WOW!! FINALLY the 'balanced aquarium' is explained in its truest and easiest to understand form. All over youtube are these videos of people talking about their 'balanced aquarium' saying it only takes a few months... Only With chemicals, supplements, filtration, water changes, lights on timers... I was left frustrated and confused after listening to all the channels, videos, live streams, aquascaping, tutorials, blah blah blah! None of it was explained like this. Because it seems like too me, next to no one does fish tanks like Father Fish anymore and it's blazingly obvious. Toooooo many people in this hobby have water changes, chemicals, little to no substrate, no compost or just does not understand exactly what sand does. FINALLY i found someone on youtube that has been doing this for longer than just a decade and actually knows what their talking about in depth!!! No flashy animations. No B.S.. No saving the viewers feelings on differentiating opinions. Just one person with a lifetime of experience and the evidence of all this knowledge plain as day right behind him. Wonderful.
Man I hope you will see in your lifetime how the Aquarium and fishkeepingworld will change by the revolution you and others started! I will help and spread the word. Bless you sir!
So glad you stress that a balanced tank is going to take time and patience. I hate when some slick company or individual says.. Just add 2 capfuls of this new, improved version of our Balanced Tank Chemical and your tank will be instantly cycled and balanced and good to go. People spend all that money and it never happens. Problem after problem pop up and once again folks are told well now you need X,Y, Z chemicals to fix it. Mother nature and Father Fish still know best...time and patience. 👍💓👍
Just wanted to say thank you for the advice! I set up my "forever" aquarium about 18 months ago with only your guidance. Got "mud" and sand from the creek and layered up about a 5 inch substrate. Planted it with some local hydrilla and sat back... Needless to say, I haven't changed the water in over a year and I have to cut my plants every week or they get unruly. I stocked VERY slowly. Now my 39 gallon system has 2 angels, a male gourami, a betta, 8 platies, 5 cories, and more local Snails than I can count and they are THRIVING! So yes, I CAN definitely say I have a balanced tank but only because of your channel. Thanks a ton sir!
This has been the way I've kept aquariums for years. Being told time and again I HAD to do water changes by fellow fish keepers. Where my fish would live 10+ years, and there's would last a year or two. Thank you for further confirming my beliefs.
@fatherfish #fatherfish Can't thank enough for the detailed and original content without flashy/fluffy stuff! Thank you for creating and sharing your experience to keep the hobby real and original! 👍🏽😇🙏🏽❤️
A balanced tank is exactly that... it takes a while for it to happen, in my case it took me leaving my tank for 6 weeks and not messing with it to bring it into the balance that you're talking about! Now my tanks are getting ready to go through another 3 weeks at least without me being there!! This is where the principals of what you have taught me makes the biggest difference! After leaving my tanks for 6 weeks they sustained themselves! It took a little work to get the algae and a few things cleared up, but since that time my aquariums have established themselves!! This time when I leave them for 2 to 3 weeks I really have no problems with leaving them. I have put in the time and the patience... I have wonderful plant growth I have deep substrate... The only thing I really don't have is having covers over my tanks.. but I have no fear of losing fish or plants or my tanks crashing!! I'm very confident in the system that I have set my tanks up with! The substrate is absolutely what makes what I'm doing possible!!.. it's the deep living sand that creates the right environment for the aquarium!! Thank you Father Fish for letting me be part of what you're doing I truly appreciate you! It's definitely changed the hobby for me! ❤️🙏🌿🐟🌿💪
Yes, true the same happened with me and after about a month balance was achieved. Now apart from feeding and cleaning glass with a magnet scrubber there is no work. Not even water changes. Now I have more leisure watching fish rather than worrying for many other issues like fish not eating, water testing, disease etc etc.
who would give this a 👎 this is the most truth on RUclips I've ever seen and the most informative video of it's kind 👍👍👍👍 wish I could give it more thumbs up 🥰
1- Father Fish to me it's good and kosher as long as it is not UNbalanced . 2- It is that simple (like Truth IS) that not any simpletonian to me . 3- ...Shema!!!
Oh, halleluja! You are a true preacher. I agree totally. But People tend to overstock their tanks. Then biological aerobic filters and water changes is the key.
@@greenmachinesweden You have been around since before the Green Machine. lol I have friends who will be delighted to view your videos. If you are able, join the shoal on weekday mornings or weekend afternoons. We are a friendly group of fish enthusiasts who will welcome you. If you are able t o share your farm that would be greatly enjoyed. Hope to see you soon. Father Fish
In a few weeks time it is going to be 37 years since i first walked into a fish store with my grandfather. It was my fifth birthday. He bought me aquarium twice the size my mom had agreed (100 Ltr). And i am still hooked. He taught me 3 things that day. Substrate, real plants, and patience. Now later he taught me and i experienced for myself that other methods can be succesfull as well. But nothing i have tried thus far beats that combo. LONG TERM. Once is has setteld it is the easiest lowest work system i have done.
@@FatherFish In that sense he was. And a good teacher. Offering insight and factual knowledges but also letting me make and figure out my own mistake's. I still have that first tank. My nephew is 10 months old and allready showing interest. When i babysit him i just put him in front of a tank and he will be there untill he dozes off. If he still has that in 5 years time that tank is gonna be in his room for sure.
6x2x2 and this is what Ive been doing for 3 years now , no filter no nothing, just fish, plants Substrate that work together. people are amazed with my balanced tank, thank you for reinforcing my way of thinking and that I am on the right track after all. cheers
I like watching these old timers talking about fish keeping. Always interested as how they did the job their way 50 years or so back then. The guys speaks out from experience.
Unfortunately I have just discovered this channel 2 years after I started fish keeping, I started with zero knowledge and have learned a few things the hard way. If only I knew then what I have learned from your channel recently! I’m great full to have watched your videos on leaf litter! It’s created a whole new outlook, the fish are so happy - the tanks look beautiful and natural. My only downside is the established gravel substrates! They are very deep and some plants grow very well , I have loads of floating plants too. My goal is to start over one day with a new tank and have the soil and sand substrate! Thank you so much for sharing information simply for all to comprehend 😊 From Aotearoa / NZ 🌿
thank you so much for addressing this situation that's a problem that's being going on in the aquarium hobby. Not having a balanced tank is the reason so many people in the hobby loose interest.
i jst love watching u father fish.....ur jst like a physician to d aquarium world....alws triying to solve things by ways closest to nature...and then amatures like us c dat if v know d basic...then we can definitely set up this amazing piece of nature in a healthy way...i jst love u...the more i c ur vedios...the more i gain interest in this topic...infact i have suggested many in my circle to watch ur vedios...get d proper info n then start..thank u for reaching us...stay safe..
Hi my son who breeds salmon for a living has been telling me this for years. I have fancy goldfish and have had lots of problems. I now understand why. Thank you, Pam from Scotland
Deep beds with plants are always the way to go i have tried many options on this and balance is critical especially with community fish ,filtration is still important weather its anoxic ,bacterial, aerobic or anaerobic Balance is paramount ,,,,,great content well said
So grateful to have stumbled upon this channel on my home page recommended videos. I am watching everything now and soaking it all up! It's a revelation and I am switching to a dirted tank asap! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and wisdom Father Fish 🙏🏻🥰🐟 Subbed!!!
Father Fish! I love this video of yours. This is what I am aiming for. That is why I have followed your advise as much as I can because this is what I want to achieve. This video is truly informative and a great success! I love you Father Fish and Merry Christmas! Happy New Year to you too!
Thank you so much for your deep substrate methods. I used soil from my garden and play sand and it's finally starting to end it's cycle. My fish are so happy best of all. My plants are taking off and I haven't lost a single fish in the process.
I have a 4 foot aquarium and have only topped up water in 8 years and a recent gravel vac after feeling guilty that my base of the tank is thick with dirt. It is a gravel base with plants. I have no algae and only a few snails. Recently I joined Facebook groups and learned here in the uk people do up to 80% water changes every week, some every other day. I bought some additional fish for the tank and thought that I needed to start and step up my game and start to “maintain” it more. I found your channel and realise you are right and my way is right. My base is deep “muddy” gravel. My fish constantly forage. I have watched your videos back to back and am setting up another small tank but this one will be soil based like yours and I will transfer my smaller fish over into it. I am planning a six foot tank soon and that will be based on yours then my original tank will also be emptied and planted up with a soil base. Many thanks for your videos
A balanced tank is the most important part of the fish keeping hobby. But very few people choose follow the that basic principle because of over population over feeding and bad advice from others
You remind me of my grandfather, but he had different knowledge than aquariums. You've been doing this for so long, everyone needs to get your knowledge.
@Father Fish. I really enjoy your Videos, and the great wealth of knowledge that you share with all of us. I really do appreciate all your help. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎄⛄🎁🎀🐟🐠🦐🐌🐡👍
Hello father fish. I noticed two fully grown uarus inside your fully planted tank. Are you keeping them there temporarily? If not, how is it possible to keep these notorious plant eaters among all these plants? I am really interested in keeping uarus but not sure if they can be kept with plants as almost everywhere I look I’m being told that this is not possible. Would it be possible to to have a big, balanced deep sand / dirt tank without plants housing a large group of uarus? Thank you so much for your tireless efforts to bring all this knowledge in to our hobby.
Your a cool dude. I could deffinetly see myself kicking it in your fishroom its hard finding people that think alike. Thank you for the videos, ill definitely direct people your way.
Greetings Father Fish. New subscriber here. I have a dirtied system you are talking about. 2 months in and I have a green algae bloom. I know I overfed as I thought the Walstad Method needed that but I now think it is meant to feed heavier later on as the nutrients deplete. The question is in the name of balance should I just ride it out and risk a large algae die off or should I use a uv sterilizer to eliminate the algae. I have followed your advice on a previous video on feeding and have moved to every other day and smaller portions. A hungry fish is a happy fish. Your thoughts if you see this or can spare the time. Take care ole wise one.
The UV Sterilizer will not correct the problem. Add plants, perform a few moderate water changes, and reduce feeding. If the problem persists add another 1/2 to 1 inch of sand.
Remainds me of the days of creation (book of Genesis 1:11) if we (humans and also animal) were placed on hearth in “day third of creation” we would of die right away, cause there wasn’t any vegetation yet. It was just toxic gases all over, which is perfect for plants, which is exactly why plants were created on the “third day of creation” thanks >> Father Fish
Very well presented and good valuable information about balanced ecology by Sir.. I am watching this at new year.. You taught us very finely about Naturally sustainable aquarium. I like planted aquarium. I have a small 1 feet tank. I want to start it all over freshly after hearing from you. God bless you sir, I am adding this video to my liked favorite list. I am looking forward to get info from you about , how much thick substrate should i try to make for my 1 feet aquarium..? I will bring plants later. I will be holding my patience coz l love natural look planted aquarium. Dear Sir, You are absolutely right. Salute and Thanks for this video. ☺☺☺☺😍😍😍😎😎
Hi father fish after watching your video,i have about one inch of gravel ontop of sand,in your professional opinion,should i remove the gravel or leave it there,i have goldfish so they dig the substrate,on that note should i leave the gravel or remove it🙏🙏🙏🙏🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Hi father fish thank you for replying,but in your honest opinion should i remove the gravel so waste can travel easier into substrate,i can do it tomorrow as my wife will be out allday,and dont want to do it while shes home,you know what women are like ha ha🙏🙏🇬🇧🙏🙏
I have a question , I have a high tech planted tank 30 gallon with a 4 inch flourite/gravel substrate bed. I have tons of plants and co2 injection and constantly trim every week I guess my question would be so the plants take up the nitrates then cuz I haven’t changed water in that tank in over a year and I’m not using sand I’m using gravel so are u shire u can’t use gravel ? Unless it’s just the plants that are soaking up the nitrates which makes more sense to me than 4 inches of gravel doing the trick I’m kinda new to this hobby so any advice is appreciated thanks
4" gravel in an aged system is providing anaerobic cover based on detrius creating density. Plants are certainly absorbing nitrates. CO2 creates water column feeding. The plants are also receiving CO2 from the substrate. Sounds like a great tank. Pics?
Hello, Father fish! Thank You for this lesson. What If I want to set up a nano tank 5-10 gallon, and i don't have space to use 2 inches of Sand? Will 1 inch very fine 0,1-0,3mm work or should I go for 0,8-2mm? Also what soil do You recommend? Thank You! 👍
Hello @Father Fish, i have a cichlids tank with open top, my question is, does the water evaporation (around 25 to 30 liters/month) afect my tank? Should i closed it?
All right, man… can this work with mbuna? I have 3.5 - 4” of pool sand/aragonite substrate in my 75 gallon - no soil. I do not vacuum, but I change water in the struggle to keep nitrates below 40 ppm. Java ferns and anubias have fought and lost to diatoms. Shallow planted vallisneria are quickly unearthed from the sand by the little digger mbuna. No one else seems to have your expertise and passion, so I’m asking, how can I proceed? What can I correct, or do differently? Furthermore, what good is having a nutrient-rich substrate if there are no root-feeders, in the first place? Thanks and happy holidays.
@@FatherFish, thanks for the reply. I have numerous limestone rocks in place. It’s a tad late for soil, however. Even it weren’t, I couldn’t, in good conscience, sacrifice 9” of the 21” height of my 75 gallon, add rock, then plants. The fish would have no room to move. Unless, I misunderstood, it seems your method won’t work for my setup.
Nevertheless, I’m not ready to chuck it in. I have some Java fern and anubias rhizomes growing in my quarantine tank. Once those achieve some fullness I’ll transfer them back to the mbuna 75. As for any future vallisneria attempt, I am thinking of divvying up plant clusters into several net pots of rock wool. Assuming those produce root mass, I intend to plant pot and all into my 75’s sand substrate. All in the hope that the mbuna won’t tug on mature plants as they did the fragile vals with mini roots straight from the shipping container.
I have kept a more than 2 inches of coarse grain sand only in my 1.5 feet cube and there's no dirt at the bottom. Will I be able to get a balanced tank? And please tell about water change frequency. My tank looses about a half an inch of water level in a week and leaves white stains. Do I refill it or do a water change? I do about 20% water change every Sunday.
Hello Father, I love your videos, Do you need dirt in the bottom for it to be a balanced aquarium or can I achieve a balanced aquarium with just deep sand? I ask because I already have most of my tanks established with 3ish inches of sand and tons of plants rooted into the sand, so it would be a task to drain everything and add the dirt below. Thanks for your knowledge! My goal is to have all my aquariums be balanced.
Is it possible to cap a gravel substrate with sand to achieve a simillar effect? My question resides in the fact that i already set up my aquarium with gravel substrate. Or do i need to replace the whole substrate with the right one (soil + sand on top). I am not lazy :)). I am curious. Could a substrate gravel host that beneficial anaerobic bacteria if it is caped with enough sand?
ruclips.net/video/RcKLh4skPdc/видео.html I think I pasted my latest vlog update here on my system.. If didn't work.. let me know.. still learning some tech.. lol .. blessings
Thanks you in-depth knowledge of a balanced system! I have three betta tanks I have a living plants not to many ... My one question I have is where do I get my sand at Lowe's? My substrate is inch and a half right now or 2 in.. thank you for your time happy holidays father
@@FatherFish I went with what was accessible to me, which was playground sand my first tank , the sand wasn't rinsed enough but my second tank I did came out much better... It says that the playground saying could hurt reproductive systems hopefully I'm not killing my fish.. but I was wondering why is it labeled all natural.. thanks for your help and have a great evening.
Imagine me setting up my second aquarium with a 3-3.5 inch pool filter sand substrate, then seeing all sorts of talk about anaerobic pockets of hydrogen sulfite gasses killing everything in my aquarium. What to do…what to do? Well, I’ll get Malaysian trumpet snails and they’ll turn the substrate. Now a few months later I stumble onto father fish’s RUclips channel. Now I’m thinking gee, I didn’t even need those trumpet snails. But they’re cute so why not. Next tank is gonna be an inch of organic growing soil with a five inch cap of pool filter sand. I bet it’ll be amazing.
I think another thing which would have really helped make it more balanced..if there was a way to generate live food in an aquarium.. Which will self replicate Algae already grows as food..then the protein part would have been taken care of or for those fish which are not purely eaters of vegetative matter.. I don't know if that's possible.. Maybe blood worms/tubifex can be grown in the substrate.. Other things can't be done in-tank..like daphnia, insects, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae etc.. Have you ever tried it father fish? Just put in a cluster of them in tank for them to colonize?
this is sooo true. ive been following all the advices from these so called gurus doing water change every week. for months and months diatoms, algae and all sorts of things that makes my plants die.. I skipped doing water change since then coz Im getting lazy with the hobby. 2 months doing nothing and most of my plants died, some survived, but then comes in my water chabge after 2 months and tried to plant new ones. All of them now is doing great. no more algae, diatoms, etc.
Well, like you’ve been saying I think food doesn’t need intervention either my nano fish aquarium in 29 gallon. I set it up your way maybe four months ago there’s 20 something fish in there. I don’t even really feed them at all and they’re always fat so I think substrate that I got from a wild pond and they’re goodon red worms in there so it just it’s alive
My tank has a under gravel filter with a air pump. Should I take this out and start over or just put more on top? (It has a short lift tube so the water is moving slowly)
I have a question. Will the waste still precipitate into the substrate without any bottom feeders? i plan on changing the substrate in my 5gallon betta tank.
Hello Brian I used father fishes methods for my 10 gallon betta tank for almost 2 years with the same 40mm (3inch) substrate and no bottom feeder fish but there were small snails. Just a air stone to add some movement to the water. No filter. And about 8hr timed light cycle. Its been my best betta setup to date👍 But I cycled it for two months or until I had noticed algee growing before I added the betta.
WOW!! FINALLY the 'balanced aquarium' is explained in its truest and easiest to understand form.
All over youtube are these videos of people talking about their 'balanced aquarium' saying it only takes a few months... Only With chemicals, supplements, filtration, water changes, lights on timers... I was left frustrated and confused after listening to all the channels, videos, live streams, aquascaping, tutorials, blah blah blah! None of it was explained like this. Because it seems like too me, next to no one does fish tanks like Father Fish anymore and it's blazingly obvious.
Toooooo many people in this hobby have water changes, chemicals, little to no substrate, no compost or just does not understand exactly what sand does.
FINALLY i found someone on youtube that has been doing this for longer than just a decade and actually knows what their talking about in depth!!!
No flashy animations. No B.S.. No saving the viewers feelings on differentiating opinions.
Just one person with a lifetime of experience and the evidence of all this knowledge plain as day right behind him.
Wonderful.
Said it all!!
I could be listening to Father Fish for hours. His knowledge and wisdom are amazing.
Thank you for your understanding fazaro.
I can’t stop watching him. He was GOD sent
Father Fish the greatest orator for natural planted tanks, with a heart of love. Lets hope the average Joe with an aquarium gets a chance to listen 🍀
I hope so too!
👍🙏♥️
@@marypaigeflynn4512 hey I know you! 🤔 you must some how be connecting me to these great channels
@@BathtubCollardGreens Thank you Amsr these are some great channels 😁 glad to see you here!! Have a very Merry Christmas my friend!!🙏🌿🐟🌿💚🎄🎀
Man I hope you will see in your lifetime how the Aquarium and fishkeepingworld will change by the revolution you and others started! I will help and spread the word. Bless you sir!
So glad you stress that a balanced tank is going to take time and patience. I hate when some slick company or individual says..
Just add 2 capfuls of this new, improved version of our Balanced Tank Chemical and your tank will be instantly cycled and balanced and good to go.
People spend all that money and it never happens. Problem after problem pop up and once again folks are told well now you need X,Y, Z chemicals to fix it.
Mother nature and Father Fish still know best...time and patience.
👍💓👍
Well said♥️
T Y Shelby, A well placed shot!
Great, thank you Father Fish❤
TY Father fish!
YW John
Father Fish !!i just set up my dirted tank.Thank you so much for your teaching!!!
Great job!
Thank you for sharing. This explains so much. I can't wait until I get to the videos that explain it in more detail.🙂
I'm watching this on Christmas morning and felt that I got sage advice from Santa 🎅 himself.
LOL, this is exactly what was going through my mind, also watching on Christmas Day.
Love that!
Just need the Gandalf robe
Wow amazing video with excellent ideas to keep fish in natural habitat
Just wanted to say thank you for the advice! I set up my "forever" aquarium about 18 months ago with only your guidance. Got "mud" and sand from the creek and layered up about a 5 inch substrate. Planted it with some local hydrilla and sat back... Needless to say, I haven't changed the water in over a year and I have to cut my plants every week or they get unruly. I stocked VERY slowly. Now my 39 gallon system has 2 angels, a male gourami, a betta, 8 platies, 5 cories, and more local Snails than I can count and they are THRIVING! So yes, I CAN definitely say I have a balanced tank but only because of your channel. Thanks a ton sir!
You are very welcome
This has been the way I've kept aquariums for years. Being told time and again I HAD to do water changes by fellow fish keepers. Where my fish would live 10+ years, and there's would last a year or two. Thank you for further confirming my beliefs.
for me ..This is the best video in youtube to learn about aquarium hobby ... and father fish is the best instructor i'v ever seen...❤
Thank you Chamara
@fatherfish #fatherfish
Can't thank enough for the detailed and original content without flashy/fluffy stuff!
Thank you for creating and sharing your experience to keep the hobby real and original!
👍🏽😇🙏🏽❤️
Thank you Vijay.
A balanced tank is exactly that... it takes a while for it to happen, in my case it took me leaving my tank for 6 weeks and not messing with it to bring it into the balance that you're talking about! Now my tanks are getting ready to go through another 3 weeks at least without me being there!! This is where the principals of what you have taught me makes the biggest difference! After leaving my tanks for 6 weeks they sustained themselves! It took a little work to get the algae and a few things cleared up, but since that time my aquariums have established themselves!! This time when I leave them for 2 to 3 weeks I really have no problems with leaving them. I have put in the time and the patience...
I have wonderful plant growth
I have deep substrate... The only thing I really don't have is having covers over my tanks.. but I have no fear of losing fish or plants or my tanks crashing!! I'm very confident in the system that I have set my tanks up with! The substrate is absolutely what makes what I'm doing possible!!.. it's the deep living sand that creates the right environment for the aquarium!! Thank you Father Fish for letting me be part of what you're doing I truly appreciate you! It's definitely changed the hobby for me! ❤️🙏🌿🐟🌿💪
Yes, true the same happened with me and after about a month balance was achieved. Now apart from feeding and cleaning glass with a magnet scrubber there is no work. Not even water changes. Now I have more leisure watching fish rather than worrying for many other issues like fish not eating, water testing, disease etc etc.
@@bhuwanchander2196well said 😁👍🌿🐟🌿💚
who would give this a 👎 this is the most truth on RUclips I've ever seen and the most informative video of it's kind 👍👍👍👍 wish I could give it more thumbs up 🥰
TYTYTYTY
The greatest of all time ! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge with us!
Thank you Zachary!
So nice of you Zachary!
1- Father Fish to me it's good and kosher as long as it is not UNbalanced .
2- It is that simple (like Truth IS) that not any simpletonian to me .
3- ...Shema!!!
This is my idea of the aquarium hobby. I wouldn't want a tank that I constantly had to diddle around with.
😂👌
Oh, halleluja! You are a true preacher. I agree totally. But People tend to overstock their tanks. Then biological aerobic filters and water changes is the key.
OK Terrific channel. I LOVE your garden.
@@FatherFish Thanks a lot! I have been watching some uploads You are truelly an inspiration. Now I have to get myself a deep substrate tank again!
@@greenmachinesweden You have been around since before the Green Machine. lol I have friends who will be delighted to view your videos. If you are able, join the shoal on weekday mornings or weekend afternoons. We are a friendly group of fish enthusiasts who will welcome you. If you are able t o share your farm that would be greatly enjoyed. Hope to see you soon.
Father Fish
@@woodensurfer
Precisely. For purposes of maintaining a balanced tank, the focus of the video, these conditions are, however, critical.
Love it
Tnanks Lucky Days.
Educational info.thank u very much to put it straight.
In a few weeks time it is going to be 37 years since i first walked into a fish store with my grandfather. It was my fifth birthday. He bought me aquarium twice the size my mom had agreed (100 Ltr). And i am still hooked. He taught me 3 things that day. Substrate, real plants, and patience. Now later he taught me and i experienced for myself that other methods can be succesfull as well. But nothing i have tried thus far beats that combo. LONG TERM. Once is has setteld it is the easiest lowest work system i have done.
Your grand dad was a wise man.
@@FatherFish In that sense he was. And a good teacher. Offering insight and factual knowledges but also letting me make and figure out my own mistake's. I still have that first tank. My nephew is 10 months old and allready showing interest. When i babysit him i just put him in front of a tank and he will be there untill he dozes off. If he still has that in 5 years time that tank is gonna be in his room for sure.
I voluntarily watched all ads here, god bless man! Your saving this hobby!
Father Fish has obvious experience in the hobby & has very obvious success w/ his tanks. A true pinnacle of balanced aquarium representation!
I appreciate your insight G.S.
6x2x2 and this is what Ive been doing for 3 years now , no filter no nothing, just fish, plants Substrate that work together. people are amazed with my balanced tank, thank you for reinforcing my way of thinking and that I am on the right track after all. cheers
Good jpb. Doing what comes naturally.
Scientifically defined the Balanced Acquarium. And many concepts cleared
Thanks
I like watching these old timers talking about fish keeping.
Always interested as how they did the job their way 50 years or so back then. The guys speaks out from experience.
Great video thank you so much for your knowledge that you share to all of us fish keepers.
My pleasure!
Unfortunately I have just discovered this channel 2 years after I started fish keeping, I started with zero knowledge and have learned a few things the hard way. If only I knew then what I have learned from your channel recently!
I’m great full to have watched your videos on leaf litter! It’s created a whole new outlook, the fish are so happy - the tanks look beautiful and natural. My only downside is the established gravel substrates! They are very deep and some plants grow very well , I have loads of floating plants too.
My goal is to start over one day with a new tank and have the soil and sand substrate!
Thank you so much for sharing information simply for all to comprehend 😊
From Aotearoa / NZ 🌿
Happy to be of real hel;. Look forward to seeing the result of your efforts.
Awesome!
Thank you Chuck.
I have set my first dirted tank following Father Fish's instructions and it's been three months and I am loving it.
Great to hear!
thank you so much for addressing this situation that's a problem that's being going on in the aquarium hobby. Not having a balanced tank is the reason so many people in the hobby loose interest.
ur too good...really inspiring...wish u good n healthy life ahead...ur such a positive energy....really feel sooo good every time i watch u talk...
Reshmi you are wonderful to be able to feel my words so deeply and with so much positive love.
i jst love watching u father fish.....ur jst like a physician to d aquarium world....alws triying to solve things by ways closest to nature...and then amatures like us c dat if v know d basic...then we can definitely set up this amazing piece of nature in a healthy way...i jst love u...the more i c ur vedios...the more i gain interest in this topic...infact i have suggested many in my circle to watch ur vedios...get d proper info n then start..thank u for reaching us...stay safe..
@@reshmichowdhury9886 Thank you Reshmi. I appreciate your kindness.
Hi my son who breeds salmon for a living has been telling me this for years. I have fancy goldfish and have had lots of problems. I now understand why. Thank you, Pam from Scotland
Interesting!
thank you nice one well done
Glad you enjoyed it
Deep beds with plants are always the way to go i have tried many options on this and balance is critical especially with community fish ,filtration is still important weather its anoxic ,bacterial, aerobic or anaerobic Balance is paramount ,,,,,great content well said
Thanks for sharing
All time favorite video, absorbing your knowledge over here. Thank you
Wow, thanks!
Absolutely perfect 👌😃
Thank you! Cheers!
Great video father fish
So grateful to have stumbled upon this channel on my home page recommended videos. I am watching everything now and soaking it all up! It's a revelation and I am switching to a dirted tank asap! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and wisdom Father Fish 🙏🏻🥰🐟 Subbed!!!
Welcome aboard!
Father Fish! I love this video of yours. This is what I am aiming for. That is why I have followed your advise as much as I can because this is what I want to achieve. This video is truly informative and a great success! I love you Father Fish and Merry Christmas! Happy New Year to you too!
Love you too Cynthia. Good job.
Thank you so much for your deep substrate methods. I used soil from my garden and play sand and it's finally starting to end it's cycle. My fish are so happy best of all. My plants are taking off and I haven't lost a single fish in the process.
I have a 4 foot aquarium and have only topped up water in 8 years and a recent gravel vac after feeling guilty that my base of the tank is thick with dirt. It is a gravel base with plants. I have no algae and only a few snails. Recently I joined Facebook groups and learned here in the uk people do up to 80% water changes every week, some every other day. I bought some additional fish for the tank and thought that I needed to start and step up my game and start to “maintain” it more. I found your channel and realise you are right and my way is right. My base is deep “muddy” gravel. My fish constantly forage.
I have watched your videos back to back and am setting up another small tank but this one will be soil based like yours and I will transfer my smaller fish over into it. I am planning a six foot tank soon and that will be based on yours then my original tank will also be emptied and planted up with a soil base. Many thanks for your videos
Thank you Jane. You understand the basics. Look forward to your new tanks.
A balanced tank is the most important part of the fish keeping hobby. But very few people choose follow the that basic principle because of over population over feeding and bad advice from others
yes.
I hate unsightly un natural equipment in a tank , so this speaks to me
Natural inspires our soul.
Thanks Father Fish. Good stuff!!
Adding a bit of crushed oyster shell to the system to replace lost minerals? Thoughts please father
Thanks for watching!
yes, Brett, absolutely
Thanks sir
nice to see your fish in aguarium !!!
Thanks for visiting
Brilliant! Thank you for the information
You got it. Thanks.
Our Father Fish, hallowed be thy name
Only the Lord is Holy.
@@FatherFishplease , not again..
This man is an inspiration, me and my fishes and plants thank you sir.!😍
My pleasure
You remind me of my grandfather, but he had different knowledge than aquariums. You've been doing this for so long, everyone needs to get your knowledge.
Thank you Danny.
Great information. Thank you for sharing. I'm going to do this for my native tank.
Good luck! Deep substrate is perfect for natives.
@Father Fish. I really enjoy your Videos, and the great wealth of knowledge that you share with all of us. I really do appreciate all your help. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎄⛄🎁🎀🐟🐠🦐🐌🐡👍
Hello father fish. I noticed two fully grown uarus inside your fully planted tank. Are you keeping them there temporarily? If not, how is it possible to keep these notorious plant eaters among all these plants? I am really interested in keeping uarus but not sure if they can be kept with plants as almost everywhere I look I’m being told that this is not possible. Would it be possible to to have a big, balanced deep sand / dirt tank without plants housing a large group of uarus? Thank you so much for your tireless efforts to bring all this knowledge in to our hobby.
Swords, val and saggatarius, fern and anubias are not easily damaged by uaru
Thanks for your quick response.
nice work. i enjoy. thank you.
Thank you too!
Your a cool dude. I could deffinetly see myself kicking it in your fishroom its hard finding people that think alike. Thank you for the videos, ill definitely direct people your way.
Would be fun to have a fishy visitor. Thanks for the kudos. We need all the help we can get.
thank you bunches!
You're welcome!
Wauw 👍🏝🕊
Your gonna be the face of the dirted tank, your the man!
dirted face. I love it.
Thx a lot from Bolivia!! Love your advices
Thanks
Another tip for balanced aquariums is botanicals like leaves it is a skip able step but it does help and makes it look natural
Yes. I like leaf litter in the tank.
Thank you sir this was good im glad i found your channel
Glad you enjoyed!
thanks for this information ⚘⚘⚘
I have tank fish 30 litar and. how deep of gravel can use
Welcome 😊
Filled with gravel to the top is not enough. Try sand, 3"
@@FatherFish very thanks ⚘⚘⚘
Thanks again for the info, getting some supplements from you soon for my currently empty 55gal . Just got to find a warmer day here to wash my sand.
Sounds great!
Very good information.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video Father Fish...why do small tanks require only 2 inches of sand and large tanks require more ?
Good question! because they can
Nature definitely has a deep substrate but it also had the best auto waterchange system!
A still retention pond receives new water through rain runoff.
Greetings Father Fish. New subscriber here. I have a dirtied system you are talking about. 2 months in and I have a green algae bloom. I know I overfed as I thought the Walstad Method needed that but I now think it is meant to feed heavier later on as the nutrients deplete. The question is in the name of balance should I just ride it out and risk a large algae die off or should I use a uv sterilizer to eliminate the algae. I have followed your advice on a previous video on feeding and have moved to every other day and smaller portions. A hungry fish is a happy fish. Your thoughts if you see this or can spare the time. Take care ole wise one.
The UV Sterilizer will not correct the problem. Add plants, perform a few moderate water changes, and reduce feeding. If the problem persists add another 1/2 to 1 inch of sand.
Remainds me of the days of creation (book of Genesis 1:11) if we (humans and also animal) were placed on hearth in “day third of creation” we would of die right away, cause there wasn’t any vegetation yet. It was just toxic gases all over, which is perfect for plants, which is exactly why plants were created on the “third day of creation” thanks >> Father Fish
Thank you and yes, I try to remain Biblical.
Lesson served! 👍👍👍🙏
Excellent!
Very well presented and good valuable information about balanced ecology by Sir.. I am watching this at new year.. You taught us very finely about Naturally sustainable aquarium. I like planted aquarium. I have a small 1 feet tank. I want to start it all over freshly after hearing from you. God bless you sir, I am adding this video to my liked favorite list. I am looking forward to get info from you about , how much thick substrate should i try to make for my 1 feet aquarium..? I will bring plants later. I will be holding my patience coz l love natural look planted aquarium. Dear Sir, You are absolutely right. Salute and Thanks for this video. ☺☺☺☺😍😍😍😎😎
1" mud - potting soil - 2" sanbd on top of mud. CAREFUL put water in do not disturb sand. Good luck.
@@FatherFish Ok Sir
Thanks a Ton ☺☺☺
Hi father fish after watching your video,i have about one inch of gravel ontop of sand,in your professional opinion,should i remove the gravel or leave it there,i have goldfish so they dig the substrate,on that note should i leave the gravel or remove it🙏🙏🙏🙏🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
You are correct. Gravel on sand with goldfish will definitely help. They pick up substrate but do not actually dig.
Hi father fish thank you for replying,but in your honest opinion should i remove the gravel so waste can travel easier into substrate,i can do it tomorrow as my wife will be out allday,and dont want to do it while shes home,you know what women are like ha ha🙏🙏🇬🇧🙏🙏
Great Lecture professor! 🧐🤔👍🏾💯💥
Much appreciated Kevin.
I have a question , I have a high tech planted tank 30 gallon with a 4 inch flourite/gravel substrate bed. I have tons of plants and co2 injection and constantly trim every week I guess my question would be so the plants take up the nitrates then cuz I haven’t changed water in that tank in over a year and I’m not using sand I’m using gravel so are u shire u can’t use gravel ? Unless it’s just the plants that are soaking up the nitrates which makes more sense to me than 4 inches of gravel doing the trick I’m kinda new to this hobby so any advice is appreciated thanks
4" gravel in an aged system is providing anaerobic cover based on detrius creating density. Plants are certainly absorbing nitrates. CO2 creates water column feeding. The plants are also receiving CO2 from the substrate. Sounds like a great tank. Pics?
Hello, Father fish! Thank You for this lesson. What If I want to set up a nano tank 5-10 gallon, and i don't have space to use 2 inches of Sand? Will 1 inch very fine 0,1-0,3mm work or should I go for 0,8-2mm? Also what soil do You recommend? Thank You! 👍
1" should be fine
Father fish has bad ass attitude...😎😎
indeed
Hello @Father Fish, i have a cichlids tank with open top, my question is, does the water evaporation (around 25 to 30 liters/month) afect my tank? Should i closed it?
All right, man… can this work with mbuna? I have 3.5 - 4” of pool sand/aragonite substrate in my 75 gallon - no soil. I do not vacuum, but I change water in the struggle to keep nitrates below 40 ppm. Java ferns and anubias have fought and lost to diatoms. Shallow planted vallisneria are quickly unearthed from the sand by the little digger mbuna. No one else seems to have your expertise and passion, so I’m asking, how can I proceed? What can I correct, or do differently? Furthermore, what good is having a nutrient-rich substrate if there are no root-feeders, in the first place? Thanks and happy holidays.
Watch his video of his 500 gallon cichlid tank.
I like about 8" substrate in mbuna tanks. 1" dirt. Plant deeply val and sag and sword. hardscape is critical, rock preferable
@@FatherFish, thanks for the reply. I have numerous limestone rocks in place. It’s a tad late for soil, however. Even it weren’t, I couldn’t, in good conscience, sacrifice 9” of the 21” height of my 75 gallon, add rock, then plants. The fish would have no room to move. Unless, I misunderstood, it seems your method won’t work for my setup.
@@sschario60 The 9" is not a sacrifice. It will build a system that the fish will thrive in.
Nevertheless, I’m not ready to chuck it in. I have some Java fern and anubias rhizomes growing in my quarantine tank. Once those achieve some fullness I’ll transfer them back to the mbuna 75. As for any future vallisneria attempt, I am thinking of divvying up plant clusters into several net pots of rock wool. Assuming those produce root mass, I intend to plant pot and all into my 75’s sand substrate. All in the hope that the mbuna won’t tug on mature plants as they did the fragile vals with mini roots straight from the shipping container.
If i already capped my dirt with 2 inches 2-3mm sized gravel, would it be ok to top it up with a bit of sand or redo ?
Yes. Cap your gravel with about an inch of sand.
I have kept a more than 2 inches of coarse grain sand only in my 1.5 feet cube and there's no dirt at the bottom. Will I be able to get a balanced tank?
And please tell about water change frequency. My tank looses about a half an inch of water level in a week and leaves white stains. Do I refill it or do a water change? I do about 20% water change every Sunday.
The detritus is precipitating into the sand.
Your water is very hard. Your water change schedule is fine.
@@FatherFish Yes, the water is my area is hard.
Hello Father, I love your videos, Do you need dirt in the bottom for it to be a balanced aquarium or can I achieve a balanced aquarium with just deep sand? I ask because I already have most of my tanks established with 3ish inches of sand and tons of plants rooted into the sand, so it would be a task to drain everything and add the dirt below. Thanks for your knowledge! My goal is to have all my aquariums be balanced.
You are in good shape. Time resolves this issue.
I love this man so god damn much
Whew. A little strong there! lol
this is very helpful cuz im starting my very first planted tank and i need as much info as possible
Is it possible to cap a gravel substrate with sand to achieve a simillar effect? My question resides in the fact that i already set up my aquarium with gravel substrate. Or do i need to replace the whole substrate with the right one (soil + sand on top). I am not lazy :)). I am curious. Could a substrate gravel host that beneficial anaerobic bacteria if it is caped with enough sand?
yes
Nice vlog brother ! Ty and blessings..
I believe u may find my system interesting.. though not substrate.. aquaponics/ hydroponics set up..
I would like to check it out
ruclips.net/video/RcKLh4skPdc/видео.html
I think I pasted my latest vlog update here on my system..
If didn't work.. let me know.. still learning some tech.. lol .. blessings
Thanks you in-depth knowledge of a balanced system! I have three betta tanks
I have a living plants not to many ... My one question I have is where do I get my sand at Lowe's? My substrate is inch and a half right now or 2 in.. thank you for your time happy holidays father
Try to find pool filter sand
@@FatherFish I went with what was accessible to me, which was playground sand my first tank , the sand wasn't rinsed enough but my second tank I did came out much better... It says that the playground saying could hurt reproductive systems hopefully I'm not killing my fish.. but I was wondering why is it labeled all natural.. thanks for your help and have a great evening.
Imagine me setting up my second aquarium with a 3-3.5 inch pool filter sand substrate, then seeing all sorts of talk about anaerobic pockets of hydrogen sulfite gasses killing everything in my aquarium. What to do…what to do? Well, I’ll get Malaysian trumpet snails and they’ll turn the substrate. Now a few months later I stumble onto father fish’s RUclips channel. Now I’m thinking gee, I didn’t even need those trumpet snails. But they’re cute so why not. Next tank is gonna be an inch of organic growing soil with a five inch cap of pool filter sand. I bet it’ll be amazing.
2" of sand will be enough
@@FatherFish copy! And many thanks for the reply!!!
your videos are so soothing.
I love it!
I think another thing which would have really helped make it more balanced..if there was a way to generate live food in an aquarium.. Which will self replicate
Algae already grows as food..then the protein part would have been taken care of or for those fish which are not purely eaters of vegetative matter..
I don't know if that's possible..
Maybe blood worms/tubifex can be grown in the substrate..
Other things can't be done in-tank..like daphnia, insects, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae etc..
Have you ever tried it father fish?
Just put in a cluster of them in tank for them to colonize?
Follow my videos on the subject of biodiversity.
this is sooo true. ive been following all the advices from these so called gurus doing water change every week. for months and months diatoms, algae and all sorts of things that makes my plants die.. I skipped doing water change since then coz Im getting lazy with the hobby. 2 months doing nothing and most of my plants died, some survived, but then comes in my water chabge after 2 months and tried to plant new ones. All of them now is doing great. no more algae, diatoms, etc.
Good job Ron.
I got myself soil and sand ready to go, Father! 😎
Well, like you’ve been saying I think food doesn’t need intervention either my nano fish aquarium in 29 gallon. I set it up your way maybe four months ago there’s 20 something fish in there. I don’t even really feed them at all and they’re always fat so I think substrate that I got from a wild pond and they’re goodon red worms in there so it just it’s alive
My tank has a under gravel filter with a air pump. Should I take this out and start over or just put more on top? (It has a short lift tube so the water is moving slowly)
Remove the stand pipe, disconnect the air line. Leave the tray under the substrate. Congrats you have a plenum.
@@FatherFish thank you can't wate to set up a forever tank 💞
@@FatherFish thank you can't wate to set up a forever tank 💞
I like your gaming chair and your philosophy on a balanced tank.
Love this
TY amaya
I have a question. Will the waste still precipitate into the substrate without any bottom feeders? i plan on changing the substrate in my 5gallon betta tank.
Hello Brian
I used father fishes methods for my 10 gallon betta tank for almost 2 years with the same 40mm (3inch) substrate and no bottom feeder fish but there were small snails.
Just a air stone to add some movement to the water. No filter. And about 8hr timed light cycle. Its been my best betta setup to date👍
But I cycled it for two months or until I had noticed algee growing before I added the betta.
@@fps886797d do you think snails are needed?
snails are great if they do not eat plants. fps good advice. Bottom feeders are not critical.
💯