tanksize to put most of them together! the plants are gowing too fast :')
Interesting video, well done and packed full of information. Thanks for providing the science! 😃
Of course! Im just hoping it gets seen haha. After about 15 hours of work. Its always a nail biter to see if anyone gets the youtube notifications
This was awesome. Thank you so much for this
You are so welcome!
ASO? Too much Volcano!
Reference aside, thank you for explaining this! I was having trouble deciding what substrate to use!
This is great. Does the aquasoil get depleted over time and need to add root tabs or will it keep recharging with all the waste? (Never mind, this was answered in the last few seconds of the video, thats what I get for being impatient)
Thanks for creating content that noone else is.
You got it, haha thanks for actually watching it, as well 😄
was starting to regret using aquasoil. been set up for couple years . thanks for the reassurance. That tank looks endlessly interesting.
Glad to help renew the mindset hehe. And yes, i do tanks with a lot of detail as experiments and to learn or witness process ive researched in papers, but at the end of the day... i just love staring into a tank full of life 😌 ☺️
Hi there from Spain, very informative video. I´m glad I found your channel. Merry Christmas to you all and happy new year.
Interesting video Alex, thanks for sharing I personally use dirt and sand because it’s very easy for me
Understandble. Its also much less expensive
I've tried 1 inch of tropica substrate as botom "dry soil" 3-4 inch of bio-stratum mixed with eco-complete... went wild in plant growth, so much that in 1 month i needed to add root tabs already
Was that with co2? And what lightning? Thats pretty crazy
Love the depth and quality of the content ❤
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for supporting the channel and tuning in
Hi Alex, I like this review on substrate. Coz, it is the first one we put for planted tank.
Changing decoration or plants can be done multiple times without cleaning the whole tank. But substrate is something we hope, once we put it in, it stays there for years even decades if possible.
So, if we put budget aside, the best way is to put soil first, and put sand to cap, in case we have a very active soil like Amazonia?
Why do you put gravel at the lowest?
Correct. And as for layering the substrate ... gravel...small gravel, soil then sand....it is for the bottom over time, for mulm and silt from the soil that usually forms a dense band...to instead fill in between the stones. Plus using pumice or lava rock can give you lots of surface area for bacteria and arachae to colonize. My apologies for the delayed response!
I moved from FF DSS tanks to sand capped aqua soil about a year ago and really like the results. I have swords that completely stalled in dirted tanks that bounced back and quadrupled in size after being replanted in capped aqua soil tanks. I credit your past information for moving to aqua soil. Now I’m eager to try straight aqua soil without a cap. Can’t afford it at the moment but as soon as the worm turns that’s my next project! Thanks for all your help! You’re my go-to source for all things aquatic.
Hey im glad to hear it's working better. FF DDS works fine, its just not good for lush or advanced care level/ colorful stem plants, carpets and so forth. I think there's a reason we see all 100 entries into the aquascaping contests around the world ranked...and its 98% aquasoil tanks and high light
@@Fishtory you are correct, some of the plants did good. Water wisteria for instance just exploded but the swords in particular really stunted. When I pulled them the roots looked terrible. The other thing I really enjoy about the aqua soil is no burping substrate. It’s just the better overall method for me but if cost is a hindrance the FF method is certainly a viable alternative. I feel fortunate that I moved in early may and had the resources for aqua soil.
Super interesting, thank you for sharing!
My pleasure!