The Science of Anoxic & Layered Substrate Aquariums. The Lasagna Method. A DEEP DIVE How To Guide!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.พ. 2024
- This Video Will Likely Change How you understand the nitrogen cycle in aquariums and in ecology. This is a DEEP DIVE into the process of lasagna Substrate aquarium systems and deep substrate fish tanks, anoxic filtration, aerobic filtration and the ecology of planted tanks.
Understanding these fundemental scientific principles will help you to create your own method of setting up an aquarium and ecosystem, and hopefully bring a new level of happiness, and intrigue to the fishkeeping and aquascaping hobby.
My Top 10 Essential Videos * DEEP DIVES, That I Recomend to Everyone Interested in Deep Substrate Tanks, Nature Tanks & Lasagna Method Aquarium Owners Need to See.
Below is a Playlist Linked Individually By Topic: " The Nature Aquarium Master Class":
Creating Holistic & Balanced Ecosystems and Not Simply Cycling Your Aquarium
DEEP DIVE:
• Creating A Low Mainten...
Part 1: how to a create a layered substrate AKA " LASAGNA Aquariums
.Create a Tank That Can Last Forever.
• Creating A Tank That W...
DEEP DIVE: The Science of Lasagna Tanks / Layered Aquariums ( Lasagna Substrate Part 2)
• The Science of Anoxic ...
Active vs Inactive / Inert substrates. DEEP DIVE
• ACTIVE vs. NON-ACTIVE ...
Why Aquasoils are the most versitile aquarium substrate & the science of how aquasoil works. DEEP DIVE
• DEEP DIVE: What is the...
Fertilizing your aquatic plants with the food you feed your fish
• Fertilizing Your Aquar...
The Limits and Strengths of deep substrate. Lasagna & nature aquariums
DEEP DIVE
• The TOUGH TRUTHS About...
How to know if your aquasoil or substrate is depleated or needs replacing.
• How Do You Know When Y...
Is it safe to add Pond Water to Your Aquarium? Micro Flora and Fauna Cycling Examined.
• Can You Just Add Local...
Safely Creating & Culturing a Diverse Micro-Biome in Your Planted Aquarium
• The Secret to Creating...
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Link below
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To become a member of the channel: JOIN US AT THE LINK BELOW FOR JUST $1.99!
/ @fishtory
Artwork and Merch!
teespring.com/it/stores/a-sec...
To financially show love to the channel. If I've earned it and helped you out, I appreciate any Patreon Donations or Venmo/PayPal gifts,
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Fishtory15 or Fishtory10 for discount!
Thanks friends. Cheers
i used to think deep substrate was a waste of space and in the last several months of watching videos like this i realzed how wrong i was. Not only is it NOT a waste of space its so beneficial and longlasting
Yeah, it's not for everyone or all occasions, but if you want a low maintenance, lush community tank that doesnt need water changes usually... its the best method
Me too. Starting to rethink my position.
And I quote " the earth is a beautiful lisangna of layers" 😅❤ gold thanks Alex 😊 ❤
😁
Every time I spend time with you I learn. My knowledge expands. I’m very grateful.
Im honored and that makes my day! Thanks
I'm learning all my aquarium sciences from this channel. Thanks Alex!
Great to hear!
I’m grateful that I found your channel .
Me too! Haha welcome
The best explanation of nitrogen cycle I've seen so far on YT and how that relates to different aquarium setups. I'm very grateful for this knowledge. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! And thank you!
One of my favorite videos so far. Brings a lot of strands together for me.. Thank you!
You are so welcome! Glad to hear it :D
Ah Shisho, this is awesome! Podcast type content is super appreciated! I've been super busy lately and don't have time to sit down and watch fish yt so I've been missing a ton of your latest vids. But I DO have time to listen while I'm working! Your content is always a fav and I'm excited to have something I can absorb w/ ears only!! Wishing you good times and great health!! 🙏💙✌️
Haha thank you so kindly. I hope your doing amazing! Cheers
Another home run. Definitely a master class level for aquarists. I'd recommend a 'Fishtory' master degree- each of these tutorials earning 3 credits-- culminating towards a 90 credit degree as a master aquarist graduate.
Haha im honored to hear that. ... everyone passes with a D- in my class from here on!
Got here early! Going to listen to this whole thing to plan out my new 10gallon substrate. Edit watched it all my conclusion is take the pros and cons of each things you enjoy about each setup and how it will function longterm, the mantainence ,asthetics, how nature and biotope specific it Is and more importantly how the fish will feel in that enviroment and how avaliable you will be to clean the enviroment add the root tabs,ferts,co2. And being on routine, so more about how much you wnat to spend and can afford, aswell as how much time do you have with mentality and energy to take care. Example someone young and motivated may be able to handle a high tech or coral saltwater tank. While others are older or have disabilities may prioritize the simpleness and lower workload, I get where both views are from
I liked your comment. I'm a bit old and a bit disabled (I hate to observe myself too negatively or succumb to any limitations or concepts of being older than some) so I really want to enjoy my aquariums and have a sense of accomplishment. I can't see the point, for me, to just tear down tanks every 6 months as I couldn't attain what I need from all I want in that amount of time. The whole financial aspect is a determining factor as well.
I still would like to try something new in fish/aquarium keeping by hopefully getting into CO2 in time. This because I want to keep learning new things. The whole CO2 thing has a whole new set of guidelines though so I approach with caution until I feel ready time wise and so I don't add to my frustration level.
I rarely comment on videos but I got to say that was possibly the best informative fishkeeping video I've ever seen. Much respect.
whoa. im humbled and honored. thank you.
Lots of good information
Thank you!!
You made me think about spring run off in streams that scour the scape and provide the cleaned area for the cycle to renew. Pretty cool.
Love learning more about the science behind the layered substrate
It is one of your best videos. Probably the best, didn't watch them all :) Thank you. Aquarium helps me to keep sanity "cycled" :)
Thank you for your work! ❤🐠🌱
You got it
You explained what I've been doing for years in a very simple process. I doubt I could have done it without slipping into my science nerd side. Thanks for allowing me to understand it in a simplified manner, at last.
I have a 10 gallon tank using 1" of DeNitrate as the bottom layer (I should have used lava rock and pea gravel). I'm finding my rust layer directly above this. I also used pure clay litter as the layer above placed on a plastic mesh screen. Then I put on my 1.5" of Stratum. So far I haven't changed my water in nearly a year. I have well over a hundred RCS in a single tank with less than eight gallons of crystal clear water and a variety of overgrown plants. (I have to cull plants every few months. I had to get rid of all root plants. They overrun everything.) I run a sponge filter only for the baby shrimp to graze on now. This method does work!
Take Care and Stay Safe, my friends.
Awesome thanks for sharing. If i build tanks like 55g or more, i start to include extra layers like the kitty litter just to see if it improved anything and i think specifically clay kitty litter absorbs ammonia ions and salts really well. Nice choices!
Great Info, thanks 🐸
No problem 👍
Thank you, Alex. It's nerdtastic! 🤓
Glad you think so!
Awesome episode, very well done. It was great how you broke everything down and made it valuable to everyone, even people not interested in using the lasagna method. Definitely many rewatches ahead!
Much appreciated! Thanks Moose
I feel that I need to listen to this more than once. Also this confirms what I've noticed in my aquariums, already trying to do my best after a lot of time spent with youtubevideos on this subject 😅 My first two aquariums had aquasoil only. One with used aquasoil, followed with an aquarium I bought second hand. One with new aquasoil. The first one was easy, the next one is difficult to keep in a good condition. Then I have two aquariums with fine gravel (almost like sand) only, but with a layer of crossed root tabs. Those are doing pretty good.
The one working the best though, is the one with a lot of aquasoil in bags at the bottom, and then a thick layer of the sand/gravel on top of it. Not too much algae, plants growing like crazy, the fish seem interested of spawning now (they're rainbowfish, so they don't breed like guppys 😁) and the shrimps are doing well.
In all my aquariums I have both stem plants (fast growing and a bit slower growing), anubias, java fern and java moss. And floating plants. I also have sandsnails in all of them, and shrimps. But still, the only aquarium with different types of substrate is the easiest one to take care of. Interesting!
Ive tried basically everything...and for a species only, or community + planted tank ...this is hands down my favorite
Awesome video…one of the best yet!
Glad you think so!
Appreciate the information thanks Alex 😊
My pleasure!
I don't consider myself "thick" but I don't absorb/remember all the science information that really seems complex.. to me anyway. That's why I have to keep digging around for information and reviewing it a lot. I do appreciate keeping my brain synapses kicking around as well as learning new more challenging types of information that isn't comfortable for me. Aquarium/fish keeping is more science than a creative intuitive "hobby" in my experience. Not that it hasn't given me a sense of accomplishment and I for one consider my fish pets so that's another thing.
So, I'm thankful you get really into your subject matter and I actually prefer long videos with a lot of information. You have a fun unique personality but present so much more than just entertainment. I hope you can keep growing here on YT and you don't get tired of it or frustrated and I can always reference your videos. I do "donations" whenever I can and your channel is the only one on YT so far I feel kind of a responsibility to support in this way. I do appreciate aquarium vlog fun stuff but there aren't many channels that really contribute to understanding the complexity of aquarium and fish keeping subjects.
Aww thank you so very much. Your words truly move me.
@@FishtoryYour welcome! I've been thinking this for a while now. It's important to tell people stuff!
Thanks!
Thank YOU!
Superb video Alex! Aquasoil topped with sand sounds like an amazing option, going to do that next. 👍
Hope you enjoy it!
So much knowledge. Going to have to watch it a few more times, if I could like it more than once I would.
Wow, thanks!
So very informative! Thank you for teaching and sharing your knowledge!
You are so welcome!
This is so interesting. I’ll have to listen several times to really get it.
Well, shucks. But thanks! Have an awesome week, my friend.
Something I've seen around a bit is the use of inert/mineral-only baked-clay substrates on top of active substrate layers, but beneath the sand cap. Supposedly it can aid in capturing dissolved nutrients as they leech from the soil, further reducing the TDS. Most recommend at least some red clay, like seachem flourite. From what my research can gather, the main requirements for this layer are:
-being somewhat resistant to dissipating back into loose clay
-being porous in the way that clay naturally is
-being vaguely positively charged
-already having a base amount of nutrients, aka being "charged"
Once the clay has done its job and absorbed the initial leeching, it can safely dissolve back into loose clay, so it doesn't need to last forever.
From what I know you could actually use something like old bricks smashed into gravel, spare flower pots and other sources of simple terra cotta. That's my current plan. My tank is using corrugated plastic to build up hardscape topography, and dissipate weight, so I'm gonna skip the big pebbles and lower layer of sand, and just jump straight to lava rock and lump charcoal for surface area and void space. I'll also use some charcoal in the brick layer. Not entirely sure where that stuff would be most useful, so I'm just putting it everywhere it won't be in the way.
I'm also considering adding a layer of less-decomposed organics, just underneath those bricks. A very very thin layer. a dusting of coco fiber and crushed eggshell, and a single layer of mulberry and oak leaves. The clay should help with the leeching process, and my hope is that they will block tubifex worms from transporting all the soil above the sand like they have in my past tanks, while also enriching the relatively low nutrient riverbank mud I use. *kinda* considering root tabs as well for the same reason. I'm anticipating this taking a while to fully establish, but it should be well worth it, especially with the right supporting organisms.
I have been researching aquatic life and watching so many videos for a while now. Your videos are the best!
They follow very similar ideas that I’ve developed over the years from my time with plant care, observations of nature, and studies/books I have read. Thank you for this channel, it helps me so much with further understanding things that I’ve missed and more!
With love ❤👍
Glad you like them! I'm honored
Exceptionally informative video, easy to understand and the visual aids really helped 😊
Awesome. Thanks for your feedback
Created a lasagna substrate in my planted tank...ABSOLUTELY love it...adds alot of depth to the eye, reflecting all of the colors you can see on the top layer in the aquarium. Used Fluval plant aquasoil in bags and so far, I can only say its an excellent product, as I have no CO2 going in the tank and the plants look great and the first I put in the tank have grown taller with new leaf growth.....plants are new to me, so just trying to take notice.
Sounds great!
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge with us, I know that I sure need any help I can get ❤❤❤❤❤
Any time!
Thank You!!! I'm in the process of setting up a new 55 gal. so hit the pause and had to run get my notebook and pencil! 🤣 Even had my daughter taking pics to print out later.
Wonderful! Ill try and post some notes in the community tab with the little info images i drew
Youre incredible brother.......I need to rewatch this. You talk about things I MUST come to understand.....at least I can follow along. Having what Im doing for the first time with my tank is a little intimidating....youre going to give me a better, more solid understanding. Have a great day!
Welcome and just ask questions if you have them my friend. I dont know it all...far from it... but we can try and find it out as a community!
@@Fishtory Thankyou. Whatever level we are at, there is always something new to learn. It will ultimately get to our fish and aquatic animals when we decide to think otherwise.
For my first experience with plants, I gotta say it seems to be going well. Dwarf hair grass is vibrant green and seems to be starting to spread (No CO2)....I believe I planted my cardinals kind of the wrong way....(learned for next time)....but alot of the roots that I noticed I didn't plant have made their way into the substrate. Fluval stratum in bags seems to be doing the trick, under a deep, layered (lasagna like) substrate. I do notice that after a smaller then recommended dose of API Leaf Zone, there's a marked growth, with new little leaves appearing on stems everyday. Amazing seeing those little bumps on stems turning into near full grown leaves within 24 to 48 hrs of seeing them.
Its satisfying to see progress, I spend time each day monitoring parameters and doing small water changes when needed. Found myself needing to buffer the water with some crushed coral as ph would crash to 6.0 (or even less) I attribute that to all the wood....I do not believe any substrate I used would cause the water to go acid...successfully got it between 6.6 and 6.8 over the course of 36 hrs at this point.....as I have 2 Nerites to start things up....My mistake was not dealing with the PH first.....want to make their environment healthy for them. Once I get PH to 7.0 and it holds, I will then add a couple of small fish.
How does all of this sound to you? Would love to hear your thoughts. Ive gotta watch your videos on the other "cycles" which take place. Never knew about them....they weren't talked about with my experience working at tropical fish stores back then!
Alex I really wish I have seen you when I fırsat was researching how to keep an aquarium. I always enjoy your videos, they are so informative, and cool. I have a spare tank I wanna put in the balcony, and I cannot decide to make it a daphnia/live food growing tank or a White cloud mountain minnow o Rice fish ( cold water tank) with an ongoing ecosystem with a lasagna substrate
Hmm well if it gets tons of sun def daphnia...just let it grow all the green water algae in the world and drop some daphnia in. But if its shaded all but 3 to 5 hours a day in summer its probably better for some fish as you mentioned
@@Fishtory Do daphnia enjoy substrate + plants? Or would that negatively effect them due to plants competing for recourses with green water?
@nurrr2041 they like leaves and or mulm...dead or dying plant material thats melting.... but they only eat single cell algae at the end of the day
My tanks I have used normal garden dirt and some peat moss and then sand on top of that
Thank you, another interesting and inspiring part of aquarium life made easy to understand. In the next few months I'll be setting up a new tank and was planning on using filter net bags to build up a background where I can put plants. Going to use plumbers pvc pipe to make a frame, drill small holes in it and then have an airstone pull water through. Gotta love the science and the DIY !!!
Sounds very nice! Please Let me know how it goes
Alex hit a homerun again. Well explained dude.
Well thank you buddy
Let's gooo!!! 🎉
Planted tanks look exactly like a northern lake ecosystem I have fished so many times staring into the lake with awe at wonder at the multitude of creatures and plants so beautiful and throwing a jig for largemouth bass . I am a fish release enthusiast and promote it as well well as releasing all my fish even my largest ever, but I am in love with my house tropical fish
Right on! Are you talking about the upper midwestern region?
Great information. I'm kicking myself I didn't do this in the beginning. Thank you very much
Glad it was helpful! Live and learn. Have fun while doing so haha
yeah...who knew!
Rewatching it once more, just because I can and now I can set up one aquarium like this, but with UGF. Today I acquired a deep aquarium that will allow me to pull this out. Excited for the results
It should work well. Enjoy!
@@Fishtory plus I will have lava rock dust hahah
Definitely gonna put a lasagna next to a dirt and watch what happens
I'd love to hear about it!
Where do you buy your lava rock? I'm setting up some new tanks and want to try this method for the substrate. Thanks for all the awesome videos!!
Interesting concept in ecosystem aquariums. I've never really been a fan of soil in the ecosystem substrates. While they provide a source of nutrients for the bacteria and mycelium, I think the structure of soil can inhibit gas exchange in the soil. Bonsai growers have been using open soil structures with a high CEC because of this. I really like the way you are promoting the denitrifying bacteria below the rhizosphere. That makes a lot of sense to me.
Great point, and that's exactly why i personally dislike the eutrophication bomb just waiting in some walstad or deep substrate tanks.. thanks for coming by and sharing
@Fishtory That's understandable. I've always suspected in aquariums where I don't gravel vac for one reason or another that the aquarium seemed to have a lifespan relative to its substrate depth. After which, I would get stubborn algae and cyano bacteria start accumulating. I've been putting it down to the ability of the substrates to act as a nutrient sink. One thing that's stood out to me lately with these successful long-term ecosystem aquariums is that they all have an anoxic zone under where the plants' roots are. This seems to be the key to me.
Thx a lot for the rich content. When i need in depth information, i always come back to your channel. Groundbreaking stuff👍 My question, albeit slightly off topic; will a filter sponge, hanging loose in the tank on its own, house aerobic bacteria? Playing with the idea of using an black 10ppi sponge as a background without a pump pulling water through it. Thx again!
It will, but not nearly as densley. I usually toss a few filter intake sponges in my healthest looking tanks, or even run it for a few days THEN add it to a new tank, and it will cycle the thing within 24 to 72 hours
I love this deep dive into the substrate system. Do you have any links to papers which describe these processes cause I would love to learn more?
Check out diana walstads published works or tom barrs ... the book called "the ecology of the planted tank" is phenomenal and includes a ton of science. As for anoxic papers... almost all the info is from septic tank and sewer science and engineering. Use the word "annoxic" or aerobic with the word filtration or media.... at google.com/scholar/ and itll source all the public free published materials :)
My layers disappeared when I added loads of blackworm. They made air pockets. Very informative, cheers Alex
How did your tank function after that? Any noticible differences? I ask just because some people say the layers matter less than the diversity of materials and flow rates
Right, well I kinda messed that tank up. It had pygmy Cory/DNR/shrimp originally. It was thriving plant wise with the worms. Decided in error to grow out 3 bristlenose and 8 Mascara Barb. They pretty much turned tank into mulm soup way faster than it took to look so good. Added rocks & guppy grass as per LRB formula. What I should have done was put them in the bigger tank first. Lesson learned, better a small fish in a big tank as no predators anyway.
Good job with all the photos & art work (which would’ve taken ages to get done) ✅ . That helps people understand the cycle properly. You’re the only one I’ve ever seen clearly explain everything what needs to be understood. Sometimes I wish I had only 1 inch substrate in my nano tanks but I use the father fish (the substrate) method so I’m stuck with 3 inches of substrate for my nano tanks but that’s fine. At least I know I will have a full proper cycle. I could never afford to buy any of those extremely expensive crazy Aqua soils that are ridiculous prices so my only option was the father fish or deep substrate method. Things are starting to settle in fine. I never would’ve got into this unbelievably expensive hobby if I knew I had of time how truly crazy us “fish fam.” people have to be to be so poor, but to just keep spending all your time & money on these damn little things. The problem is they make me happy 🤷♂️.
Thanks, i honestly spent over 50 hours on drafts, editing and sketching... im glad at least someone realizes it haha.
But yeah, we're all broke and insane from this hobby haha! In smaller tanks.... 20 or under i use about 2 inches of growing substrate layers... you can use less like aquascapers, and then you can use like an inch or less for about a year until it turns to dust.
@@Fishtory When I make a reply to you does this show only to you or does the show to everyone on TH-cam in the comment section? I’m always happy in the comment section for everyone to see & hopefully conversation helps the algorithm & Recognises your videos when I reply once you have replied to me but then do my replies after you have once replied just go straight to you only or does it stay in an Open chat? I hope it stays in an open chat because I wish the whole world would see how you really work your ass off. Even with such extreme, severe health & financial conditions you still manage to do all this work. You have my full written permission to always take any comment I make & screenshot anything or ask me to make a comment somewhere else because you are a total life saver. You’re a massive inspiration in countless ways. You’re a good person.
Lava (basalt) with scoriaceous texture is what most refer to as simply lava rock. But massive basalt (typically crushed for building products use) is also lava…and has few vesicles or voids.
Ultra mafic means high ferro-magnesium…and typically dark minerals.
Red basalt scoria is simply oxidized at the source more so than the dark gray/black scoria.
So much great rock here in the PNW.
Pumice has even higher void space…but I don’t hear anyone using it like they do in bonsai practice. I wonder if there is a use for it in filters. Obviously, getting it weathered/waterlogged to the point it no longer floats would be helpful….but also maybe as a media in a DIY fluidized bed external filter system even in floating condition.
Thanks for the geology clarification if i said something incorrect and dumb lol. Its been a while ...20 years since class on ultra mafic rocks haha.
Pumice is used by a few people i know...and perhaps fittingly, they seem to use pearlite and akadama as well... if i could source it cheap, id use it instead. But looking for the super super light weight red stuff...( not the heavy dense red)...like the stuff from wyoming and utah that crumbles in your hand, thats what ive used because a whole bag is $4.99... i used some basalt from Eastern Washington and it grows the craziest purple biofilms and awfuchs! Its so heavy though...but the hexagonal spires it forms is so epic looking.
I use crushed clay pots that comes with some plants instead of lava rocks and it works fine too.
I bet. Great idea 💡 👍
Very complete, I take notes, even if I don't "do" lasagna and Aquasoil but only because it's too late.
In time maybe you could add some new substrate to your tank. This channel has a video on adding substrate to an already established tank!
@@heaven7360 I added the sand cap, so now I don't want to spend time removing it, and I'm not sure it's a good thing.
@@AlinefromToulouse I have tanks I set up I'm ways that are giving me issues. Over time I did begin to add substrate in section by section method. With sand cap you may be able to take it out and replace it in this method. The other alternative is to just replace the whole tank"s substrate. I just thought that was too drastic and time consuming for me. I'm curious as to whether you could add substrate layers on top of the sand (maybe slowly or in intervals). My plants were doing horribly as my tanks had been up for quite a while so I had to do something. George Farmer replaced either sand or gravel on one of his tanks and posted the video. I known Alex did a video on replacing substrates too. Its not as unique situation I thought it was but it has to be done carefully for sure.
@@heaven7360 The easiest solution indeed, would be to remove the sand, and put it back on the new substrate, but for the moment, I think I'm going to see how things evolve.
The other solution for a long-lasting tank I found out about is keeping only the species of plants that manage well. I think that's what I'll end up doing at one point.
@@AlinefromToulouse I get what you're saying. My substrate is old. 3 years. So I've had to face decisions. There's always an answer. I don't know if sand gathers mulm deeply like gravel in the interest of long term nutrients. If its a concern to you. Also wondering if you can add substrate of any kind over sand in particular. I probably would try it..but from all videos I've researched on the topic to add some substrates its important to do it in sections. I have done this on a couple tanks. Its easy and takes about a month or so. I don't like tearing down tanks as some people do so its worked for me. Asking questions on a chat with a fishtuber you trust might be of use when or if you need it
I don't know why I just have never thought of bit for me.
What do you think about adding oyster shells to a Air Stone/ filter for shrimp and crawdads?
This video has been very informative and interesting to learn from, thank you for sharing your knowledge and personal experiences.
How much potash and biochar are you supposed to use starting a 75 gallon fresh water planted tank. Do you recommend a brand of potash and biochar? (Besides aquachar)
Is easy peasy muriate of potash safe to use?
Is Harris horticultural biochar safe to use?
I dont know those other brands... but ive made woodash potash and made activated charcoal from scratch at home in the past...it just requires a lot of time and a hot fire... aquachar literally made the tweaks i couldnt do at home, so i just use about 15$ 1lb i believe. box per 40 gallon tank. Potash doesnt need to be strong... so i use just wood ash... but you could grind upcrystals of it and sparingly dust about half a cup under the soil layer im guessing? You just dont wanna ph burn plant roots, and some potting soil mixes are designed for far more tollerant plants.
Over all you can also use an all in one fertilizer squirted onto activated carbon/charcoal and burry/cap that too... basically its all down to how much light you're using, if you plan to dose other fertz, liquid suplements, or root tabs.... but unfortunately it's not one size fits all... and thats just the tricky truth about it.
For instance father fish has his mix, but i hear some people say its frying their stem plant roots for the first 6 to 12 months...so im sort of trying to avoid saying "do x y z" and hoping folks who plan to use high light and co2 will do research in to how much to use and where... and those folks not using co2 and or high light, probably dont need much at all. Sorry for such a lame answer... ill try and dial something in for the future
Thank you for your honesty and guidance, I know this hobby is one big experiment and as you mentioned before they’re literally writing the textbooks on it now. I’m super excited to give this a try and see how this goes.i don’t think my nicrew light is high light but it has given me success growing before. I do want to upgrade to a better light in time like a 3.0 and add CO2 as well.
I appreciate you making these videos and sharing info. I look forward to similar videos like this.
Alex i think i love you!!!!!!!
Talk nerdy to me lol
@@Fishtory its a old commercial song dedicated to u pal
Great video 👍
So
Why do you never? Talk about under gravel filters ( with a plenum). ??
Being that this solves the No Oxygen issue in the substrate you were talking about
Well because we are using the fact that there is no oxygen and to our advantage in the long term. While it charges the substrate and or aquasoil- but i have some UGF and they function about 20% better at reducing nitrates than normal filters would...where as that deep substrate once matured, it cam improve efficiency of nitrogen cycling and reduction 60%
@@Fishtory forsure :)
I started 8 months ago watching you & father fish , then a few months ago I stumbled across Dr Novak and his plenum system , and it's making alot of sense , and I like how he (like you) teaches the science 🧪 of it to us aquarists 👍 I think combining what you say & what he is saying Will bring the hobby to a 'better' place 🤔🤷:)
Alexx❤
Hey Alex, I love your content. On your last video about this lasagna method, which took me 3 days to watch, (because I why not?) I asked if we can use this method with a UGF. I mean, not for the whole tank, but for parts of it, and right above the rock layer and below the lava rock layer. It would make the substrate a little bit thicker, but I think I could still have a anoxic layer, haha😅.
I really wish to set up this layered substrate and go as thoughtful as possible, without spending money on a filter that pushes the water from the bottom, but I want to set up something that pulls the water and nutrients to the bottom...
I would really appreciate it if you could give me some advice hehe
Great content as always. Greetings from Brazil
Yeah as long as you left a few areas of the UGF blocked or above it there was an area of anoxic pocketing, you could for instance use a sand or aquasoil or lava rock substrate a few inches this, and pull aerobic filtration through that...and on either end or the corners perhaps, have the denser annoxic layers still. You just have to have very slow water for anoxic bio filtration to preform correctly... where as aerobic bio filtration actually counts on flow and o2 microbubbles
@@Fishtory um thinking about going around the tank, with pvc pipes and having the pipe at further from the bottom at the back of the aquarium, because we use to slope our aquascaping towards the back.
I'm going all out on this so I will let you know how it goes for me.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Do you recommend any book about aquatic live and the contents that you're posting?
Theres no one book that i feel explains the details of all this, the closest is the "Ecology of the planted aquarium" by Diana Walstad. However most of it is also in acedemic articles freely avaible at Google.com/scholar/
Audio got a bit messed up in this one too. But it's weird, since right channel sounds super great, but left one sounds like a blown out speaker. Not sure what's causing it. If you are able to, you could duplicate right channel to left as well and it would sound great (mono is more than fine for podcast)
Yeah im trying to figure out whats going on, because ill record in FHD of UHD and one channel, but when k compress the file for upload, it seems to be messing up during that step. Thanks for the mono suggestion too
Hello! I just set up a new nano with an under gravel filter! Under the UGF there is a filter media, and first layer is eco complete, then a big layer of saf t sorb. There is some laterite mixed in there too. Wondering if I should put a sand layer on top now?
Only if your getting really high nitrates...or any amonia / nitrites... orrrr if you enjoy that look, then go for it!
Lots of info to absorb in this deep dive! Thanks for explaining the “whys” as we are constructing our substrate layers. Fascinating stuff!😁☮❤🐠🦐🪴
You bet!
I see lasagna I click
Om nom nom
What about cat litter in mesh bags under the substrate to create contour?
Sure. Just get organic clay
Did anyone ever do a dirt/aquasoil Hybrid? Over the last weeks i bought different ingredients i want in my substrate. The dirt is vegan and organic, without peat and has biochar an coconut Fiber in it. I also have a mixture of sphagnum peat and Clay for the bottom Layer, crushed Lava Rock and and gravel for inbetween some layers and also i want to give the soil Layer a thin cap. But i‘m Not exactly sure about how to Layer it, i kind of have a Plan but would appreciate some thoughts. Maybe im also overdoing it but i Like to dig Deep and let it take the time it needs. I dont want to do only aquasoil because i want it to Last Long but i also would Like to have the Benefits of it especially for the Start, so i wouldnt use that much of it.
Yeah id cap off the coconut and peat etc with enough sand that it doesn't disolve and transform into fuel energy until a year or so in.
Also ive done dirt and aquasoil..if you arent going to be planting and replanting or moving the plants, it works fine. It just gets silty and messy if not though
I have some flourite on hand, could it be used as the lava rock. Or is it better used at a different layer, or possibly not used at all?
It'll work but won't have the same surface area of a porous stone
I watched both videos. I have Amazonia 2 for the top layer. Do I really have to cap it with sand? I would rather see it. I like the look better than sand. I know it will take longer to cycle.
Not at all. As long as you fully cycle it first...get that ammonia and nitrite reading to 0 ... you will not need a cap at all. In fact, most aquascapers on the pro level, don't use caps at all either. Caps are more for the fish than the plant's care
HOWS IT GOING!
I have a dirted tank been cycling for a month. But in the dirt portion there is a lot of mini air pockets. Will that damage my tank, is it normal. 🤔 would I have to pop the pockets which would reales that build up into my tank?
Theyll release over time and fill with fish waste and nutrients for the plants. No worries
Hi, Fishtory. I have some JBL Manado clay balls .5-2mm Which layer can I use it in? It's pretty light and it might float. Can I do layers: sand, rocks, manado clay balls, regular soil with compost, top with sand? Please help!
Yes definitely..some people even soak it and add a little fertilizer of nutrients to them
Will the emulsifier in dried yeast hurt my aquarium at all? I use it to feed the Daphia
Shouldnt
I’m just setting up a 20 long and I have over a inch of soil and then two to three inches of sand and I am looking at what’s left trying to figure out where to put everything and planting the plants I’m getting out of another tank and where do I put my heater my hanging filter is going on one end and I want sponge filters too
Put your heater at a 45 degree tilted angle near your strongest water flow... that will circulate it most evenly
Hi Alex. Asking for your opinion. My 6ft planted community tank has this substrate.......1 inch of organic compost, with a light sprinkling of crushed coral, then covered with around 3inches of small plain aquarium gravel. I've heard that gravel can keep your aquarium ph on the high side (around 7.5 ph) which most plants and community fish are not so good in........ This setup is nearly a year old, and over the past 6 months I've been using rainwater a lot to try to reduce the tanks gh and kh and also it's ph, which is not greatly changing.............I've watched this video and am wondering if wether by removing around 2 inches of gravel, and replacing it with a 2 inch sand layer, ......Would a 2 inch sand layer, cap the substrate underneath, enough for it to not effect the water column, so as to be able to achieve a lower ph,gh and kh by water changes with my rain water ???? I really need to know if you think this would work, as was thinking of doing a small section at a time. I just need to know if you think a 2 inch sand cap would work to be able to achieve a lower water column reading all around for the fish and plants to be better suited in ? Your answer would be appreciated very much.
So sand will likely result in similar readings, to soften it up and drop the ph , simply add a large bag of fluval stratum...or a bunch of dried almond/ maple leaves that you boil the color and tannins out of first. But aquasoil will buffer it all, very well, just a thin layer
Thanks Alex. So would I just add the fluval stratum straight on top of my gravel layer, and not remove any gravel at all, and would that soften it long term ?For my 6ft tank, what size bag of stratum would I need ?@@Fishtory
Would you consider Fluval Stratum as an aqua soil?
Yes indeed. It's a "non active" aquasoil, meaning that it has minerals and elements for nutrients, but will not leach ammonia or any nitrogen or phosphates to the water/ or plant roots. Fluval is ideal for low light tanks where you dont have a ton of stem plants. But anubias, jaba ferns, moss or buce wont need the substrate anyhow.
Mmmm I think I like the lasagna idea
Its delicious
What should I do with the plain old small snails that come from plants that I now have a lot of? Are they okay for and or good for the plants and planted tanks? I kind of like them but they can get overpopulated
Um some amount is good... if you get to many... find a friend or store with puffer fish... and pick all the snails out in the open during the day ...thats a decent way of keeping it sensible... because theyll have babies if even one day you add extra food lol..theyre prolific. Assassin snails are an option as well.
@@Fishtory thank you so much very appreciated I will definitely check out if someone has a puffer fish to share my snails with
I poked my substrate to get the bubbles out. I'm a week into this tank.
If you want, you can. But it's not necessary... in fact the larger the bubbles, the more they will rise as large bubbles, up and out of the tank
What about using another type of material in place of the first layer of 1/2 inch of sand? Could i use a layer of filter floss or mating or something similar to cushion the rocks from damaging the glass? Or would that cause problems in the long run?
That'll work just fine. Some people use egg crate or even straw
@@Fishtory thanks, yeah I ended up using egg crate and filling in the gaps in it with sand
you jUST made me HUNGRY for Lasagna!
i'm thinking some sand i saved from my old tank, then dig some barried lava rock gravel out of my mom's cactus garden she planted back in the 80s. they are clogged with soil thats never had pesticides sprayed on them. and top it off with fluval stratum. undecided if i am going cap it with sand or not.
I’d suggest capping it. It just solves a lot of issues with access nutrients causing algae blooms ect in the beginning. Good luck either way though. Not all my tanks are setup like this but it is my favorite method.
Awesome... you dont need the sand but an inch two never of it never hurt anyone
Damn. The science of this makes sense to me, it rings true, it complies to my observations of nature- but I still don’t want to see it in my display tank in my living room. 😭
How old is the tank? And also ... are you substrate cleaning...do you siphon and gravel vacuum? Because those will stall the process a VERY long time
how do mycorrhizae play into the aqua cycle?
Well we know there is something major going on...but it seems different in different tanks, depending on substrate, water parameters and plant species in the tank. We know some nutrients are swapped between roots and we know that decomposing organic waste under water is massively influenced by fungi.
However the science of it all is not well documented beyond some basic foundational knowledge in the case of non-food producing systems... people simply dont spend millions on researching a hobby aquarium ecosystem...unless its producing food fish or something very valuable
Can i use fkorite instead of an aquasoil
Can you put it straight in the aquarium after you rinse it off or do you need to treat it with chlorine remover or dry it?
You want to rinse the dusty stuff off in some brands...but that's it. Just for water clarity
My blackwater tank is doing exceptionally well & I've only had to do 2 water changes (algae issues).
I started with 1cm clay layer, then 1" layers of: rich, black compost mixed with crushed charcoal, then a depleted compost layer & finally capped with a small gravel + sand mix.
I started the tank with a gallon of pond water & its critters (thankfully no damselfly or other nasties as it was the end of winter when I collected it) but it still has a thick biofilm & it feels like liquid rock - 8.0ph.
Sounds lovely!
Can I still do all of this without the wood ash?
Sure. Id probably recomend some root tabs instead, if you want really colorful plants, but most systems will have enough trace elements on their own that charcoal and wood ash arent necessary if you have aquasoil pellets ( actually volcanoes make similar ingredients in their ash rich clay)
My substrate is deep but it's only sand and root tabs.
It's already starting to layer after only 35 days. Is that too fast?
Edit: did I accelerate the process when I planted more plants and put extra sand on top, trapping the mulm underneath? I did that about 10 days ago
No that's fine, it just will take bacteria about 6 months to fully convert it into like only left over minerals the bacteria didnt use. So plants can slowly feed off that for nitrogen and carbon...but itll still take 6 to 18 months to fully start functioning in banded layers, the root tabs are a good call in my opinion
What is that plant at 17.57 ?
Lymnophilia arromatica grown too tall and folding over in the filter flow
@@Fishtory looks pretty though
Lasagna Dirt™
The microphone doesn't sound great AW
Yeah which is maddening since i used a $299 dollar one...and yet the phone audio is better sounding. Km trying to sort out what's going on
Does deep dive just mean you ramble on longer? Where are the sources and evidence? As a professional gardener I have to say this is pathetic.
The sources are numbered on screen. Also... the garden on land is not like the annoxic and flooded Substrate of an aquarium. DR. Tom Barr's UCB Research work is shown and he was the main consultant for this video and fact checker of sorts. That discussed all these topics...however all the details about bacterial strains and sequestration of various elements has been broken down and heavily cited in prior and relatively recent videos, so as no to have foot notes the entire time, I just leave it out.
Where do "Professionally Garden"... you mean you are a horticulturalist, botanist or perhaps landscape architect?
@@Fishtory Wow captain obvious. Land and water are different growing conditions. No one ever knew that before you wrote that. Not saying you don't have sources and evidence but the way you present them really suck. After the way I was treated by you on Friday after you being rude to me all year I don't trust you at all. I am not going to go through hours of your videos to find sources. I am not really interested in talking to you either.
@@Fishtory pretty creepy to try to get information from someone who has said they are done with you.
I recently set up a 30 gal with a bit less than an inch of dirt, half an inch of thin sharp black gravel, and half an inch of fluval stratum. It's not bad at holding roots and the algae was not too bad.
Nice. Thanks for sharing 👍
Am I right in understanding your suggestion that the substrate should include pockets of larger stones in bags or voids created by hard plastic objects?
Haha well just to build a landscape... if you want to save money, not for any reason beyond that. Plastic probably isn't the best long term, but most small fish aren't gonna live long enough to get pcb or nitixing Cancers
@@Fishtory great thanks so it's for creating varied levels. In a 'lasagne' tank, do the substrates all overlay the rocks or plastic or just the top layer?
Thanks for your videos by the way