my son pushed me to buy tank/fish 4 months ago and after 2 weeks he lost the interest. So, all the cleaning, adding chemical.... was on me, and I hated it. I was about to give up, just searching in youtube, and I found you by accident. I set it up your way three months ago in a 15 liter tank (so small), and I was so skeptic :). Since then, no water change no cleaning, almost nothing.... they have bredded :), and living happyly. some fishes died (which I did not took them out, they were eaten in few days) but in total the number of fishes increased over time. and the water is cryustal clear!
When I first got into the hobby, I joined a few FB groups. I bought a 2.5 gallon kit that came with a built in light and terrible filter. I got discouraged within the groups, because it was "buy this, buy that, weekly water changes, etc." It went from a fun hobby to very expensive and time consuming. Just as I planned to sell my tank and betta, I remembered seeing something about you (Father Fish). Watched two videos and I was like YES! I now have FOUR Father Fish style tanks. All are doing great, especially my 10 gallon. My plants are doing wonderful and all my dish, snails, ADFs, and ghost shrimp are living happily. I got kicked out of or left many of those FB groups after saying I use FF methods.😂 The amount of people who think natural methods are considered radical and outdated. Haha! So, thank for your RUclips videos and Discord. They're all so helpful, also the beautiful plants from your store.❤
I've had tanks for over 30 years back to when I was 9 with a 55 gallon with undergravel filters in my bedroom. I've always loved fish, but the headache of cleaning gravel, scrubbing, and water changing makes it just not seem worth it a lot of the time, it just gots so tiring. A year ago I found FF and I jumped in headfirst like an addict looking for any way out. I top off my tanks once a week and do a little surface vacuuming, filter rinsing, and plant trimming every 2-3 months now and MORE people ask me now how I keep my tanks looking so good and most don't believe me when I tell them how little I interfere with the tanks. For the first time in my life I have to add fertilizer because my tanks run negative nitrates. The plants actually consume more nitrates than my fish produce.
Yes he knows what he's talking about . I've had aquariums since I was 10 now at 51 I've always spent lots of money keep one going 2 months ago I set one of his natural tanks up .well it's been flawless and has cost me nothing after set up . Plants are growing , thriving . All the fish are still alive not lost one fish . I wish I knew the back then . I would have saved thousands of dollars and time cleaning tanks . I never would have thought dirt and sand in tank would work but it's amazing
I got a little 10 gallon tank for my kids about three months ago, (ok, it was for me. But they like it too). The pet store set me up with some tetras and Cory catfish, gravel, and a few plants. I’ve been fully invested in keeping up with cleaning schedule, not over feeding. About a week in I found Father Fish and loved the idea of a little ecosystem rather than a tank that stresses fish with constant interaction. As I slowly watched my plants suffer (gravel), I decided to go for it. Made a complete switch today and so excited to watch it flourish. Added a bunch more plants, 1 inch dirt from my yard (with lots of goodies in it), 2 1/2 inches sand. It just feels right and already looks so much cooler. Thanks so much Father Fish!! You’ve got another believer here 👍
Now if anyone didn’t understand F.F explaining this simple view and spoken in a professional way.. I would recommend watching it again..Well done F.F❤STOP !! Buying all those chemicals from the store you wont need them once your tank is balanced naturally 😊 just like a garden.R~
I constantly struggled with keeping my fish alive for more than a few weeks, Then I randomly came across your channel, Followed your advice about Natural Aquariums, and I haven't had a single dead fish for over 1.5 years.
I agree, a good tank is stable first, nature can tolerate changes if it has time to recover, which sometimes implies to "do nothing". Water is also chimical so changing too much water is like using chimicals if the PH or minerals we add aren't the same as the water we remove, if we think about it water is what makes a tank "stable" as it dissolves everything, that's why life appeared in water. The cool thing with life is it makes the environment resilient, we can trust life, basically you could just randomly put dirt, water, plants in a tank and observe, it just needs a current for the elements to move everywhere or a soft wind at the surface, plants IRL don't need human to survive, some even need to break to reproduce.
Father fish your method of tank keeping has been great for my fish and they seem much happier than when they were in my heavily maintained fish tank era
This was one of the best videos ive ever seen on youtube. So peaceful and thoughtful.Because of you i quit the gravel and fake plants and started a natural aquairum with proper substrate and natrual plants. It's so much more beautiful.
Thank you friend from a disabled Christian fishkeeper , i gave up regrettably my 4foot tank thinking i needed powerheads undergravel filters and regular monthly waterchanges which i can no longer do . . . . . Then😊 i found you, and now have a much smaller tank ( money reasons ) but a deep substrate with aqua soil , capped by sand and densely planted . One year later and only one small water change my tank is thriving.
I’ve never had a fish tank before and joined a FB group. I was intimidated by all the set ups and by chance found Father Fish. I followed his method and set up my first shrimp tank. It’s been two months and I already have baby shrimp! I’m excited to set up another tank using his advice.
Thank you Father Fish!!! Started a Red Wiggler Composting Farm last Feb, and Now everything is clicking more than ever with Fish Tanks ... Now, i am planting my aquariums with Worm Vermicompost :) excited with this new approach :) Thank you for all the educational information...
The fact that our ape brains have evolved to replicate an ecosystem from our underwater environments is phenomenal. Every time I see that my tanks have growth from the plants --and life in them--I know that things are correct (or at least as correct as I can make them). Being a part of nature myself, I consider the tanks a part of nature. Animals are constantly changing and adapting to their environments so just because we don't mimic the outside conditions exactly for our tanks doesn't make anything less natural. You're the best Father Fish. Thank you for all your content.
Hi father fish I imitated your method..I used garden soil and then I capped it with beach sand and I tried to plant Egeria densa and I was very happy because it grew..I thought the plant would not survive if beach sand was used ..next I will add other types of aquatic plants..Thank you very much for what you taught us..greetings from the Philippines
Thank you so much! I'm cleaning my 70l (18 gal) fish tank EVERY DAY. Me, my husband, my betta and my applesnails are stressed and tired. I was looking for a more natural and sustainable way but everybody keeps says that i should maintain my aquarium "aseptic". I will start my natural fish tank tomorrow. Wish me luck! And thank you again!
Thankyou Father Fish, you're such an inspiration! I'm 66 years old and have just adopted my first ever fish!... a 5 uk gallon with 2 goldfish ( about 3 years old ) and a 20 gallon with 3 tetra. I have always gardened nature and intend to keep the fish with nature too. I'll be watching all your videos and can't wait to learn more from you.
When I was a kid my parents got me a tank and we tried quite hard, but it never turned out nice. A few months ago I felt the need to get one again and googled how to keep a successful one without having to put in much effort. This lead me to your channel and I am glad it did. My tank is now thriving, looking as beautiful a tank as I have ever seen one in person. The logic to your method made sense to me from the beginning, but still I was a bit sceptical and wary if this would work for me, having my old, rather smelly tank still in the back of my mind. But it turned out that the internet was actually not promising too much here (as it otherwise usually does haha). So thanks, FF, for sharing this incredibly rewarding, yet so simple approach to fish keeping with us!
Great video Father Fish I used under gravel filters back in the late 60's and 70's and your right they were great filters. Most people did not under stand how they worked, and would vacuum the gravel all the time and take the good bacteria out of the tank. Your Friend Joe H Navy Seabee
I'm about to start my first fish tank and I'm going to season it for a couple of months before adding any fish and I had no idea about the soil and sand, I just assumed gravel was best because it was common, your videos are so insightful and easy to understand so thankyou I will be developing a natural tank purely off of your hard earned knowledge, you are a legend!!
I just built a Father Fish 29. I have a deep substrate tank that I used gravel instead of sand. I think it's probably loaded up. I'm going vacuum the gravel and add a layer of sand. My new build is probably medium tech. I don't have high end lights but they're sufficient. 22:20
@@FatherFish did it but it's only temporary. I'm going move everyone to my 20 high. Right now I have seven inches of substrate. When I rebuild it I'm going to set it up with about 1 1/2 inches of soil and two inches of sand.
It's interesting what you mentioned about the under-gravel filter. When I found your channel, I was all ready to set up my 10 gallon aquarium the Novak way. When I decided to set it up the Father Fish way, I had already began setting up the tank with the under-gravel filter system. Not desiring to waste the under-gravel plenum, I decided to set up the aquarium the FF way and with the plenum installed under the dirted substrate and sand, but not hooked up to anything - it is static (I may be wrong, but I believe this was something mentioned in the Walstad method). This tank has been a pleasure to work with, one of my best tanks ever.
I had a sand and soil aquarium, and it worked. It worked really well, but every time I tried to rearrange or add new plants it got messy so I figured there had to be a better way to add and arrange my driftwood and plants without making a mess I experimented with course gravel, without gravel vaccing. I let the detritus fall into the empty spaces of the gravel, and after a while, it became compact. It was a struggle keeping the plants alive with just an inert substrate, so I had to dose liquid fertilizer in the beginning About 6 months in, and the fish/snail/micro fauna population has created balance, and I am almost done with any fertilizer dosing
4 years 60 liters tank with male and female Neolamprologus leleup. I have first two spawns alive and growing. They are preparing third spawn this year, I got them 4 months old. I have never cleaned anything else except the inner 25 liter/h filter and the front glass. I have never did a water change only getting water in after evaporation. I have 5-6 fingers of substrate and few plants. The water I only add is 14 days old at least, 8.1ph I do that very easy. If ph is low I add sodium bicarbonate + calcium chloride + a spoon of sea salt (only once!). If water hp is 8.0 8.1 I add only calcium chloride + tea spoon of sea salt, the first time, wait 14 days in a dark and cool space. Keep a barrel of this water always, keep the lid closed but so it can breath a little, add this water after evaporation. Same goes preparing the water for the first time before adding African Cichlids. I feed only once a day mixing flakes or small granules or krill. I don't feed one, some times two days a week. Temperature 25o at winter 26-28 pick summer. My water is good for drinking 😅
Been loving my unwashed creek sand I've been using in my tanks lately. My sand here is basically compressed dirt. Not much hard rock. The plants grow like crazy and the fish love it. Even with little or no filtration. Seems to work better than sand and dirt always keep it simple.
I'm glad I learned the proper method for a natural eco tank. It has saved me thousands of dollars across my 3 tanks (20 5 and 3 gallons). No need for expensive filtration or concentrated ferts medicines or supplements. My plants may not be as vibrant as a co2 high tech but my plants still have natural beauty.
I really like the clear totes that's exactly what I'm using in my basement for my guppies when I bring them back in this fall from the outdoor tubs are those the 17 gallon or the 27s?
Can't wait to try the dirt and sand combo - my current tank has dark river sand and aquasoil with leaves, wood and stone, local river plants. This. Is. Addicting. Lol
All my tanks started out the "industry standard" way, and somehow mysteriousley every "standard" tank fails my whole life. Even the tanks i have right now began as "standard" and I re-scaped the exsisting gravel tanks to house U.G.Fs and then put in media bags of your soil mix and capped it with a lot of sand. Then super heavily planted. Lots of plants failed in the beginning with the "industry standard" and now the only reason my plants fail is bc the fish eat them lol. It has removed so much labor and added so much joy having natural tanks. I even got a couple leopars frog tadpoles (which is said they need very pristene waters to survive) has been thriving. I got them and they started growing their back legs.
I always watch your video and so I inspired in your natural fish tank and I decide to do what you've said . In my tank happily my fish is healthy ❤ - watching From the Philippines❤
I took on your challenge on 1st January 2024 My tank is doing well. Well, I had a few deaths since, but I also got quite few births ..my platys love having babies Thank you Father Fish
Oh I love love your message we absolutely are here by Design and that's why I love having a natural ecosystem Aquarium because I think about how amazing creation is how everything was thought about nothing was missed
Hello father fish, your video is very good. Could you please make a specific video talking about water circulation in your aquariums? Is required? how to make? Other questions would be about aeration and filtration. Do I necessarily need an oxygenator and filter? How do you deal with aquarium heating? I don't have an aquarium yet, so I'm sorry if the questions are silly. Thank you very much for exposing these techniques to the world. I've always wanted to have an aquarium, but the way it's done has always seemed like a lot of work and cost for little return.
i follow all your teachings and my aquarium is beautiful, its looks natural with clear yellow water because of driftwood and indian almond.. plants are thriving, fish are healthy and i dont clean it i just leave it alone.. the poop the dead plants matter is not an issue in my aqarium because of 1 inch soil cap with 2 inches of sand and plants.. it was amazing
@@Lobby4U im from phililpines i dont have access to his stores.. but according to his teaching you can use any kinds of organic potting soil or just your backyard soil...
Ang sakin lods ginamit ko potting soil tapos ang sinubakan kong maglagay nang beach sand na pang capping.tapos natanim ako nang egera densa laking tuwa nabuhay naman.akala ko kasi hindi pwedi ang beach sand..@@jaggybuggy
thanks for the knowledge. i have put nearly the same setup as yours for more than half of the year and put it outside of my house. only screwpine at the top of the pale. the water stays clear and the fish are healthy. but one thing irritates me the most which the fish's waste at the bottom of the pale. somehow i need to add soil to complete the cycle because its always raining in malaysia , so i dont even need to change the water for months.
I see the natural aquarium as a sliver of a real lagoon, river, lake, or ocean reef, etc. It's an ecosystem. To succeed the elements in the aquarium must be the same or very similar to these types of wild phenomena.
If you are near the sea collect sand from the littoral water and put 2" in your tank. Cap with cleaner wild sand about 2". That's it. Run a power head and find plants to grow in it - macro algaes are great. If you do not live near the sea use plain sand, 4-6" and get some live sand from an existing tank, a little bit is all you need. NO DIRT!
I have a very small tank with 2 neon tetras, soil, sand, dried leaves and 1 plant. Im not doing anything and just feeding them occasionally. After a month without doing anything I saw a couple of snails in my tank.
Don't think I didn't notice the little jingle at the end that sounds like the good ol' Stargazer theme. Loved that show and you are growing on me. I guess I have been "scared" by the big fish companies and hobbyists into thinking introducing a foreign agent (any, like something hitchhiking on a leaf from a pond) will create an annihilation of everything in a "clean-kept" tank LOL I've been "programmed" into thinking that if i introduce some microorganism from one species into a tank with a different species, it will somehow kill my tank inhabitants or get them sick, ill, or infected with some type of parasite, etc. I guess the key take away would be go slow....have a tank start up as dirted and no tech like this, and don't just take gunk from a pond and throw it into a hi-tech tank and expect for it to magically turn into a natural habitat without consequences. In other words, use common sense, and gradually you can start taking fish from a hi-tech setup and introduce them in time to a natural minimal effort tank....kinda the way you would do when you buy a fish from a store and take them from that water and acclimate them to your water ;)
Hi father fish! Not sure if you will see this, I want to switch the substrate out of my older tank. The soil I originally used years ago as a beginner, I mixed with so many rocks then only put a thin layer of sand and gravel on top. The soil is almost rock hard, and extremely difficult to plant into in most areas, (My epiphytes are great)and I want a deeper sand substate for a healthier tank. I have 21 small nano fish and a mystery snail and a handful of shrimp in a 29 gallon. Is there a safe way to transfer my fish into a temporary set up while I quickly change out the substrate and place all my plants and rocks and wood back then put them in without killing them? and If so, how long do you leave them out before adding them back in then original tank, does it have to "season" ?
Yes. Remove plants and fish to a bucket with an air stone. Remove all of the water but leave your substrate. Add my soil formula to 1", add 2" of sand and carefully fill the tank without disturbing the sand. Add plants on day one and the fish on day two. Onward!
Father fish what plants would you recommend as most resistant to the negative effects of aquarium salt? And how much and how often should I give my fish a dose of aquarium salt without killing my live plants?
@@FatherFish how can I order sturdy plants from you father fish? I would want to buy plants from you in the near future as soon as I get some lawsuit money coming my way.
That was a really good video. I am thinking about getting a 6-foot tank next year and I want to do it the way you said. I would like to know if you know about all the different species of fish so that they can live together without fighting each other. cAN YOU ALSO RECOMMEND THE BEST FILTER SYSTEM FOR A 6 FOOT TANK? THANK YOU
I already have an aquarium with gravel only. Is there a way to convert into a natural aquarium without starting over? I didn’t find this method until too late. It’s right up my alley. I should have known better because I have an awesome backyard goldfish pond out back that is pretty natural & self sufficient.
So, do I just go out and put some leaves from a body of water in my new tank, or can I buy that or does it come with your substrate? I’m trying to start my own bioactive tank, and this is all new to me.
GREAT> Joiin us in the Father Fish SHOAL where are the happy fish keepers live. Go to fatherfish.fish and click on the DISCORD link at the top. We have so much to share with you.
I just set up my 55 gallon tank but i put 50 pound of small round pebbles an bought 12 plants. Can i keep the gravel an start adding leaves an kind of do what you are taking about.i know i don't have the dirt but will it still be a better tank then with out the leaves ?
If I'm adding leaf litter from my wildlife pond into the tank - could I also keep all my plants cuttings in the tank aswell? Weighed down under a stone with the leaf litter? In my mind it would create a little closed circular cycle where all the nutrients would decompose and then be taken up by the plants - never needing for additional things to be added? What do you think @fatherfish?
Can we use undegravel filter in dirted tank as u mentioned. Like undergravel filter and sand thin layer on it and then dirt and sand 2 inches on it. Does it work as father fish tank????
Father Fish..i set up a 5gallon betta tank with substrate,sand,light,heater and plants..should i use aerator or filter?or let it thrive?newbie here and inspired by your videos
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my son pushed me to buy tank/fish 4 months ago and after 2 weeks he lost the interest. So, all the cleaning, adding chemical.... was on me, and I hated it. I was about to give up, just searching in youtube, and I found you by accident. I set it up your way three months ago in a 15 liter tank (so small), and I was so skeptic :). Since then, no water change no cleaning, almost nothing.... they have bredded :), and living happyly. some fishes died (which I did not took them out, they were eaten in few days) but in total the number of fishes increased over time. and the water is cryustal clear!
Thx 🙏 father fish
@@PeacefulSleepMelodies nothing like crusty clear water.
@@PeacefulSleepMelodies it's addictive
Did you have to start a new tank in order to make it a soiled tank?
When I first got into the hobby, I joined a few FB groups. I bought a 2.5 gallon kit that came with a built in light and terrible filter. I got discouraged within the groups, because it was "buy this, buy that, weekly water changes, etc." It went from a fun hobby to very expensive and time consuming.
Just as I planned to sell my tank and betta, I remembered seeing something about you (Father Fish). Watched two videos and I was like YES!
I now have FOUR Father Fish style tanks. All are doing great, especially my 10 gallon. My plants are doing wonderful and all my dish, snails, ADFs, and ghost shrimp are living happily.
I got kicked out of or left many of those FB groups after saying I use FF methods.😂 The amount of people who think natural methods are considered radical and outdated. Haha! So, thank for your RUclips videos and Discord. They're all so helpful, also the beautiful plants from your store.❤
I've had tanks for over 30 years back to when I was 9 with a 55 gallon with undergravel filters in my bedroom. I've always loved fish, but the headache of cleaning gravel, scrubbing, and water changing makes it just not seem worth it a lot of the time, it just gots so tiring. A year ago I found FF and I jumped in headfirst like an addict looking for any way out. I top off my tanks once a week and do a little surface vacuuming, filter rinsing, and plant trimming every 2-3 months now and MORE people ask me now how I keep my tanks looking so good and most don't believe me when I tell them how little I interfere with the tanks. For the first time in my life I have to add fertilizer because my tanks run negative nitrates. The plants actually consume more nitrates than my fish produce.
Most only need a plenum to make this method work for aquascaping
Yes he knows what he's talking about . I've had aquariums since I was 10 now at 51 I've always spent lots of money keep one going 2 months ago I set one of his natural tanks up .well it's been flawless and has cost me nothing after set up . Plants are growing , thriving . All the fish are still alive not lost one fish . I wish I knew the back then . I would have saved thousands of dollars and time cleaning tanks . I never would have thought dirt and sand in tank would work but it's amazing
I absolutely agree. I dont want a perfect crystal clear photoshoot aquarium, I want life, green and natural. Cant wait to finish setting up my tank!
I got a little 10 gallon tank for my kids about three months ago, (ok, it was for me. But they like it too). The pet store set me up with some tetras and Cory catfish, gravel, and a few plants. I’ve been fully invested in keeping up with cleaning schedule, not over feeding. About a week in I found Father Fish and loved the idea of a little ecosystem rather than a tank that stresses fish with constant interaction. As I slowly watched my plants suffer (gravel), I decided to go for it. Made a complete switch today and so excited to watch it flourish. Added a bunch more plants, 1 inch dirt from my yard (with lots of goodies in it), 2 1/2 inches sand. It just feels right and already looks so much cooler. Thanks so much Father Fish!! You’ve got another believer here 👍
Now if anyone didn’t understand F.F explaining this simple view and spoken in a professional way.. I would recommend watching it again..Well done F.F❤STOP !! Buying all those chemicals from the store you wont need them once your tank is balanced naturally 😊 just like a garden.R~
Thanks for that Ryan!
I constantly struggled with keeping my fish alive for more than a few weeks, Then I randomly came across your channel, Followed your advice about Natural Aquariums, and I haven't had a single dead fish for over 1.5 years.
I agree, a good tank is stable first, nature can tolerate changes if it has time to recover, which sometimes implies to "do nothing". Water is also chimical so changing too much water is like using chimicals if the PH or minerals we add aren't the same as the water we remove, if we think about it water is what makes a tank "stable" as it dissolves everything, that's why life appeared in water. The cool thing with life is it makes the environment resilient, we can trust life, basically you could just randomly put dirt, water, plants in a tank and observe, it just needs a current for the elements to move everywhere or a soft wind at the surface, plants IRL don't need human to survive, some even need to break to reproduce.
Father fish your method of tank keeping has been great for my fish and they seem much happier than when they were in my heavily maintained fish tank era
This was one of the best videos ive ever seen on youtube. So peaceful and thoughtful.Because of you i quit the gravel and fake plants and started a natural aquairum with proper substrate and natrual plants. It's so much more beautiful.
The Angelfish in this video are absolutely stunning .
Thank you friend from a disabled Christian fishkeeper , i gave up regrettably my 4foot tank thinking i needed powerheads undergravel filters and regular monthly waterchanges which i can no longer do . . . . . Then😊 i found you, and now have a much smaller tank ( money reasons ) but a deep substrate with aqua soil , capped by sand and densely planted . One year later and only one small water change my tank is thriving.
I’ve never had a fish tank before and joined a FB group. I was intimidated by all the set ups and by chance found Father Fish. I followed his method and set up my first shrimp tank. It’s been two months and I already have baby shrimp! I’m excited to set up another tank using his advice.
Listen at 24:54. It is very deep. I didn't expect to hear that in a clean aquariums on youtube. Thank you!
Thank you Father Fish!!!
Started a Red Wiggler Composting Farm last Feb, and Now everything is clicking more than ever with Fish Tanks ... Now, i am planting my aquariums with Worm Vermicompost :) excited with this new approach :)
Thank you for all the educational information...
I'm trying for the natural way of fishkeeping 👍😊💙
please make a update on the 22 year old aquarium
Wow! This video explains so much! Every fish hobbyist needs to see this video. We need to return to nature. Amazing work. Preach it Father Fish!
The fact that our ape brains have evolved to replicate an ecosystem from our underwater environments is phenomenal. Every time I see that my tanks have growth from the plants --and life in them--I know that things are correct (or at least as correct as I can make them). Being a part of nature myself, I consider the tanks a part of nature. Animals are constantly changing and adapting to their environments so just because we don't mimic the outside conditions exactly for our tanks doesn't make anything less natural.
You're the best Father Fish. Thank you for all your content.
Hi father fish I imitated your method..I used garden soil and then I capped it with beach sand and I tried to plant Egeria densa and I was very happy because it grew..I thought the plant would not survive if beach sand was used ..next I will add other types of aquatic plants..Thank you very much for what you taught us..greetings from the Philippines
Thank you so much! I'm cleaning my 70l (18 gal) fish tank EVERY DAY. Me, my husband, my betta and my applesnails are stressed and tired. I was looking for a more natural and sustainable way but everybody keeps says that i should maintain my aquarium "aseptic". I will start my natural fish tank tomorrow. Wish me luck! And thank you again!
Thankyou Father Fish, you're such an inspiration! I'm 66 years old and have just adopted my first ever fish!... a 5 uk gallon with 2 goldfish ( about 3 years old ) and a 20 gallon with 3 tetra. I have always gardened nature and intend to keep the fish with nature too. I'll be watching all your videos and can't wait to learn more from you.
When I was a kid my parents got me a tank and we tried quite hard, but it never turned out nice. A few months ago I felt the need to get one again and googled how to keep a successful one without having to put in much effort. This lead me to your channel and I am glad it did. My tank is now thriving, looking as beautiful a tank as I have ever seen one in person.
The logic to your method made sense to me from the beginning, but still I was a bit sceptical and wary if this would work for me, having my old, rather smelly tank still in the back of my mind. But it turned out that the internet was actually not promising too much here (as it otherwise usually does haha).
So thanks, FF, for sharing this incredibly rewarding, yet so simple approach to fish keeping with us!
This is the wisest advice I have ever heard in my lifetime. Thank you, Lolo. You're the best!
Another great video Father FIsh keep up the good work love everything you have taught me about since finding you on RUclips
When changing or topping off water I always bubble out the chlorine in a 5-gal bucket and my one gal jugs I just shake them up once in awhile.👍
Thanks!
Thank you for your support
Great video Father Fish I used under gravel filters back in the late 60's and 70's and your right they were great filters. Most people did not under stand how they worked, and would vacuum the gravel all the time and take the good bacteria out of the tank. Your Friend Joe H Navy Seabee
Thank you Father Fish.
I'm about to start my first fish tank and I'm going to season it for a couple of months before adding any fish and I had no idea about the soil and sand, I just assumed gravel was best because it was common, your videos are so insightful and easy to understand so thankyou I will be developing a natural tank purely off of your hard earned knowledge, you are a legend!!
Congratulations!!! Excellent class!! I'm always learning here!
I love you father fish! Thank you for teaching us!
Fantastic video FF, however this reminds me why I got out of the hobby because it’s so much work. Thanks for posting this ❤
Such a wonderful video. The evolution of the true self supporting aquarium is fascinating.
Thanks for sharing.
1:45 Nothing wrong with that! I’m with ya! Nature is perfect and amazing! The closest we can get to that is all we want!
Please will you do a tour of all your tanks?
Amazing video. My tanks are alive thanks to you.
This man is a national treasure. Protect him at all costs!😊
I just built a Father Fish 29. I have a deep substrate tank that I used gravel instead of sand. I think it's probably loaded up. I'm going vacuum the gravel and add a layer of sand. My new build is probably medium tech. I don't have high end lights but they're sufficient. 22:20
DO NOT vacuum the gravel. Leave all the dirt in it and cap with an inch of sand. You will be glad you did!
@@FatherFish thank you!
@@FatherFish did it but it's only temporary. I'm going move everyone to my 20 high. Right now I have seven inches of substrate. When I rebuild it I'm going to set it up with about 1 1/2 inches of soil and two inches of sand.
Great Video ❤❤❤ ❤❤❤❤❤❤ thanks father ❤❤❤❤ I appreciate the detail you went into super helpful
Multumim pentru sfaturi! Va salut din Romania!
Thanks!
Thank you
It's interesting what you mentioned about the under-gravel filter. When I found your channel, I was all ready to set up my 10 gallon aquarium the Novak way. When I decided to set it up the Father Fish way, I had already began setting up the tank with the under-gravel filter system. Not desiring to waste the under-gravel plenum, I decided to set up the aquarium the FF way and with the plenum installed under the dirted substrate and sand, but not hooked up to anything - it is static (I may be wrong, but I believe this was something mentioned in the Walstad method). This tank has been a pleasure to work with, one of my best tanks ever.
Yes. Perfect
God bless you Father Fish ❤
I had a sand and soil aquarium, and it worked. It worked really well, but every time I tried to rearrange or add new plants it got messy so I figured there had to be a better way to add and arrange my driftwood and plants without making a mess
I experimented with course gravel, without gravel vaccing. I let the detritus fall into the empty spaces of the gravel, and after a while, it became compact. It was a struggle keeping the plants alive with just an inert substrate, so I had to dose liquid fertilizer in the beginning
About 6 months in, and the fish/snail/micro fauna population has created balance, and I am almost done with any fertilizer dosing
Very well said...thank you
4 years 60 liters tank with male and female Neolamprologus leleup. I have first two spawns alive and growing. They are preparing third spawn this year, I got them 4 months old. I have never cleaned anything else except the inner 25 liter/h filter and the front glass. I have never did a water change only getting water in after evaporation. I have 5-6 fingers of substrate and few plants. The water I only add is 14 days old at least, 8.1ph I do that very easy. If ph is low I add sodium bicarbonate + calcium chloride + a spoon of sea salt (only once!). If water hp is 8.0 8.1 I add only calcium chloride + tea spoon of sea salt, the first time, wait 14 days in a dark and cool space. Keep a barrel of this water always, keep the lid closed but so it can breath a little, add this water after evaporation. Same goes preparing the water for the first time before adding African Cichlids. I feed only once a day mixing flakes or small granules or krill. I don't feed one, some times two days a week. Temperature 25o at winter 26-28 pick summer. My water is good for drinking 😅
Tanganyikan fish are stupendous colony fish.
Been loving my unwashed creek sand I've been using in my tanks lately. My sand here is basically compressed dirt. Not much hard rock. The plants grow like crazy and the fish love it. Even with little or no filtration. Seems to work better than sand and dirt always keep it simple.
I'm glad I learned the proper method for a natural eco tank. It has saved me thousands of dollars across my 3 tanks (20 5 and 3 gallons). No need for expensive filtration or concentrated ferts medicines or supplements. My plants may not be as vibrant as a co2 high tech but my plants still have natural beauty.
I really like the clear totes that's exactly what I'm using in my basement for my guppies when I bring them back in this fall from the outdoor tubs are those the 17 gallon or the 27s?
Estoy muy asombrado con sus palabras. Y ciertamente conmovido.. Tengo 66 años y voy a continuar con el acuarismo, siguiendo esta v{ia. Muchas gracias.
Totally agree with the father fish approach. GOAT...I have not cleaned my tank for the last 10 yrs.
Can't wait to try the dirt and sand combo - my current tank has dark river sand and aquasoil with leaves, wood and stone, local river plants. This. Is. Addicting. Lol
Thanks father fish I always get great knowledge from your video
I like how u explained the basic of aquarium keeping ❤
Another awesome learning video for us fishkeepers...thank you for all you do!❤
All my tanks started out the "industry standard" way, and somehow mysteriousley every "standard" tank fails my whole life. Even the tanks i have right now began as "standard" and I re-scaped the exsisting gravel tanks to house U.G.Fs and then put in media bags of your soil mix and capped it with a lot of sand. Then super heavily planted. Lots of plants failed in the beginning with the "industry standard" and now the only reason my plants fail is bc the fish eat them lol. It has removed so much labor and added so much joy having natural tanks. I even got a couple leopars frog tadpoles (which is said they need very pristene waters to survive) has been thriving. I got them and they started growing their back legs.
What comes to mind is Rift Lake Ciclid Salts. I found it as a result of discussing soft water. 😊
I always watch your video and so I inspired in your natural fish tank and I decide to do what you've said . In my tank happily my fish is healthy ❤
- watching From the Philippines❤
Saan ka sa pilipinas lods?
Baba seni kutluyorum her zamanki gibi mükemmel bilgiler verdiğin içinde teşekkür ediyorum .
I took on your challenge on 1st January 2024
My tank is doing well.
Well, I had a few deaths since, but I also got quite few births ..my platys love having babies
Thank you Father Fish
It's frightening how much we see eye to eye.😊
Oh I love love your message we absolutely are here by Design and that's why I love having a natural ecosystem Aquarium because I think about how amazing creation is how everything was thought about nothing was missed
Hello father fish, your video is very good.
Could you please make a specific video talking about water circulation in your aquariums? Is required? how to make?
Other questions would be about aeration and filtration. Do I necessarily need an oxygenator and filter?
How do you deal with aquarium heating?
I don't have an aquarium yet, so I'm sorry if the questions are silly.
Thank you very much for exposing these techniques to the world.
I've always wanted to have an aquarium, but the way it's done has always seemed like a lot of work and cost for little return.
i follow all your teachings and my aquarium is beautiful, its looks natural with clear yellow water because of driftwood and indian almond.. plants are thriving, fish are healthy and i dont clean it i just leave it alone.. the poop the dead plants matter is not an issue in my aqarium because of 1 inch soil cap with 2 inches of sand and plants.. it was amazing
Did you use father fish soil or organic soil
I’m thinking of starting a tank with organic soil 1 inch 2 inch sand cap but it’s store bought organic soil will that be ok
@@Lobby4U im from phililpines i dont have access to his stores.. but according to his teaching you can use any kinds of organic potting soil or just your backyard soil...
@@jaggybuggy I will use some I bought from Tesco today thank you for your advice
Ang sakin lods ginamit ko potting soil tapos ang sinubakan kong maglagay nang beach sand na pang capping.tapos natanim ako nang egera densa laking tuwa nabuhay naman.akala ko kasi hindi pwedi ang beach sand..@@jaggybuggy
Thank you father fish for all the help
Our father fish is a wonderful philosopher of life 😂❤❤❤...love u father fish :) ❤❤❤...i am from India 😊
thanks for the knowledge. i have put nearly the same setup as yours for more than half of the year and put it outside of my house. only screwpine at the top of the pale. the water stays clear and the fish are healthy. but one thing irritates me the most which the fish's waste at the bottom of the pale. somehow i need to add soil to complete the cycle because its always raining in malaysia , so i dont even need to change the water for months.
Preach! No wonder they call you "Father" :)
I have 2 tanks with nothing in them, in 3 months when i am better, i will get started on a natural aquarium😃👍
I love the discord group 💜 learned so much. Fishkeeping done the right and stress free.
I see the natural aquarium as a sliver of a real lagoon, river, lake, or ocean reef, etc. It's an ecosystem. To succeed the elements in the aquarium must be the same or very similar to these types of wild phenomena.
Thank you, Father Fish!
Well said! 🌿🐟
What causes a tank to start leaking? We had a tank with a slow leak and we don't know if we caused it or something else did. We love your videos.
WEAK SEAM
Your method is very neat and interesting. But water changes and regular gravel or even no gravel works as well 100%
I have soft well water with a TDS of about 16. I need to add stuff the water to get plants to stay alive! Dirt helps.
Can we put live fresh water clamps or shells? What will be their role in the tank?
Yes. They are a very fine filter. Only use a few. They have a tendency to die off en mass which can foul the tank.
@@FatherFish ooow! ... Thank you for that info... I am thinking of infused shells because I have a source for it.
❤Thank you😊
Thank you dear f.f.
Nice, but please tell me how to make this work with saltwater.
If you are near the sea collect sand from the littoral water and put 2" in your tank. Cap with cleaner wild sand about 2". That's it. Run a power head and find plants to grow in it - macro algaes are great. If you do not live near the sea use plain sand, 4-6" and get some live sand from an existing tank, a little bit is all you need. NO DIRT!
Do we still need filter (gravel, top or skimmer) for the natural tank?
Not if you have enough plants
@@deathbyfishtanks how do I know it enough?
@@jeffrey0091 should be fine as long as you have a lot.
@@jeffrey0091 but the way I figure- if your water is clear and doesn’t stink, you have enough plants
I have tops on most of my tanks. I use sponge filter, heaters, and lights.
Awesome my friend
Is natural spring water ok to top off my aquarium. I get my water from a spring in the mountains
Hello and thank for all your info, my question is can I build a discus tank like this and also do you clean the filters or not ?
I have discus in these tanks. Clean filters about twice a year.
Father fish you are the man love your content
I have a very small tank with 2 neon tetras, soil, sand, dried leaves and 1 plant. Im not doing anything and just feeding them occasionally. After a month without doing anything I saw a couple of snails in my tank.
Don't think I didn't notice the little jingle at the end that sounds like the good ol' Stargazer theme. Loved that show and you are growing on me. I guess I have been "scared" by the big fish companies and hobbyists into thinking introducing a foreign agent (any, like something hitchhiking on a leaf from a pond) will create an annihilation of everything in a "clean-kept" tank LOL I've been "programmed" into thinking that if i introduce some microorganism from one species into a tank with a different species, it will somehow kill my tank inhabitants or get them sick, ill, or infected with some type of parasite, etc. I guess the key take away would be go slow....have a tank start up as dirted and no tech like this, and don't just take gunk from a pond and throw it into a hi-tech tank and expect for it to magically turn into a natural habitat without consequences. In other words, use common sense, and gradually you can start taking fish from a hi-tech setup and introduce them in time to a natural minimal effort tank....kinda the way you would do when you buy a fish from a store and take them from that water and acclimate them to your water ;)
Hi father fish! Not sure if you will see this,
I want to switch the substrate out of my older tank. The soil I originally used years ago as a beginner, I mixed with so many rocks then only put a thin layer of sand and gravel on top. The soil is almost rock hard, and extremely difficult to plant into in most areas, (My epiphytes are great)and I want a deeper sand substate for a healthier tank. I have 21 small nano fish and a mystery snail and a handful of shrimp in a 29 gallon. Is there a safe way to transfer my fish into a temporary set up while I quickly change out the substrate and place all my plants and rocks and wood back then put them in without killing them? and If so, how long do you leave them out before adding them back in then original tank, does it have to "season"
?
Yes. Remove plants and fish to a bucket with an air stone. Remove all of the water but leave your substrate. Add my soil formula to 1", add 2" of sand and carefully fill the tank without disturbing the sand. Add plants on day one and the fish on day two. Onward!
Father fish what plants would you recommend as most resistant to the negative effects of aquarium salt? And how much and how often should I give my fish a dose of aquarium salt without killing my live plants?
There is typically no good reason to dose your tank with salt. Swords, val and sag are ok with limited salt.
@@FatherFish how can I order sturdy plants from you father fish? I would want to buy plants from you in the near future as soon as I get some lawsuit money coming my way.
I was surprised to see that my Anubias shot their roots down into the substrate. They must have knew it was goid stuff in there!
Thank you sir
That was a really good video. I am thinking about getting a 6-foot tank next year and I want to do it the way you said. I would like to know if you know about all the different species of fish so that they can live together without fighting each other. cAN YOU ALSO RECOMMEND THE BEST FILTER SYSTEM FOR A 6 FOOT TANK? THANK YOU
Join us in the SHGOAL for conversations about these concerns and more.
Love you're videos ff
I already have an aquarium with gravel only. Is there a way to convert into a natural aquarium without starting over? I didn’t find this method until too late. It’s right up my alley. I should have known better because I have an awesome backyard goldfish pond out back that is pretty natural & self sufficient.
Yes, add an inch or 2 of sand to cap the gravel
So, do I just go out and put some leaves from a body of water in my new tank, or can I buy that or does it come with your substrate?
I’m trying to start my own bioactive tank, and this is all new to me.
GREAT> Joiin us in the Father Fish SHOAL where are the happy fish keepers live. Go to fatherfish.fish and click on the DISCORD link at the top. We have so much to share with you.
I just set up my 55 gallon tank but i put 50 pound of small round pebbles an bought 12 plants. Can i keep the gravel an start adding leaves an kind of do what you are taking about.i know i don't have the dirt but will it still be a better tank then with out the leaves ?
If I'm adding leaf litter from my wildlife pond into the tank - could I also keep all my plants cuttings in the tank aswell? Weighed down under a stone with the leaf litter?
In my mind it would create a little closed circular cycle where all the nutrients would decompose and then be taken up by the plants - never needing for additional things to be added?
What do you think @fatherfish?
Absol;utely. You are on the right track.
@@FatherFish should I be worried about the nitrate spike that the breakdown of organic matter causes in this situation?
Can we use undegravel filter in dirted tank as u mentioned. Like undergravel filter and sand thin layer on it and then dirt and sand 2 inches on it. Does it work as father fish tank????
After a year the down tube can be removed from the DSS plate and the substrate capped with sand. It will then be a feep substrate dirted tank.
Do you have any advice for tank mates for bettas? And how many fish you can keep in a certain sized tank?
Father Fish..i set up a 5gallon betta tank with substrate,sand,light,heater and plants..should i use aerator or filter?or let it thrive?newbie here and inspired by your videos
sponge filter will move the water slowly.
Hello FF. How would you go about deworming a fish that is infected with internal parasites?