I now have 2 dirt tanks. It has been my newest and most rewarding hobby. 50 gallon dirted Blue Ram tank completely LOADED with Father Fish plants. It is gorgeous! Thank you Father Fish.
was planning to start on this hobby but whenever i go to a shop i got overwhelmed of what needed for a planted aquarium. but after seeing this channel it makes thing much simple and clearer TY
I researched months as I built my tank. Poured tons of money in to the aquarium but I created my corner of peaceful tranquility. I don't regret a thing.
Been watching the videos for a few months.......the content is pure gold. Without a doubt the best, and may I say highly underrated aquarium channel on TH-cam hands down. Keep the videos coming Father Fish.
I feel the same way. FF is spreading the "natural" aquarium school of thought. Which is probably the most healthy for the fish. The other aquarists are the sterile aquariums where everything must be sparkling clean, high maintenance and controlled with all sorts of hi-tech equipment and chemicals that acts as a life support system. Both schools of thought are ok. But too many get drawn by the high tech because of it's looks, but they don't realize just how tiring and expensive it can get in time. FF aquarium is very biologically active and rely on biological interactions to keep itself alive and balanced needing minimal maintenance. I realized that I don't necessarily need to put 1 inch of soil under the sand, but 1 cm ( I hate the disturbed dirt when replanting) ! You just have to seed the substrate with those amazing earth bacteria/fungi/microorganisms and from there, through dead plants and fish foods it will sustain itself forever !
I have watched your videos carefully. I now have a dirted planted 10 gallon nano tank with happy fish that I love to watch. I deeply appreciate you sharing your extensive knowledge base.
New subscriber here thanks to Lucas at LRB (recently subbed him too). Love this series and shows you it's not all about the most expensive lights or fancy smancy bits and bobs. Something like this is achievable for all budgets and a great way to introduce the next generation into the hobby. Thanks so much and hi from West Yorkshire, UK.
Just watched some of your videos. Just had to sub. Your advise is invaluable. I have been keeping fish for many years, but am always learning and trying to improve.
Hi father fish, I am starting out at 47 and i am overwhelmed by fish philosophy from all over. I am going to start at the beginning with you. I have failed once already and it hurts very much so i dont want to fail again.
I will be happy to help you. There are plenty of videos covering every aspect of my method. I also have a discord with people ready to help you. The link is: discord.gg/father-fish-shoal
Amazing dirt tank series, pretty much the only one as good, thanks for the information, i´ve been in the hobby since childhood, i set up my first dirted tank a year ago and is wonderful, hope more people see this videos. Keep it up with your work Father Fish.
@Fathe Fish, thank you so much! I think I have learned much from this. I think that I MAY have been overfeeding my Angels... I will just feed them sparingly everyday, and fast them a day a week. Thank you Father Fish!
Keep it simple and its less stressfull for you and your fish! Thanks for this explanation it will help many people new to the hobby and even an older fishkeeper like me..always learning F F. God Bless 😇👍
Your teachings are amazing! We are quite early on our journey. My sons recently caught four small sunfish and three small catfish. They set up two weeks ago a (30 gallon, I think?) dirted tank with deep substrate and several plants as well as some branches and things for the fish to hide in. Plus a large snail that came in a bag if crawfish months ago, she had been hanging out in the outdoor tub one of the boys made up. They've bought crappie minnows a few times and it's actually exciting to count how many got eaten overnight 😅 I'm excited to see how the tank cycles and how the bioweb becomes settled within the tank. I noticed some slimy bits coating parts of the tank. Is this normal? My husband and I are going back and forth about whether there's too many fish in the tank. I think so, he says no. 😅
I'm so glad I have well water! I have only been keeping fish for about 3 years, and my first two tanks have gravel substrate. I didn't know about planted tanks. I have just set up a 3rd tank, a 20 gallon, and I used an inch of dirt and a couple inches (maybe a little more) of pool sand. I've got some plants in it already, but I am waiting for more to come in the mail. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I have been watching so many of your videos, and it has given me the confidence to do it. I'm going to get some leaves out of the yard and throw them in there, too.
Awesome info, father fish ! Tell me, with Rasboras, Tetras, coridoras and North American banded killifish .... how often should I feed them ? Right now it's every second day ... Thanks 👍
Gauge feeding with health of the fish and the tank. For fish you are trying to grow out or prepare for breeding heavier feeding is required. for maintenance y our schedule is perfect.
Thank you Justin. I have lots to learn about making these videos. Sorry about the background in this latest vid. I thought it would be nice. It was a terrible distraction. Tomorrow we will look at some of the forever aquariums in the shop. I will wait to make this video until you and Jace come in.
I am starting an aquarium as a complete beginner and want to get it right. I have been watching many videos but they make everything sound very clinical and scientific. Like maybe I need a white coat and a clipboard in order to succeed!! I wonder if the advice is dependent on which part of the world we are all in?
Sure. You will be happy to know, however, that the microfauna are found every where in the world. Scotland is not so very different from Salisbury, MD.
New subscriber here Father Fish I'm a begginer in Planted Tanks I have a question about planting the plants,do I need to push down the plants till it reaches the soil?I had a hard time planting my plants due to a lack of proper tweezer I can't push it down enough to reach the soil will my plants be okay?or should I replant them, my tank have 1inch of soil and a 2.5 inch of sand cap. Thank you in advance for a response badly need help🤗
Thank you for all your videos, I've only found your video today, and planning to follow your method. Can I use mountain river water for n new setup, even though it's very brownish.
Hiya father fish ,my name is mikey and i'm from Scotland UK.. I only just discovered your channel and began watching all your fish vids and I must say I've learnt so much from you and I've kept fish for over 20 years and I've learnt more from u than I have ever done over all the years ... I have a marbled head clarios in a 5 feet long by 4 feet wide and five feet deep he's about 20 to 25 cm. I've had clarios cats before. I'm a huge fan of cats . I wanted to ask what tank mate would be good to have with him . He's on his own at the moment thank you father fish ....
hello father fish! I love your videos and your ecological take on fishkeeping. I have a question about acid water fishes, do you manage to keep them in alcaline water or treat their water differently?
True low Ph fish, those captured in water in, for example, Borneo, at Ph of below 5.0 cannot be kept in alkaline water. Most tetras, cichlids, and other fish bred in captivity are all raised in high Ph water. Fish such as chocolate and licorice gouramies, are wild caught in very low Ph and do not do well in high Ph water. Some fish such as bettas, badis, some killies, guppies, and neons will frequently thrive in Ph of 6.5-7. Nevertheless, I do not recommend the novice hobbyist try to shift water parameters to accommodate their fish. It is always advisable to keep fish in the water as it is delivered to you. That insures its stability.
Another awesome video! I wondered what to feed a father fish aquarium or any aqurium I bet. ❤ loves you! We appreciate your knowledge! I have a nickel sz. Angels I can't get to grow. I'm giving small amount of frozen brine. Any suggestions ?
What do you think of co2 use in planted aquarium...also fertilizers... My aquarium has been going for y6 months now...it has gravel substrate...next aquarium I will set with your recommended substrate
@@FatherFish thank u for your reply. i have been hearing so many different opinions on both. but not any on the use of both at the same time. i have never grown duckweed before but i have been using an undergravel filter for 40 yrs with no major problems. i have a bluegill and pleco in my tank right now which ive had over a yr now.
Hi @FatherFish, I’m setting up a 140L dirted aquarium and bought organic soil that has small stones, sand, and a lot of peat with organic material like leaves, roots, and stems. Should I sift the soil to remove the organic material, or is it okay to use as is? Additionally, if I stir Aquasoil into a finer consistency, would it be better or worse than using regular dirt? I’m concerned about using the wrong kind of dirt.Thanks for your advice! ❤
THanks for the video. Father fish, I need to shop online to buy soil for the dirt tank. What type of soil should I buy - potting soil or topsoil? What about the soil sold in aquarium shop?
@@ricwhk Lava soil is not soil. It is highly refined carbonate materials. The composition of almost all lava of the Earth's crust is dominated by silicate minerals: mostly feldspars, feldspathoids, olivine, pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas and quartz. These are excellent as additives to soil. They are not soil.
I recently found your channel and are very eager to set up a dirtied tank. If you have time can you help me with some concerns? 1. According to your set up suggestions there is no need for filtration, but i saw you keep a sort of sump with filter sock, water heater and you trickle clean water 24 hrs a day allowing you not to do water changes weekly. If i set up my 30 gal tank with your dirtied substrate method along with plants is this okay for my fancy goldfish aquarium? do I need CO2 to keep the plants alive and a canister filter since my goldfish are very messy. 2. how much and what do i feed my fancy goldfish as store said they eat a lot, and poop a lot? 3. The water quality is hard to keep up with because of the messy fish i love don't know why they die often.
Annie, sorry I missed your post last month. You can use any kind of sand as long as it is not soluble. Shell is soluble. It will form a crust that will prevent water flow. Look around your community for stream sand or pond sand. Thhese will be perfect and shhould not be strilized before using. Just rinse them withh tank water.
I just binge watched 10 of your videos! I'm hooked, you have so much valuable info! SUBBED! I've been keeping fish for 3 years now and it's been fun. But I have basic tanks with stupid rubber and plastic decorations.😂 I would like to start a live tank, with plants and things. You mentioned sand to cover the two inches of dirt on the bottom. *Question is, if I use sand from the beach, do I have to soak it to remove the salt first? I know I have to rinse it, but is soaking for a while required?* And if I do have to soak it, how long? I have freshwater tropical fish.
Hi, so very grateful for all the work that you are doing.. Truly a great help. But I am a bit confused as the water available near me has a tds level of 650 to 850. Now i have already setup a 10gallon dirted tank with basic lights and a sponge filter and I've got cherry shrimp in them. Its been a few days the water is cloudy. Should i keep going or should I do something to lower the tds?
One more question where to place heater so that the temperature is evenly distributed as there is no water movement. Or can I install a sump for a 75 gallon system ?
Placement of a heater is not critical. Temperature will equalize throughout the tank even with no mechanical water movement. Gradients from the heater to the far end of the aquarium are not a problem. Fish will typically seek out the warmest location. Plants are unaffected. I like sumps and use them extensively as multiple tank systems. Ck out one of my plumbing videos to see a simple scalable sump system.
Hi Father Fish, I have a question. I’ve just put together a tank using aquatic compost, capped with sand but noticed this morning that the soil must’ve had some small earthworms in there as they were poking out above the sand this morning. Will they cause a problem or are they a good thing? Thank you.
Will a dirt tank work for gold fish? My children won 2 from the local fair and I bought a little 1.5 gallon tank but they are thriving so I just bought a 10 galllon tank and want to make sure they have a good environment to thrive in. I have never had fish so any help and advice appreciated!!
I've watched the entire dirted tank series twice now and I'm keen to give it a try. I've looked at your recipe for dirt but unfortunately I am unable to source the majority of the ingredient due to my location. Would this system work if I just used regular potting soil from a garden centre and top it off with pool filter sand? Would just garden soil work?
Go for it! Yes. It will work fine but need support in about 6 months. Try to get some enriched soil. You can freeze cubes of enriched soil and add to the base when things slow down.
@@FatherFish Can I go out to my local pond and collect substrate from there? And if so would I have to treat it to make sure nothing harmful goes into the tank? Would there be beneficial bacteria in the pond substrate already?
Hi Father Fish, I have tried your substrate recipe on 19 gallon tank. I put 1" dirt and 2"+ sand. Thanks so much for the video. Few cryptocorines are melting, but new leaves are appearing as well. Echinodorus tennelus starts to grow their new water leaves, as well as dwarf sage. I put few pygmy gourami on Day2, yet after about two weeks, I saw fries. Ammonia is nearly zero. I plan to do the same method for my 6'x2'x2', approximately 220 gallon. How thick shall I put the dirt and the sand? Thank you
That is awesome Wiryawan. For very large tanks you can double the measurements. It is most important to have twice the elth of sand as dirt. And don't forget the food web!
@@FatherFish , so the dirt could be around 2" and sand 2-3"? I need to learn more about the food web. Thanks so much for the fast reply and more insights.
Father Fish I am 8 days in to my first dirted tank following your guide. I have been having lots of h2s bubbles coming through the cap (that has been driving my saint of a wife crazy cause it makes the room smell), slowly getting less over time. Originally the ammonia was very high, but I have done 50-70% water changes a few times to get it under control. It seems that the tank is on its way to cycling. I admit that I have been using Seachem prime and stability to keep my sunfish alive and they are doing fine. Originally i had some plants in there but they started to look terrible so I removed them assuming it was due to the high ammonia, or maybe h2s pockets. My question to you is should I be worried about the h2s, is there anything I need to do besides poking the substrate? My ammonia levels have been over 4 ppm the past 8 days but it seems the bacteria is starting to build up and control it, and my nitrites are going up along with the nitrates. I do plan on putting some more plants in the tank this weekend, but worried about pockets of h2s.
Put the plantw back in and add a few fish. The bubbles are not important and are normal. Add a bit more sand if the amonia continues. there is no reason to have amonia.
I would have waited much more before putting the fish in. And I would have made a effort to oxygenate the water as good as possible with a air pump. Oxygen help the bacteria eat the ammonia and convert it to harmless nitrate. I till eventually balance itself out. Seems that you might have used soil that might have not finished composting or you had some " fresh " decomposing organics that are very biologically active which in turn raise the ammonia and creates the h2s bubbles. It's been a year since this happened to you, what is you're result now ? Is the aquarium balanced now ?
If you want better audio in the future. You might not want to film so close to the aquariums. It would cut down on the choppy-ness, but i’m guessing that’s from dropping the levels in between sentences. . Also try to record ambient audio too. Not critiquing. Just want you to have the best channel possible. You’re doing good work. ❤
Or if you know that the area you’re filming in is noisy. Just record the audio separately from the video. This will also make your videos more entertaining overall.
@@FatherFish Thank you for the reply! I am following all your steps, and very much enjoy all your wisdom :) I unfortunately only have RO water in my household, but will seek a better alternative
I setup my tank with your dirted muddy bottom then used pacer sand to cap. I didn't like how soft it was when placing water and plants. I bought pool filter sand to place over it. I replanted. Applied my heater and hob media filter. It's been less than a day so far. Water is still cloudy. Wanting to add my giant Betta. Is it safe to add my Betta once the 24 HR mark hits? Or should I test my water first? I have already used a chlorine remover called stress coat. Should I use an ammonia breaker before placing my fish?
Father fish I need your help please. I am a beginner fish keeper and I stumbled upon your video too late! My substrate is about 1-3 inches tall in a 75 gallon aquarium.... I already have my fish in the aquarium along with some live plants. I wish I had put more substrate in the tank now that I saw your video, it would help keep my plants rooted more easily and will also help with everything else you have mentioned about having a deep substrate. What should I do now?? I have a spare 30 gallon aquarium btw! I really hope to get a response from you!
I ordered your soil kit and plants, waiting for them to arrive. In your earlier video you said 82 degrees. I find few fish that like it that warm, typically the max I see is 78 degrees but there are a few that like it that warm but it limits my choices of fish so I want to verify the 82 degrees number.
Hello, So I bought your soil and pants for a 40 gallon tank and followed instructions closely. Temp is 80 degrees and the PH is 6.5 coming out of the tap but 3.5 in the tank a day after putting in the water. I bought 6 neon tetras and 6 bigger tetras and they all died within an hour of being put in the tank. I thought this was a natural setup so I would rather not use a PH up chemical but I don’t know what is going on, any help would be appreciated. I spoke to Father Fish on the phone yesterday and it seemed like I had the substrate correct with sand from the beach on top. @@FatherFish
Yes. Absolutely. Your total depthh should be no less than 3". No fert necc. Your gravel has biologicals in it if thhe tank has been set up more than 3 months.
Question I have drift wood I boiled for hours a month ago today o noticed what I thought was the sand, I moved around , moving on the wood and plants . What can day be and are they bad for my beta?
That is comparable to sea water. Mineral water is perfect for a few fish like the cyprinadon (pup fish) and other brackish water fish. If you use RO water and add 10% of your well water you will be at about 280 ppm, good for most tropicals.
@@FatherFish thank you so much for your advice, rather altering my well water if I go to saltwater hobby isn't it a good choice? If you were me what would you do? Is there any method like dirted tank for natural slatwater hobby? I wouldn't want to go for extera mechines like protein sikkmers and blah blah, just a 55 gallon with sump filter would be my choice, any help will appreciated, Tia
A question about sand please. My local landscape supplier has sand that looks like beach sand. I understand that sand is inert but can beach sand (sourced from marine maybe?) have sea salt in it? They also do river sand but I have noticed that their white sand (looks like beach sand) is finer and looks very nice. I guess my question is if I went to my local ocean beach and collected sand and rinsed it would it be safe to use? Have always wondered about that for fresh water aquariums. Thank you in advance. I understand that yellow brick sand is to be avoided - it contains lime maybe?
Dry beach sand is washed by rain. It contains no salt. Use it freely. For a salt tank wet beach sand from the water is best. It is alive with the animals that make a salt tank healthy.
Thanks thats great. Have always wanted to know that. It seems crazy to be fearful of silica sand which is an inert material and the most plentiful material on earth I believe, but I have been wary of beach sand all my life with regard to fresh water aquariums. Always wanted to do a salt water tank and do as you say - take some live sand and sea water.
Can you make the bottom layer thinner in one place, as long as it's minimum 3" all over? I want to make a river bed tank, where the bottom layer is thicker in the back and thinner in the front. So a sloaping bottom layer
Absolutely. The difficulty with sloping is its tendency to level out. Baffles placed in the substrate can help overcome this problem. Make sure the dirt is covered with 2" of sand' If there is no soil in the front the sand can be shallow.
Hello Sir, What's your take on using dead tree limbs as decorations in a new tank? Also do you subscribe to the notion of scrubbing and bleaching found rocks to use in an aquarium?
I’m really interested in tanks and want to do one myself, I like the idea of it replicating nature close as possible. All the talk about chemicals, tests and stuff puts me off sounds like a lot to follow. I want to learn though.
I use remineralized RO water, I have been using it for a few months now keeping my gh at 4 degrees and KH at 5 degrees ( I have seiryu stone for Maintaining my KH balanced ) PH at 7.2 when co2 Is off 6.6 when on, I have a 29 gallon with 4 inches of Sand substrate I aim to keep my phosphates at 2 ppm. I didnt use dirt, my plants are thriving crystal clear water my nitrates are always at 10 to 20 ppm, very small amounts of algae. I use EI to fertilize and root tabs once a month. Will my 4 inch sand substrate absorb any of the fertilizer and minerals from the water column over time?
Hey father fish. Why should we do 10% water changes for the first few months? When we do those water changes should we eliminate the chlorine before putting it in the tank? (I assume yes) One last question. Is there any special advice for keeping shrimp and crabs happy and healthy in a well balanced tank?
I'm a bit confused about water changes....in some videos you say don't do water changes at all unless you have a good reason, and this one you say do 10% every day for the first month. Also, my water here is very hard (Las Vegas city water) and if I just top it off and don't do water changes wouldn't that eventually lead to mineral buildup and make the tank eventually crash? Would water changes be necessary for someone with water like me and not necessary for someone who lives somewhere with less minerals in the water? Or am I overthinking the whole thing lol, I just set up a 10 gallon yesterday and did a 10% water change today based off this video but then I just watched another video where you say don't do it and I want to ensure I'm doing this right and I don't ruin what I'm trying to make happen in the tank (life)
Thank you for catching that conflict on that older vid. The no water change is updated procedure. This is a level of organization I have not yet achieved.
Father Fish I really need some clarification on a matter I already spoke to you about. About two weeks ago I set up a 20 gal tank exactly as you describe. I had done a couple a water changes because nitrites were very high. But you told me to stop that. And I did. The nitrites are still very high and my fish are gradually dying. A guppie, a glow fish, an angel fish, a minnow and a molly have so far died. Everything looks normal in the tank and I have followed your instructions for feeding the fish in a newly set up tank. What can I possibly do???? I must have failed in some aspect of this new tank setup. Can you help me please?????? Wally.
You need to join the Father Fish Shoal where we can diagnose what is happening. Obviously there is substantial ammonia being created that is not breaking down as it should. discord.gg/GdakStEjAy
For the love of god change your water. Where has common sense gone. You're tank clearly wasn't cycling itself and your fish suffered on the advice of someone who hasn't even seen your tank
i was recently told that my sand substrate won't have any anaerobic bacteria living inside it. i was told to mix in aquarium gravel. whats your thoughts on this. i got all scared and confused.
Father Fish, have you ever kept sunfish in your dirted tanks? I want to keep longear sunfish in my dirted tank but concerned about them digging nests? What medium sized fish do you recommend?
10 days before I did 40 gallon 5 inch substrate tank with 12 Danios, 100+ plants, not fed them till date but still there is ammonia spike, any thoughts?
Father Fish, I have observed that out of my 12 danios some have became very thin and skinny, I have fed them very tiny amount only twice in last 23 days, is there any reason?
Thanks Father Fish for your response in today's live fish forum, yes understood that danios are not bottom feeder and require some more feeding and are the exception for less feed.
@Father Fish right now i have 2 inches of home depot sand covered with 2 inches of CaribSea Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium Substrate. With heavy plants. With an eheim 250 classic.
I made a terrible mistake on my tank build today, I forgot to add a little water after the soil, so when I added the water the soil came over top of the sand, and is a huge mess. Is their something I can do other then just adding more sand over it?
I'm thinking of setting some jars of water outside, waiting for mosquitoes to hatch their larvae, and use as fish food. However, is there a risk that any undesirables might also enter the water, given that the jars will be open to the air to allow mosquitoes to enter?
@@FatherFish thanks. As suggested by you in another video I am feeding them once a day three micro pellets per fish. The Colors of the fish have brightened in just four days. Fish seem to be happy. I have also not changed the water because everything looks fine and it is crystal clear.
@@FatherFish thanks a lot for answering all my questions. I was thinking of installing a plenum as explained by Dr Novak and lockdown happened in India. I had purchased around 400 bio balls but after watching your channel they seem to be useless. Sir, is there a way to utilize them now?
Good Morning Father Fish! I have been planning on a 20 gallon long dirted planted tank without a filter and appropriate 'cool water' plants. I would like it to house my 3 Chinese Fire Belly Newts and 6-10 White Cloud Minnows. I plan to add Ghost Shrimp and a few Ramshorn Snails. My current tank temp is around 64-70F in the winter and up to 74F perhaps in the summer. I do not use a heater. Are there successful cool type dirted planted tanks? [It makes sense to me-- not everywhere is tropical]. And have you known anyone that has a tank that has successfully housed newts in it? [There is not a lot of info out there, but I know that all of these creatures can live together in harmony,]. I have watched several of your tank set up videos, beginner videos, etc and reading all of your comments. It has been most helpful! Thank you! T H A N K you!
Hi FF, another interesting video. Air pump in the aquarium behind you caught my eyes...does high number of fishes explain the need to use an air pump ?
i have clay substrate with lots of plants my betta loves it. he loves swimming thru and hanging out with the plants but no way i let them go hungry i would not want to be hungry why would i let them go without
I made this list of things to buy a while ago. Most I will not be getting now. But which things would you keep on the list. [ ] Easy Fertilizer Package - $40 [ ] Aquarium Co-Op Towel - $8 [ ] Algae Scrubber - $1 [ ] Extreme Krill Flakes - $8 [ ] Hikari Bloodworms - $6 [ ] Sponge Pad Coarse - $5 [ ] Seachem Prime - $13 [ ] Ich - X - $4 [ ] Mardel Maracyn - $12 [ ] General Cure - $14 [ ] Planting Tweezers - $6 [ ] Plant Scissors - $9
I'm confused. In most of his other videos he repeatedly says "Don't do water changes!" but here he says you should and that he actually does it in his own tanks, albeit only once a year or so....
@@FatherFish Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it. I am a complete beginner and was about to embark on the standard "chemical" path until I found your channel. I am now setting my new tank according to your recommendations as it makes a lot of sense to me. I still have a million questions, so you will probably hear from me again. All the best!
I now have 2 dirt tanks. It has been my newest and most rewarding hobby. 50 gallon dirted Blue Ram tank completely LOADED with Father Fish plants.
It is gorgeous! Thank you Father Fish.
was planning to start on this hobby but whenever i go to a shop i got overwhelmed of what needed for a planted aquarium. but after seeing this channel it makes thing much simple and clearer TY
I researched months as I built my tank. Poured tons of money in to the aquarium but I created my corner of peaceful tranquility. I don't regret a thing.
@@sylvesterskyes9558me too, my friend. No way to estimate a price tag for the tranquility and peacefulness watch fish brings
Been watching the videos for a few months.......the content is pure gold. Without a doubt the best, and may I say highly underrated aquarium channel on TH-cam hands down. Keep the videos coming Father Fish.
Welcome aboard! AMF. Help grow this channel by sharing the videos as you enjoy with your friends.
I feel the same way. FF is spreading the "natural" aquarium school of thought. Which is probably the most healthy for the fish.
The other aquarists are the sterile aquariums where everything must be sparkling clean, high maintenance and controlled with all sorts of hi-tech equipment and chemicals that acts as a life support system.
Both schools of thought are ok. But too many get drawn by the high tech because of it's looks, but they don't realize just how tiring and expensive it can get in time.
FF aquarium is very biologically active and rely on biological interactions to keep itself alive and balanced needing minimal maintenance. I realized that I don't necessarily need to put 1 inch of soil under the sand, but 1 cm ( I hate the disturbed dirt when replanting) ! You just have to seed the substrate with those amazing earth bacteria/fungi/microorganisms and from there, through dead plants and fish foods it will sustain itself forever !
I hit the like button on all your videos Father even if I don’t watch them all the way through just to support the channel. I appreciate the help.
I have watched your videos carefully. I now have a dirted planted 10 gallon nano tank with happy fish that I love to watch. I deeply appreciate you sharing your extensive knowledge base.
That is awesome!
Wow I'm so excited I've found this channel. I feel totally and completely confident that you'll teach me everything that I need to know. Thank you!
Thank you Father Fish. My aquarium has been up and running for about three years. I think its about time for me to cut back on water changes. 🐟💙🐠💙🐡
Best of luck!
New subscriber here thanks to Lucas at LRB (recently subbed him too).
Love this series and shows you it's not all about the most expensive lights or fancy smancy bits and bobs.
Something like this is achievable for all budgets and a great way to introduce the next generation into the hobby.
Thanks so much and hi from West Yorkshire, UK.
The Brits have long understood this principle.
HI Phil.
Lincolnshire 👍
Just watched some of your videos. Just had to sub. Your advise is invaluable. I have been keeping fish for many years, but am always learning and trying to improve.
Awesome, thank you!
Hi father fish,
I am starting out at 47 and i am overwhelmed by fish philosophy from all over. I am going to start at the beginning with you. I have failed once already and it hurts very much so i dont want to fail again.
I will be happy to help you. There are plenty of videos covering every aspect of my method. I also have a discord with people ready to help you. The link is: discord.gg/father-fish-shoal
Amazing dirt tank series, pretty much the only one as good, thanks for the information, i´ve been in the hobby since childhood, i set up my first dirted tank a year ago and is wonderful, hope more people see this videos. Keep it up with your work Father Fish.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
I’m very excited for the collab i saw mentioned.
@Fathe Fish, thank you so much! I think I have learned much from this. I think that I MAY have been overfeeding my Angels... I will just feed them sparingly everyday, and fast them a day a week. Thank you Father Fish!
Good idea. Your angels will still love you.
Really enjoying your videos your my new fish hero
you are a very wise fishkeeper , thank you for all the info !
I appreciate that! You are very wise to notice.
Keep it simple and its less stressfull for you and your fish!
Thanks for this explanation it will help many people new to the hobby and even an older fishkeeper like me..always learning F F. God Bless 😇👍
My pleasure!
Your teachings are amazing! We are quite early on our journey. My sons recently caught four small sunfish and three small catfish. They set up two weeks ago a (30 gallon, I think?) dirted tank with deep substrate and several plants as well as some branches and things for the fish to hide in. Plus a large snail that came in a bag if crawfish months ago, she had been hanging out in the outdoor tub one of the boys made up. They've bought crappie minnows a few times and it's actually exciting to count how many got eaten overnight 😅
I'm excited to see how the tank cycles and how the bioweb becomes settled within the tank. I noticed some slimy bits coating parts of the tank. Is this normal? My husband and I are going back and forth about whether there's too many fish in the tank. I think so, he says no. 😅
I'm so glad I have well water! I have only been keeping fish for about 3 years, and my first two tanks have gravel substrate. I didn't know about planted tanks. I have just set up a 3rd tank, a 20 gallon, and I used an inch of dirt and a couple inches (maybe a little more) of pool sand. I've got some plants in it already, but I am waiting for more to come in the mail. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I have been watching so many of your videos, and it has given me the confidence to do it. I'm going to get some leaves out of the yard and throw them in there, too.
Bravo Mandy. You are on a wonderful journey. Join us on the FATHER FISH SHOAL at Discord. discord.gg/2PB236za
Thank you father
Man I just set up my 55gal with soft gravel. I was afraid sand was annoying but I'm super interested in this dirted tank idea.
What is soft gravel? Sponge?
[thank, you father fish for you're video]👍
You are lightening my life sir, thank you for your knowledge.
Awesome info, father fish !
Tell me, with Rasboras, Tetras, coridoras and North American banded killifish .... how often should I feed them ? Right now it's every second day ...
Thanks 👍
Gauge feeding with health of the fish and the tank. For fish you are trying to grow out or prepare for breeding heavier feeding is required. for maintenance y our schedule is perfect.
Great video keep it up mr Lou from Justin
Thank you Justin. I have lots to learn about making these videos. Sorry about the background in this latest vid. I thought it would be nice. It was a terrible distraction. Tomorrow we will look at some of the forever aquariums in the shop. I will wait to make this video until you and Jace come in.
Best channel
I am starting an aquarium as a complete beginner and want to get it right. I have been watching many videos but they make everything sound very clinical and scientific. Like maybe I need a white coat and a clipboard in order to succeed!! I wonder if the advice is dependent on which part of the world we are all in?
Sure. You will be happy to know, however, that the microfauna are found every where in the world. Scotland is not so very different from Salisbury, MD.
wonder video Sir.
Many many thanks
New subscriber here Father Fish I'm a begginer in Planted Tanks I have a question about planting the plants,do I need to push down the plants till it reaches the soil?I had a hard time planting my plants due to a lack of proper tweezer I can't push it down enough to reach the soil will my plants be okay?or should I replant them, my tank have 1inch of soil and a 2.5 inch of sand cap.
Thank you in advance for a response badly need help🤗
Not at all. Plant 1" into the sand. Let the roots do the work.
In which tank, are those Budgerigars in the background calling? I've heard of Parrot Fish, but this is a new one to me.
They are canaries, sitting on top of a 29.
Thank you for all your videos, I've only found your video today, and planning to follow your method. Can I use mountain river water for n new setup, even though it's very brownish.
It should be excellent.
Hiya father fish ,my name is mikey and i'm from Scotland UK.. I only just discovered your channel and began watching all your fish vids and I must say I've learnt so much from you and I've kept fish for over 20 years and I've learnt more from u than I have ever done over all the years ... I have a marbled head clarios in a 5 feet long by 4 feet wide and five feet deep he's about 20 to 25 cm. I've had clarios cats before. I'm a huge fan of cats . I wanted to ask what tank mate would be good to have with him . He's on his own at the moment thank you father fish ....
Hello Father fish, Sir can I use the beach sand as capping on the dirt?
hello father fish! I love your videos and your ecological take on fishkeeping.
I have a question about acid water fishes, do you manage to keep them in alcaline water or treat their water differently?
True low Ph fish, those captured in water in, for example, Borneo, at Ph of below 5.0 cannot be kept in alkaline water. Most tetras, cichlids, and other fish bred in captivity are all raised in high Ph water. Fish such as chocolate and licorice gouramies, are wild caught in very low Ph and do not do well in high Ph water. Some fish such as bettas, badis, some killies, guppies, and neons will frequently thrive in Ph of 6.5-7.
Nevertheless, I do not recommend the novice hobbyist try to shift water parameters to accommodate their fish. It is always advisable to keep fish in the water as it is delivered to you. That insures its stability.
GREAT SITE + THANK YOU
You're welcome!
@@FatherFish real good info
Another awesome video! I wondered what to feed a father fish aquarium or any aqurium I bet. ❤ loves you! We appreciate your knowledge! I have a nickel sz. Angels I can't get to grow. I'm giving small amount of frozen brine. Any suggestions ?
create a food web
What do you think of co2 use in planted aquarium...also fertilizers... My aquarium has been going for y6 months now...it has gravel substrate...next aquarium I will set with your recommended substrate
You do not have a natural system. CO2 and fert supplements are necessary in a system that does not provide adequate sources of each.
would like to know your thoughts about undergravel filters and duckweed
UG are counter intuitive. They do the opposite of the purpose of a deep substrate. Duckweed is a pest.
@@FatherFish thank u for your reply. i have been hearing so many different opinions on both. but not any on the use of both at the same time. i have never grown duckweed before but i have been using an undergravel filter for 40 yrs with no major problems. i have a bluegill and pleco in my tank right now which ive had over a yr now.
Hi @FatherFish,
I’m setting up a 140L dirted aquarium and bought organic soil that has small stones, sand, and a lot of peat with organic material like leaves, roots, and stems.
Should I sift the soil to remove the organic material, or is it okay to use as is?
Additionally, if I stir Aquasoil into a finer consistency, would it be better or worse than using regular dirt?
I’m concerned about using the wrong kind of dirt.Thanks for your advice! ❤
Do not sift the soil. All of the organics are beneficial. Mix dirt with aquasoil.
You mentioned feeding with fish, clams, scallops. How do you do this? Do you chop it up into tiny little pieces? Or do you just plop one piece in?
Depends entirely on what you are feeding.
THanks for the video. Father fish, I need to shop online to buy soil for the dirt tank. What type of soil should I buy - potting soil or topsoil? What about the soil sold in aquarium shop?
I use potting soil. It is actual dirt. The aquarium soil is not soil. It is not dirt. It is gravel with some nutrients.
@@FatherFish What about lava soil? Do you endorse using lava soil in aquarium?
@@ricwhk Lava soil is not soil. It is highly refined carbonate materials. The composition of almost all lava of the Earth's crust is dominated by silicate minerals: mostly feldspars, feldspathoids, olivine, pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas and quartz. These are excellent as additives to soil. They are not soil.
Any thoughts about filtration ? Thank you in advance !Si
The deep substrate is a full tank filter. I like sponge filters to remove particulate matter and move the water.
Thank you
Hi Father Fish! Very informative information! I’m wondering if this would be workable for a water turtle?
Yes with minor modification
I recently found your channel and are very eager to set up a dirtied tank. If you have time can you help me with some concerns?
1. According to your set up suggestions there is no need for filtration, but i saw you keep a sort of sump with filter sock, water heater and you trickle clean water 24 hrs a day allowing you not to do water changes weekly. If i set up my 30 gal tank with your dirtied substrate method along with plants is this okay for my fancy goldfish aquarium? do I need CO2 to keep the plants alive and a canister filter since my goldfish are very messy.
2. how much and what do i feed my fancy goldfish as store said they eat a lot, and poop a lot?
3. The water quality is hard to keep up with because of the messy fish i love don't know why they die often.
many questions. I have several videos that will help. Look at the Beginners videos for good advice.;
Do you only want to use silica sand for the substrate? Or can you use a different type of sand
Annie, sorry I missed your post last month. You can use any kind of sand as long as it is not soluble. Shell is soluble. It will form a crust that will prevent water flow. Look around your community for stream sand or pond sand. Thhese will be perfect and shhould not be strilized before using. Just rinse them withh tank water.
Any sand will do. I prefer silica because it is inert. Play sand is hard to clean. If you have creek sand or desert sand that will be fine.
@@FatherFish is beach sand considered soluble? It's mainly calcium carbonate so I'm thinking it'll make the water too hard over time
Is it okay to have a deep substrate that is more than 3 inches for a tank below 10 gallons
yes
I just binge watched 10 of your videos! I'm hooked, you have so much valuable info! SUBBED!
I've been keeping fish for 3 years now and it's been fun. But I have basic tanks with stupid rubber and plastic decorations.😂
I would like to start a live tank, with plants and things. You mentioned sand to cover the two inches of dirt on the bottom. *Question is, if I use sand from the beach, do I have to soak it to remove the salt first? I know I have to rinse it, but is soaking for a while required?*
And if I do have to soak it, how long?
I have freshwater tropical fish.
Sand high up oon the beach is clean by rain. Fine to use.
@@FatherFish
Oh cool, Thank you!
Hi, so very grateful for all the work that you are doing.. Truly a great help.
But I am a bit confused as the water available near me has a tds level of 650 to 850.
Now i have already setup a 10gallon dirted tank with basic lights and a sponge filter and I've got cherry shrimp in them. Its been a few days the water is cloudy.
Should i keep going or should I do something to lower the tds?
Also i have no way of getting an ammonia kit
That is pretty high. the shrimp like it. You can reduce to about 400 - still high bot OK - with either distilled or rain or RO or spring water.
If you have lots of plants there will be no ammonia. Plants absorb ammonia.
One more question where to place heater so that the temperature is evenly distributed as there is no water movement. Or can I install a sump for a 75 gallon system ?
Placement of a heater is not critical. Temperature will equalize throughout the tank even with no mechanical water movement. Gradients from the heater to the far end of the aquarium are not a problem. Fish will typically seek out the warmest location. Plants are unaffected.
I like sumps and use them extensively as multiple tank systems. Ck out one of my plumbing videos to see a simple scalable sump system.
@@FatherFish and what should be the flow rate of a stand alone sump ?
@@bhuwanchander2196 Well below the level of a maelstrom. My ROT is a heavy trickle.
@@FatherFish this means only sponge filter is enough. No sump 😀
@@bhuwanchander2196 Yes. Enough.
Hi Father Fish, I have a question. I’ve just put together a tank using aquatic compost, capped with sand but noticed this morning that the soil must’ve had some small earthworms in there as they were poking out above the sand this morning. Will they cause a problem or are they a good thing?
Thank you.
I do not believe they will survive. Keep me posted.
Will a dirt tank work for gold fish? My children won 2 from the local fair and I bought a little 1.5 gallon tank but they are thriving so I just bought a 10 galllon tank and want to make sure they have a good environment to thrive in. I have never had fish so any help and advice appreciated!!
Yes it will
I've watched the entire dirted tank series twice now and I'm keen to give it a try. I've looked at your recipe for dirt but unfortunately I am unable to source the majority of the ingredient due to my location. Would this system work if I just used regular potting soil from a garden centre and top it off with pool filter sand? Would just garden soil work?
Go for it! Yes. It will work fine but need support in about 6 months. Try to get some enriched soil. You can freeze cubes of enriched soil and add to the base when things slow down.
@@FatherFish Can I go out to my local pond and collect substrate from there? And if so would I have to treat it to make sure nothing harmful goes into the tank? Would there be beneficial bacteria in the pond substrate already?
Hi Father Fish, I have tried your substrate recipe on 19 gallon tank. I put 1" dirt and 2"+ sand. Thanks so much for the video. Few cryptocorines are melting, but new leaves are appearing as well. Echinodorus tennelus starts to grow their new water leaves, as well as dwarf sage.
I put few pygmy gourami on Day2, yet after about two weeks, I saw fries. Ammonia is nearly zero.
I plan to do the same method for my 6'x2'x2', approximately 220 gallon. How thick shall I put the dirt and the sand? Thank you
That is awesome Wiryawan. For very large tanks you can double the measurements. It is most important to have twice the elth of sand as dirt. And don't forget the food web!
@@FatherFish , so the dirt could be around 2" and sand 2-3"?
I need to learn more about the food web. Thanks so much for the fast reply and more insights.
Father Fish I am 8 days in to my first dirted tank following your guide. I have been having lots of h2s bubbles coming through the cap (that has been driving my saint of a wife crazy cause it makes the room smell), slowly getting less over time. Originally the ammonia was very high, but I have done 50-70% water changes a few times to get it under control. It seems that the tank is on its way to cycling. I admit that I have been using Seachem prime and stability to keep my sunfish alive and they are doing fine. Originally i had some plants in there but they started to look terrible so I removed them assuming it was due to the high ammonia, or maybe h2s pockets.
My question to you is should I be worried about the h2s, is there anything I need to do besides poking the substrate? My ammonia levels have been over 4 ppm the past 8 days but it seems the bacteria is starting to build up and control it, and my nitrites are going up along with the nitrates. I do plan on putting some more plants in the tank this weekend, but worried about pockets of h2s.
Put the plantw back in and add a few fish. The bubbles are not important and are normal. Add a bit more sand if the amonia continues. there is no reason to have amonia.
I would have waited much more before putting the fish in. And I would have made a effort to oxygenate the water as good as possible with a air pump. Oxygen help the bacteria eat the ammonia and convert it to harmless nitrate. I till eventually balance itself out. Seems that you might have used soil that might have not finished composting or you had some " fresh " decomposing organics that are very biologically active which in turn raise the ammonia and creates the h2s bubbles.
It's been a year since this happened to you, what is you're result now ? Is the aquarium balanced now ?
Do you still reccomend quarentining fish?
If you want better audio in the future. You might not want to film so close to the aquariums. It would cut down on the choppy-ness, but i’m guessing that’s from dropping the levels in between sentences. . Also try to record ambient audio too. Not critiquing. Just want you to have the best channel possible. You’re doing good work. ❤
Or if you know that the area you’re filming in is noisy. Just record the audio separately from the video. This will also make your videos more entertaining overall.
How deep of a substrate should I have in a standard 29 gallon?
1" dirt and 2" sand is perfect.
Father fish, a question...
Please could you advise me if a natural sand substrate is good or bad for Cory's and coolie loach...thanQ in advance.
It is perfect especially if a food web is added.
@@FatherFish ThanQ for the quick reply, I appreciate it....
And ThanQ for your informative videos and patience...🏴🦘👈ignore the roo.....
What about adding a remineralizing product to the RO water? Is this sufficient for fish health?
No. More needs to be done than adjusting the gh.
@@FatherFish Thank you for the reply! I am following all your steps, and very much enjoy all your wisdom :) I unfortunately only have RO water in my household, but will seek a better alternative
I setup my tank with your dirted muddy bottom then used pacer sand to cap. I didn't like how soft it was when placing water and plants. I bought pool filter sand to place over it. I replanted. Applied my heater and hob media filter. It's been less than a day so far. Water is still cloudy. Wanting to add my giant Betta. Is it safe to add my Betta once the 24 HR mark hits? Or should I test my water first? I have already used a chlorine remover called stress coat. Should I use an ammonia breaker before placing my fish?
Ck for amonia.Should be OK
What temprature should I heat a tank with a betta, green neon tetras and small corys?
Keeping the temp at 82 is optimal.
Father fish I need your help please. I am a beginner fish keeper and I stumbled upon your video too late! My substrate is about 1-3 inches tall in a 75 gallon aquarium.... I already have my fish in the aquarium along with some live plants. I wish I had put more substrate in the tank now that I saw your video, it would help keep my plants rooted more easily and will also help with everything else you have mentioned about having a deep substrate. What should I do now?? I have a spare 30 gallon aquarium btw! I really hope to get a response from you!
You can add a few more inches of sand. If you want to restart follow directions on setting up a new tank in the directory at my channel. Best wishes.
I ordered your soil kit and plants, waiting for them to arrive. In your earlier video you said 82 degrees. I find few fish that like it that warm, typically the max I see is 78 degrees but there are a few that like it that warm but it limits my choices of fish so I want to verify the 82 degrees number.
for tropicals
Hello,
So I bought your soil and pants for a 40 gallon tank and followed instructions closely. Temp is 80 degrees and the PH is 6.5 coming out of the tap but 3.5 in the tank a day after putting in the water. I bought 6 neon tetras and 6 bigger tetras and they all died within an hour of being put in the tank.
I thought this was a natural setup so I would rather not use a PH up chemical but I don’t know what is going on, any help would be appreciated.
I spoke to Father Fish on the phone yesterday and it seemed like I had the substrate correct with sand from the beach on top.
@@FatherFish
Father fish what kind of sand should we use.Should we use coarse sand or fine sand? Which one do you use?
ANY sand will do. I prefer fine but it is a matter of choice.
If I have gravel substrate could I just top it off with sand?
Yes. Absolutely. Your total depthh should be no less than 3". No fert necc. Your gravel has biologicals in it if thhe tank has been set up more than 3 months.
Question I have drift wood I boiled for hours a month ago today o noticed what I thought was the sand, I moved around , moving on the wood and plants . What can day be and are they bad for my beta?
I just found out the are Copepods/scuds! Great little bottom feeders and a sign of a maturing tank.
How many pounds of soil and sand would you buy for a 29 gallon?
I have boring well water having TDS value of 2800ppm, so if I don't use water from RO system how do my fish will service?
That is comparable to sea water. Mineral water is perfect for a few fish like the cyprinadon (pup fish) and other brackish water fish. If you use RO water and add 10% of your well water you will be at about 280 ppm, good for most tropicals.
@@FatherFish thank you so much for your advice, rather altering my well water if I go to saltwater hobby isn't it a good choice? If you were me what would you do? Is there any method like dirted tank for natural slatwater hobby? I wouldn't want to go for extera mechines like protein sikkmers and blah blah, just a 55 gallon with sump filter would be my choice, any help will appreciated, Tia
A question about sand please. My local landscape supplier has sand that looks like beach sand. I understand that sand is inert but can beach sand (sourced from marine maybe?) have sea salt in it? They also do river sand but I have noticed that their white sand (looks like beach sand) is finer and looks very nice. I guess my question is if I went to my local ocean beach and collected sand and rinsed it would it be safe to use? Have always wondered about that for fresh water aquariums. Thank you in advance. I understand that yellow brick sand is to be avoided - it contains lime maybe?
Dry beach sand is washed by rain. It contains no salt. Use it freely. For a salt tank wet beach sand from the water is best. It is alive with the animals that make a salt tank healthy.
Lime is not a problem. It simply hardens the water. The rule is to not use sand that is water soluble.
Thanks thats great. Have always wanted to know that. It seems crazy to be fearful of silica sand which is an inert material and the most plentiful material on earth I believe, but I have been wary of beach sand all my life with regard to fresh water aquariums. Always wanted to do a salt water tank and do as you say - take some live sand and sea water.
Can you make the bottom layer thinner in one place, as long as it's minimum 3" all over?
I want to make a river bed tank, where the bottom layer is thicker in the back and thinner in the front.
So a sloaping bottom layer
Absolutely. The difficulty with sloping is its tendency to level out. Baffles placed in the substrate can help overcome this problem. Make sure the dirt is covered with 2" of sand' If there is no soil in the front the sand can be shallow.
@@FatherFish Baffles. Thats so clever! 😁
So i can just put sand in the front, without any soil/dirt underneath?
@@Desmond000007 Yes, absolutely.
@@FatherFish Fantastic, thank you!
Hello Sir, What's your take on using dead tree limbs as decorations in a new tank? Also do you subscribe to the notion of scrubbing and bleaching found rocks to use in an aquarium?
yes. Fallen limbs are very useful as hardscape.
I’m really interested in tanks and want to do one myself, I like the idea of it replicating nature close as possible.
All the talk about chemicals, tests and stuff puts me off sounds like a lot to follow. I want to learn though.
Watch: th-cam.com/video/5oKqtj8ju3c/w-d-xo.html 3 simple steps for a natural, balanced, forever aquarium
hello father fish, how long does the sand in an aquarium.last? coz aqua soil tend to.last around 3 to 5years
It is permanent. Watch my videos on permanent substrate.
I want to put in dirt but can’t afford your substrate right now. What else can I use to mix soil to make the needed healthy dirt? Please help!
The SHOAL offers information on cheap substrate.
I use remineralized RO water, I have been using it for a few months now keeping my gh at 4 degrees and KH at 5 degrees ( I have seiryu stone for Maintaining my KH balanced ) PH at 7.2 when co2 Is off 6.6 when on, I have a 29 gallon with 4 inches of Sand substrate I aim to keep my phosphates at 2 ppm. I didnt use dirt, my plants are thriving crystal clear water my nitrates are always at 10 to 20 ppm, very small amounts of algae. I use EI to fertilize and root tabs once a month. Will my 4 inch sand substrate absorb any of the fertilizer and minerals from the water column over time?
Yes. Absolutely. In a year the sand will function the same as a dirted substrate. It will process detritus and provide O2 and nitrites for the plants.
Hey father fish. Why should we do 10% water changes for the first few months?
When we do those water changes should we eliminate the chlorine before putting it in the tank? (I assume yes)
One last question. Is there any special advice for keeping shrimp and crabs happy and healthy in a well balanced tank?
Apparently I am not communicating. Join us at Father Fish Shoal to discuss these concerns.
discord.gg/v6x5YVbc
I'm a bit confused about water changes....in some videos you say don't do water changes at all unless you have a good reason, and this one you say do 10% every day for the first month. Also, my water here is very hard (Las Vegas city water) and if I just top it off and don't do water changes wouldn't that eventually lead to mineral buildup and make the tank eventually crash? Would water changes be necessary for someone with water like me and not necessary for someone who lives somewhere with less minerals in the water? Or am I overthinking the whole thing lol, I just set up a 10 gallon yesterday and did a 10% water change today based off this video but then I just watched another video where you say don't do it and I want to ensure I'm doing this right and I don't ruin what I'm trying to make happen in the tank (life)
Thank you for catching that conflict on that older vid. The no water change is updated procedure. This is a level of organization I have not yet achieved.
@@FatherFish so I should not do anymore water changes unless the fish/plants are stressed basically?
have a good reason to do a waster change and keep it to 10% if possible.@@natureswayaquaticslv
@@FatherFish I know that now, this was 7 months ago lol
Father Fish I really need some clarification on a matter I already spoke to you about. About two weeks ago I set up a 20 gal tank exactly as you describe. I had done a couple a water changes because nitrites were very high. But you told me to stop that. And I did. The nitrites are still very high and my fish are gradually dying. A guppie, a glow fish, an angel fish, a minnow and a molly have so far died. Everything looks normal in the tank and I have followed your instructions for feeding the fish in a newly set up tank. What can I possibly do???? I must have failed in some aspect of this new tank setup. Can you help me please??????
Wally.
You need to join the Father Fish Shoal where we can diagnose what is happening. Obviously there is substantial ammonia being created that is not breaking down as it should. discord.gg/GdakStEjAy
For the love of god change your water. Where has common sense gone. You're tank clearly wasn't cycling itself and your fish suffered on the advice of someone who hasn't even seen your tank
"They have very tiny guts, elementary canals if you will." OK he didn't say "if you will" but that cracked me up.
alimentary?
👍
i was recently told that my sand substrate won't have any anaerobic bacteria living inside it. i was told to mix in aquarium gravel. whats your thoughts on this. i got all scared and confused.
Father Fish is the antidote to fear and confusion. 1" of dirt topped with 2" of sand and ignore the ignorant.
@@FatherFish thank you so much.
Father Fish, have you ever kept sunfish in your dirted tanks? I want to keep longear sunfish in my dirted tank but concerned about them digging nests? What medium sized fish do you recommend?
Yes I have. Add an extra inch or two of sand and you should be ok.
10 days before I did 40 gallon 5 inch substrate tank with 12 Danios, 100+ plants, not fed them till date but still there is ammonia spike, any thoughts?
Need more info. Do a water change.
@@FatherFish Thanks for your reply, I just waited for two more days and there is no more ammonia, it suddenly vanished.
Father Fish, I have observed that out of my 12 danios some have became very thin and skinny, I have fed them very tiny amount only twice in last 23 days, is there any reason?
Thanks Father Fish for your response in today's live fish forum, yes understood that danios are not bottom feeder and require some more feeding and are the exception for less feed.
Do I need to tear down my tank and start over to go this route?
No. Simply add 2" of sand to your existing substrate and DO NOT DISTURB IT!
@@FatherFish dirty sand from local lake or home depot sand
@@ssnsocalfan lake sand will contain beneficial microbes. Provided you can do it without fouling your water.
@Father Fish right now i have 2 inches of home depot sand covered with 2 inches of CaribSea Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium Substrate. With heavy plants. With an eheim 250 classic.
I made a terrible mistake on my tank build today, I forgot to add a little water after the soil, so when I added the water the soil came over top of the sand, and is a huge mess. Is their something I can do other then just adding more sand over it?
no. add more sand
I'm thinking of setting some jars of water outside, waiting for mosquitoes to hatch their larvae, and use as fish food. However, is there a risk that any undesirables might also enter the water, given that the jars will be open to the air to allow mosquitoes to enter?
That's a great idea! There is a virtual 0 chance of bringing anything destructive into your tank.
Thanks:)
Dear sir what is best a tank with a lid or with out a lid. Can you help me with that. Thank you. A beginner
A lid keeps evaporation down so that is best
Father Fish Will hard water of say PH 7.5 to 8 raise the ammonia levels?
Not by itself. It need help, like rotting food.
@@FatherFish thanks. As suggested by you in another video I am feeding them once a day three micro pellets per fish. The Colors of the fish have brightened in just four days. Fish seem to be happy. I have also not changed the water because everything looks fine and it is crystal clear.
Can their be class and craw fish for the tank and natural creatures or is this bad for my new tank?
cray fish eat everything
Father when to introduce fish after setting up the tank?
I introduce small numbers of fish immediately. Absolute and rigid limitation on feeding is critical at this early stage.
@@FatherFish should the fish be of the same species like danios or a mixture?
@@bhuwanchander2196 If they will not eat each other they can be kept together, maybe. Depends on your interest.
@@FatherFish thanks a lot for answering all my questions. I was thinking of installing a plenum as explained by Dr Novak and lockdown happened in India. I had purchased around 400 bio balls but after watching your channel they seem to be useless. Sir, is there a way to utilize them now?
@@FatherFish should feeding be done once inactive week?
Good Morning Father Fish! I have been planning on a 20 gallon long dirted planted tank without a filter and appropriate 'cool water' plants.
I would like it to house my 3 Chinese Fire Belly Newts and 6-10 White Cloud Minnows. I plan to add Ghost Shrimp and a few Ramshorn Snails.
My current tank temp is around 64-70F in the winter and up to 74F perhaps in the summer. I do not use a heater.
Are there successful cool type dirted planted tanks? [It makes sense to me-- not everywhere is tropical]. And have you known anyone that has a tank that has successfully housed newts in it? [There is not a lot of info out there, but I know that all of these creatures can live together in harmony,].
I have watched several of your tank set up videos, beginner videos, etc and reading all of your comments. It has been most helpful! Thank you! T H A N K you!
There are hobbyists in N AM who keep native fish in cooler tanks.
What is that racket in the background, spoiling my favourite Fish Man !! Can’t bear it.
These are old videos from my shop.
Hi FF, another interesting video. Air pump in the aquarium behind you caught my eyes...does high number of fishes explain the need to use an air pump ?
Good catch. A new employee did that. I left it for slow water current.
@@FatherFish Hi FF, thanks for your answer. I'm just coming back from your "Return to Eden" video. Your speech was a blast ! Keep going...
What about using vitamin c to remove chloramine and chlorine
yes. Works fine. 1000u per 20 gallons
My beta and tetras died first day in tank what did I do wrong 😢
i have clay substrate with lots of plants my betta loves it. he loves swimming thru and hanging out with the plants but no way i let them go hungry i would not want to be hungry why would i let them go without
All healthy fish are hungry. Don't starve him but also don't make him a little piggy.
Can I feed canned fish in my freshwater aquarium?
packed in water, not oil
I made this list of things to buy a while ago. Most I will not be getting now. But which things would you keep on the list.
[ ] Easy Fertilizer Package - $40
[ ] Aquarium Co-Op Towel - $8
[ ] Algae Scrubber - $1
[ ] Extreme Krill Flakes - $8
[ ] Hikari Bloodworms - $6
[ ] Sponge Pad Coarse - $5
[ ] Seachem Prime - $13
[ ] Ich - X - $4
[ ] Mardel Maracyn - $12
[ ] General Cure - $14
[ ] Planting Tweezers - $6
[ ] Plant Scissors - $9
scissors, tweezers and scrubbie pad are good. Available cheap at Walmart or the Dollar Store.
I'm confused. In most of his other videos he repeatedly says "Don't do water changes!" but here he says you should and that he actually does it in his own tanks, albeit only once a year or so....
It is never a matter of never. It is a matter of setting up your tank to make water changes less and less necessary.
@@FatherFish Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it. I am a complete beginner and was about to embark on the standard "chemical" path until I found your channel. I am now setting my new tank according to your recommendations as it makes a lot of sense to me. I still have a million questions, so you will probably hear from me again. All the best!