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As a newer hobbyist (less than a year), I appreciate this take. I recently saw a video on the Fishtory channel about this topic, and I think it's good for each person to evaluate what works for them. We tend to cling to doing things a certain way and treat opposing views as inferior or lacking. If someone tells me they do things differently than I do them, I would just ask, 'How's that going for you?'. If all is well and it brings more joy to your hobby, great!! I do appreciate the technology available to us. I'm a low tech hobbyist, but I admire no tech, high tech, and everything in between.
So 70 years ago when I got my first tank a 2.5 gallon carried in the front door by my dad complete with 2 baby guppies and 2 baby mollies. Low tech was the norm for a lot of us there were a lot of mistakes I did not make because I could not afford the equipment to make them. A few yeas later when I got a 15 gallon I had an inside box filter and later graduated to an under gravel I felt myself to be at the peak of aquarium technology.🐟😎
I forgot about the under gravel... never had one, but I heard about them. When I started in the 90s most tanks had a sponge filter or just an air stone.
I've been in for 50 years, and still run my first "big" tank, a 29 gallon, with the undergravel filter I bought with it. But I've been through a lot of air pumps; started with the Silent Giant.
Michael from Scotland here, I would just like to say, I have watched and followed you from your beginingnad am so impressed at the way you have evolved from the young enthusiastic business orintated aquarist to the caring eco friendly pioneer and consevationist of the wild and worldwide fish community, I feel you have become the trusted expert in fish health and the practical keeping of the species, you are a credit to the fish keeping community, and I wish you all the best for the forseable future. great to watch and listen to.
I LOVE not having to do water changes anymore because I understock, overplant, and use biological media. Low tech is great for me, easy and less expensive. But I couldn't imagine having NO filter at all! If it works for someone else that's good, but for me personally I think the waterflow and filtering out debris is much more of a benefit to my 'natural' tanks than a detractor. Plus I have species of fish and shrimp that require/prefer moving water. And the sound of humming filters/airstone is calming to me.
THIS! - "And the sound of humming filters/airstone is calming to me"...I love the sound of the running water from my HOBs, and bubbles breaking. I had one room that I removed the tank etc, and couldn't stand the silence...wanted to hear the water flow again. So set up another tank to replace it - cold water and natural light but has bubbles and filter noise.
@@hawkheights6953 yeah, it's like a white noise machine but better! i personally hate 'white noise' but i can't fall asleep in total silence, so the sounds of bubbling water and filters from the two small tanks in my room is quiet enough that it's not obtrusive, but calming enough to help me sleep well
I have a no-filter aquarium and I'm actually in the process of getting a new tank for the sake of needing to put more effort and work into it. My goal was to complete a wholly self sustaining ecosystem and I succeeded too well. As one might imagine, the bottom of a swamp or a lakebed is not something that would inspire awe or wonder equivalent to a takashi amano scape. These tanks need deep sand beds (4in+), healthy mulm layers (fish poo, yes, these tanks actually need the fish poo), and the algae will need to be allowed to grow unchallenged as it essentially serves as the measurement of aquarium health. You can avoid the algae problems with added CO2, but I am not currently set up for that and essentially what I ended up with is exactly what I had hoped for with less than 20ppm nitrate at any given moment, but it looks like the bottom of a swamp. So yeah, it's a good science project and you learn how to sustain an enclosed nitrogen cycle, but by no means is it something you want people to see when they come over. I think I'll attempt some deep sand bed ponds and rice fish bowls, but a respectable aquarium is something that requires well intentioned effort.
@justinthillens2853 well yeah, that makes sense. Ponds are relatively stagnant water, so things will settle out with no filtration and look kinda gross. Filters simulate stream/creek ecosystems where the water is naturally cycled out. I'm sure it'd be an interesting science project though :)
@@He.knows.nothingSo Im new in all this. And I would love to have a nice Aquarium that is fully self sustaining. Would you say thats possible for someone like me, who is a noob. Lol
I think we're experiencing a culture/counter culture cycle. What used to be a more natural approach is now not natural enough. It will swing back like a pendulum but I think you advocate for a reasonable, cohesive blend of technology and letting nature do its thing. It's like a good pair of jeans. They never really go out of style.
You nailed it. Love your videos too, you two are my (10 year, well-studied, experienced hobbyist) favorite channels because I learn something I haven't read in a peer-reviewed book consistently.
I'm a pretty "old-school" kind of guy. When I was heavy in the aquarium hobby back in the 1980s and '90s, my favorite filtration was undergravel. For those of you unfamiliar, undergravel filtration puts a fine plastic grid on the bottom of the tank that supports the gravel substrate. In the corners, lift tubes are installed that provide suction to the bottom of the filter, causing water to be pulled down through the gravel. Biological filtration (and to a certain extent, mechanical filtration, also) occurs in the substrate itself, which is the actual filter media. At first, these filters were simply air stone-powered, with the air bubbles in the lift tubes creating the suction. But eventually, power heads were created to increase flow substantially. And there was always an external canister filter if you needed the water cleaned a little better. And those got bigger and bigger... MORE flow!! Well, when I got back into it last year for the first time in more than 20 years, I naturally tried to pick up right where I left off. For my first little 10 gallon tank, I had to have undergravel filtration, of course! But even I realized that power heads on a 10 gallon tank would be excessive, so I did THIS tank with air stones. But, I also got a hang-on-back filter, AND a cute little Sun-Sun external cannister filter! Because there's just no such thing as TOO MUCH filtration, right? Well, by this time I had discovered Cory, Zenzo & Irene's videos on RUclips, and VERY reluctantly I began listening to some of Cory's ideas on filtration. By now I had 2 more tanks, both 3 footers, one being a 40 "breeder" and the other a 30 "show". Of course, on these two I had power heads installed on the undergravels, HOB's and the same Sun-Sun externals. My first baby step was coarse filters on the inlet tubes of the HOB's and the external canister filters. But when my HOB filter started making noises, I replaced it with an Aquarium Co-op coarse sponge filter. So, my biological filtration was excellent, which meant that I had no ammonia, no nitrite, but nitrate would accumulate, requiring frequent water changes. While weekly major water changes were not such a big deal for this man when he was in his prime, let me tell you: a five gallon bucket of water weighs 5 times what it did back then! Next was upgrading the media in the external canister filters. They worked well, but after I serviced them the first time after running for a couple months, I began listening to Cory say he hated external canisters! The next time they needed service, they were simply removed completely. So, thanks to the Co-op videos, I decided to try live plants (which I had NEVER been successful at back in the days when all we had was fluorescent lighting) in an effort to consume most of the nitrates, requiring water changes much less frequently. So, live plants, a whole bunch of them. I got them all from Aquarium Co-op, because the excellent quality of the plants when they arrive is WAY better than any I've seen in a local store. But, my experience was not fantastic, at first. It took me awhile to get on top of fertilizing with Easy Green and root tabs, Wonder Shell, Equilibrium & Malawi/Tanganyika buffers, and the WONDERFUL multi-test strips! While I had good success with a few plants, like Java fern, Amazon sword, Pogostemon "octopus", Brazilian pennywort, dwarf aquarium lilly. But I really struggled with the ones that sent out runners like Vallisneria, dwarf Sagittaria, dwarf chain sword. They would arrive beautiful, send out runners immediately with little baby sprouts, but then the "mother" plant would slowly die and fade away. At this time, I got a message from Aquarium Co-op suggesting a review of the dwarf chain sword, and based on the difficulty I was having with them, I gave only 3 stars. Well, that prompted an email from Candi asking what the problem was. I told her the whole story, my whole setup (power heads!) sent a pic. She came back with the idea that the power heads were sucking all the root tab nutrients away before the plants could eat them. I had considered this myself, but I was putting a LOT of root tabs under these guys and their sprouts. But, hearing it from someone else gave me enough inspiration to try removing the power heads, and converting the lift tubes back to air stones. In addition, this is when I removed the canisters and any remaining HOB's. I was now running with just undergravel with air stones, and the coarse sponge filter. Very simple, very reliable. And it works well! This is my system for all my tanks now (11!). I've also begun to have more success with the plants that shoot out runners. I'll bet those plants would do even better if I dumped the undergravel filters altogether, but I just CAN'T! LOL The final bit comes from selection of fish and critters to go in the tank. For me, there are 3 important factors for the "cleanup crew". First, there's scavengers for cleaning up uneaten food, which seems to affect ammonia and nitrates more than fish poop created by fishies eating that same food. My favorite scavengers are an army of Kuhli loaches and/or small corydoras. Next is algae eaters that will clean the glass and decorations in the tank. I use a little albino bushynose pleco for almost every tank, I just love them! But one tank has hillstream loaches, and another has a small army of Otocinclus instead. And the third is algae eaters that will remove "hairy" type algaes. Siamese algae eaters are my champs, but I'm also getting ready to get shrimp established in these tanks. An old guy having an absolute blast with guppies and Kuhli loaches!! Who woulda thunk it? Anyways, that's my complete thoughts on filtration and how I got them: undergravel, sponge filter, live plants, scavengers and algae eaters. An ecosystem, for sure, but pretty low maintenance, and the tanks look good. Water changes every 3-4 months. Scrape the front glass very seldom. Hair algae is receding, black beard algae is GONE. 8^)
Well said. I definitely think adding technology, such as a air stone, does far more in term of creating a “natural environment” than a fish tank that has no aeration and is trying to achieve that “natural” tank status. it is important to consider what aspects in the wild actually sustain aquatic life, such as natural currents and surface agitation caused by wind, complex ecological systems and food webs which simply cannot be replicated in the home aquarium, without employing some form of technology or artificial input . Thank you for another great video.
Yeah. And also considering what ecosystem you are trying to make. There's a huge difference better a lake, a rapid river, a slow stream, a stagnant pond, and a hundred different ecosystems between.
Excellent advice. Know your water, know your skill level, and know what you enjoy. How I set up my tanks depends on what fish I plan to put in them. I didn't set up my betta's tank the same way I did my Oscars' tank. After 8 years in the hobby, the best advice I every heard was "know your water" followed very closely by "know your fish". As you said, there are many ways to keep fish. Find what works best for you and for your fish. That's what I've done over the years. I appreciate you common sense approach to this topic.
I have to completely agree with you Cory, I found myself starting the hoppy (4 years ago) with no education towards keeping fish and I've lost many fish to my lack of knowledge, now that I look back to this time I see that the products I bought for my fish lack educational purposes and more of "buy my product" and I completely agree, the only way to support this hobby is more education.
I used to do all the water changes, cleaning, chemicals, and it became a job. I ended up leaving the hobby for decades. Now I’m doing dirted and planted with a sponge filter. Less work, more enjoyment. And the side projects like propagating a pond culture is fun, as opposed to vacc’ing gravel. I feed a tiny amount of manufactured food twice a week and make sure I’m adding water with wild food in it when I top up. My danios hang in the current and enjoy a buffet that comes to them. And the food puts in work in the tank before it’s eaten
I had my first fish tank 14 months ago and have been very successful mainly due to this channel, Kg Tropicals and prime time . These channels make it easy for a new fish keeper be successful. I now have 3 fish tanks. The natural aquarium approach seems a little hard to understand for a new fish keeper and probably quite a few fish will doe at the start. Thank you Cory and the guys at the Coop for sharing the knowledge. l
This perspective really resonates with me. I only use what seems to be necessary on my tank to keep the fish/plants/inverts that I want. That means I end up running quite a few different styles of tanks, but the default is to use as little as possible.
I started my hobby 3 yrs ago and I am SO glad I found Aquarium Co-op very early on. You have taught me everything I know, and my 2 tanks are healthy, stable, beautiful, and most of all FUN! Thank you Corey for always giving reasoned, intelligent, down to earth advice.
Agreed... I have a hybrid approach I guess. I have a planted 10G tall tank that's planted with deep substrate. Use a budget light and HOB filter with a custom filter mix. Haven't done a water change or clean the tank in months and have actually seen an improvement in the quality of life of both my fish and plants. All I do is feed 4 times a week and top up water after evaporation
An ex of mine learned like six different no-tech ways to make fire. Two sticks, fire bow, found rock strikers, etc. Learning all those no-tech methods taught them a lot about how to set up and maintain fires. Now, they use a Bic because it's quick, cheap, and easy. They carried the knowledge forward to improve their methods when they have the benefits of technology.
thats not an intelligent way of phrasing it. filterless techless tanks take care of themselves, you just have to have a decent level of competence, and understand when to interact with the tank(if any problems arise, which, in a well balanced tank, wont.) its easier, thats your answer? you might as well be a tasteless kid who shoves 20 goldfish in an empty tank.
I love having all the different points of view about how to keep fish. I've taken bits of advice from several channels that I enjoy watching and applied them to my first planted tank. I will probably never go no-tech, but I very much enjoy the low-tech way of keeping a tank. I still do water changes, I still test my water, I have to trim plants (and thin floating plants) about once a week or so. Low-tech definitely doesn't mean no work! But I love to do it, anyway.
Perfect. Air and water movement are my priority everytime I think of a set up. Aragonite sand helps greatly with stability too. That said, I love a lot of the DYI approaches and now embrace sponge use as much as possible on the intakes of HOB and Canisters filters.
I'm starting the hobby with a planted pond set up in a very large pot with rice fish, snails, and some critters from the leaf litter in the local pond. I wanted to start with a "no filter" just to have as low maintenance and fluff as possible to start. But you're absolutely right, the fish would be much better off with an air stone, like you said, and I'm really using this project to slowly wade into the hobby, and eventually try out a higher tech freshwater tank.
Cory very good points, I run dirted aquariums with sponge filters just to keep the water moving around, I do also run a undergravel filter plate in one of my other aquariums. I like my set ups for all 4 of my tanks. But simplicity is truly my favorite tanks.
Technology is like tank size. It buys you time to figure out when something is going wrong. With experience, you can go very barebones, but that requires proper planning and patience. That's harder for a lot of newer fish keepers.
Great point ! I probably watched over 100 hours of these videos before setting up my first tank and I’m glad I did . I would have ended up wasting $$$ and gotten frustrated managing the equipment then left the hobby .
Makes sense.... As people have issues and fail in the hobby, or just find out that it's more work, they opt for the easiest way and "another method" that seems easy. This is the same thing people do when they want to argue on the internet, they search for what fits what they want to hear, but not what is necessarily the best answer. Confirmation bias at its best. A perfect example of this is my shrimp tank, neocaridina tank, that doesn't follow a lot of the traditional advice.
Agree with Cory. I've enjoyed the walstad method of tanks but the most enjoyable for me is when there is a sponge filter, light, and when applicable a heater. The great thing about keeping aquariums is that there's a wide variety of methods and tech that can be applied and they all work great! It's always a luxury when you can have a preference and it still works.
I love the analogy that you used with no-tech basically being off the grid. As appealing as it is to not have to do so much maintenance, I'd rather stick to my sponge filters, heaters, and of course a light. I'm in the process of removing my remaining HOB filters and replacing them with houseplants instead (pothos is my favorite for this), it just looks so much nicer than staring at a big hunk of plastic.
@@NyssaMysteria pothos are amazing as a form of filtration. Also look into peace lilies. They’re also pretty cool and very pretty plants that enjoy having their roots in water 😊
Hi Corey I appreciate this video. We have discussed one of my tanks before ( Easy Green conversation) I mentioned that I was able to unplug filters on it. To clarify, it was because my son with autism couldn't stand the sound of a pump. Since then I found an almost silent air pump and am using a sponge filter. I noticed the fish are Def more active in the tank with the filter, and of course the shrimp love munching off the sponge, and the water is crystal clear where it wasn't when I was filterless. Just my observations.
Been keeping fish on and off for over a decade, since I was a tween. When you're a kid and you don't have access to good information or you don't know how to access good information, you make mistakes. So while I've been doing this for a long time, I really started to get serious about five-six years ago, and have REALLY leaned into it in the last three years. In the last three years I've learned more than in the other ten and I've had a great time doing it. When the filter on my six gallon planted tank went out, stopped working, and nothing changed? I decided to take the leap. I made a filterless aquarium. But I used the knowledge that I have to make it work better. I kept an airstone in it to keep water circulating not only for oxygenation via gas exchange, but also so that waterflow around the tank would strengthen the muscles of the single betta inhabitant. I made sure to add floating plants because they are such heavy water column feeders to mitigate any ammonia or nitrite/nitrate spikes. I had a ton of little baby mystery snails in there, I pulled almost all of them out to further lower the bioload. It's been probably about three months running with just an airstone, but that tank has like a 12:1 ratio of plant matter to animal matter, and it matured for almost a year before I took that leap. I put so much thought into that, looked at so many different parameters. That's why I love this video because yes I was able to make a very low-tech tank (still use lights though) but I wouldn't have been able to do it from scratch without the tech to support the tank while it matured. If someone had just told me water, fish, plants, dirt, go... I wouldn't have a filterless tank. So I love how you were talking about yes everyone should probably experience this at some point, but having even a little bit of tech is so helpful. It's dangerous when people give permission to throw away tech that helps an aquarium flourish without educating on just how much that tech is making up for! I also cannot agree with you more that even if you don't want to run a sponge filter, having that airstone in there is gonna make such a HUGE difference. I can forego a heater in some of my tanks because I have my fish set up in the most well-insulated and stable, warm room in the house. But several of my tanks do have heaters and I have to think that the warmth and stability in that room is at least partially due to them. I absolutely would not want to do this hobby without lights, either. Coming from a photography background and keeping the live plants that I do in my tanks, literally none of my tanks would be possible without lights.
You're way ahead of the game! It took me almost 20 years to figure out all of that. A lot less work than when I first started many, many years ago and tried to keep my tank sterile. My two tanks are now heavily planted, pond plant soil as a substrate covered with sand, and very good lights. I live in FL but I still need a heater for both tanks because in the winter I keep the house at 68, too cold for my fish and shrimp. Having a RO water system available to top off my tanks helps a lot, but I still test once a week, just to make sure everything is still within parameters. My 20 gal I change out about 4 gal every month or two, depending on what the testing shows. The filter outside the tank keeps it pretty clean and just rinsing the filter periodically to prevent it from getting clogged is all that really needs to be done, other than trimming the plants that get too tall or too dense. The 3 gal I just top off because it started as my plant nursery and it's very heavily planted. The snails and shrimp love it. My small outdoor pond gets the benefit of the extra plants after the winter die off. (Yes, even in FL it does get really cold for about 3 mos.). The outdoor pond also gets the excess fry so they can keep the mosquito larvae down. Now it's all a lot less work and a lot more peaceful enjoyment.
I'm actually trying out my first aquarium and it's a no tech tank, except for a light. This concept really speaks to me as I love to see how nature can maintain itself, how an ecosystem works. I will feed my fish, but I want them to help my snails in keeping the algae in check. I've introduced some bacteria and micro-organisms into the tank, from a nearby pond, to break down waste and to help fertilise the soil. The soil is pretty thick and has a dense layer of sand on top, to prevent oxygen from getting to the soil so the bacteria can flourish. And finally of course there are quite a lot of plants growing inside the tank. Naturally I do agree that a no tech option isn't for everyone ( not even sure yet I'll actually be able to do it myself ), but I think the comparison to a garden with only one type of plant in it and not taking care of it isn't very accurate. I think it's almost the opposite, you get a lot of plants and other factors in the garden just right so that they amplify each other and you can watch them develop! When you DIY all this it can indeed be cheap, but it definitely won't be simple. Until you get experienced with it of course. You can get all wild and experimental with it from that point forward. Again I am new to all this and I still have to see whether it works for me in the long run, but at least until now it's been very interesting. My fish are doing great and I'll see if I can get them to breed in there. That would mean ultimate succes if you'd ask me. Although it's a bummer I can't keep the young because they would disturb the balance... ^,^
I tend to lean towards low tech and keeping a more natural aquariums but I light and run a small sponge filter just to help the bacteria in the substrate
This is why I don't agree when people tell newbies not to buy the beginner kits. They give beginners a head start in the hobby and spark an interest in it that will allow them to decide how far the delve into the hobby at their own pace and if they wish to go bigger or try something different they already have the equipment there as a back up plan if stuff doesn't work out for them. Sometimes no amount of research can replace the knowledge gained from making your own mistakes. People these days are so wrapped up in having everything perfect from the get go with everything and unfortunately that's not how things work. Without mistakes you don't gain the experience that works for you as only you know what your situation is and what you can handle doing in your hobby. While advice is handy and invaluable sometimes if it's not applicable to what you are doing and you can end up with more problems than you started with. Thank you for this vid!
I go out collect some dirt and add some organic fert and mix em well and top off with construction sand. Around 1 inch of dirt and 1 inch of sand. Add the most easy and fast growning plants in the begining. All fill up the tank.. and only add fish after 3 days. In these 3 days just change 50% water.. thats it.. next time i change water when it seems abit cloudy... have done this like 4 times now in 8 years.. plants and fish thrive.. and they last even longer but i feel i need to change the setup after 2 years so.. i restart them again.. worked for me. Light and powerhead with filter are the only expenditure i have
I use a HOB, with sponge media in it. Thats all. Nothing fancy but does fine for my guppies in a heavily planted tank. Big fan of the hang on back. Easy to remove and clean, lasts a long time.
My setup currently runs Tech: light and HOB filters (sponge on intake, DIY water-bottle-baffler on discharge) Maintenance: add fertilizer for the plants, supplement the live food (tank contains blackworm colony and daphnea colony in with the nanofish community), replace leaf litter and coral as needed, prune plants as needed. Most of the work is done by all the lower trophic level organisms: blackworms, isopods, shrimp, snails, daphnea, and plants of all types The filter is just surface area for water circulation, assist with gas echange at the surface, and add surface area for biological filtration. All the maintenance the filters get is rinsing out the sponges as needed. It's just the right mix of "natural" and "low effort" for me. I spend maybe 5 min per day at most managing the tank but will toss on a podcast, smoke a bowl, and watch the ecosystem do its thing for hours.
I've been watching your videos for a long time and I'm watching because what you say is realistic and also you say very precisely not talking a bunch of irrelevant stuff with few facts . I totally agree with you, after watching no filter no water change I was really shocked and think it's very risky . I run very low tech aquarium, 2 sponge filters that combines 8 times gallon per hour and on top of them biological media for bacterial growth . And obviously plants . What I'm saying is I've not changed water last 4 months and I test water parameters every Sunday, I only add water that has been lost though evaporation. As I live in Kolkata I don't need heater except dec, Jan and Feb . I'm setting up a diy jelly+yeast co2 system. Even my light is LED bulb . This tank is running for more than 2 years . I saved a lot of money from the low tech low maintenance set up, only place I don't hesitate to spend money is food and I feed my fishes nothing but live food except in emergency. So what you said in this video is like speaking my mind
Amazing work Cory, this is exactly how i have always felt. There is so much intricacies to fish keeping and to ignore that is crazy, there is lots of ways to keep a fish tank! It what is the best for the fish and the best for you. I think the only other layer i would add is that if you do want to do a filterless super duper natural tank you need to also think about the fish you choose! Not just if you want to go that way. A betta might do pretty damn good in a large filterless planted tank as some live in similar shallower smaller water flats in the wild. But a discus? Or even neons? They are river fish. When they are in stagnant pond in the wild that is extreme cases they otherwise love a fast flowing river. I love the talk Cory! Here is to hoping that people move from division to embracing eachother ideas around the hobby and learning how they want to best keep fish without a need for any 'opposition'
Returning to the hobby after many years off I have to say I love the tech. Hate the cost but it is what it is. I was never successful with plants before investing in an expensive plant light, but I also watched videos on dirted aquariums and loved integrating a more natural fertilization approach with nutrients from the soil layer. I’m a tech guy so having a light that mimics sunrise and sunset and can demo a day in a minute is amazing and fun to me. Learning from your videos how to soup up a hang on back filter with sponges and modify what is sold to you is amazing. I agree with you, tech enhances and take the hobby where ever you want, personalize it, experiment and learn. And have fun.
Great video, I really liked your analogy. The fact that No Tech tanks are possible (though not easy) is good to know, and indicates that often Low Teck tanks are sufficient for most of us. But if you like the High Tech stuff then go for it, its supposed to be a fun hobby after all.
Good stuff sir ! Experience and time is the key to success. My take is this, when I started in the hobby 43 years ago, an undergravel filter with power heads seemed the high bar. I had an air pump with a clear triangle shaped filter, that you put your own carbon and filter floss in. Ive had some great success with breeding and keeping fish and also some losses that were expensive and painful lessons. Over the past 10 years Ive come to a place, where I have confidence in huge sump filtration ( aerobic and anaerobic bacteria factories ) and a waterchange regiment. It seems to be working well for me. I dont pay for super high tech, however I do spend in a need to have manner. Youve given much mental fodder. Agreed with statements about companies going light on information and heavy on trying to sell " bigger and better "
Not weird! I love maintaining mine as well! Trimming the plants, or taking care of dead leaves, maintaining water parameters, etc. So dang fun and soothing
I've been in the hobby for several years, and you have helped a lot. I recently stumbled upon FF and decided to try it bc I'm curious if it will work. I'm only a week in, but I'm still using a seasoned tank, sponge filter, and a heater. Like everything in the world, do your own research and to each their own.
I agree wholeheartedly with the video. Back when I was starting in the hobby (with a help from my father) in the 90s, there was no high-tech, CO_2 fed aquariums, not even power head with large block of foam. I had few old books from the 70s and 80s which told measured, patient approach, air pump with a stone or sponge filter, water changes once in a month or two... I could see how even that simple sponge filter (with palm-sized sponge) helped... my first tank had a ball of Java moss, guppies and light bulb on top of it and it required water changes in a while. There are two extremes, on one hand there are beautiful CO_2 aquascapes which require ton of maintenance or setups which rely on filtration and frequent water changes... on the other end the closest would be a tank full of moss with guppies or shrimp which could go for a year without a water change (or collapse during summer heat wave). Moderation and patience, after all patience brings roses.
I have to say this is your best educational video I have watched in your channel ... I prefer the low tech aquariums ... I always try to do the best a can within my resources.
I agree you, an aquarium should be as simple as possible, on the other hand, this kind of solutions save so much energy. Thanks for sharing, awesome tutorial.
Your analogy is spot on. Living in a rustic cabin is doable but when there are modern conveniences well….. I once took a wilderness course and the instructor told us that it’s good to know how to make a fire with a bow drill and flint but given the option of a lighter there’s no argument lol. Same applies to your logic!
Great point of view, do what you like and work’s best for you. There is many ways to keep in our hobby but nothing is better than you being happy with your setup.
I have a heater but i have a deep substrate tank, planted and yes, to start off i did have a filter, but now i dont. All i do is top ups, no water changes (unless one day i see my water parameters are off and i need it), i look at my tank daily to make sure everyone is “acting” normal, i do take algae out once and a while. I most likely will add root tabs eventually but right now my aquasoil is doing good. Also also do have a light, its a 75 gal tank
With 70+ tanks running, I have both... All have an air stone at least... Depends what I'm doing each tank... Thanks, keep up your awesomeness and go enjoy some nature today...!
I’ve done a aquarium no filter for a while because I didn’t know that the filter had died. And then Covid came and no one could get out. And for me shipping is ridiculous so it was no filter for half a year. I think it is better to go from filter for about a year or two. And then just take it out.
I definitely needed to find this video. I have a 75 gallon aquarium that I am needing a change with and started finding videos on going natural. My head and my experience was telling me to not do it but the videos were making it interesting. I still need to figure out my direction for the 75 gallon but I am back on track with my common sense again.
Light, heat, air stones , plants that's my setup for my 55 community and yes i do feed my fish. Now my 75 Cichlid tank is sand rocks and a cannister filter and water changes ,bottom line you need to know your tank ,Then apply what you need for your tank to keep the fish healthy and happy
I guess I’m nuts but after watching your video on what filter oxygenates the aquarium the best , I will always run at least a sponge filter. In my bigger tanks I also run a Ziss or box filter,I’ve even ran an under gravel filter until the seem on the tank went bad.
Great video and I agree. Yes fish can survive in zero tech tanks, but do they thrive? I think about no air stone. In a lake, there are no airstones right? But guess what? Nature is still moving the water which is exchanging the oxygen and co2. Wind and tides exist.
I truly need to say: this guy, Cory has been and is my teacher, my adopted unknowingly master since i started this hobby! I learned so much from you, just like you said: i reached that top of the mountain, where you realize and learned that after testing so many products and tech in this hobby, i can not only run all my aquariums with some basic filtration like sponge filters, BUT ALSO you can save a lot of money on electricity by using them. That is not all ... What happens when we get a blackout or we lose electricity for hours or days? In my case, all of my tanks keep running without issues and just like if nothing happened, when using technology but at the simplest level where you can enjoy and SAVE MONEY and have a real HAPPY FISH living (not surviving) PD: i hope Cory comes back to my country again, I'll sign up for the tour in Amazonas 😁 Cheers from Perú
I've been watching u for at minimum like 4yrs. Thank u for the constant info ur willing to give out ... ur y I started having better/cleaner tanks .. thank u so much for ur time and efforts
Thank you so much for this video. I started the hobby in 2018 and yes there is a serious lack of education and the biggest problem I've had educating myself is the "rabbit" hole of youtube trying to disseminate information and how to properly build a healthy tank.
I do love your anti-salesman/anti-hype approach. Seeing Aquarium-Coop displays now at my local shop. Good products at fair prices. Your most successful product is the joy of fish keeping…and distribution is keeping pace with demand.
Agree...I'm I guess in the middle. More confident that at the beginning. Tanks full of plants a sponge filter and HOB just to use filter floss to polish the water. I also use the HOB to seed sponge for quick use. I have light's and heaters. But I don't change water as often test monthly unless something is off. I don't gravel vac anymore....plants do better when I don't
I stopped doing water changes on regular basis. Now I change it only when needed and it works just fine for me. Heavily planted tank, a good layer of substrate and canister filtration but otherwise it's pretty low tech. In my betta dirted tank I did not have filtration at first and it worked well too. Later on I bought Eden 501 just for the shrimp to have some water circulation. Both tanks are well balanced. No algae, no ammonia, no diseases for 2 years now.
I'm a minimal maintenance kind of person not zero. I've got it to a point where I may do a 50% water change once a year, any other water is just evaporation top ups. I keep shrimps and wcmm and they are thriving. The plants might get a tidy a couple of times a year. If there wasn't such a thing as aquarium plants and I had to change water every 7 days I'd probably not have fish in the house tbh I'd just stick with my ponds.
On the lawn mowing hobby, I would recommend trying a scythe at least once. On a small scale I find it fun, but on a larger scale it's a lot of work. It also gives the best/healthiest cut.
Thanks for that video. I truly have a hard time listening to people that encourage no filters, and especially those who encourage NO WATER CHANGES. Sure, my house doesn't need air conditioning when it's 105 degrees outside (and it is in Arkansas). Would I live without it? Yes! would I prefer to have it? YES! Could I survive without a vacuum cleaner with three dogs in the house? Yes! Lately, I have been watching some of Father Fish's videos. I had to quit watching to protect my sanity. Anyway, thanks for posting your very informative videos.
@Cory Aquarium Co-op: Hi. I have wild/ savage/ natural aquariums/ tubs. But I also use mechanical filtration. My aquariums have no bleaching, washing, or boiling. They’re strait from nature to a “glass/ plastic box.” But one thing is for sure, in conjunction with minimal mechanical filtration, I have healthy tanks. Fish and plants both love water changes. The best of both worlds. 😊👍🏾 Thank you for your knowledge, wisdom, and perspective.
I appreciate that I have the option to go to either extreme or somewhere in the middle and have the knowledge and info out there to do so. Great times in the hobby.
That was a VERY important video. Thank you Cory. I agree 100% And although I do have one small tank that I have no tech, I do not recommend it. I am the exception since I have decades of experience and I still made mistakes. As an example of that, I have that tank at work and I have a stubborn coworker (fishkeeper newbie) who decided she wanted to do the same for her first time experience with fish. I told her NOT to do my tank and she went ahead any ways. The manager at the local fish store down the street refused to sell her fish because she insisted that you could just throw fish in a bowl and they would do good since she saw my tank. Eventualy, she went to two separate box stores and put two betta fish together in the same tank. Eventually one of them was severely beaten, tail shredded from bites, and diseased. Luckily I talked her into separating them and donating one fish to someone else. She was a severely stubborn person who almost killed her fish and thought fishkeeping was simply and that she knew better than me. Don't do that! Don't be that ignorant and stubborn. Keep it simple with the technology, as Cory suggested. Don't jump ahead and think you can (or should) do a no tech tank. You are the guardian of an animal's life. So your job is to give them the best chance and best life possible. Only years of experience will allow you the knowledge to know what to look for with water chemistry, diseases, food, and other non-visible signs not obvious to the average newbie.
I tried to do the all natural aquarium maintained it for about 3 years before I gave it away when I moved. By the end of it I had a filter and changed the water 50% about every month or so... Just for the sake of not torturing my animals. I'm planning my next aquarium but I'm going to use a filter, pumps, thermostat, lights, and change the water.
My tanks have filters but are no water change, established over several years with live plants, deep substrate with bio gravel and bio home media in the filters I now have steady nitrates of around 50ppm and since ive stopped gravel vaccuming and changing water my filter sponges can run 3+ months between maintenance where as before they were getting clogged every 3-4 weeks!
Dude the concept you just slapped down here... Education and experience... imagine that haha. But now I'm thinking about just how many things this lack of education/experience is affecting in individuals and societies lol that fear of, or rebellion against, things we were never taught or have no experience with? Or that false advertising and intentions behind it? Idk, but you've got me thinking, so thanks for that! And thanks for supporting my education and experience, supporting my efforts and ability to figure things out, work with what I've got, try new things, and learn from experience. Good stuff. Anyway! Hope you're doing good man! God loves you!
Not bad topic, and you’re right it’s all preference. Explaining how no filter tanks work and why and explaining how the filters work would better explain the concepts.
What I do is run the best of both worlds. Instead of a hang on back filter, I use a a bubble powered breeder box to oxygenate the water and keep a sponge in it for bacteria. For flow I have a simple 8 watt jet pump in my 20 gallon. Keeps the water moving and oxygenated with the least amount of moving parts and complexity.
I'm thankful for this video. I've gotten carried away by different you tubers. I've gone full circle. Now I'm back here watching aquirium co op. Thanks
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I want to upgrade my light, will you have a Memorial Day Sale 🙋🏽♀????
@@BornAgainFarmGirl They don't do sales. They just lower the price if they can
"I love to stare at my hang-on-back" 😂😂😂😂😂
Thank you@@savannamm they messaged me and now I am a member 😁.
There are many ways to keep healthy fish tanks. The problem is when people act like their way is the only way of doing it.
There is basically the hard way and the easy way. You are absolutely correct.
@@casey1204point missed
Exactly! It's more like an ego fighting (and some dudes having interest in shell their own products)
As a newer hobbyist (less than a year), I appreciate this take. I recently saw a video on the Fishtory channel about this topic, and I think it's good for each person to evaluate what works for them. We tend to cling to doing things a certain way and treat opposing views as inferior or lacking. If someone tells me they do things differently than I do them, I would just ask, 'How's that going for you?'. If all is well and it brings more joy to your hobby, great!! I do appreciate the technology available to us. I'm a low tech hobbyist, but I admire no tech, high tech, and everything in between.
So 70 years ago when I got my first tank a 2.5 gallon carried in the front door by my dad complete with 2 baby guppies and 2 baby mollies. Low tech was the norm for a lot of us there were a lot of mistakes I did not make because I could not afford the equipment to make them. A few yeas later when I got a 15 gallon I had an inside box filter and later graduated to an under gravel I felt myself to be at the peak of aquarium technology.🐟😎
Have you been keeping fish for all of those years or did you fall out of the hobby from time to time? That's an incredible story regardless
yup, UG filter and the box filter was the tech. Still run my tanks "low" tech.
@@danm8004 except for one 20 year break from about 50 to 70 but when I came back I was so happy!
I forgot about the under gravel... never had one, but I heard about them. When I started in the 90s most tanks had a sponge filter or just an air stone.
I've been in for 50 years, and still run my first "big" tank, a 29 gallon, with the undergravel filter I bought with it. But I've been through a lot of air pumps; started with the Silent Giant.
Michael from Scotland here, I would just like to say, I have watched and followed you from your beginingnad am so impressed at the way you have evolved from the young enthusiastic business orintated aquarist to the caring eco friendly pioneer and consevationist of the wild and worldwide fish community, I feel you have become the trusted expert in fish health and the practical keeping of the species, you are a credit to the fish keeping community, and I wish you all the best for the forseable future. great to watch and listen to.
Well said
I LOVE not having to do water changes anymore because I understock, overplant, and use biological media. Low tech is great for me, easy and less expensive. But I couldn't imagine having NO filter at all! If it works for someone else that's good, but for me personally I think the waterflow and filtering out debris is much more of a benefit to my 'natural' tanks than a detractor. Plus I have species of fish and shrimp that require/prefer moving water. And the sound of humming filters/airstone is calming to me.
THIS! - "And the sound of humming filters/airstone is calming to me"...I love the sound of the running water from my HOBs, and bubbles breaking. I had one room that I removed the tank etc, and couldn't stand the silence...wanted to hear the water flow again. So set up another tank to replace it - cold water and natural light but has bubbles and filter noise.
@@hawkheights6953 yeah, it's like a white noise machine but better! i personally hate 'white noise' but i can't fall asleep in total silence, so the sounds of bubbling water and filters from the two small tanks in my room is quiet enough that it's not obtrusive, but calming enough to help me sleep well
I have a no-filter aquarium and I'm actually in the process of getting a new tank for the sake of needing to put more effort and work into it. My goal was to complete a wholly self sustaining ecosystem and I succeeded too well. As one might imagine, the bottom of a swamp or a lakebed is not something that would inspire awe or wonder equivalent to a takashi amano scape. These tanks need deep sand beds (4in+), healthy mulm layers (fish poo, yes, these tanks actually need the fish poo), and the algae will need to be allowed to grow unchallenged as it essentially serves as the measurement of aquarium health. You can avoid the algae problems with added CO2, but I am not currently set up for that and essentially what I ended up with is exactly what I had hoped for with less than 20ppm nitrate at any given moment, but it looks like the bottom of a swamp. So yeah, it's a good science project and you learn how to sustain an enclosed nitrogen cycle, but by no means is it something you want people to see when they come over. I think I'll attempt some deep sand bed ponds and rice fish bowls, but a respectable aquarium is something that requires well intentioned effort.
@justinthillens2853 well yeah, that makes sense. Ponds are relatively stagnant water, so things will settle out with no filtration and look kinda gross. Filters simulate stream/creek ecosystems where the water is naturally cycled out. I'm sure it'd be an interesting science project though :)
@@He.knows.nothingSo Im new in all this. And I would love to have a nice Aquarium that is fully self sustaining. Would you say thats possible for someone like me, who is a noob. Lol
love the explanation, the analogy, and the gorgeous tanks and fish in this vid!
And I like the fact that he doesn't present himself as the all-knowing, great teacher. Very sympathetically presented, balanced tips.
I think we're experiencing a culture/counter culture cycle. What used to be a more natural approach is now not natural enough. It will swing back like a pendulum but I think you advocate for a reasonable, cohesive blend of technology and letting nature do its thing. It's like a good pair of jeans. They never really go out of style.
I agree. I feel like some people loves to project their style onto others. Just do what works for you
Yes, I'm waiting for under gravel filters to make a big comeback, best biological filter in the business and cheap. What's old is new again.
You nailed it. Love your videos too, you two are my (10 year, well-studied, experienced hobbyist) favorite channels because I learn something I haven't read in a peer-reviewed book consistently.
I'm a pretty "old-school" kind of guy. When I was heavy in the aquarium hobby back in the 1980s and '90s, my favorite filtration was undergravel. For those of you unfamiliar, undergravel filtration puts a fine plastic grid on the bottom of the tank that supports the gravel substrate. In the corners, lift tubes are installed that provide suction to the bottom of the filter, causing water to be pulled down through the gravel. Biological filtration (and to a certain extent, mechanical filtration, also) occurs in the substrate itself, which is the actual filter media.
At first, these filters were simply air stone-powered, with the air bubbles in the lift tubes creating the suction. But eventually, power heads were created to increase flow substantially. And there was always an external canister filter if you needed the water cleaned a little better. And those got bigger and bigger... MORE flow!!
Well, when I got back into it last year for the first time in more than 20 years, I naturally tried to pick up right where I left off. For my first little 10 gallon tank, I had to have undergravel filtration, of course! But even I realized that power heads on a 10 gallon tank would be excessive, so I did THIS tank with air stones. But, I also got a hang-on-back filter, AND a cute little Sun-Sun external cannister filter! Because there's just no such thing as TOO MUCH filtration, right?
Well, by this time I had discovered Cory, Zenzo & Irene's videos on RUclips, and VERY reluctantly I began listening to some of Cory's ideas on filtration. By now I had 2 more tanks, both 3 footers, one being a 40 "breeder" and the other a 30 "show". Of course, on these two I had power heads installed on the undergravels, HOB's and the same Sun-Sun externals.
My first baby step was coarse filters on the inlet tubes of the HOB's and the external canister filters. But when my HOB filter started making noises, I replaced it with an Aquarium Co-op coarse sponge filter. So, my biological filtration was excellent, which meant that I had no ammonia, no nitrite, but nitrate would accumulate, requiring frequent water changes. While weekly major water changes were not such a big deal for this man when he was in his prime, let me tell you: a five gallon bucket of water weighs 5 times what it did back then!
Next was upgrading the media in the external canister filters. They worked well, but after I serviced them the first time after running for a couple months, I began listening to Cory say he hated external canisters! The next time they needed service, they were simply removed completely.
So, thanks to the Co-op videos, I decided to try live plants (which I had NEVER been successful at back in the days when all we had was fluorescent lighting) in an effort to consume most of the nitrates, requiring water changes much less frequently. So, live plants, a whole bunch of them. I got them all from Aquarium Co-op, because the excellent quality of the plants when they arrive is WAY better than any I've seen in a local store. But, my experience was not fantastic, at first. It took me awhile to get on top of fertilizing with Easy Green and root tabs, Wonder Shell, Equilibrium & Malawi/Tanganyika buffers, and the WONDERFUL multi-test strips! While I had good success with a few plants, like Java fern, Amazon sword, Pogostemon "octopus", Brazilian pennywort, dwarf aquarium lilly. But I really struggled with the ones that sent out runners like Vallisneria, dwarf Sagittaria, dwarf chain sword. They would arrive beautiful, send out runners immediately with little baby sprouts, but then the "mother" plant would slowly die and fade away.
At this time, I got a message from Aquarium Co-op suggesting a review of the dwarf chain sword, and based on the difficulty I was having with them, I gave only 3 stars. Well, that prompted an email from Candi asking what the problem was. I told her the whole story, my whole setup (power heads!) sent a pic. She came back with the idea that the power heads were sucking all the root tab nutrients away before the plants could eat them. I had considered this myself, but I was putting a LOT of root tabs under these guys and their sprouts. But, hearing it from someone else gave me enough inspiration to try removing the power heads, and converting the lift tubes back to air stones. In addition, this is when I removed the canisters and any remaining HOB's. I was now running with just undergravel with air stones, and the coarse sponge filter. Very simple, very reliable. And it works well! This is my system for all my tanks now (11!). I've also begun to have more success with the plants that shoot out runners. I'll bet those plants would do even better if I dumped the undergravel filters altogether, but I just CAN'T! LOL
The final bit comes from selection of fish and critters to go in the tank. For me, there are 3 important factors for the "cleanup crew". First, there's scavengers for cleaning up uneaten food, which seems to affect ammonia and nitrates more than fish poop created by fishies eating that same food. My favorite scavengers are an army of Kuhli loaches and/or small corydoras.
Next is algae eaters that will clean the glass and decorations in the tank. I use a little albino bushynose pleco for almost every tank, I just love them! But one tank has hillstream loaches, and another has a small army of Otocinclus instead.
And the third is algae eaters that will remove "hairy" type algaes. Siamese algae eaters are my champs, but I'm also getting ready to get shrimp established in these tanks. An old guy having an absolute blast with guppies and Kuhli loaches!! Who woulda thunk it?
Anyways, that's my complete thoughts on filtration and how I got them: undergravel, sponge filter, live plants, scavengers and algae eaters. An ecosystem, for sure, but pretty low maintenance, and the tanks look good. Water changes every 3-4 months. Scrape the front glass very seldom. Hair algae is receding, black beard algae is GONE. 8^)
Well said.
I definitely think adding technology, such as a air stone, does far more in term of creating a “natural environment” than a fish tank that has no aeration and is trying to achieve that “natural” tank status.
it is important to consider what aspects in the wild actually sustain aquatic life, such as natural currents and surface agitation caused by wind, complex ecological systems and food webs which simply cannot be replicated in the home aquarium, without employing some form of technology or artificial input .
Thank you for another great video.
Well said also.
To claim you have an ecosystem tank you need it to have all the intricasies of an actual ecosystem!!
Great way to put it!
Yeah. And also considering what ecosystem you are trying to make. There's a huge difference better a lake, a rapid river, a slow stream, a stagnant pond, and a hundred different ecosystems between.
Excellent advice. Know your water, know your skill level, and know what you enjoy. How I set up my tanks depends on what fish I plan to put in them. I didn't set up my betta's tank the same way I did my Oscars' tank. After 8 years in the hobby, the best advice I every heard was "know your water" followed very closely by "know your fish". As you said, there are many ways to keep fish. Find what works best for you and for your fish. That's what I've done over the years. I appreciate you common sense approach to this topic.
I have to completely agree with you Cory, I found myself starting the hoppy (4 years ago) with no education towards keeping fish and I've lost many fish to my lack of knowledge, now that I look back to this time I see that the products I bought for my fish lack educational purposes and more of "buy my product" and I completely agree, the only way to support this hobby is more education.
I used to do all the water changes, cleaning, chemicals, and it became a job. I ended up leaving the hobby for decades.
Now I’m doing dirted and planted with a sponge filter. Less work, more enjoyment. And the side projects like propagating a pond culture is fun, as opposed to vacc’ing gravel.
I feed a tiny amount of manufactured food twice a week and make sure I’m adding water with wild food in it when I top up. My danios hang in the current and enjoy a buffet that comes to them. And the food puts in work in the tank before it’s eaten
im the opposite i like the water changes and find the pond culture incredibly tedious, I also have bad eyesight so its very difficult for me to
I had my first fish tank 14 months ago and have been very successful mainly due to this channel, Kg Tropicals and prime time . These channels make it easy for a new fish keeper be successful. I now have 3 fish tanks. The natural aquarium approach seems a little hard to understand for a new fish keeper and probably quite a few fish will doe at the start. Thank you Cory and the guys at the Coop for sharing the knowledge.
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When I started keeping fish in the 70's, undergravel filters were the rage. My first 5 tanks were set up that way.
This perspective really resonates with me. I only use what seems to be necessary on my tank to keep the fish/plants/inverts that I want. That means I end up running quite a few different styles of tanks, but the default is to use as little as possible.
I started my hobby 3 yrs ago and I am SO glad I found Aquarium Co-op very early on. You have taught me everything I know, and my 2 tanks are healthy, stable, beautiful, and most of all FUN! Thank you Corey for always giving reasoned, intelligent, down to earth advice.
Agreed... I have a hybrid approach I guess. I have a planted 10G tall tank that's planted with deep substrate. Use a budget light and HOB filter with a custom filter mix. Haven't done a water change or clean the tank in months and have actually seen an improvement in the quality of life of both my fish and plants. All I do is feed 4 times a week and top up water after evaporation
After being in the hobby for 3 years now, completely agree with you. I have settled on lighting + sponge filters as a winning combo.
An ex of mine learned like six different no-tech ways to make fire. Two sticks, fire bow, found rock strikers, etc. Learning all those no-tech methods taught them a lot about how to set up and maintain fires. Now, they use a Bic because it's quick, cheap, and easy. They carried the knowledge forward to improve their methods when they have the benefits of technology.
thats not an intelligent way of phrasing it.
filterless techless tanks take care of themselves, you just have to have a decent level of competence, and understand when to interact with the tank(if any problems arise, which, in a well balanced tank, wont.)
its easier, thats your answer? you might as well be a tasteless kid who shoves 20 goldfish in an empty tank.
Very well said. Clear and concise info 👌🏻
I love having all the different points of view about how to keep fish. I've taken bits of advice from several channels that I enjoy watching and applied them to my first planted tank. I will probably never go no-tech, but I very much enjoy the low-tech way of keeping a tank. I still do water changes, I still test my water, I have to trim plants (and thin floating plants) about once a week or so. Low-tech definitely doesn't mean no work! But I love to do it, anyway.
Perfect. Air and water movement are my priority everytime I think of a set up. Aragonite sand helps greatly with stability too. That said, I love a lot of the DYI approaches and now embrace sponge use as much as possible on the intakes of HOB and Canisters filters.
I'm starting the hobby with a planted pond set up in a very large pot with rice fish, snails, and some critters from the leaf litter in the local pond. I wanted to start with a "no filter" just to have as low maintenance and fluff as possible to start. But you're absolutely right, the fish would be much better off with an air stone, like you said, and I'm really using this project to slowly wade into the hobby, and eventually try out a higher tech freshwater tank.
Cory very good points, I run dirted aquariums with sponge filters just to keep the water moving around, I do also run a undergravel filter plate in one of my other aquariums. I like my set ups for all 4 of my tanks. But simplicity is truly my favorite tanks.
Technology is like tank size. It buys you time to figure out when something is going wrong. With experience, you can go very barebones, but that requires proper planning and patience. That's harder for a lot of newer fish keepers.
Great point ! I probably watched over 100 hours of these videos before setting up my first tank and I’m glad I did . I would have ended up wasting $$$ and gotten frustrated managing the equipment then left the hobby .
Makes sense.... As people have issues and fail in the hobby, or just find out that it's more work, they opt for the easiest way and "another method" that seems easy. This is the same thing people do when they want to argue on the internet, they search for what fits what they want to hear, but not what is necessarily the best answer.
Confirmation bias at its best.
A perfect example of this is my shrimp tank, neocaridina tank, that doesn't follow a lot of the traditional advice.
My LFS just started stocking a variety of your products and I am so happy!
Agree with Cory. I've enjoyed the walstad method of tanks but the most enjoyable for me is when there is a sponge filter, light, and when applicable a heater. The great thing about keeping aquariums is that there's a wide variety of methods and tech that can be applied and they all work great! It's always a luxury when you can have a preference and it still works.
I love the analogy that you used with no-tech basically being off the grid. As appealing as it is to not have to do so much maintenance, I'd rather stick to my sponge filters, heaters, and of course a light. I'm in the process of removing my remaining HOB filters and replacing them with houseplants instead (pothos is my favorite for this), it just looks so much nicer than staring at a big hunk of plastic.
@@NyssaMysteria pothos are amazing as a form of filtration. Also look into peace lilies. They’re also pretty cool and very pretty plants that enjoy having their roots in water 😊
Hi Corey I appreciate this video. We have discussed one of my tanks before ( Easy Green conversation) I mentioned that I was able to unplug filters on it. To clarify, it was because my son with autism couldn't stand the sound of a pump. Since then I found an almost silent air pump and am using a sponge filter. I noticed the fish are Def more active in the tank with the filter, and of course the shrimp love munching off the sponge, and the water is crystal clear where it wasn't when I was filterless. Just my observations.
Been keeping fish on and off for over a decade, since I was a tween. When you're a kid and you don't have access to good information or you don't know how to access good information, you make mistakes. So while I've been doing this for a long time, I really started to get serious about five-six years ago, and have REALLY leaned into it in the last three years. In the last three years I've learned more than in the other ten and I've had a great time doing it. When the filter on my six gallon planted tank went out, stopped working, and nothing changed? I decided to take the leap. I made a filterless aquarium. But I used the knowledge that I have to make it work better. I kept an airstone in it to keep water circulating not only for oxygenation via gas exchange, but also so that waterflow around the tank would strengthen the muscles of the single betta inhabitant. I made sure to add floating plants because they are such heavy water column feeders to mitigate any ammonia or nitrite/nitrate spikes. I had a ton of little baby mystery snails in there, I pulled almost all of them out to further lower the bioload. It's been probably about three months running with just an airstone, but that tank has like a 12:1 ratio of plant matter to animal matter, and it matured for almost a year before I took that leap. I put so much thought into that, looked at so many different parameters. That's why I love this video because yes I was able to make a very low-tech tank (still use lights though) but I wouldn't have been able to do it from scratch without the tech to support the tank while it matured. If someone had just told me water, fish, plants, dirt, go... I wouldn't have a filterless tank. So I love how you were talking about yes everyone should probably experience this at some point, but having even a little bit of tech is so helpful. It's dangerous when people give permission to throw away tech that helps an aquarium flourish without educating on just how much that tech is making up for!
I also cannot agree with you more that even if you don't want to run a sponge filter, having that airstone in there is gonna make such a HUGE difference. I can forego a heater in some of my tanks because I have my fish set up in the most well-insulated and stable, warm room in the house. But several of my tanks do have heaters and I have to think that the warmth and stability in that room is at least partially due to them. I absolutely would not want to do this hobby without lights, either. Coming from a photography background and keeping the live plants that I do in my tanks, literally none of my tanks would be possible without lights.
You're way ahead of the game! It took me almost 20 years to figure out all of that. A lot less work than when I first started many, many years ago and tried to keep my tank sterile. My two tanks are now heavily planted, pond plant soil as a substrate covered with sand, and very good lights. I live in FL but I still need a heater for both tanks because in the winter I keep the house at 68, too cold for my fish and shrimp. Having a RO water system available to top off my tanks helps a lot, but I still test once a week, just to make sure everything is still within parameters. My 20 gal I change out about 4 gal every month or two, depending on what the testing shows. The filter outside the tank keeps it pretty clean and just rinsing the filter periodically to prevent it from getting clogged is all that really needs to be done, other than trimming the plants that get too tall or too dense. The 3 gal I just top off because it started as my plant nursery and it's very heavily planted. The snails and shrimp love it. My small outdoor pond gets the benefit of the extra plants after the winter die off. (Yes, even in FL it does get really cold for about 3 mos.). The outdoor pond also gets the excess fry so they can keep the mosquito larvae down. Now it's all a lot less work and a lot more peaceful enjoyment.
As I always say, " each to their own". If we don't explore, we don't get anywhere.❤ Thanks Coopy 👍💚🇦🇺
I'm actually trying out my first aquarium and it's a no tech tank, except for a light. This concept really speaks to me as I love to see how nature can maintain itself, how an ecosystem works. I will feed my fish, but I want them to help my snails in keeping the algae in check. I've introduced some bacteria and micro-organisms into the tank, from a nearby pond, to break down waste and to help fertilise the soil. The soil is pretty thick and has a dense layer of sand on top, to prevent oxygen from getting to the soil so the bacteria can flourish. And finally of course there are quite a lot of plants growing inside the tank.
Naturally I do agree that a no tech option isn't for everyone ( not even sure yet I'll actually be able to do it myself ), but I think the comparison to a garden with only one type of plant in it and not taking care of it isn't very accurate. I think it's almost the opposite, you get a lot of plants and other factors in the garden just right so that they amplify each other and you can watch them develop! When you DIY all this it can indeed be cheap, but it definitely won't be simple. Until you get experienced with it of course. You can get all wild and experimental with it from that point forward.
Again I am new to all this and I still have to see whether it works for me in the long run, but at least until now it's been very interesting. My fish are doing great and I'll see if I can get them to breed in there. That would mean ultimate succes if you'd ask me. Although it's a bummer I can't keep the young because they would disturb the balance... ^,^
I tend to lean towards low tech and keeping a more natural aquariums but I light and run a small sponge filter just to help the bacteria in the substrate
This is why I don't agree when people tell newbies not to buy the beginner kits. They give beginners a head start in the hobby and spark an interest in it that will allow them to decide how far the delve into the hobby at their own pace and if they wish to go bigger or try something different they already have the equipment there as a back up plan if stuff doesn't work out for them. Sometimes no amount of research can replace the knowledge gained from making your own mistakes. People these days are so wrapped up in having everything perfect from the get go with everything and unfortunately that's not how things work. Without mistakes you don't gain the experience that works for you as only you know what your situation is and what you can handle doing in your hobby. While advice is handy and invaluable sometimes if it's not applicable to what you are doing and you can end up with more problems than you started with. Thank you for this vid!
I go out collect some dirt and add some organic fert and mix em well and top off with construction sand. Around 1 inch of dirt and 1 inch of sand. Add the most easy and fast growning plants in the begining. All fill up the tank.. and only add fish after 3 days. In these 3 days just change 50% water.. thats it.. next time i change water when it seems abit cloudy... have done this like 4 times now in 8 years.. plants and fish thrive.. and they last even longer but i feel i need to change the setup after 2 years so.. i restart them again.. worked for me. Light and powerhead with filter are the only expenditure i have
I use a HOB, with sponge media in it. Thats all. Nothing fancy but does fine for my guppies in a heavily planted tank.
Big fan of the hang on back. Easy to remove and clean, lasts a long time.
My setup currently runs
Tech: light and HOB filters (sponge on intake, DIY water-bottle-baffler on discharge)
Maintenance: add fertilizer for the plants, supplement the live food (tank contains blackworm colony and daphnea colony in with the nanofish community), replace leaf litter and coral as needed, prune plants as needed.
Most of the work is done by all the lower trophic level organisms: blackworms, isopods, shrimp, snails, daphnea, and plants of all types
The filter is just surface area for water circulation, assist with gas echange at the surface, and add surface area for biological filtration. All the maintenance the filters get is rinsing out the sponges as needed.
It's just the right mix of "natural" and "low effort" for me. I spend maybe 5 min per day at most managing the tank but will toss on a podcast, smoke a bowl, and watch the ecosystem do its thing for hours.
I've been watching your videos for a long time and I'm watching because what you say is realistic and also you say very precisely not talking a bunch of irrelevant stuff with few facts . I totally agree with you, after watching no filter no water change I was really shocked and think it's very risky . I run very low tech aquarium, 2 sponge filters that combines 8 times gallon per hour and on top of them biological media for bacterial growth . And obviously plants . What I'm saying is I've not changed water last 4 months and I test water parameters every Sunday, I only add water that has been lost though evaporation. As I live in Kolkata I don't need heater except dec, Jan and Feb . I'm setting up a diy jelly+yeast co2 system. Even my light is LED bulb . This tank is running for more than 2 years . I saved a lot of money from the low tech low maintenance set up, only place I don't hesitate to spend money is food and I feed my fishes nothing but live food except in emergency. So what you said in this video is like speaking my mind
I like both worlds. I have very natural tanks. Do a water change once a month. Or every 3 weeks. But I have filters, air stones and heaters.
So thankful for you and your willingness to pass your knowledge onto others. It has been extremely helpful in my journey.
These kinds of videos are much appreciated, with some people out there (not going to point fingers) being very vague about the no water change setup.
Amazing work Cory, this is exactly how i have always felt.
There is so much intricacies to fish keeping and to ignore that is crazy, there is lots of ways to keep a fish tank! It what is the best for the fish and the best for you.
I think the only other layer i would add is that if you do want to do a filterless super duper natural tank you need to also think about the fish you choose! Not just if you want to go that way. A betta might do pretty damn good in a large filterless planted tank as some live in similar shallower smaller water flats in the wild. But a discus? Or even neons? They are river fish. When they are in stagnant pond in the wild that is extreme cases they otherwise love a fast flowing river.
I love the talk Cory! Here is to hoping that people move from division to embracing eachother ideas around the hobby and learning how they want to best keep fish without a need for any 'opposition'
Returning to the hobby after many years off I have to say I love the tech. Hate the cost but it is what it is. I was never successful with plants before investing in an expensive plant light, but I also watched videos on dirted aquariums and loved integrating a more natural fertilization approach with nutrients from the soil layer. I’m a tech guy so having a light that mimics sunrise and sunset and can demo a day in a minute is amazing and fun to me. Learning from your videos how to soup up a hang on back filter with sponges and modify what is sold to you is amazing. I agree with you, tech enhances and take the hobby where ever you want, personalize it, experiment and learn. And have fun.
Am watching aquarium after many years . I want to thank Cory for all the advice on the start of my journey years ago.
Great video, I really liked your analogy. The fact that No Tech tanks are possible (though not easy) is good to know, and indicates that often Low Teck tanks are sufficient for most of us. But if you like the High Tech stuff then go for it, its supposed to be a fun hobby after all.
I like to create an ecosystem in my aquariums but to do that I use some technology (air, filter, light and heater depending on the fish)
Good stuff sir ! Experience and time is the key to success. My take is this, when I started in the hobby 43 years ago, an undergravel filter with power heads seemed the high bar. I had an air pump with a clear triangle shaped filter, that you put your own carbon and filter floss in. Ive had some great success with breeding and keeping fish and also some losses that were expensive and painful lessons. Over the past 10 years Ive come to a place, where I have confidence in huge sump filtration ( aerobic and anaerobic bacteria factories ) and a waterchange regiment. It seems to be working well for me. I dont pay for super high tech, however I do spend in a need to have manner. Youve given much mental fodder. Agreed with statements about companies going light on information and heavy on trying to sell " bigger and better "
This concept has been confusing to me personally just because I actually enjoy maintaining my aquariums it brings me peace for some reason 🤷🏻♂️
Not weird! I love maintaining mine as well! Trimming the plants, or taking care of dead leaves, maintaining water parameters, etc. So dang fun and soothing
@@jascemarie33 I agree 💯%
I love all of it. Such a feeling of accomplishment and peace when I’m finished
not if you have 100 tanks
@Crystal Ball why have a 100 tanks? Unless you work at a fish store no need for that many tanks
@@omarbenouameur9780there is no need to have even one tank
I just want an easy to maintain aquarium for when I go on longer vacations.
I've been in the hobby for several years, and you have helped a lot. I recently stumbled upon FF and decided to try it bc I'm curious if it will work. I'm only a week in, but I'm still using a seasoned tank, sponge filter, and a heater. Like everything in the world, do your own research and to each their own.
I agree wholeheartedly with the video.
Back when I was starting in the hobby (with a help from my father) in the 90s, there was no high-tech, CO_2 fed aquariums, not even power head with large block of foam. I had few old books from the 70s and 80s which told measured, patient approach, air pump with a stone or sponge filter, water changes once in a month or two... I could see how even that simple sponge filter (with palm-sized sponge) helped... my first tank had a ball of Java moss, guppies and light bulb on top of it and it required water changes in a while. There are two extremes, on one hand there are beautiful CO_2 aquascapes which require ton of maintenance or setups which rely on filtration and frequent water changes... on the other end the closest would be a tank full of moss with guppies or shrimp which could go for a year without a water change (or collapse during summer heat wave).
Moderation and patience, after all patience brings roses.
I have to say this is your best educational video I have watched in your channel ... I prefer the low tech aquariums ... I always try to do the best a can within my resources.
Great take on the topic. Not only about no filter tanks but a much needed insight in general. As a new hobbyist I appreciate your perspective
I have 16 tanks and every single one of them are no filter and no tech! just lights and lots of plants and no water changes. easy life
I agree you, an aquarium should be as simple as possible, on the other hand, this kind of solutions save so much energy. Thanks for sharing, awesome tutorial.
Your analogy is spot on. Living in a rustic cabin is doable but when there are modern conveniences well….. I once took a wilderness course and the instructor told us that it’s good to know how to make a fire with a bow drill and flint but given the option of a lighter there’s no argument lol. Same applies to your logic!
Great point of view, do what you like and work’s best for you. There is many ways to keep in our hobby but nothing is better than you being happy with your setup.
I have a heater but i have a deep substrate tank, planted and yes, to start off i did have a filter, but now i dont. All i do is top ups, no water changes (unless one day i see my water parameters are off and i need it), i look at my tank daily to make sure everyone is “acting” normal, i do take algae out once and a while. I most likely will add root tabs eventually but right now my aquasoil is doing good. Also also do have a light, its a 75 gal tank
Always very humble and knowledgeable Cory. I love watching your content because you’re relaxed and not the usual over the top American RUclipsr
OMG the dude staring lovingly at the HOB about made me die from laughing! 🤣
😊 my son
@@mattgray9297 Really?? 😁
@@audrameyer9558 sometimes you just need a shot 😂 He’s a sport
@@mattgray9297 I just love that!!He is awesome and seriously made my day!
With 70+ tanks running, I have both... All have an air stone at least... Depends what I'm doing each tank... Thanks, keep up your awesomeness and go enjoy some nature today...!
That's awesome! Are you just huge into the hobby or do you have a big breeding operation?
@@HopeB555 A little of both right now... I hope to, in a few years, sell my lawn service business and go full-time plant and fish guy...! Thanks
I’ve done a aquarium no filter for a while because I didn’t know that the filter had died. And then Covid came and no one could get out. And for me shipping is ridiculous so it was no filter for half a year. I think it is better to go from filter for about a year or two. And then just take it out.
I definitely needed to find this video. I have a 75 gallon aquarium that I am needing a change with and started finding videos on going natural. My head and my experience was telling me to not do it but the videos were making it interesting. I still need to figure out my direction for the 75 gallon but I am back on track with my common sense again.
Light, heat, air stones , plants that's my setup for my 55 community and yes i do feed my fish. Now my 75 Cichlid tank is sand rocks and a cannister filter and water changes ,bottom line you need to know your tank ,Then apply what you need for your tank to keep the fish healthy and happy
I guess I’m nuts but after watching your video on what filter oxygenates the aquarium the best , I will always run at least a sponge filter. In my bigger tanks I also run a Ziss or box filter,I’ve even ran an under gravel filter until the seem on the tank went bad.
Great video and I agree. Yes fish can survive in zero tech tanks, but do they thrive? I think about no air stone. In a lake, there are no airstones right? But guess what? Nature is still moving the water which is exchanging the oxygen and co2. Wind and tides exist.
I truly need to say: this guy, Cory has been and is my teacher, my adopted unknowingly master since i started this hobby! I learned so much from you, just like you said: i reached that top of the mountain, where you realize and learned that after testing so many products and tech in this hobby, i can not only run all my aquariums with some basic filtration like sponge filters, BUT ALSO you can save a lot of money on electricity by using them. That is not all ... What happens when we get a blackout or we lose electricity for hours or days? In my case, all of my tanks keep running without issues and just like if nothing happened, when using technology but at the simplest level where you can enjoy and SAVE MONEY and have a real HAPPY FISH living (not surviving)
PD: i hope Cory comes back to my country again, I'll sign up for the tour in Amazonas 😁
Cheers from Perú
I’m considering a January trip to Brazil for the fish festival and collecting/filming.
I've been watching u for at minimum like 4yrs. Thank u for the constant info ur willing to give out ... ur y I started having better/cleaner tanks .. thank u so much for ur time and efforts
Well said Cory. We’re in full agreement on this subject😀👍🏻
Such a great way to explain the truth
Thank you so much for this video. I started the hobby in 2018 and yes there is a serious lack of education and the biggest problem I've had educating myself is the "rabbit" hole of youtube trying to disseminate information and how to properly build a healthy tank.
Great advice ! Balance!
I do love your anti-salesman/anti-hype approach.
Seeing Aquarium-Coop displays now at my local shop. Good products at fair prices.
Your most successful product is the joy of fish keeping…and distribution is keeping pace with demand.
"Don't learn about the biology and ecosystem of your pets, just come to my store and buy my aquarium products"
Agree...I'm I guess in the middle. More confident that at the beginning. Tanks full of plants a sponge filter and HOB just to use filter floss to polish the water. I also use the HOB to seed sponge for quick use. I have light's and heaters. But I don't change water as often test monthly unless something is off. I don't gravel vac anymore....plants do better when I don't
I stopped doing water changes on regular basis. Now I change it only when needed and it works just fine for me. Heavily planted tank, a good layer of substrate and canister filtration but otherwise it's pretty low tech. In my betta dirted tank I did not have filtration at first and it worked well too. Later on I bought Eden 501 just for the shrimp to have some water circulation. Both tanks are well balanced. No algae, no ammonia, no diseases for 2 years now.
I'm a minimal maintenance kind of person not zero. I've got it to a point where I may do a 50% water change once a year, any other water is just evaporation top ups. I keep shrimps and wcmm and they are thriving. The plants might get a tidy a couple of times a year. If there wasn't such a thing as aquarium plants and I had to change water every 7 days I'd probably not have fish in the house tbh I'd just stick with my ponds.
Do you just use regular tap water to top up??
@@iwillfindyou3902 regular tap water, but I use a dechlorinator chemical
On the lawn mowing hobby, I would recommend trying a scythe at least once. On a small scale I find it fun, but on a larger scale it's a lot of work. It also gives the best/healthiest cut.
I love your mentality towards the hobby.
Thank you so much for all the effort you put into creating this type of content.
Nailed it, I was looking forward to your views on this topic
Thanks for that video. I truly have a hard time listening to people that encourage no filters, and especially those who encourage NO WATER CHANGES. Sure, my house doesn't need air conditioning when it's 105 degrees outside (and it is in Arkansas). Would I live without it? Yes! would I prefer to have it? YES! Could I survive without a vacuum cleaner with three dogs in the house? Yes! Lately, I have been watching some of Father Fish's videos. I had to quit watching to protect my sanity. Anyway, thanks for posting your very informative videos.
This is such a great channel. Thank u.❤❤❤
Giving a go at the no tech with micro species for shrimp, snails, and plants. Will probably upgrade some once I add fish.
Thank you, thank you, thank you... I'm learning!
You’re talking sense , Cory. Most of this current controversy is caused by channel posting click bait headlines, to gain views.
@Cory Aquarium Co-op: Hi. I have wild/ savage/ natural aquariums/ tubs. But I also use mechanical filtration. My aquariums have no bleaching, washing, or boiling. They’re strait from nature to a “glass/ plastic box.” But one thing is for sure, in conjunction with minimal mechanical filtration, I have healthy tanks. Fish and plants both love water changes. The best of both worlds. 😊👍🏾 Thank you for your knowledge, wisdom, and perspective.
I appreciate that I have the option to go to either extreme or somewhere in the middle and have the knowledge and info out there to do so. Great times in the hobby.
That was a VERY important video. Thank you Cory. I agree 100% And although I do have one small tank that I have no tech, I do not recommend it. I am the exception since I have decades of experience and I still made mistakes. As an example of that, I have that tank at work and I have a stubborn coworker (fishkeeper newbie) who decided she wanted to do the same for her first time experience with fish. I told her NOT to do my tank and she went ahead any ways. The manager at the local fish store down the street refused to sell her fish because she insisted that you could just throw fish in a bowl and they would do good since she saw my tank. Eventualy, she went to two separate box stores and put two betta fish together in the same tank. Eventually one of them was severely beaten, tail shredded from bites, and diseased. Luckily I talked her into separating them and donating one fish to someone else. She was a severely stubborn person who almost killed her fish and thought fishkeeping was simply and that she knew better than me. Don't do that! Don't be that ignorant and stubborn. Keep it simple with the technology, as Cory suggested. Don't jump ahead and think you can (or should) do a no tech tank. You are the guardian of an animal's life. So your job is to give them the best chance and best life possible. Only years of experience will allow you the knowledge to know what to look for with water chemistry, diseases, food, and other non-visible signs not obvious to the average newbie.
I tried to do the all natural aquarium maintained it for about 3 years before I gave it away when I moved. By the end of it I had a filter and changed the water 50% about every month or so... Just for the sake of not torturing my animals. I'm planning my next aquarium but I'm going to use a filter, pumps, thermostat, lights, and change the water.
👍👍 on the subject matter, thank you Cory for putting out this video. 😊
My tanks have filters but are no water change, established over several years with live plants, deep substrate with bio gravel and bio home media in the filters I now have steady nitrates of around 50ppm and since ive stopped gravel vaccuming and changing water my filter sponges can run 3+ months between maintenance where as before they were getting clogged every 3-4 weeks!
Congrats! You have the best of both/all? worlds.
Thanks! Great visuals emphasize your points well.
Always a treat hearing your advice Cory.
Dude the concept you just slapped down here... Education and experience... imagine that haha. But now I'm thinking about just how many things this lack of education/experience is affecting in individuals and societies lol that fear of, or rebellion against, things we were never taught or have no experience with? Or that false advertising and intentions behind it? Idk, but you've got me thinking, so thanks for that! And thanks for supporting my education and experience, supporting my efforts and ability to figure things out, work with what I've got, try new things, and learn from experience. Good stuff. Anyway! Hope you're doing good man!
God loves you!
I personally love having air stones in my tanks. I love how it looks!
Agreed!
I hate the noise. Got rid of mine and it made no difference to my fish.
Not bad topic, and you’re right it’s all preference. Explaining how no filter tanks work and why and explaining how the filters work would better explain the concepts.
What I do is run the best of both worlds. Instead of a hang on back filter, I use a a bubble powered breeder box to oxygenate the water and keep a sponge in it for bacteria. For flow I have a simple 8 watt jet pump in my 20 gallon. Keeps the water moving and oxygenated with the least amount of moving parts and complexity.
I'm thankful for this video. I've gotten carried away by different you tubers. I've gone full circle. Now I'm back here watching aquirium co op. Thanks