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You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Well, a tank full of water, plants, a male and female fish, babies and no external source of food being added. I would say the tank has arrived at the perfect balance point. Thank you for the update.
I think this is actually the Holy Grail of aquariums. People have wanted to make completely self-sustaining ecosystems in a tank for a very long time. You've done it!
Ummm...this is awkward, but I guess I should tell you now Mike. When I visited you back about 6 months ago, I dropped a giant 6 month vacation feeder pellet in there. It should be running out anytime now....😜🤙🏾
I had something kinda similar happen. So, I always have a hospital set up and running, just incase I ever get any sick fish and I moved a bunch of plants from one of my tanks into there, and kinda just forgot about it. Fast forward to three weeks later and I go to test the water to see if I'll need to change it (usually this tank can go months without a water changes since it normally has nothing but plants in there) and I see movement out of the corner of my eye. Confused, I take a closer look, and what do I see? A three week old corydora. It's super happy and doing well, and I'm probably going to wait for it to grow a little larger before I introduce it to my other corydoras, but it was definitely a surprise. This tank, that I haven't touched in ages, no maintenance, nor feeding, has life in it, and I didn't even notice until very recently.
I think it’s always good to have extra “junk” in your tank. Extra critters, light algae, mulm, and botanicals all help pickier fish and fry. I haven’t been able to check on my office tank much now because of lock down. I had an endler colony in there. I took as many fish as I could home but I couldn’t catch all the tiniest fry. Last time I was there they were doing great 🙂 I left them there, which I’m sure some people won’t agree with, but my home tanks are getting very overcrowded with fry and I think if they’re thriving, then that’s the best spot for them right now
I have a "run-of-the-mill" fish tanks with cheapie fish. Unfortunately I didn't have anyone to babysit them while I was on vacation, and when I got back home all but ONE had died. I was gone for over a month. I was so confused by it because the one that didn't die was still healthy looking and when I gave it food, it gobbled it up as normal. But then it struck me that there was no way it survived a month without food. So I did a test: Don't feed it anymore and see what happens. It's a swordtail fish, and it's still alive 4 months after I started the test. I had it in with all kinds of different fish, such as dwarf gourami, tetra, and another swordtail. It still baffles me how only this one survives and the others couldn't. I do think it may probably have to do with the live plants and driftwood I have in the tank. perhaps growing some form of bacteria that the fish eats.
The food you're putting into the tank is light and air. That's clearly enough to replicate the plankton cycle. I have a 3 gallon shrimp bowl that I don't feed for similar reasons. It goes through phases of green water, followed by a boom in zooplankton (maybe moina), which eventually all die and become foor for shrimp. When I do feed, the shrimp don't look as healthy. I think it's because of excess nitrogen waste throwing the system out of balance.
I have 3×2×2ft aquarium, which is now actually an ecosystem.. no water changes, no trimming plants, no feed. RC Shrimps and Fancy guppies, and many snails( don't know their names though). At least a 100 guppies with a lot of shrimps and snails way more than 100. Heavily planted. It took me 7 months to attain equilibrium in the ecosystem, gradually brought down the frequency of feeding. Now it's 0 feeding and has been running for 3 years.
If your fish were not getting enough good quality food they would not be breeding. The fact that they are would suggest to me that it is really balanced without additional feeding. Water looks good, you have loads of plants and just two small fish and copepods breeding in the tank, why would you even think of adding more fish food - it's perfect as it is.
That aquarium is really beautiful! I love the close up of inside the tank. It looks like being in the perfect spot in the woods. Like a hiking trail. Also I would try live BBS. Maybe that would be a hit with the fish and the fry.
I had a similar experience with endlers in my 20g a few years ago. Didn't feed them for months and they were always fat and happy living off algae and copopods 👍👍
This is the first video ever talking about no feeding. That was my goal and I achieved too by adding pond water. The difference is my tank is full of infusoria and only 4 tetras in a 15 gallon. I turn on the lights whenever i want because i have snails. I rarely do water change because i covered the top. Super low maintenance tank. I want to do a video about it too. Check out LifeInJar channel and you might figure something out too.
Love the quarantine hair Mike. I have a 120g heavily planted nano fish tank. 30 Kubotai rasboras, 50 pygmy corydoras, 4 ottos, 100ish dream blue shrimp, pest snails, 1 golden mystery snail and 4 male Dario Dario (have been searching for females for 2 years) My Dario Darios were to pick off the shrimplets and keep the shrimp population down, as I'm pretty sure at one point I was near 500 or so. They do a great job in that size tank without devastating the shrimp population too badly, I do give a varied diet of live foods however to prevent total annihilation. Grindal worms being their favourite. I don't think they even see the micro worms or vinegar eels anymore. You've got a complete ecosystem going on. Nice job!
I literally just watched one of your videos before this one, and when I started reading this comment, I was thinking to myself “that sounds like the tank I just saw in the video” until I realized all the numbers were exactly the same and sure enough it was a video on your channel 😂
Cool, if it works it works. Great if you don't have to ad food then you don't have to clean ether. Watch out if the fish is multiplying though they might start to outgrow their food sorse.
Came here looking for a self sustaining fish habitat and was not disappointed! This tank is so beautiful!!! I would be interested to know if exactly what plants you have growing there.
Interestingly enough my water snake paludarium also like this, except feeding the snake, I never throw any other food, and the plants, shrimps, and guppies are thriving by only from snake byproducts
When setting up a new aquarium, is it possible to cut holes in the glass, to make room for a heating element and the pump, pluck it with water sealer, so as to hide the "electricity" of the aquarium?
This is awesome... man if every tank could turn out this one .. with a great story , that would be so cool... I already look forward to your videos mainly because I learn a lot of stuff and this one has to be right at the very top... thanks so much ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I am setting up a tank that is intended to do exactly this. Except, a pea puffer eating snails. And I'll feed the tank lots, but not fish food; it will be rinsed rejected lettuce.
It doesn't usually work with pea puffers. They will eat until they explode and then kill for fun. They do leave shrimp alone though. I kept mine in QT in the shrimp tank and they didn't even notice they exist.
@@villagersparky Interesting! My plan was to make it heavily planted, so the pea puffer's rate of hunting would be slowed down. Think that would work? How densely planted was your tank?
@@Jotto999 The tank he was in was very planted, but he's currently serving snail control in a different tank for the time being, while the pet stores in my area are closed, but here's the thing. All Puffers are different, so try it, you'll never know until you try!
I've had Guppies in my Sheep troughs for over a year. They're living off of what falls into the water. I have lots of fry. Just leave well enough alone. Thanks Mike
Can someone please tell me if he added the little insects or did they just kinda happen.. I'm writing down this kind of stuff for a project I have on mind.
Does anyone know if it's possible for Kuhli loaches to be able to survive off the microfauna living amid the thick detrius blanket I have in my aquarium ? When I look at the floor of the aquarium it's absolutely crawling with copepods, and I think I also saw some detritus worms wiggling around. The copepords are everywhere, not just on the substrate.
i have a fish tank which is just 12 x 12 x 18 inches long - my bigger tank got broken so i shifted most of the plants there and 2 fish 🐠 - i was not able to see them so i thought they are dead after 2.5months when i was adding water to tank i saw a lot of small and mid-sized fishes and they are breeding - now i want to shift to a bigger tank but not sure if i should do that or leave them - they don't need any feeding - all plants are overgrowing and getting out of water
I got a seachem flourish plant pack and have no idea how to dose my tank?! I have a 6.8 gallon with a betta and have never dosed it with anything...I'm so overwhelmed..
Wow... I remember the setup for this tank; seems like just yesterday. It really looks beautiful & much better stocking choice than the one I made (scarlet badis) as this seems to have acheived some kind of balance. Knowing what you know now, would you consider adding a copeopod colony maybe once a year to ensure their continuation & what do you think of detritus worms &/or maybe blackworms?
ok but the majority of tanks don't contain copepods, cyclops ,dapnia or other crustaceans, so please don't make this approach a standard option you have.
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Like this video? Check out my other popular tank builds:
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I joined surfshark...i hope its as good as you say it is.👍
You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Well, a tank full of water, plants, a male and female fish, babies and no external source of food being added. I would say the tank has arrived at the perfect balance point. Thank you for the update.
Reaching a self sustaining ecosystem is what a perfect aquarium is to me. Just light needed would be the goal.
@cheff wallets depending on the fish, food can be added but with anaerobic bacteria under 10cm (4in) of soil and enough time, things start to kick in
I think this is actually the Holy Grail of aquariums. People have wanted to make completely self-sustaining ecosystems in a tank for a very long time. You've done it!
Ummm...this is awkward, but I guess I should tell you now Mike.
When I visited you back about 6 months ago, I dropped a giant 6 month vacation feeder pellet in there. It should be running out anytime now....😜🤙🏾
🤯🤯🤯
Smart Man!! 😏
LOL
Curse you ninja feeder
@@tgirlpride2024 Lol ninja feeder
I had something kinda similar happen.
So, I always have a hospital set up and running, just incase I ever get any sick fish and I moved a bunch of plants from one of my tanks into there, and kinda just forgot about it. Fast forward to three weeks later and I go to test the water to see if I'll need to change it (usually this tank can go months without a water changes since it normally has nothing but plants in there) and I see movement out of the corner of my eye. Confused, I take a closer look, and what do I see? A three week old corydora.
It's super happy and doing well, and I'm probably going to wait for it to grow a little larger before I introduce it to my other corydoras, but it was definitely a surprise.
This tank, that I haven't touched in ages, no maintenance, nor feeding, has life in it, and I didn't even notice until very recently.
I think it’s always good to have extra “junk” in your tank. Extra critters, light algae, mulm, and botanicals all help pickier fish and fry. I haven’t been able to check on my office tank much now because of lock down. I had an endler colony in there. I took as many fish as I could home but I couldn’t catch all the tiniest fry. Last time I was there they were doing great 🙂 I left them there, which I’m sure some people won’t agree with, but my home tanks are getting very overcrowded with fry and I think if they’re thriving, then that’s the best spot for them right now
like you said they are breeding and breeding generally means they are "happy" - so leave it be!
Perfect balanced ecosystem
Disclaimer : No fishes were harmed in the making of this video. (Mayb some algae, but u knw hw it is...)
Hahahah love it
I have a "run-of-the-mill" fish tanks with cheapie fish. Unfortunately I didn't have anyone to babysit them while I was on vacation, and when I got back home all but ONE had died. I was gone for over a month.
I was so confused by it because the one that didn't die was still healthy looking and when I gave it food, it gobbled it up as normal. But then it struck me that there was no way it survived a month without food. So I did a test: Don't feed it anymore and see what happens. It's a swordtail fish, and it's still alive 4 months after I started the test. I had it in with all kinds of different fish, such as dwarf gourami, tetra, and another swordtail. It still baffles me how only this one survives and the others couldn't.
I do think it may probably have to do with the live plants and driftwood I have in the tank. perhaps growing some form of bacteria that the fish eats.
HEY MIKE!!! do a follow up video and explain how copepods appear/grow? put your science cap on!
Maybe keep some of the small bugs in a culter so they don't pick them all of sence they are breeding.
You should get some freshwater crabs or Mexican dwarf crayfish.
The food you're putting into the tank is light and air. That's clearly enough to replicate the plankton cycle. I have a 3 gallon shrimp bowl that I don't feed for similar reasons. It goes through phases of green water, followed by a boom in zooplankton (maybe moina), which eventually all die and become foor for shrimp. When I do feed, the shrimp don't look as healthy. I think it's because of excess nitrogen waste throwing the system out of balance.
I have 3×2×2ft aquarium, which is now actually an ecosystem.. no water changes, no trimming plants, no feed. RC Shrimps and Fancy guppies, and many snails( don't know their names though). At least a 100 guppies with a lot of shrimps and snails way more than 100. Heavily planted. It took me 7 months to attain equilibrium in the ecosystem, gradually brought down the frequency of feeding. Now it's 0 feeding and has been running for 3 years.
If your fish were not getting enough good quality food they would not be breeding. The fact that they are would suggest to me that it is really balanced without additional feeding.
Water looks good, you have loads of plants and just two small fish and copepods breeding in the tank, why would you even think of adding more fish food - it's perfect as it is.
I truly think aquapros does not get enough love on youtube. He makes better looking tanks than anyone.
😍😍😍
@@AQUAPROS Dude where can I get those Copepods? I thought they were only salt water.
That aquarium is really beautiful! I love the close up of inside the tank. It looks like being in the perfect spot in the woods. Like a hiking trail. Also I would try live BBS. Maybe that would be a hit with the fish and the fry.
ive had my scarlet baddis for about 8 months now and ive done the same thing and not fed them they are still doing great!
Dont try this at home with your children.
LOL
I had a similar experience with endlers in my 20g a few years ago. Didn't feed them for months and they were always fat and happy living off algae and copopods 👍👍
That tank is a slice of nature.
wow! I like that tank man! It seems like it's a self sufficient eco system.
Yea
LOVE THIS, nature can always teach us new things 🙂 great job fish tank Mike!
Maybe feed the tank some food so de copepods keep reproducing?
You have serious skills this is one of the best i've ever seen no doubt.
Wow a self sustaining fish tank really nice
This is the first video ever talking about no feeding. That was my goal and I achieved too by adding pond water. The difference is my tank is full of infusoria and only 4 tetras in a 15 gallon. I turn on the lights whenever i want because i have snails. I rarely do water change because i covered the top. Super low maintenance tank. I want to do a video about it too. Check out LifeInJar channel and you might figure something out too.
Love the quarantine hair Mike. I have a 120g heavily planted nano fish tank. 30 Kubotai rasboras, 50 pygmy corydoras, 4 ottos, 100ish dream blue shrimp, pest snails, 1 golden mystery snail and 4 male Dario Dario (have been searching for females for 2 years) My Dario Darios were to pick off the shrimplets and keep the shrimp population down, as I'm pretty sure at one point I was near 500 or so. They do a great job in that size tank without devastating the shrimp population too badly, I do give a varied diet of live foods however to prevent total annihilation. Grindal worms being their favourite. I don't think they even see the micro worms or vinegar eels anymore. You've got a complete ecosystem going on. Nice job!
I literally just watched one of your videos before this one, and when I started reading this comment, I was thinking to myself “that sounds like the tank I just saw in the video” until I realized all the numbers were exactly the same and sure enough it was a video on your channel 😂
Keep it going I think it’s awesome you have a complete food cycle inside your tank that’s sustaining itself
Cool, if it works it works. Great if you don't have to ad food then you don't have to clean ether. Watch out if the fish is multiplying though they might start to outgrow their food sorse.
Came here looking for a self sustaining fish habitat and was not disappointed! This tank is so beautiful!!! I would be interested to know if exactly what plants you have growing there.
Wow glad the fish are doing great. I forgot all about this tank. Great update.
I really love this tank !
Can we have an update on this tank? I'm still thinking about it 2 years later lol
Add some nematodes if you have some in your aquariums
This is so cool
Keep it like that. It’s perfect 👌. That is how nature looks like for fish.
Breeding them is so hard and rarely possible. Best of luck 💙💙💙
The aquarium and the aquarist attained bliss state like yogi... :) Luv from tamilnadu india. What is the update of this tank in today...
Interestingly enough my water snake paludarium also like this, except feeding the snake, I never throw any other food, and the plants, shrimps, and guppies are thriving by only from snake byproducts
I have this same predicament with my pea puffers. I never see them eat but they have been fine for months. I've never seen copepods or anything tho.
Interesting video.. Tank looks great.. I'd leave them as is.. They seem to be doing fine 👍
Your hair looks awesome!!
When setting up a new aquarium, is it possible to cut holes in the glass, to make room for a heating element and the pump, pluck it with water sealer, so as to hide the "electricity" of the aquarium?
Yes. Plenty of people do it this way, you just have to do it properly
They might like mosquito larva
This is an interesting and exciting development. Babies!!
Nice tank!
3:00 starts around here
If its not broken, dont fix it! Leave it alone, not only are they flourishing, they are even reproducing, you are doing everything perfect!
Great looking system.
Awesome tank
Better spike that thing. It's looking like a toupee. Love the content as always. Personally, I would feed lightly.
And let them enjoy "Dem Shramps."
This is awesome... man if every tank could turn out this one .. with a great story , that would be so cool... I already look forward to your videos mainly because I learn a lot of stuff and this one has to be right at the very top... thanks so much ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Did you make water change on the tank?
Or maybe tell your maintains on this tank.
That’s awesome!
Just add dry leaves
I am setting up a tank that is intended to do exactly this. Except, a pea puffer eating snails. And I'll feed the tank lots, but not fish food; it will be rinsed rejected lettuce.
Ah, I tried this, my Pea Puffer ate a few, and then went around murdering the rest, oddly enough he does leave the shrimp alone.
It doesn't usually work with pea puffers. They will eat until they explode and then kill for fun. They do leave shrimp alone though. I kept mine in QT in the shrimp tank and they didn't even notice they exist.
@@villagersparky Interesting! My plan was to make it heavily planted, so the pea puffer's rate of hunting would be slowed down. Think that would work? How densely planted was your tank?
@@Jotto999 The tank he was in was very planted, but he's currently serving snail control in a different tank for the time being, while the pet stores in my area are closed, but here's the thing. All Puffers are different, so try it, you'll never know until you try!
So amazing video...u r awesome...so beautiful tank
Awesome video.
It works, keep it going.
Really cool
Amazing
I've had Guppies in my Sheep troughs for over a year. They're living off of what falls into the water. I have lots of fry. Just leave well enough alone. Thanks Mike
Did somebody give you a Corona cut bro?
Gave it to myself 🤠
Show it styled in the next vid
That is awesome!! I had a similar experience with some Rasboras!
Amazing 😉😃🙋
Definitely think you should feed the copopods
you can buy copepods for saltwater, but never found a source for freshwater ones. where did you get them? thanks
This is what I want to know.
You can buy them off the net but i think he got the colony from a bunch of plants
Quarantine haircut
So cool
They didn’t east daphnia but they’ll eat copepods aren’t they almost the same?
Can someone please tell me if he added the little insects or did they just kinda happen.. I'm writing down this kind of stuff for a project I have on mind.
Does anyone know if it's possible for Kuhli loaches to be able to survive off the microfauna living amid the thick detrius blanket I have in my aquarium ? When I look at the floor of the aquarium it's absolutely crawling with copepods, and I think I also saw some detritus worms wiggling around. The copepords are everywhere, not just on the substrate.
Nice video 👌 I'm just getting started on TH-cam
i have a fish tank which is just 12 x 12 x 18 inches long - my bigger tank got broken so i shifted most of the plants there and 2 fish 🐠 - i was not able to see them so i thought they are dead after 2.5months when i was adding water to tank i saw a lot of small and mid-sized fishes and they are breeding - now i want to shift to a bigger tank but not sure if i should do that or leave them - they don't need any feeding - all plants are overgrowing and getting out of water
how did the copapods get in the tank
Any update on this tank..?
My planted tank need no feeding also, my fish will not eat the food I provide
I got a seachem flourish plant pack and have no idea how to dose my tank?! I have a 6.8 gallon with a betta and have never dosed it with anything...I'm so overwhelmed..
So why don't you try any of aquapros 80 videos on dosing tanks
Any updates on this tank? 😊
Live food is good some times mine some times will eat algae and dead plants?
Did you do something to your hair ? Looks good 😜
Low maintenance setups are great!
Love this whole ecosystem
Wow... I remember the setup for this tank; seems like just yesterday. It really looks beautiful & much better stocking choice than the one I made (scarlet badis) as this seems to have acheived some kind of balance.
Knowing what you know now, would you consider adding a copeopod colony maybe once a year to ensure their continuation & what do you think of detritus worms &/or maybe blackworms?
I love your vids, its such an awesome tank that its a small ecosistem!!!
If the setup works, it's fine. How you got to it working is of no consequence.
Wow
Do try it. It’s not hard
ok but the majority of tanks don't contain copepods, cyclops ,dapnia or other crustaceans, so please don't make this approach a standard option you have.
Still my favorite nano tank in all of youtube 👌👊
Great they were breeding but maybe with the fry in there now they might need a little more food.🙂
Brooo your hair is funny 🤣🤣🤣
I wish my tanks could feed themselves. Nice are up. As close to nature as you can get as I see it.
Add some food every month and lightly dose the tank with liquid fertiliser.
Did the copepods just appear themselves? Do you think it came from some of the plants?
Most probably
how much can i pay you to make me a tank like this?!?!?!?
I know a cool experiment you can do with a cat and a box!