DEEP DIVE: What is the BEST SUBSTRATE For Planted Aquariums? For Anaerobic & Aerobic Filtration Also
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- Опубликовано: 9 янв 2025
- What is the BEST SUBSTRATE For PLANTED TANKS? For Both Annerobic & Aerobic Filtration + Plant Growth
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Thanks friends. Cheers.
All the links to info about setting up and cycling planted tanks
How to Add Nitrogen Active Aquasoil to an Existing Aquarium substrate:
ruclips.net/video/DElDJQi2HD0/видео.html
To cap or not to cap substrate:
ruclips.net/video/PotZy4LvC8E/видео.html
Understanding nitrifying and de-nitrifying bacteria cycles
ruclips.net/video/rFXSEIsjvIE/видео.html
A seasoned tank vs a merely cycled tank:
ruclips.net/video/pzuaehOMy0I/видео.html
Creating a balanced, filterless," no tech" ecosystem in a bowl, jar or nano tank
ruclips.net/video/K2hxp5PTlUs/видео.html
How to safely convert your aquarium into a filterless ecosystem
ruclips.net/video/n2Pa2sUUW04/видео.html
Why Aquarium Plants Melt and or Die & How to Prevent it.
ruclips.net/video/1YV5ltAs9Aw/видео.html
When to add plants to an aquarium.
ruclips.net/video/nNtxzt26tjM/видео.html
Hi Alex
Another awesome info dump!
I have an idea for you for a video series. Build a new tank from scratch, your "ideal/perfect" tank. Take it slow and talk through EVERY aspect. Selecting substrate, plants, tank size, aquascaping, water parameter monitoring, when to add stock, how you decide what to stock, etc, etc.
The idea is to get insight into your thought process and problem solving
And then do weekly updates on the progress of the tank. How the parameters shift over time, how you manipulate or counter that shift, plant growth, future plans, live stock progress, substrate stratification, etc...
Also do start to finish on starting white worms blood worms and daphnia and skuds cultures
Sorry I also would like to know I have a planted darted tNk 2 inch organic potting soil with sand capped and some river peoples for some contrast...how can I tell if I need to add those additives liquid and pills or even add more soil into the tank...I have stopped gravel vacs once I realized mulm was good and then just learned that it will create its own layers
Need to watch all videos apparently
❤ This video is awesome. I have been off of alcohol for 13 months now. I was drunk daily for 15 years. In the last year, I have started 4 nano aquariums that I'm really proud of. I have so much to show for my sobriety. I'm getting ready to plant my new 46-gallon. I've learned so much from you. Thank you for your content. I can't even begin to express the dopamine I get from looking at my aquariums. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Right on my friend! My new "high" is literally learning things that im curious about. It works well long term, after the acute withdrawals slow down. Maybe you should journal your tank and aquarium hobby journey for others too?! Cheers and have an awesome week
It's great that you've become sober, congratulations 🎉 but you've basically just replaced 1 addiction for another (albeit a less damaging one) 😂
Be prepared to suffer from multiple tank syndrome and have every spare surface covered in aquariums soon 😂
Congratulations on your sobriety. Life is so much better when you are awake and alert to enjoy it. Aquariums are a great hobby.
O m g, I love ur story. Congratulations!!
I hope u get dopamine from ur cute dog too
Finally! The first aquarium/aquascape-enthusiast I can stand listening to! Thank you for not using a million smash cuts with stupid graphics and obnoxious voiceovers. So glad the algorithm finally got me here. Subscribed and alerts turned on 👍🏼 Love love love these deep dives and listening to a person who knows what they're talking about without injecting unnecessary ego, instead approaching topics with the genuine curiosity of an actual scientist, and is clearly very passionate about what they do.
Aww oh why thankyuh! You jist made my day! Im glad you're here as well! Welcome 🙏. Dont be shy if you have questions or thoughts...corrections or critiques. As long as its the truth, as far as science knows it.. it never hurts my feelings to make a correction. I strive to put out unique and solidly researched information here. The algorithm often hates it lol... but just stop by the channel's main page or search a subject with "@fishtory" before it on youtube search bar, and perhaps you'll enjoy one of the 1400+ videos I've created
I have to agree that despite being mainly a "talking head" you're very easy to listen to and stay engaged; the mark of a good presenter/lecturer. I prefer to watch at 2x; it super concentrates both the enthusiasm and the knowledge! I usually "skip around" videos with the 10-second button but with yours I find myself thinking that I don't want to miss anything.
Quality, nutrient dense 😂 content.
I always had trouble growing aquarium plants until about 6 months ago, I dug a channel very carefully through the centre of my aquarium and back filled it with Aqua soil and then put my plants in, they have never looked back and they are now sending out aerial shoots. I love your video thank you very much for all your information.
Lovely to hear! Congrats!!!
Starting the research process before setting up a planted aquarium and your channel is by far the most informative I've come across. I'll keep deep diving your content!
Thank you. Welcome to the community, and feel free to ask questions or join our facebook group for help from other memebers and viewers!
Same. Absolute same. Your content kicks some serious butt my dude
@Fishtory - I’m new to the hobby and must say that of all the people making videos in this arena, you are by far the best! Very well spoken, extremely knowledgeable and smooth. Thank you for sharing all your years of hard work and dedication with us all.
Thank you so very kindly
Thanks for the complete comparison of methods - makes it easier for the rest of us!!
My pleasure! Thank you so very much for your support 🙏. It goes a long way! Cheers my friend
This research is a game changer. There has always been one « deep substrate » / « natural » camp versus « high tech » or « green aqua » camp, and at the end of the day this proves we are all doing the same thing.
100%
Congratulations, you have really nailed another one! This should be required reading for all new budding planted aquarium hobbyists. High class, enlightening, science based knowledge. Kudos and thanks for the contributions to the hobby,
Im honored and humbled. Thank you. I was fascinated by talking with all these people about the history and engineering of it, and just had to share part of the excitement and details that i felt I've missed until now, and probably many others have also
ALL THE LINKS AS PROMISED!
How to Add Nitrogen Active Aquasoil to an Existing Aquarium substrate:
ruclips.net/video/DElDJQi2HD0/видео.html
To cap or not to cap substrate:
ruclips.net/video/PotZy4LvC8E/видео.html
Understanding nitrifying and de-nitrifying bacteria cycles
ruclips.net/video/rFXSEIsjvIE/видео.html
A seasoned tank vs a merely cycled tank:
ruclips.net/video/pzuaehOMy0I/видео.html
Creating a balanced, filterless," no tech" ecosystem in a bowl, jar or nano tank
ruclips.net/video/K2hxp5PTlUs/видео.html
How to safely convert your aquarium into a filterless ecosystem
ruclips.net/video/n2Pa2sUUW04/видео.html
Why Aquarium Plants Melt and or Die & How to Prevent it.
ruclips.net/video/1YV5ltAs9Aw/видео.html
When to add plants to an aquarium.
ruclips.net/video/nNtxzt26tjM/видео.html
Organic dirt capped with black blasting sand for me. Haven't gotten shrimp to work with it but corys and guppys love it. Oh and the plants love it too.
hnmmm this video makes me want to try aquasoil as a third layer. Probably midway between the organic soil and the sand.
@@AnimalAceyeah I have the same set up.why don't the shrimp work?and yes the plant love it!
I'm not sure. Its not temperature I know that. Water chemistry is fine. I even bought them local so the water should be fine. I might not of been feeding them properly maybe. We'll see though.@@randykoch1807
I have dirt/potting soil, sand, then regular rock substrate. Still in the cycling stage of the new setup but water parameters nice, along with plants, barely have to do water changes if any only do it to introduce new nutrients and feed more fertilizer.
I dod this but with a mix of thoroughly washed (until water runs clear) play sand and black aquarium sand. I'm pretty happy with the result. Bettas, neon tetras, platies, guppies, bristlenose pleco, corydoras, and otocinclus have all done really well with it in multiple tanks. I'll never go back to plain gravel. If I try aquasoil I'll still use a sandcap.
I only understand about 10% of what you say but I like it❤. Science gives me a headache 😂
Deep knowledge. Impressive. And also respectful of other people’s methods. New sub.
Glad to hear that! Welcome to the community my new friend!
I like this channel because he always go back to scientific research and applications.
Thank you, I try my best
Watching this through again after a few months and i realized i'm actually learning and noticing things that were above my head before. Brilliant video, thank you 😊
Awesome. Thats what i love about learning about large systems in science.
Hi, I'm a new subscriber from Indonesia. I'm happy to see you guys creating content about nature aquarium
Thanks for subbing! Welcome my friend 🙏
Thank you! I really enjoyed the whole video. Very well put together. Cheers.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us! I’m fairly new and to make sure I was creating a safe and thriving ecosystem for my fish, snails, etc I wanted to get all the knowledge I could so I could offer them the best life possible! Also bringing a slice of nature and its beauty to my home is such a blessing! It brings me so much joy to see my aquatic pet thriving in the environment I created. I’ve realizing that they seem the happiest when I have a low tech setup and recreate their natural habitat (to the best of my ability). I have learned so much from your videos!!
Right on! You do what works for you and your fish, the fact you care, means youll do great
Great education! I didn't realize how much engineering went into aquasoil, that was incredible to learn and makes me interested in potentially using it sparingly in my mixed substrate tanks in the future.
I didn't know before a month or two ago... and i felt like it gets misused or under utilized, but for making tiered scapes, nursery tanks with things being moved, or just carpeting scapes, its the best out there in my opinion... all the top aquascapers use some form of it... without exception on ADAs 100 best list annually ( there are a dozen varieties and brands, but pelletized soil is the constant)
I like planted aquariums. I found that instead of adding potting mix directly into my tanks, which will require water changes to bring down the nitrate and ammonia levels from spiking. Instead, I pre wash my potting mix, thus reducing the amount of fertilizer from the mix, thus eliminating any spikes, as my tested levals are now at a low level. Pre washing is far easier then doing water changes, and everything is happy.
Thanks for sharing
Try using organic potting soil. No fertilizers.
@deneng0259 works well! Just gotta be a little patient and or looove plants 🪴 ! Which I do as well
It seeps slowly in sand, but that's why you have soil at the bottom when you setup the tank. I'm not sure if you commented on this, I'm halfway through.
Yes. You can definitely "charge your deep substrate" its limiting for carpeting plants, and or moving plants around frequently if you propegate....but it certainly is a workable method
14:22 that's a pretty massive positive at this point in time, lol.
Great informational video. However, I would argue that soil capped with sand is still king because of the price point per gallon depending on tank size. Aquasoil is great for anything smaller than maybe a 40 breeder, but you work your way to say a 125g (From my experience) you are spending $500-$1k on substrate... I've used both and honestly cannot tell the difference in plant growth. One downfall with soil is the soil getting loose above the cap over time, but I've found to fix that you can just put your soil in filter bags and then cap all the filter bags with sand. The roots still make their way into the filter bags. All that being said... If aquasoil was ever as cheap as organic soil, id use the aquasoil. Until then, soil wins me over personally.
This topic never gets old
Love how u break down knowledge for those like me with out knowledge could understand .........salute to you. Alex
Glad it made any sense at all lol...it took me a while
additionally -- the work that goes into your videos is fantastic and worthy of applause. Enough for us nerds but not too complex for a new person (someone like me, not new to any of this in theory, but new to planted tanks!)
Thanks! Your knowledge and ability to teach are unsurpassed…
Thank you. Im honored to read this. Im just glad you enjoyed it. Cheers my friend!
@@Fishtory You remind me of Ryan Neil who teaches the fundamentals of horticulture as applied to bonsai. Knowing the why and not just the what/how are the difference between learning and understanding. If I may ask, are you self taught or are you a biologist by training?
I have some biology, geology and meteorology due to an archaeology grad schooling... and then history and anthropology undergraduate. So i was taught the way to research and the way to find good info, more than anything else honestly. Im teaching what i learn often...the week after i feel i fully understand it, so in that way i think we are all learned together on this channel
This video is so informative. I love your videos. Now that I’m back setting up a couple of tanks after a devastating loss after hurricane last year. I needed to find the “love” once again. Thank you 🫶🥰💕
You can do it! I hope the channel can help. Best of luck to you and welcome back, friend 😊
I've used half an inch of Nutra base by Colombo, mixed with 1 and a half inch of aqua soil, 2 inches all together. Used flourish root tabs pushed into the mix. I have then capped it with 1 inches of children's play sand, 3 inches all together. My tank is absolutely flourishing. I've had no algae issues, no outbreaks of disease, and it is completely stable in water parameters. Its growing hairgrass in low light conditions. I have bloody Mary shrimp and blue jelly shrimp in there, and crossbreeding the population is exploding. The tank has been set up for 4 months. When the tank evaporates 2in of water, I just top the tank off to the original level. No big water changes are the key. No drama, no fuss. It just does its thing 😂
Hello i have been trying to get nutri base i am in newyork is their a site u know where i can buy nutri base
Sounds very nice! I still love lasagna tanks!
Hi, how is looking the outcome of the cross? Do You have pics posted anywhere ?
I had extremely good luck with cherry shrimp the last time I had them. Made a good amount of money on the side rehoming them to other hobbyists. I'm thinking about trying kilifish at some point. Some of the African varieties in particular are insanely colorful.
I've thrown Lowes peat under river rock and didn't really think about it again. My water wisteria stems are like tree trunk size, 8th month
Had a horrible time with Aquasol....got a tank of black water which I had to empty the whole tank, clean everything, and start over. Restarted with sand topped with gravel and now I have clear water. 5 gal tank with 1 beta fish, plants with fertilizer tabs down in the sand. Getting a better light to help the plants grow and it looks good so far....happy beta fish!
I had been successful with just gravel and root tabs for years, but tried something different with my 75-gallon tank. I only wanted a line of swords across the back with a few Anubis's on some shale in the front with decoative polished stones to create an open moonscape look for free swimming shubunkin and fancy goldfish. I started with volcanic rock deep in the back graded to almost bare in front, a layer of white gravel and white sand cap. I didn't know that volcanic rock didn't have nutrients, so I had to supplement with root tabs and it did well. I had 8 goldfish in a 55-gallon that I moved in one at a time as ammonia and nitrites allowed for as it wasn't first cycled but heavily planted with swords and pothos clippings. I was glad that I didn't have natural nutrients in the soil as when I wet up my 5-gallon shrimp tank with aquasoil and aquasand it was leaching ammonia and nitrites for a few days before the vallisneria, hornwort, frogbit, ludwedia and moss bridge reversed the parameters. I know the biolode from 8 shrimp, even in an uncycled tank, couldn't have spiked ammonia and nitrites to 2 ppm each overnight, so the sand (which looks more like gravel) must not have sealed as I thought it would.
Sounds like you sorted it out.
@@Fishtory Thanks, after 2 days ammonia was gone and nitrites dropped from 2 to .2ppm. The coconut moss bridge probably had a decent amount of biofilm and bacteria from 6 months in another tank which helped.
Love the deep dive. Appreciate the time it must take to thoroughly research and figure out a way to present this information in a way the average person can understand. 😊
Thank you. Its a bit of a puzzle sometimes...and deciding if i want to mention exceptions or 1 offs to rules if rare etc. But im trying my best hebe. Thank you, and have a great weekend
Yes! You got the name! ❤❤❤❤ perfect
Hahah thanks
I just started this hobby, i put inch and half of potting soil mixed with blood bone fertilizer. Capped with an inch of play sand, pebbles and grit stones. Planted, but need more. Some "Father fish" leaves and pond water. My Platies love it, wizzing around, already 3 babies. Gases occasionally bubbling from the soil. The fish only fed every other day with a pinch, but see them constantly hunting something in the water and nibbling surfaces, fascinating.
Nitrates low, ammonia still high, interesting to see how it stabilises.
Great to hear
I like to do layers. Similar to FF method, but with with some aquasoil and active base layer. In my last tank I used layer of pond compost, Dennerle base layer, Japanese aquasoil and gravel. Several months later I'm seeing some algae buildup, so I'll probably add light layer of sand. Both aquasoil substrates have capping effect to a degree.
I do the same type thing frequently also
Before I ever found Alex or Father Fish I did my first 20g hex like that, it's still the easiest tank I have- layers of layers, but mostly eco complete red with sunset sand on top. So clean looking compared to most of my other ones! (I struggle lol)
Really enjoyed this one Alex. Thanks
Hey thanks Assiah
Alex always explains it in ways we can all grasp well done yet again❤
Glad you think so!
I definitely wouldn't have guessed the expensive stuff actually worked the best. Thank you for the knowledge.
I wouldnt have either haha
Thanks 🎉
Keep up the good work Alex. Absolutely perfect. Love your stuff as always.
Thank you so much Dellsea ( Dell ?)
This clarifies a lot for me! I had seen a few Father Fish videos and still wasn’t quite sold on a dirt/soil base. I got some aqua soil instead and still plan on a sand layer on top. This tank setup is my Christmas present but I want to have it up and running by mid-December so I can start adding the first fish right around Christmas. I haven’t had a tank in about 10 years and itching to get back into things :)
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy the tank. I'm friends with Father Fish and enjoy his overall message, but sometimes we disagree on things like aquasoil... he thinks it's a conspiracy/scam for money... and I've spoken to botanist and aquacultural engineers, to understand how the aquasoils work...and to my surprise they are very useful, more efficient and complex compared with just a humus type soil or dirt & fert.
Tom Barr, and you both do deep dives into what you recommend, and I trust what both of you say, simply because I KNOW you have done hours of research before you just throw a video up.
👍❤️👍
Yes indeed. Man, i dunno if ive earned Tom Barr approximation at all, but i do admire him, and have for almost ( yikes...2 decades?!) Lol. Thank you as always, though!
I love the fact that i can look up my questions just in your feed though i do look at other videos but i look at yours firstish
Haha thank you for thinking of me! Feel free to let me know if im missing a topic too!
Alex, that was a amazing video I learned so much. Thank you for all the knowledge you bring to our community!
Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers Alan
well said! thanks for researching and sharing it in a easy to understand way!
Thank YOU. and im so glad it was understandable and not too dreadfully boring lol
Complicated topic explained so that I could understand. Thanks! I’ll reply several times.
Right on. Thanks for coming by
Great video! Thank you. This is something I have been playing with. Up until recently I used a small gravel only, but now I am using aqua soil with a coarse grain sand. Still trying different combos, and learning so this was timely. I still have my 15 year old tank that was started with the small gravel only and I can grow anything in it because it is so well established, but I also have a recent tank using aqua soil and sand that established way faster. Everyone should listen to this presentation. Like you, I don’t use CO2. There was a time when I played with it, but I prefer the simplicity of no CO2. Thank you!
Awesome video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Awesome that we can do your Amazon link to support you even if not buying any specific linked items!!!
Yes! Thank you!
I went with father fish deep substrate method. I used ADA power sand at the bottom with ADA Amazonia aqua soil on top. In addition to this I added charcoal pieces, recharge mycelium mixture, 50 iron supplemented red clay balls, and father fish soil additive all mixed into aqua soil. I then topped it with black sand. I am happy with the results of my tank and all of my plants are fine. No big algae blooms. I only have one fish and a load of snails in it right now. 55 gallon with one sponge filter and an air stone. Been a month looks good. I'll add a CO2 generator permanently, probably when I fully stock the tank. In addition to this i have 80 tourmaline and maifanitum supplemented balls for shrimp next to my sponge filter to promote good bacteria and filter heavy metals.
Sounds like a plan!
Hmm I grabbed a bucket of mud from a creek and dropped that in my tank, along with 2 inches of sand cap. 2 years later everything going strong only cleaned my sponge once and everything is thriving. Just make sure you have enough fish to replenish the substrate I would have spent over $100 if I were to track down every ingredient.
You guys having gas buildup in your substrates? That stinks and these are big bubbles. When will they finish?
Where were you able to find black sand? I'm having zero luck finding just sand turn off the fancy pre-packaged stuff that's $25 a bag
@pennyrichards8019 its called blasting sand and for pressure cleaning / sanding. But its made from very hard crushed coal which is just carbon crystals almost like graphite. It should be at lowes or home depot. The most common brand is "black diamond"
Great video , must watch again ? Was going to goemwiith a dirted tank but i am not sure now ? MD fish tanks uses some of thes methods . I will look atcskme of tyd pellets .. thank you
Right on. Use whatever works best for you!
This guy is genius
I don't know about that... but i am obsessed 😆
thank you for reminding me to hit the like button. it is the least I can do. thank you for the hard work you do for us.
I appreciate that. Thank you
Love your videos, always learning new stuff,this is facinating about aqua soils,thinking of adding this into dirted substrate then capping with sand
Have fun! Ill get those videos pinned in the comments soon too
Good to see you again. Always, always excellent advice. I've learned so much from you.
Thank you kindly. I keep making videos, but only some of them make it out of the gates and into notifications lately hehe
@@Fishtory that's what I figured!!!!
I’ve been making my own compost for years , I’m gonna start adding moss from the ditches here soon when it dries up , I’ve done really well in multiple types of gardens with the home made stuff
I’m in the process of tanks working on soil under sand I’ve gotta 5 gallon going and I’ve gotta 29 in the process right now
Somebody left a tank at an apartment so I took it home and the tank was broken at the base which was a 10 gallon that would’ve been nice
I’ve got some ideas mustering this stuffs exciting
I love a good deep dive!
You are a wealth of knowledge
Thank you for this great info! I lost all my fish after a recent house fire. Fortunately, we didn’t lose our home, but due to the fact the power has been off and no heaters or pumps are active in my fish tanks, nobody has survived.
That being said, I’m taking this opportunity to rebuild my tanks from the ground up. I’ve been debating between the Father Fish method of substrate or aqua soil for growing plants. I do believe I’m going to save myself a headache and go with the Fluval Stratum. Thank you! 🙏
Honestly his tanks are great, but especially if you have more than one to do, the care and the looks, plus the diversity of plants that will thrive.... i think aquasoil is the way to go, and it took me 10 years complaining about the price and this and that to finally realize it lol.
By the way, so sorry to hear about the fire. Keep your head up, and enjoy that fresh start as much as possible. Cheers.
-alex
One good thing about keeping goldfish, I never need to worry about substrate being undisturbed for too long.
Great video Alex. I use aqua soil in some of my tanks and l also use a mud substrate in some of my other tanks. A brave and daring subject to deliver. You did a good job 👍🐠🐟💦
Thank you kindly. I too like usong silt or mud as a boundary or cap
@@Fishtory definitely 👍🐠🐟💦
Haha, you're absolutely correct alex, i got like beach sand and the pH just so alkaline around 7,5-8 across my tank.
Lol well... congrats its perfect for shellys and or livebearers?!
Thanks Alex, an interesting explanation. It strikes me that the diagram of the pellet at about 11:32 is the visual description in miniature of a BCB basket and of a deep clay substrate with slow moving plenum by Kevin Novak. (Not intended as a criticism, just an observation).
100% ... and it was engineered and patented as such even! By Akadama and then ADA in the 1980s then again 1990s
im going to start up a big tank walstad method. gonna put some aquasoil at the bottom now, some laterite and something for calsium and magnesium too, then some pond and top soil, and to top it of filtersand and some stones and gravel.
Good luck! Let us know how it evolved please!
@@Fishtory i will! i was facing the "suggestive" problem that the soil would run out of important nutrients after a year or so, but after you mentiont the importance of anaerobic bacteria and how aquasoil works i really think this wil solve a big problem later on for the low tech tank it will be.
whats maby interesting is that ill try to use as much biological filtration located in a sump, ill fill the whole last chamber with sponge, while shrimp life in the middle chamber and can clean up the sponge and make if free from debree.
i could potentially put fast growing plants in the middle chamber of the sump where the shrimp are to controle nitrate levels
i got 7 tanks now lol its getting out of hand while im still "new" to the hobby( 1 year). gonna upgrade the tanksize to put most of them together! the plants are gowing too fast :')
Thanks for sharing! Loving the editorial style content! 👍
Oh man I could have had part of a Japanese volcano in my new tank. Guess I’ll still use the eco complete since I already bought it.
Very educational video thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
Interesting. Very interesting.
What a awesome video with details that are easier to understand. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
nice workAlex!Have good experience both with anoxic and Father Fish but...Liked the idea of gravel under,probable help anker plants better
Congratulations- this is most helpful !
Glad it was helpful!
Got it... understanding better 😅😅😅
Nm you found it! Haha so glad. Cheers my friend
I LOVE your deep dive videos! You are the best!
Thanks my friend
13 minutes in..liked..and shared..Jersey fish friends❤
You are a rockstar
Lots of good info. Cheers
Thanks Gary
Interesting video Alex, thanks for sharing I personally use dirt and sand because it’s very easy for me
Understandble. Its also much less expensive
My most seasoned tank was just gravel for a long time. After many years I added some sand and more gravel. I have been through many scapes and fish in the tank over 12 years. When I was away and the power went out burning up the HOB everything survived just fine. Granted I hadn’t trimmed my hornwort or cabomba for at least a month.
Nice! Sounds like a stable exosystem you've created!
@@Fishtory hopefully so, my hubby (who has been enabling my MTS of late) recently got me a new 45 long & I’ve been re distributing fish and hardscape. I have decommissioned all tanks smaller than 8 gallons. Granted once the new 45 (which is an older tetra tank) I will only have 6 tanks. My hope in the near future is to find a 20~ long to setup a pea-puffer paradise in honor of my daughter to home her favorite fish in her former bedroom. I hope to make it a place for our remembrance of her & her favorite things.
@mercedeswarrenash5929 that sounds beautiful and a lovely way to memorialize a specific moment or feeling.
You sir are a fountain of knowledge! Thanks for this very informative video... I used an ADA soil that has provided very little growth for my plants... After watching this I think I'll be tearing this one down come fall and start over again with an enriched soil... Be well...
Did you use the little pellets it came with... there are now 2 types...an active one, and an inactive one with root tabs essentially. But if you aren't using high lights, ferts or co2 ... you very well may not unlock the value of ADA or active substrates...as plants need all pieces of growth and stability pyramid in place equally.
Fascinating - really had no idea there there was that much going on in the quality aqua soils. Will be interesting to see some of the studies. Thanks for doing this video!
Thank you
You're welcome
Great informative video, deserves more views
Glad you think so!
The CEC capacity carrying ability of some thing like kitty litter, turface, and saf-t-sorb are also very high just like your aqua soils. I like using a gravel / large diameter sand mix cap . Luckily i was able to pick up tons of laterite for cheap to mix with the bottom layer. I agree with you the expensive aqua soil is great but runs out of gas after a year but that is why i do not gravel vac. I use a aqua soil as middle layer or i also like the organic soil. The 1 inch slow moving plenum seems to help move the water through the cap, but i am not sure and still it makes sense. Thank You Alex and Tom Barr. Jay from Jays aquarium has some very thorough expanation and experiments on the topic. Do not forget in the wild there are no glass bottoms , and i think that is another good reason for a 1" plenum to promote slow movement.
Oh I agree with everything you are saying as well :)
Thank you for such an informative presentation! I've definitely learnt more about improving the plant growth in my tanks.
This is really interesting. I just planted my first tank (11.6g). With pea puffers! I used stratum and capped it with gravel and sand. I didn't know a lot of what you're talking about here. I have hundreds of houseplants, but this is my first experience with aquatic plants. I set it up and did 3 water changes before adding the fish. This was on the advice of my fish person at the store. It's quite amazing how the levels have stayed in range since I added the puffers. My sciencey brain loves this stuff lol.
Alex is the Fishtuber that most often has me rapt and gawping- 'OH!'
Me too! Lol i just get stoked and want to share it with everyone when i have those moments too
The more I learn about mulm the most I like it! I understand now that it’s good for my plants and after sometime it would not affect my fish (rasboras). Would the build up of mulm affect my neocarradina shrimp or would they also benefit from it?
Shrimp looove it!
I moved from FF DSS tanks to sand capped aqua soil about a year ago and really like the results. I have swords that completely stalled in dirted tanks that bounced back and quadrupled in size after being replanted in capped aqua soil tanks. I credit your past information for moving to aqua soil. Now I’m eager to try straight aqua soil without a cap. Can’t afford it at the moment but as soon as the worm turns that’s my next project! Thanks for all your help! You’re my go-to source for all things aquatic.
Hey im glad to hear it's working better. FF DDS works fine, its just not good for lush or advanced care level/ colorful stem plants, carpets and so forth. I think there's a reason we see all 100 entries into the aquascaping contests around the world ranked...and its 98% aquasoil tanks and high light
@@Fishtory you are correct, some of the plants did good. Water wisteria for instance just exploded but the swords in particular really stunted. When I pulled them the roots looked terrible. The other thing I really enjoy about the aqua soil is no burping substrate. It’s just the better overall method for me but if cost is a hindrance the FF method is certainly a viable alternative. I feel fortunate that I moved in early may and had the resources for aqua soil.
I'm just about to start my next aquarium, buying new substrate. It's SO difficult to choose and because of the cost I want to get the right one... So thank you for these videos. Hopefully I dare to buy something tomorrow 😅
Good luck! I prefer half ADA Amazonia aquasoil and half fluval stratum or brightwell volcan aqua florin if im keeping shrimp
@@Fishtory thank you ❤️ I will definitely take a look at those.
Ok honestly I don't get it all but some is actually soaking in. Between Father Fish and your videos I'm getting an education.
I've always had soil, and sand as a substrate. It's always worked fantastically. But now I'm getting a understanding of the mechanics.
That is awesome! It came to me in waves as people explained it. So much to learn!
This was awesome. 👍🏼 Newly reintroduced to aquascaping fish aquarium after giving up for a few years. You're videos have been very helpful. Hopefully I'll have better success this time and learn what to do and not to do. Thanks for linking all the other suggested videos. I'll give them all a watch throughout this week.
Glad your enjoying it! Welcome back!
was starting to regret using aquasoil. been set up for couple years . thanks for the reassurance. That tank looks endlessly interesting.
Glad to help renew the mindset hehe. And yes, i do tanks with a lot of detail as experiments and to learn or witness process ive researched in papers, but at the end of the day... i just love staring into a tank full of life 😌 ☺️
I am learning so much from you! I was excited to find out we are in same area so when you talk about our local life I can relate. I am super super new to the hobby and so excited to keep learning and growing my aquatic gardens.
Right on! Im in shoreline about 4 blocks north of Seattle city limits. If you ever have questions, dont hesitate to ask me. Cheers and 🙏 welcome
@@Fishtory I am in Forks for the summer and fall and spend winter over in Seattle. Thank you for being a resource for me! 🤩
Thank you for the info Alex!
You bet! Thank you for coming by!
This is so informative! Great job, fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝 Keep it up 🙌
Thank you so much! I did work far too long on such a needy video lol
This is awesome thanks I still want to see sand sifting behaviors and have sand loving fish so I’m torn between going all aqua soil or trying separate sand and soil
I think half and half looks lovely!
As anyone done a sand then the mud like father fish says then sand on top or mixing sand into the mixture and have a complete dirt and earth type
Yup we've been friend the better part of a decade and ive made many father fish style and walstad style tanks
Honestly what I do, which has lived greatlyyyyyyyy with my no co2 or filter setups, is normal indoor plant soil, and then aqausoil on TOP, works wonders
Hey, lots.of methods work. Do what's best for you and your hobby/fish
I love all your deep dives ❤ i learn so much its rediculous
Thanks
Great video👍 Is this the reason beacause i have sucsess with burned or baked Kitty Litter in my tanks?
100% its like the center of those pellets (pre ionized bonding ammonium in the center)
This was awesome. Thank you so much for this
You are so welcome!
I have a 180 gallon of gravel. I had never heard of adding dirt. I started live plants a year ago. The thought of tearing down a 180 gallon with 75 (nano) fish and restarting freaks me out. I love the live plants! I have many but would like better growth. I don’t know how to achieve that. I do water changes but I don’t dig down in the gravel. Right now I don’t have a CO2 system. I’ve been using excel. Honestly I’m not able 14:54 to tear this tank down or a place to put my fish while my tank cycles. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Maybe a CO2 system? Thank u.
Im using eco-complete (all I could find)
Im about 200 days in, and only just now have about 1 1/2 inch layer of mulm built up. Slow process, but the plants are taking off.
Yeah that tank should last you 5 to 10 years when you build it up slowly like that. Very cool