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/
Adding dirt to the bottom of my tank was the best thing I have done for my Platys. The next best thing was adding bladder snails and Malaysian trumpet snails. Don't forget at least a little driftwood and your good to go. Just let the detritus deteriorate and sink into your substrate and your plants will have all the food they need along side the fish doodie. At this point my Blue Mickey Mouse Platys are spawning like never before. And there are generations of snails keeping everything nice and tidy. Natural nature is deffinatly the way to go. Thank you Father Fish for all the advice I have consumed this past year. My wife, two daughters (ages 6 and 2), and I have had endless fun with our big 40 breeder tank. The plants are thriving and the Platys are as well. Keep the fantastic content coming Father Fish. Love and thanks from Northern Michigan🐠
@@toriechuntraruk3611 It was five pounds of fluval stratum. Capped with eco complete. Though I am considering adding an inch and a half of sand over the whole thing for it to be a true substrate cap. But for now the tank is running very well as is. Need to plant a few more plants though. But the the ones that are there are doing a great job with helping the filtering. The snails also help with the breaking down of everything. Can't recommend them enough. Try to get at least one species of small snail. Whether it be Malaysian Trumpet snails or Bladder snails. I have both and the MTS keep the substrate nice, while the Bladder snails keep everything else moving in the rest of the tank. Ramshorn snails would do good as well but I have no experience keeping them. But I assume they would be as beneficial. It's like Father Fish teaches that keeping as diverse of a tank as possible the healthier it will be. Clean and sterile does not do well for an aquarium to have healthy fish, they need stability and diversity. Watch a few videos of how Father Fish does a dirt substrate cap, and watch a few other UA-cam videos from others on the same subject and do what seems best for you. But yes it is essentially putting an inch of organic chemical free soil at the bottom and covering it with a lot of sand. Never disturb the substrate either No gravel vacuuming or digging around in it. The only time it should be touched is if you are planting live plants, or if a fish friend has disturbed it and you are simply flattening the sand back into place. Watch Father Fish do it, he has quite a few videos explaining the whole process. It is far easier than you think. Just a little knowledge and a bit of work and you can have an aquarium you can enjoy for years. Mine has been running for over a year, and bar a few hiccups, is now running better than ever with all my fish happy and healthy.
Thanks so much for the info. When I add the sand, does it need to be washed beforehand? Should I take out my fish and put them in another tank while I set up the natural tank? I have gravel in there now.
@@toriechuntraruk3611 100% look up a tutorial on Google of how to rinse the sand. You will be surprised at how much will come off it before it becomes "clean". And see if you can hold onto your current aquarium water as well it will help you tank not go through "new tank shock" as harshly as it can because the amount of nutrients in the soil is quite substantial. Plant the live plants ASAP into the substrate. And get any tank scaping done too before you put your fish back. Watch Father Fish do his tutorial videos on tank setup. He will explain how much sand and dirt the different size tanks will need. He also has a video or two that he goes through the process step by step. Once the tank settles down and the water has cleared to an extent you can add your fish back in. Don't forget to try and hold onto quite a bit of your current aquarium water. Home Depot has buckets on the cheap that stack nicely together and hold a lot that are super useful and will work well to this purpose. A siphon hose long enough and big enough for your tank will be needed to, but they are fairly cheap at most big pet stores. I keep mine coiled up in two buckets that store nicely under my tank with my backup equipment like a heater and a small filter just in case. I also have a super cheap 10 gallon under my tank for emergancies, pretty sure I spent less than 20$ on it at Walmart I don't put anything in it. I do run a hang on back filter on my tank because the Blue Mickey Mouse Platy fish I breed like a bit of water flow, they will swim against the current for hours at a time and will always be playing in and out of it while schooling about with each other. It also helps with keeping the water nice and oxygenated along with being a good bit of extra filtration. But a sponge filter can just as easily provide the exact same services as an HOB filter as far as keeping the water oxygenated and filtered. They can be a great option for fish that don't like a lot of current in the tank. Watch all the videos that Father Fish has on water quality and tank setup and you will be well on your way to the tank of your dreams. It's a commitment, but well worth the effort. Follow Father Fish and he will be able to put you on the right track.
Thank You Father Fish. I've enjoyed aquariums a good portion of My life. I would like to mention a different topic. I'm 62 years old, I had pre diabetes and obesity two years ago. I've been doing keto, after about 1 year, no more pre diabetes, no more obesity and I've maintained My weight loss. The good thing about keto is, it's not a calorie reduction diet, three normal meals a day, just no sugar, no carbohydrates and no snacks between meals. 🙂
Dear Father fish, Following your methods has fullfilled ny dreams of having a beautiful nature aquarium. You have impacted thousands of such aquarium keepers like me around the world and are making their dreams come true of owning besutiful nature aquariums with simple ingredients of nature. I thank you for your immense service from the bottom of my heart with love , respect and gratitude. Thanks
Father Fish is unique and most refreshing to watch. His experience is complex but breaks it down to my level (idiot proof). God bless you Sir ❤ from London UK
We decided to try this method. We were in love with the idea, but not sure how it would turn out. Being avid gardeners however, we have trust in nature. What Father Fish claims is true. 100% The results are amazing, beautiful, and rewarding. It's the best aquarium we've set up yet. Thank you Louis.
Hello Sir! I took your advice and my fish love it! I have 3 bettas (1 male and 2 females) and 1 pleco. I've have never seen them so happy!!! My tank is now a mini jungle. God Bless you Sir and thank you for the video! 🙂👍
Father Fish I am watching from Glasgow, Scotland 🏴 Your methods are second to none I am going to get a new 6 gallon aquarium tomorrow which I will set up as an all natural aquarium for a Betta and hopefully lots of other small fish and food for my cichlids. i have a little eco jar I filled a few days ago up at the wee loch it's settling nice now the water 👌
I love it. I have 3 young children who are fascinated by fish and have been thinking about building a nice aquarium for them. Glad i found your channel.
Been in the hobby for many years, and I must say that I wasn’t aware of this unique and very interesting method. I am definitely going to try this, and I will be digging through your videos to obtain as much information as possible to make my own natural aquarium. Thanks for what you do for the hobby!
100% you must do this, ive not had to put any chemicals in my tank once, the water is Chrystal clear and does not smell at all. It really does work. I used sand from a river in our area and mud from a local farmers dugout. Fish are healthier, there breading, giving babies, just incredible how effortlessly looking after the tank has been.
@@canadianbeefeater1672 Thanks for the information! Trust me, I’ve been digging through tons of videos to sponge as much as I can from this technique. I am getting a 30 gallon long to start the project, and hope for the best! Very excited to say the least!
My dream from childhood has always been to travel the world at the age of 25 due to a retina problem I lost most of my eye sight but still I wanna pursue my dreams Watching these videos really motivates me to run after my dreams 🎭 I wanna be an inspiration for others through my channel 💙
Im 55 nx year and tinkering with nature has ALLWAYS facinated me ! I believe that this garden of my life is as precious as all of sea and land Started collection of spiders at a young age ,,in a tin now i put them out or leave them inn,but would never keep a tarantula ,,errr,,,sorry if i upset SPIDER keepers no offence ,this lesson Of collecting spiders helped me Within nature and my fears ,,all spiders Were released,,and MR FISH,, GODSPEED, LOVELYT SHIRT SIR,,,,,
I have thought of my aquariums as aquatic gardens or indoor mini ponds! Treating them this way has yielded me much success! Thank you for your wisdom FF,thanks to you my tanks are alive and healthy!
I’m getting stuff together for my third planted tank, a ten gallon. It’ll be my third, I have a 29 and a 20. I way overdid the first substrate in the 29, the second one I set up better. I ordered a bag of your additives and I also add eggshells that I grind with an old coffee grinder and dried banana peels. I’m thinking about mixing some leaves into the soil. I live on a remote island in Southeast Alaska without a LFS so I rely on eBay and Amazon for most everything I need. Since it’s so impractical to get anything here I’m also considering buying a 5 gallon tank and raising Daphnia for fish food. I actually didn’t find your channel until after I started my first tank. Thank you for your videos, they are very helpful.
I could listen to you all day talking about fitted tanks even if it’s the same thing over and over. Just change it up a little and you’ll keep me here 🎉
Sir, I found your channel by accident tonight and the knowledge you present is superb. I had no idea you could keep aquariums this way! I have a small 5-gallon tank with two goldfish for my daughter and I’m thinking this could be a much better way to go than my current method of artificial decorations and having to replace “sleeping” fish regularly. Will your method scale down to a smaller tank like mine?
FF my favorite to follow. How much dirt and sand for a 75 gallon? Inches ?I got your special soil additive in. Can’t wait to set it up. Thank you for your content. Your amazing
@@jennifermartin506 the filtration system is the soil and sand,however I have a nano power head at the right back corner which circulates the water towards the aquaclear 70 I have at the other corner. I just have a sponge on the intake to keep the water clear. I have a pothos plant stuck in the filter box which is climbing the walls so to speak. I have a video on ff discord if you are on there. My user name is h2oinsanity.
My son is 4 and has become interested in fish. What’s funny is that he became interested a few weeks after one of your short videos popped up in my feed. I was, independently from him, also thinking it would be cool to start an aquarium. Still doing my research on the fish and plants we are going to get. Thanks for the educational videos.
Hello Father Fish, recently found your channel and love your videos. Just a quick but likely stupid question. Would it be possible to just soak a bunch of dead leaves, lay down an inch or two of them and then add 2 inches of sand? Instead of using soil. If it wouldn't work, why not?
father fish, i have some question. 1. does that mean i can use the exact same ingredients from my garden plant to be my substrate? 2. can i use the dry leaves that already fallen, but it landed on the ground, not pond. can I use that? thank you, and keep uploading this kind of video, i adore you so much!
Do you have a list of the best plants and how to prep them to be planted in the soil/sand? I love the idea of the low-maintenance, simple aquarium with its own ecosystem. I’d really like to build one for my 3yr old son who is enamored by all things fish.
Baba her zamanki gibi doğru bilgil ve tecrübelerinle bizlere akvaryum hobisini sevdirip içindeki her bir canlının dogal dengede faydalı olduğunu ispat edip doğru yolu gösteriyorsun sana sonsuz teşekkür ediyorum .İyiki varsın .
Ola Pai Peixe boa tarde, sou do Brasil e estou seguindo suas orientações e vejo tudo dando muito certo, obrigado por disponibilizar seus conhecimentos, cada video é muito rico em informações que são fundamentais para quem quer ter um aquario saudavel, muito obrigado!
Hello. I just wanted you to know that after watching your videos for a while now, I have slowly migrated over to your methods. Every video always contains worthwhile information. However most of all you have been a great inspiration to me. I cannot thank you enough for all you do to promote and educate others about the hobby and your passion for what you do comes across loud and clear. I just wanted to wish you a wonderful New Year and nothing but joy. Just keep on keeping on what you do. 😉👌
Father fish is absolutely correct...we don't need to use such expensive soil ... We all need to balance the system...i am having two planted tanks..one with garden soil & sands..and another one with amazonia soil ..trust me the one with garden soil doing best since 5 years... however in my other tank i need to use fertilizer to make soil charge.....
i got compost can outside in the yard - im about to dump 3 cups into my living room 40g aquarium with 50lbs bag of playland fully stocked, ill cover over with sand in the water - FFontheGO - my fish and turtles will say "if he dies, he dies"
So, a question in regards to this, in particular sourcing decomposing plant material from local water sources. What is the risk of introducing disease by doing so? Is there a way to mitigate that risk?
Are natural aquariums limited to specific fish species? What about large cichlids and monster fish known for their voracious appetites, substrate digging, and plant destruction? How can their bio load be managed effectively using the father-fish method? Does the natural aquarium setup inherently restrict itself to a limited selection of species like small community fish?
I have small 3 gallon tank, put organic potting soil and Sand capped. Plants from another aquarium. Then put in a betta. Nitrates and nitrites still reading high. Been doing big water changes daily. When will it settle down.?
I have 3" of dirt/pond mud and 2" of sand find gravel mix. Been going for over a year now with happy fish. Question is, how long does this set up last? Will the dirt eventually need to be replaced?
@FatherFish I have to say that everything you have said about this method has made my fish keeping 100% more enjoyable. Not one other person spoke about doing this method and I have to say you really know your stuff. Thank you soo much for your wisdom its really made a huge difference.
I’m really mad at UA-cam right now 😅 how come I have not found this channel until now. I’m just amazed about the beauty aquariums shown here and most of all, all the information I have found in the last 2 hours 😂❤❤❤ subscribed to the channel right after the first video, order the supplement and can’t way to joint the discord group. I’m about to set up a new tank and I’m full of questions
Hi Father Fish, I live in Australia. Can I put broken down Eucalyptus leaves into my tank? I’ve followed your wonderful new tank start and my tank is great! Fish are good and plants growing well. We are on a farm so also have dams ( ponds…large) so wondering if this will be ok for my fish? Many thanks for the info. Cheers Deb 🇦🇺
@dridan7 I am the same. Live on an Ozzie farm. My theory is this (untested) : dry dead decomposing eucalyptus leaves (they look pale yellow), the kind you find on the ground are OK, not fresh ones. You will find these in your dam, they turn black underwater over time. I use both, the black ones from water troughs and have just started using the dead ones outside. Still playing around with this, wish I had the answers. Fresh eucalyptus leaves are toxic but somehow in natural water bodies they can be found sometimes. Hope this helps. These are leaves on their own, not attached to a dead branch.
This might sound like a stupid question but I've just purchased a 240l tank and I'm going to set it up like this. Can I use any soil? Bags from the local shops? Or does it need to be a specific soil for the tank? I have the sand to add on top. I just want to get it set up correctly and not use the wrong soil etc. Absolutely love these videos and found a new passion. Thank you father fish
Just mix up some organic compost with leaf mulch, easy to make this time of year - the other ingredients in the mix are not essential - and top off with kiln dried sand or fine gravel - horticultural grit works great.
I'm a new freshwater fishkeeper. My 20 gal tank been set up for less than a month. I have black sand, a few plants 6-7 and 5 moss balls, and some driftwood. We have a few fish and about 6 shrimp. I'm new to seeing soil as a substrate beneath sand. Is there a way to add soil into my tank after its been set up or would I have to break the tank down and start over? I was also told to only have one Turbo snail to keep the snails from reproducing and taking over my tank.
@@FatherFish thanks, that is true but planeria seems to multiply fast & my shrimp went from 100 to only 25 in just 1 months & the planeria are multiplying so fast - i think i have no choice but to start a new tank 🥹 i don’t know how i got the planeria. maybe from the kanal water (100ml) i put in there 2 months ago or from new plants that i bought. These actions i will be doing differently from now.
Hi from Oz Father fish I have a planted substrate discus tank! All the unnatural 😢 after watching is awe of your tanks, I plan to change my tank to a natural tank, would I need to remove the substrate or May I just add sand on top of my substrate (Fluval stratum) Thank you so much for your knowledge 🙏😊
This comment allows me to ask a question: my tank was already established, with a quartz gravel substrate, and planted, I added the sand cap, and recently more plants, but both stem and not stem plants lack nutrients, can I wait or should I add some sort of fertilizer, Nitrates and trace elements, or maybe more fish as there are plenty of snails but only 2 male Endler guppies?
@@FatherFish Thank you so much for your answer. I've already started the food web, so I will add fish as soon as I can, so much as the 2 don't seem to make any waste.
I have a 75 gallon tank, at one point (might be another vid) you say “I pound of sand for every gallon “? It seems like too much sand for my tank right ?? Also I was wondering the difference in lighting ??? Do I have to have 100$ bulb and what’s a good suggestion for the timing ???
So I’m planning on my 2nd attempt at this. I forgot to ask, how deep into the 2 inches of sand should I plant the plant? All the way into the soil section, or about 1 inch? I’m thinking Gold Ribbons or Amazon Swords, and then either dwarf grass (if that’s ok) or Monte Carlos for foreground.
Yes, but stock it well. Anything less than 5 gallons is only suitable for neocaridina shrimp and snails. 5 gallons should only be for a single betta, or a very tiny species like mosquito rasbora. So basically, don't overstock the tank and it wil be fine.
I'm currently trying this with a 2 gallon tank that I'm only going to stock with ramshorn snails. It's more of a watery ecosystem than an aquarium. If it works out I'll go bigger.
Hello Father Fish, I am from northern Europe and the weather is cold, and the temperatures are low. Can I take dirt from nature and is it dirt full of life in this time of year or should I wait for spring?
I have the FF method and a food web, dirt capped with sand, and I even added more because the fish waset just sits on top and looks so bad. But its still there. Is the excess fish waset that sits on top of the sand a result of overfeeding? If so how do I fix it
Hello, I live where there is very few freshwater streams at all mostly saltwater, but would it be good if i had my friends get leaves from the streams and send them to me for my freshwater tank? to make it more natural
Father Fish. Is it essential to add your special mix to the soil for the tank to last years to come? Or will just adding soil capped with sand be sufficient?
My tank 10" cube starting to smell foul, a bit of algae growing on glass after 1 week. I did pick up some mud from a creek that I mixed with potting soil and a bit of fert. There are stem plants. Will this clear up?
Hi FF, thank you so much for the tips. Im making a palurdarium with only 15cm (6 inches) of water. Using your recommended 3inches of total substrate would take up to much space, can I get away with 1/1.5 inch of dirt and sand in a smaller tank? Or does it have to be 3 inch total for proper anaerobic/ aerobic areas? Thanks again!!
Dear Father Fish, I just recently found your channel and love the idea of a natural aquarium. I‘ve had my aquarium for about seven months now and have so far trusted in what I have been told at several stores (cleaning the tank every week etc.). But I’ve found it difficult to believe that exchanging the healthy aquarium water with tap water mixed with chemicals, is good for my tank. I’ve watched several of your videos and mostly you have talked about setting up a new tank. But how can I redo my existing tank to be a natural aquarium (what I have actually wanted from the start) without tearing everything apart? Thank you very much in advance. Kerstin
I've a breakout of cyanobacteria in my tank. Any ways to get rid or contain it? Ive had my natural tank set up for about three years now and never had it happen?
Ive been watching alot of your videos, and you've mentioned you can add water from a creek or pond, as well as leaf's from outside. My question is, if I live in Colorado, will this technique still work since i have a tropical tank, and Colorado is not very warm most of the time? And how much outside water per gallon should you add? Thank you. I love your videos.
@TheSheilagirl I didn't cap my aquasoil... within 4-5weeks the algae was uncontrollable. I've capped the aquasoil with sand, cleaned the plants as thoroughly as I could and replanted, and done an 80% water change to remove as much free floating algae as possible. Fingers crossed its gonna work, I'm abit dubious about the lights on 24hrs but I'll try it a few days and see what happens, my fish will probably not enjoy it
❤ you have convinced me to change my mind about aquatic life ❤thank you can you tell me what minerals you put. In the soil and what’s the best aquatic soil to purchase I think 💭 you videos and is it the same for freshwater fish 🐟
Father fish i was a shop 6 months ago and they talked me into adding crushed coral into my substrate. After 6 weeks I noticed my plants wasn't doing so good. After a few month they was worse. I ended up having to fully change the substrate as nothing was growing and all slowly melting. Its been changed a month now but the plants arnt coming back so fast. How long will it take after nearly killing them all. Have you ever heard of this happening before with crushed coral.
Would a cannister filter be too much for this method to thrive? I got a second hand tank of 250L/66gallons and got a fitting filter with it. Should I use it or downgrade to sponge filters?
could I put something like this in a window with no artificial light and no filter? I am trying to be as low tech as possible. I would at least heat it since I live in an old drafty house.
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/
Adding dirt to the bottom of my tank was the best thing I have done for my Platys. The next best thing was adding bladder snails and Malaysian trumpet snails. Don't forget at least a little driftwood and your good to go. Just let the detritus deteriorate and sink into your substrate and your plants will have all the food they need along side the fish doodie. At this point my Blue Mickey Mouse Platys are spawning like never before. And there are generations of snails keeping everything nice and tidy. Natural nature is deffinatly the way to go. Thank you Father Fish for all the advice I have consumed this past year. My wife, two daughters (ages 6 and 2), and I have had endless fun with our big 40 breeder tank. The plants are thriving and the Platys are as well. Keep the fantastic content coming Father Fish. Love and thanks from Northern Michigan🐠
Do you mean adding potting soil to the tank then covering it with sand?
@@toriechuntraruk3611 It was five pounds of fluval stratum. Capped with eco complete. Though I am considering adding an inch and a half of sand over the whole thing for it to be a true substrate cap. But for now the tank is running very well as is. Need to plant a few more plants though. But the the ones that are there are doing a great job with helping the filtering. The snails also help with the breaking down of everything. Can't recommend them enough. Try to get at least one species of small snail. Whether it be Malaysian Trumpet snails or Bladder snails. I have both and the MTS keep the substrate nice, while the Bladder snails keep everything else moving in the rest of the tank. Ramshorn snails would do good as well but I have no experience keeping them. But I assume they would be as beneficial. It's like Father Fish teaches that keeping as diverse of a tank as possible the healthier it will be. Clean and sterile does not do well for an aquarium to have healthy fish, they need stability and diversity. Watch a few videos of how Father Fish does a dirt substrate cap, and watch a few other UA-cam videos from others on the same subject and do what seems best for you. But yes it is essentially putting an inch of organic chemical free soil at the bottom and covering it with a lot of sand. Never disturb the substrate either No gravel vacuuming or digging around in it. The only time it should be touched is if you are planting live plants, or if a fish friend has disturbed it and you are simply flattening the sand back into place. Watch Father Fish do it, he has quite a few videos explaining the whole process. It is far easier than you think. Just a little knowledge and a bit of work and you can have an aquarium you can enjoy for years. Mine has been running for over a year, and bar a few hiccups, is now running better than ever with all my fish happy and healthy.
Thanks so much for the info. When I add the sand, does it need to be washed beforehand?
Should I take out my fish and put them in another tank while I set up the natural tank? I have gravel in there now.
@@toriechuntraruk3611 100% look up a tutorial on Google of how to rinse the sand. You will be surprised at how much will come off it before it becomes "clean". And see if you can hold onto your current aquarium water as well it will help you tank not go through "new tank shock" as harshly as it can because the amount of nutrients in the soil is quite substantial. Plant the live plants ASAP into the substrate. And get any tank scaping done too before you put your fish back. Watch Father Fish do his tutorial videos on tank setup. He will explain how much sand and dirt the different size tanks will need. He also has a video or two that he goes through the process step by step. Once the tank settles down and the water has cleared to an extent you can add your fish back in. Don't forget to try and hold onto quite a bit of your current aquarium water. Home Depot has buckets on the cheap that stack nicely together and hold a lot that are super useful and will work well to this purpose. A siphon hose long enough and big enough for your tank will be needed to, but they are fairly cheap at most big pet stores. I keep mine coiled up in two buckets that store nicely under my tank with my backup equipment like a heater and a small filter just in case. I also have a super cheap 10 gallon under my tank for emergancies, pretty sure I spent less than 20$ on it at Walmart I don't put anything in it. I do run a hang on back filter on my tank because the Blue Mickey Mouse Platy fish I breed like a bit of water flow, they will swim against the current for hours at a time and will always be playing in and out of it while schooling about with each other. It also helps with keeping the water nice and oxygenated along with being a good bit of extra filtration. But a sponge filter can just as easily provide the exact same services as an HOB filter as far as keeping the water oxygenated and filtered. They can be a great option for fish that don't like a lot of current in the tank. Watch all the videos that Father Fish has on water quality and tank setup and you will be well on your way to the tank of your dreams. It's a commitment, but well worth the effort. Follow Father Fish and he will be able to put you on the right track.
Thank You Father Fish. I've enjoyed aquariums a good portion of My life. I would like to mention a different topic. I'm 62 years old, I had pre diabetes and obesity two years ago. I've been doing keto, after about 1 year, no more pre diabetes, no more obesity and I've maintained My weight loss. The good thing about keto is, it's not a calorie reduction diet, three normal meals a day, just no sugar, no carbohydrates and no snacks between meals. 🙂
Nice to see fitness in aquarium hobby topics, just shows that life is a circle and not one line.
Dear Father fish, Following your methods has fullfilled ny dreams of having a beautiful nature aquarium. You have impacted thousands of such aquarium keepers like me around the world and are making their dreams come true of owning besutiful nature aquariums with simple ingredients of nature. I thank you for your immense service from the bottom of my heart with love , respect and gratitude. Thanks
Father Fish is unique and most refreshing to watch. His experience is complex but breaks it down to my level (idiot proof).
God bless you Sir ❤ from London UK
Keep you health in check and Merry Christmas Father Fish 👍😊
FF is an absolute legend
I am not a “naturalist “ but this man is a living example of good advise.
Damn the Discord group is useful to get quick heads up about new vids! :)
I enjoy the way you talk about your fish. I feel the love and care you have for them, and the way you teach is very inviting. Thank you! 🐠
We decided to try this method. We were in love with the idea, but not sure how it would turn out. Being avid gardeners however, we have trust in nature. What Father Fish claims is true. 100% The results are amazing, beautiful, and rewarding. It's the best aquarium we've set up yet. Thank you Louis.
Hello Sir! I took your advice and my fish love it! I have 3 bettas (1 male and 2 females) and 1 pleco. I've have never seen them so happy!!! My tank is now a mini jungle. God Bless you Sir and thank you for the video! 🙂👍
Father Fish I am watching from Glasgow, Scotland 🏴
Your methods are second to none I am going to get a new 6 gallon aquarium tomorrow which I will set up as an all natural aquarium for a Betta and hopefully lots of other small fish and food for my cichlids.
i have a little eco jar I filled a few days ago up at the wee loch it's settling nice now the water 👌
I love it. I have 3 young children who are fascinated by fish and have been thinking about building a nice aquarium for them. Glad i found your channel.
Been in the hobby for many years, and I must say that I wasn’t aware of this unique and very interesting method. I am definitely going to try this, and I will be digging through your videos to obtain as much information as possible to make my own natural aquarium. Thanks for what you do for the hobby!
100% you must do this, ive not had to put any chemicals in my tank once, the water is Chrystal clear and does not smell at all. It really does work. I used sand from a river in our area and mud from a local farmers dugout. Fish are healthier, there breading, giving babies, just incredible how effortlessly looking after the tank has been.
@@canadianbeefeater1672
Thanks for the information! Trust me, I’ve been digging through tons of videos to sponge as much as I can from this technique. I am getting a 30 gallon long to start the project, and hope for the best! Very excited to say the least!
My dream from childhood has always been to travel the world at the age of 25 due to a retina problem I lost most of my eye sight but still I wanna pursue my dreams
Watching these videos really motivates me to run after my dreams 🎭
I wanna be an inspiration for others through my channel 💙
I love your channel
Kindly make videos on how to set up a chicklet fish aquarium as naturally as possible.
Im 55 nx year and tinkering with nature has
ALLWAYS facinated me !
I believe that this garden of my life
is as precious as all of sea and land
Started collection of spiders at a
young age ,,in a tin now i put them out
or leave them inn,but would never
keep a tarantula ,,errr,,,sorry if i upset
SPIDER keepers no offence ,this lesson
Of collecting spiders helped me
Within nature and my fears ,,all spiders
Were released,,and MR FISH,, GODSPEED,
LOVELYT SHIRT SIR,,,,,
I have thought of my aquariums as aquatic gardens or indoor mini ponds! Treating them this way has yielded me much success! Thank you for your wisdom FF,thanks to you my tanks are alive and healthy!
Thanks for pointing out that the soil can burn roots if applied directly. My sand layer was an inch too thin!
Watching all your videos back new and old natural aquariums are the ONLY aquariums
I’m getting stuff together for my third planted tank, a ten gallon. It’ll be my third, I have a 29 and a 20. I way overdid the first substrate in the 29, the second one I set up better. I ordered a bag of your additives and I also add eggshells that I grind with an old coffee grinder and dried banana peels. I’m thinking about mixing some leaves into the soil. I live on a remote island in Southeast Alaska without a LFS so I rely on eBay and Amazon for most everything I need. Since it’s so impractical to get anything here I’m also considering buying a 5 gallon tank and raising Daphnia for fish food. I actually didn’t find your channel until after I started my first tank. Thank you for your videos, they are very helpful.
Thank you so much for the informative advice and the time you took for answering my questions 😊
❤We are fortunate to have father fish. You are saving the hobby❤
I’m overwhelmed.
I could listen to you all day talking about fitted tanks even if it’s the same thing over and over. Just change it up a little and you’ll keep me here 🎉
Sir, I found your channel by accident tonight and the knowledge you present is superb. I had no idea you could keep aquariums this way! I have a small 5-gallon tank with two goldfish for my daughter and I’m thinking this could be a much better way to go than my current method of artificial decorations and having to replace “sleeping” fish regularly. Will your method scale down to a smaller tank like mine?
You should not keep 2 goldfish in a 5 gallon tank, it is way too small for them. Maybe trade them for a couple smaller fish.
FF my favorite to follow. How much dirt and sand for a 75 gallon? Inches ?I got your special soil additive in. Can’t wait to set it up. Thank you for your content. Your amazing
I used 1 inch of soil with the supplement and 3 inches of pool filter sand. Fast forward over 4 months and it’s a jungle. It’s 75 gallons. Hth.
@@kenrooke9047 Thank you. Can’t wait to get started. What type of filtration system are you using.
@@jennifermartin506 the filtration system is the soil and sand,however I have a nano power head at the right back corner which circulates the water towards the aquaclear 70 I have at the other corner. I just have a sponge on the intake to keep the water clear. I have a pothos plant stuck in the filter box which is climbing the walls so to speak. I have a video on ff discord if you are on there. My user name is h2oinsanity.
I was looking for new ideas for a spare tank I have, this has inspired me! - thank you so much! "Think Garden."
My son is 4 and has become interested in fish. What’s funny is that he became interested a few weeks after one of your short videos popped up in my feed. I was, independently from him, also thinking it would be cool to start an aquarium. Still doing my research on the fish and plants we are going to get. Thanks for the educational videos.
GRATITUDE 💥🐟💥
Nature finds a way.. Happy Friday FF 🙏
Hello Father Fish, recently found your channel and love your videos. Just a quick but likely stupid question. Would it be possible to just soak a bunch of dead leaves, lay down an inch or two of them and then add 2 inches of sand? Instead of using soil. If it wouldn't work, why not?
It will be deficient in some elements but, yes, it will be effective. One more example of the
flexibility of this approach.
father fish, i have some question.
1. does that mean i can use the exact same ingredients from my garden plant to be my substrate?
2. can i use the dry leaves that already fallen, but it landed on the ground, not pond. can I use that?
thank you, and keep uploading this kind of video, i adore you so much!
Do you have a list of the best plants and how to prep them to be planted in the soil/sand? I love the idea of the low-maintenance, simple aquarium with its own ecosystem. I’d really like to build one for my 3yr old son who is enamored by all things fish.
Yes I do! father-fish-aquarium.myshopify.com/
Baba her zamanki gibi doğru bilgil ve tecrübelerinle bizlere akvaryum hobisini sevdirip içindeki her bir canlının dogal dengede faydalı olduğunu ispat edip doğru yolu gösteriyorsun sana sonsuz teşekkür ediyorum .İyiki varsın .
Dünya çapında bir balık kulübünün parçası olmak büyük bir mutluluk. Heyecanınızı hepimizle paylaştığınız için teşekkür ederiz.
Nezaketiniz ve desteğiniz için teşekkür ederiz.,
@@FatherFish 👍
Ola Pai Peixe boa tarde, sou do Brasil e estou seguindo suas orientações e vejo tudo dando muito certo, obrigado por disponibilizar seus conhecimentos, cada video é muito rico em informações que são fundamentais para quem quer ter um aquario saudavel, muito obrigado!
Legal ver um brasileiro por aqui.
@@danton2949
mais um aqui de Barueri/SP 👍
@@danton2949 Estou muito feliz por ter amigos no Brasil. Esta é a casa dos peixes tropicais que mais adoro.
BR aqui 🖐️
I'm happy to know that after about 9 years I will have an ideal place for my fish. God bless you Father Fish, I'm also from Brazil. Thanks!!
Hello. I just wanted you to know that after watching your videos for a while now, I have slowly migrated over to your methods. Every video always contains worthwhile information. However most of all you have been a great inspiration to me. I cannot thank you enough for all you do to promote and educate others about the hobby and your passion for what you do comes across loud and clear.
I just wanted to wish you a wonderful New Year and nothing but joy.
Just keep on keeping on what you do. 😉👌
Father fish is absolutely correct...we don't need to use such expensive soil ... We all need to balance the system...i am having two planted tanks..one with garden soil & sands..and another one with amazonia soil ..trust me the one with garden soil doing best since 5 years... however in my other tank i need to use fertilizer to make soil charge.....
Thanks a lot for teaching us father fish
It's my pleasure
So natural without any expensive gadgets being used
Can I put just potting soil and substrate, supplement, and microfauna leaf culture I can’t find peat moss
@cindypilet3834 Use coco peat.
Ty
Thank you again for the great information
Who knew that god was running a fish store !
I like a natural tank and a big fan of your method ❤
Absolutely love this method
i got compost can outside in the yard - im about to dump 3 cups into my living room 40g aquarium with 50lbs bag of playland fully stocked, ill cover over with sand in the water - FFontheGO - my fish and turtles will say "if he dies, he dies"
So, a question in regards to this, in particular sourcing decomposing plant material from local water sources. What is the risk of introducing disease by doing so? Is there a way to mitigate that risk?
Watch my newest video.
Are natural aquariums limited to specific fish species? What about large cichlids and monster fish known for their voracious appetites, substrate digging, and plant destruction? How can their bio load be managed effectively using the father-fish method? Does the natural aquarium setup inherently restrict itself to a limited selection of species like small community fish?
Existe um material (livro, site) com esses ensinamentos organizados?
Is feeding from a resurrection jar a must or just optional?
Beautiful aquarium 🎉
I have small 3 gallon tank, put organic potting soil and Sand capped. Plants from another aquarium. Then put in a betta. Nitrates and nitrites still reading high. Been doing big water changes daily. When will it settle down.?
I had no idea this was possible. I don’t have much space. Can you start with a 5 gallon tank? What are the best plants for a beginner tank.
yes. Stem plants
Soil,nutrien,growing plant, and rain,
I adore your channel
I have 3" of dirt/pond mud and 2" of sand find gravel mix. Been going for over a year now with happy fish. Question is, how long does this set up last? Will the dirt eventually need to be replaced?
It should last indefinitely
@FatherFish I have to say that everything you have said about this method has made my fish keeping 100% more enjoyable. Not one other person spoke about doing this method and I have to say you really know your stuff. Thank you soo much for your wisdom its really made a huge difference.
I’m really mad at UA-cam right now 😅 how come I have not found this channel until now. I’m just amazed about the beauty aquariums shown here and most of all, all the information I have found in the last 2 hours 😂❤❤❤ subscribed to the channel right after the first video, order the supplement and can’t way to joint the discord group. I’m about to set up a new tank and I’m full of questions
Hi Father Fish, I live in Australia. Can I put broken down Eucalyptus leaves into my tank? I’ve followed your wonderful new tank start and my tank is great! Fish are good and plants growing well. We are on a farm so also have dams ( ponds…large) so wondering if this will be ok for my fish?
Many thanks for the info.
Cheers
Deb 🇦🇺
@dridan7 I am the same. Live on an Ozzie farm. My theory is this (untested) : dry dead decomposing eucalyptus leaves (they look pale yellow), the kind you find on the ground are OK, not fresh ones. You will find these in your dam, they turn black underwater over time. I use both, the black ones from water troughs and have just started using the dead ones outside. Still playing around with this, wish I had the answers. Fresh eucalyptus leaves are toxic but somehow in natural water bodies they can be found sometimes. Hope this helps. These are leaves on their own, not attached to a dead branch.
This might sound like a stupid question but I've just purchased a 240l tank and I'm going to set it up like this. Can I use any soil? Bags from the local shops? Or does it need to be a specific soil for the tank? I have the sand to add on top. I just want to get it set up correctly and not use the wrong soil etc. Absolutely love these videos and found a new passion. Thank you father fish
Join my discord and discuss this with the experts as there is a specific setup, fatherfish.fish
I have set an account up and will jump on at some point before I set the new tank up. Thank you
How do you keep mosquitos from growing in your aquarium?
when you add the fish in on the 3 day do you keep adding them every two weeks what about schooling fish?
HEY! What was that tool he used to place the plants in the substrate? I could really use that!
Thanks in advance. ❤
An aquarium tweezer. Available from many brands and no name!
Someone knows if the Father Fish nutrient mix is also shipped to Europe?
Just mix up some organic compost with leaf mulch, easy to make this time of year - the other ingredients in the mix are not essential - and top off with kiln dried sand or fine gravel - horticultural grit works great.
@williammcdowell6257 thanks. Have you tried? No problem with the PH?
There is an FF store on eBay UK, but difficult to say if they ship to other European countries.
@@AlinefromToulousethanks! had no idea. Gonna check it out. Rly appreciated.
I think you can get some of those nutrients by adding kitty litter. As long as it's unscented and untreated, it's basically just clay.
are we need RO water for no water change aquarium?
I'm a new freshwater fishkeeper. My 20 gal tank been set up for less than a month. I have black sand, a few plants 6-7 and 5 moss balls, and some driftwood. We have a few fish and about 6 shrimp.
I'm new to seeing soil as a substrate beneath sand. Is there a way to add soil into my tank after its been set up or would I have to break the tank down and start over?
I was also told to only have one Turbo snail to keep the snails from reproducing and taking over my tank.
jopin us in the Shoal: discord.gg/father-fish-shoal
thanks so much. what do i do with planeria? i have a tank with tetra’s, one beta, shrimp & snails
the betta and tetras will eat planaria.
@@FatherFish thanks, that is true but planeria seems to multiply fast & my shrimp went from 100 to only 25 in just 1 months & the planeria are multiplying so fast - i think i have no choice but to start a new tank 🥹
i don’t know how i got the planeria.
maybe from the kanal water (100ml) i put in there 2 months ago or from new plants that i bought. These actions i will be doing differently from now.
Hi from Oz
Father fish I have a planted substrate discus tank! All the unnatural 😢 after watching is awe of your tanks, I plan to change my tank to a natural tank, would I need to remove the substrate or May I just add sand on top of my substrate (Fluval stratum)
Thank you so much for your knowledge 🙏😊
add sand and build a food web. Sounds great.
@@FatherFish fabulous I’ll search up food web? 🙏🎄
This comment allows me to ask a question: my tank was already established, with a quartz gravel substrate, and planted, I added the sand cap, and recently more plants, but both stem and not stem plants lack nutrients, can I wait or should I add some sort of fertilizer, Nitrates and trace elements, or maybe more fish as there are plenty of snails but only 2 male Endler guppies?
Fish increase nutrients as does the introduction of the elements of a food web. You currently have a desert.@@AlinefromToulouse
@@FatherFish Thank you so much for your answer.
I've already started the food web, so I will add fish as soon as I can, so much as the 2 don't seem to make any waste.
I have a 75 gallon tank, at one point (might be another vid) you say “I pound of sand for every gallon “? It seems like too much sand for my tank right ?? Also I was wondering the difference in lighting ??? Do I have to have 100$ bulb and what’s a good suggestion for the timing ???
So I’m planning on my 2nd attempt at this. I forgot to ask, how deep into the 2 inches of sand should I plant the plant? All the way into the soil section, or about 1 inch? I’m thinking Gold Ribbons or Amazon Swords, and then either dwarf grass (if that’s ok) or Monte Carlos for foreground.
1"
Can a turtle live in this type of aquarium? Specifically red-eared slider turtle and painted turtle
yes
Hello! Is this way possible in a relatively small amounts of water? Like in 3-5 gallon tanks?
Yes, but stock it well. Anything less than 5 gallons is only suitable for neocaridina shrimp and snails. 5 gallons should only be for a single betta, or a very tiny species like mosquito rasbora. So basically, don't overstock the tank and it wil be fine.
I'm currently trying this with a 2 gallon tank that I'm only going to stock with ramshorn snails. It's more of a watery ecosystem than an aquarium. If it works out I'll go bigger.
@@PeteQuad Nice
good work guys.
@@dangboor4277 yes, I was thinking about single beta and some shrimps for this tank. Thanks, I guess I'll try it in the next year.
Father fish, have you ever used blasting sand for your aquariums?
Hello Father Fish, I am from northern Europe and the weather is cold, and the temperatures are low. Can I take dirt from nature and is it dirt full of life in this time of year or should I wait for spring?
Answer me?
I have the FF method and a food web, dirt capped with sand, and I even added more because the fish waset just sits on top and looks so bad. But its still there. Is the excess fish waset that sits on top of the sand a result of overfeeding? If so how do I fix it
Useful video
@Father Fish, what lighting power should be used? How many lumens per liter? Regards
I like 2Wpg but leds are different. 100W on shallow for a 20
@@FatherFish Thank you Father, merry christmas and happy new year from Poland!
Will hydrogen sulphide from garden soil not get into water column even though you have soil over it
buffer to keep the substrate alkaline
Hello, I live where there is very few freshwater streams at all mostly saltwater, but would it be good if i had my friends get leaves from the streams and send them to me for my freshwater tank? to make it more natural
Yes, absolutely
Father Fish. Is it essential to add your special mix to the soil for the tank to last years to come? Or will just adding soil capped with sand be sufficient?
Clearly better is better.
My tank 10" cube starting to smell foul, a bit of algae growing on glass after 1 week. I did pick up some mud from a creek that I mixed with potting soil and a bit of fert.
There are stem plants.
Will this clear up?
add 2" of sand to control the leaching of dirt ito the water.
Hi FF, thank you so much for the tips. Im making a palurdarium with only 15cm (6 inches) of water. Using your recommended 3inches of total substrate would take up to much space, can I get away with 1/1.5 inch of dirt and sand in a smaller tank? Or does it have to be 3 inch total for proper anaerobic/ aerobic areas? Thanks again!!
do 1/2" soil and 1.5" sand
Dear Father Fish, I just recently found your channel and love the idea of a natural aquarium. I‘ve had my aquarium for about seven months now and have so far trusted in what I have been told at several stores (cleaning the tank every week etc.). But I’ve found it difficult to believe that exchanging the healthy aquarium water with tap water mixed with chemicals, is good for my tank. I’ve watched several of your videos and mostly you have talked about setting up a new tank. But how can I redo my existing tank to be a natural aquarium (what I have actually wanted from the start) without tearing everything apart? Thank you very much in advance.
Kerstin
add 2" of sand and build a food web.
how often do you change the water in a natural aquarium system ? and how much when/if you do ?
10% a month is a good rule.
I've a breakout of cyanobacteria in my tank. Any ways to get rid or contain it? Ive had my natural tank set up for about three years now and never had it happen?
add plants, cap the substrate
@@FatherFish substrate has 2 - 2.5 inches of sand from the start. Loads of plants in there too.
Ive been watching alot of your videos, and you've mentioned you can add water from a creek or pond, as well as leaf's from outside. My question is, if I live in Colorado, will this technique still work since i have a tropical tank, and Colorado is not very warm most of the time? And how much outside water per gallon should you add? Thank you. I love your videos.
Hi! I wonder when using aquasoil, should you still use sand?
yes., The aquasoil will leach the nutrients it contains if you do not cap it.
@FatherFish thank you! Merry Christmas Father Fish!
@TheSheilagirl I didn't cap my aquasoil... within 4-5weeks the algae was uncontrollable. I've capped the aquasoil with sand, cleaned the plants as thoroughly as I could and replanted, and done an 80% water change to remove as much free floating algae as possible. Fingers crossed its gonna work, I'm abit dubious about the lights on 24hrs but I'll try it a few days and see what happens, my fish will probably not enjoy it
❤ you have convinced me to change my mind about aquatic life ❤thank you can you tell me what minerals you put. In the soil and what’s the best aquatic soil to purchase I think 💭 you videos and is it the same for freshwater fish 🐟
Can you please list me the ingredients for your aquarium please 🙏
Hi Father Fish, how often should the sponge filters in my aquarium be rinsed out in a bucket with aquarium water?
When they get dirty
What kind of soil do I use?
learn the details here: discord.gg/father-fish-shoal
@@FatherFish thanks father fish!
What is the best kind of sand to use
Anything inert
Father fish i was a shop 6 months ago and they talked me into adding crushed coral into my substrate. After 6 weeks I noticed my plants wasn't doing so good. After a few month they was worse. I ended up having to fully change the substrate as nothing was growing and all slowly melting. Its been changed a month now but the plants arnt coming back so fast. How long will it take after nearly killing them all. Have you ever heard of this happening before with crushed coral.
Hello what is the best soil to create the substrate for Under the sand ?
discord.gg/father-fish-shoal
Almond leaves are good for fishes
Yes
Father Fish, how many times a week should we feed our fish?
Would a cannister filter be too much for this method to thrive? I got a second hand tank of 250L/66gallons and got a fitting filter with it. Should I use it or downgrade to sponge filters?
canisters are appropriate for larger tanks
could I put something like this in a window with no artificial light and no filter? I am trying to be as low tech as possible. I would at least heat it since I live in an old drafty house.
yes
@@FatherFish thanks I will give it try
Hallo aus Deutschland, wenn ich es so mache wie in den Video, wie lange muss dass Becken stehen bis man Fische einsetzen kann, Danke
Just wondering. Do I rinse the leaves before I put them in the tank? Thanks
No as you will wash all of the good biofilm off.
@@FatherFish That’s what I thought. Thank you!!!❤️
Will the natural/garderrn soil need to be replaced in future?
no