Create A Stunning Natural Aquarium: A Step-by-step Guide

In this KZbin video, Father Fish discusses ammonia, old water, dirt, nitrates, and plants in a natural aquarium. He explains how these elements, often perceived as harmful, are crucial for a balanced ecosystem. Ammonia, produced by fish waste, is converted into nitrates by beneficial bacteria. Ammonia is also taken up directly by plants.
Old water and dirt contribute to the biological equilibrium, supporting microbial life that benefits the tank's overall health. Father Fish emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics to maintain a healthy, self-sustaining aquarium.
FATHER FISH is an advocate for natural aquariums. His research over 50 years provides a wealth of information about the creation and maintenance of natural aquariums.
On this channel you will find scientific research as well as personal testimonials by countless hobbyists who have applied the Father Fish System and are enjoying its amazing benefits.
THE FATHER FISH SHOAL on Discord is a wonderful way to meet and make new fishy friends as well as get the help you need.
24/7 live on Discord: / discord
You can buy plants, soil supplement, leaf culture & more:
father-fish-aquarium.myshopif...
fatherfish.fish/
For FF store links in other countries:
fatherfish.fish/
Father Fish Facebook Page
/ 3244678768912659
Buy Merch
fatherfish.space/
fatherfish.shop/
thestoregear.myshopify.com/
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Teaser
00:30 Animal-Plant Cycle
02:52 Ammonia is Food
03:38 Nitrates are NOT Toxic
05:29 No Water Changes
06:50 No Ferts
09:01 Simple Medication
All clips and images are used for illustration purposes only.
Clips Courtesy:
Peace Of Nature
• Dirted Tank 3-Month Up...
Patty’s Aquatics
• TANK TOURS: 20 GALLON ...
Aquatics by nature
• My 28 year old substra...
Phillips Fish Works
• Natural Microfauna Aqu...
• A microscopic view of ...
dangerousfishbowl
• How to Fix an Algae Pr...
THE DIY FISH
• MIX & REMIX FISH TANK ...
Understanding Animal Research
• What can wild zebrafis...
Lush & Salty Aquariums
• Ridiculous Plant Growt...
• HIGHLIGHTING THE HIGHL...
NickMach007
• 5 minute Aquarium DIY:...
Mr. Fuzion
• Raising Angel Fish
Aquaforest
• Freshwater fertilizers...
Peace Of Nature
• Aquascape Tutorial: Ho...
2Caves Aquatics
• One year update on Fat...
Simply Cherie
• Simple Medicine Cabine...
JJ ASMR Unboxing
• Neosporin Original Fir...
C H A P T E R S
00:00 principles of a natural system
00:25 Plant-Animal dependency
02:54 Ammonia is a nitrient
03:39 Nitrates are nutrients
04:47 Add plants until max growth is achieved
05:29 Water changes are not needed
06:51 Fert dosing is bad for plants
08:39 Dirt is your friend
08:52 Father Fish Supplements are plant friends
09:04 Best medications are in your home
#fatherfish #naturalaquarium #plantedaquarium #water #plants #nitrates #dirt #ammonia #healthyaquarium #fatherfish

[@FatherFish]

STEM PLANTS BUNDLE SALE - Over 75 plants - 15 Species for $59! Limited Time OFFER so HURRY! father-fish-aquarium.myshopify.com/ For Special Soil Supplements, Plants, FIsh & Merch in your country: fatherfish.fish/

[@jimj.6412]

I am a newbie, So, a little aquarium soil, a bunch of plants, some fish, a hand full of pond bottom, a filter and forget it?

[@DashDrones]

All of my tanks are full of nature. Thank you father fish, so glad i found you👍

[@louisguagenti6600]

Is it neccesary to pre rinse pool filter sand ? Thank you!

[@DashDrones]

​@@louisguagenti6600not necessary at all👍

[@candycaneunicorn8024]

Father Fish is the GOAT. The only advice I trust. The only man I trust with my beloved fish.

[@fernandacappucci8412]

Big nature enthusiast here, have been all my life, not in the clinical sterilised way that many people are by just accumulating scientific facts but in the "I'm gonna observe animals for hours on end" growing up and basically being around nature as much as I possibly could. Been looking into fish keeping and aquariums in general and doing a lot of research and back and forth with a lot of ideas, I keep coming back to this channel because I feel like you're the ONLY person online that actually cares about animals the same way I do, you don't talk about fish in this disengaged way, you're the only person I've seen so far that even mentioned that fish get anxious/sad if they can't mate, you're the only person that talks about animals' feelings and not just values to constantly worry about in your tank. I feel like this community cares more about aquariums than animals themselves, by a long stretch I might add. Nature is not perfect, what people try to do with aquariums couldn't be further from anything resembling nature. Thank you for this channel because it's incredibly important for people to hear about animal care from someone who truly loves animals and not just water parameters!

[@smamlouk3021]

One day, the information youre taking the time to present will literally be instrumental in continuing life on this planet (unless humanity gets its act together).

[@letmewin]

My bettas used to live short lives. Thank you, Father Fish, for helping me see the error of my ways!

[@EmEm78]

I'm so sick of losing Bettas when I've been caring for them "by the book". I finally took the plunge recently and converted both of my smaller tanks to Walstad/Father fish method and am culturing some tiny critters to be added (so far I've found daphnia and ostracods). So far, so good, all tank inhabitants are happy :) Fortunately, I was already a big proponent of live plants, so I already have a decent amount of those. I'm about to start a large Walstad tank for my axolotls, which is exciting too.

[@Mrturtle995]

⁠@@EmEm78just so you know, axolotl don’t do well with the walstad method, unless you have a huge tank, and cycle it with bottled ammonia first before adding it, it is dangerous to the axolotl and should be avoided

[@digitaltavern]

This is the first time in 48 years that I am doing fishkeeping right. It's never been this easy to take care of an aquarium. Thank you Fr Fish.

[@JTCT371]

My planted deep substrate aquarium in less than a month is a complete and total success, and I haven't even added the top predators yet, the fish themselves. Ive gone slow to log what I see each day, got a bunch of snails and worms, including planaria.....Ive ordered traps to deal with them...not putting chemicals into what Im seeing as successful. All organisms together have established life. 24/7 light cycle is the best aquarium asset for our purposes. I watch as the light dims to moonlight, the entire aquarium comes alive...everything living in the substrate appears...just like in a natural body of water. Ammonia has barely registered.....Ive added 0 food. The snails keep the algae perfect.....im learning do not change any water unless you must. What Im witnessing is a functioning ecosystem....and I realized this was possible listening to FF! My aquarium is proof that this is how you do it right.

[@dadgotmillion91]

Started watching your videos back in early 2020 when you had many less followers and still lived in Florida. Glad to see you are doing so well and the channel has grown so much. All the best!

[@visionaryprem]

Father fish 🐟🐠 has changed my hobby forever .... ❤❤❤

[@nathanhearn8914]

I went down to a creek about a month ago to get a resurrection jar going and ended up scooping up an infant crayfish with the sand I got. He’s now my pet, doubled in size and doing great! I also went to a near by river to start another jar. That one has really come to life as it has some sort of stem plants that I must have grabbed out of the muck and they’re literally growing up out of the jar after a few weeks! Lastly; I am starting a 30 gallon tank and for the substrate I am collecting buckets of sand from the creek nearby and dumping it straight in the tank 👍

[@FatherFish]

bravo!!

[@jrodger4]

You made keep an aquarium fun. Appreciate it. Going on bout a year now. My tanks are freaking solid. It's the deep substrate and plants. That's key.

[@richardvila3]

So much pleasure listening to you and acquiring wisdom, knowledge and understanding on everything you teach us

[@glen5077]

Beautiful video ❤ As a kid I kept an aquarium the petshop way and always instinctively wanted to make it into a full ecosystem for the fishies sake but was told it would get 'too dirty'. You have done a great service to the world with your channel. Thank you, Father Fish

[@urmaker]

I followed your method. The tank is AMAZING! There is a minor natural smell that permiates, but I hope over time that subsides. The tank is only 3 weeks old. I have bought 3 packs of your plants. I actually need to trim on Monday since many are now reaching the water surface. I will just plant the parts I trim right back into the sand. Rather than daily feeding, I feed Monday, Wed, Friday. I will eventually go to only Monday and Friday. I also took your advice and buried the one ghost shrimp and crab that died back into the substrate to fertilize the tank.

[@geoffbrugger426]

Just love it from gardens to aquariums. Work with nature, thanks Father Fish, you the man!

[@dianaheaphy8294]

I love the way you keep fish! Knowing the info you share and implementing it in my tanks makes fishkeeping so much more enjoyable and educational! Thank you!

[@louisguagenti6600]

I wish I had found you a year ago when I returned to this wonderful hobby! Thank you, Father Fish!

[@babykrishu4319]

I m from India.. and today I m restarting my tank according to ur method.. hope all goes well❤

[@hannanirina1529]

A betta fish I had in the 2 ft tank with some Vallisneria nana died , I was away at my gran's and didn't get to remove the fish, the 2 fist-sized val plants where it landed suddenly shot up , after plateauing for awhile. Point taken ...

[@usunited5756]

Father Fish, if you have not done so, you need to put all your knowledge into a book. I want the first copy. Signed, please.

[@FatherFish]

There is a book that is in the final stages of proof reading.

[@usunited5756]

@@FatherFish Great! Looking forward to it. Please let me know when it is out. Oh, and good morning.

[@dittoditto7283]

I took my own sweet time to put in the plants in my Nano 5L tank which I set up using FF's dirt method and capped with big grain cosmetic sand and the water turned extremely cloudy within a few hours of setting up my tank. Tested the water, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite BUT a whopping 250+ ppm Nitrates. Went to buy a whole bunch of plants just now because it's a whopping plant buffet spread in my tank with that level of Nitrates. Hopefully, the water clears up in the next few days.

[@flipman11435]

thank you father fish..i finally see the light..i made mistakes this past year and watching your videos i totally agree with your theories and methods..i believe in the natural method more and more..i joined your discord also to learn more from your group..thanks everyone

[@jimbobaso2832]

Thats is why father fish recieved hate on other youtuber, because he speaking the truth. Imagine of all hobbyist for smaller aquarium follow his method? No more fx4-6 product and many more product will be affected

[@DNBAnnex]

I haven't ran filters in my 130gallon aquarium in over 2 years now and its doing very well. I run a bit higher temps as well. My fish never get sick any more. Plants are thriving, fish are thriving. Aquarium stores push all these products that do nothing.

[@craftspirit129]

Thank you so much you’re very kind for sharing everything in this video

[@NelsonBoomerSchwarz]

The best guy teaching right management on fish tanks. Thank Jesus I found him on the WEB. 🙏

[@GuppyLove420]

❤ thanks so much for sharing your awesome knowledge!! We love you too @FatherFish😊

[@brandonterry6194]

GRATITUDE💥🐟💥

[@justinherbert8942]

Great video Father FIsh common sense is not very common but really it's obvious that aquariums need plants for it to run naturally and for that matter planted tanks look better than not planted tanks

[@alfredogonzalez2857]

I love the approach of Father Fish about aquariums. It's about respect for nature and find the knowledge in it

[@sims8717]

My word, never thought Id hear Fatherfish call someone a twit, and I'm all for it 😂

[@susieepstein2726]

Thank you for your kind wisdom. I am SO HAPPY to have found you!

[@hellohello1398]

Based on my own experience with my 1 year old planted 20 gallon community tank. I water change twice a week in past, cause my new tank look so messy with decaying plants and I have corydoras. Also the filter will get clogged cause I use poly fil to have crystal clear water. I stopped doing water change after 6 months, the plants I stopped melting and started growing. Now I changed the filter media once a month and to have crystal clear water. The plants are growing fast and I do not add fertilizer supplements. I have never had ammonia spike and the highest my nitrate have ever been is 5 ppm.my fish are healthy and I haven’t have any Algea.

[@annemarieacosta8775]

I always learn something useful from your videos. 😊

[@denisemom3780]

This is great information. Thank you

[@evcil_kamera]

Thank you for the good information, greetings from another end of the world. 🙋‍♂🙋‍♂

[@totheaquarium]

Great knowledge drop as usual by Father Fish!

[@jabarriley3799]

Thank you father fish..I really appreciate all your help and knowledge

[@user-ib2cp9ts6i]

Love the fact you shout out smaller good channels I really enjoy aquatics by nature’s videos at the moment

[@tony9t]

I’ve been on KZbin for over 10 years. This is by far the best channel I’ve ever come across.

[@candycaneunicorn8024]

Love your msg Father Fish. Never stop, your msg is too important more people need to hear you🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@seahyongsen5670]

Wow!!! Good advise! Love you too FF❤❤❤

[@Koip119]

Never go away! Thank you FF!

[@jachty4449]

Thanks Father Fish. Good job as usual.

[@peaceofnaturee]

Very good points! Thanks for sharing! 🤞

[@samanthagaddis8785]

I’m so glad I found father fish! 🐠 this is awesome

[@kentego78]

I really appreciate all your information Sir

[@mermaid_at_heart213]

I'm so glad I found your channel, Father Fish! Thank you so much for the wonderful advice. Your videos are informative, but also so peaceful. I just adore you! 🦈

[@freakyfishlady4795]

TY Father Fish 🙏💕🐠💕 🌱

[@awesomeaustin2348]

Thanks Father Fish !!

[@stefansindjelic8612]

I love and i absolutely expect from you dept in thoughts and philosophy. You are different, you are authentic. Continue like this

[@NamelessNancy1312]

pages like yours have helped me so much

[@popjax2465]

Thank you FF… you are so reassuring and easy to understand and follow! I watched and loved your message from the pulpit recently and it really helped tie things together in my tank! Thank you … your brother from Ohio 🙏

[@JamieMyburgh88]

Father Fish, thank you so much for sharing your immense wisdom from years in this wonderful hobby! Your guidance on embracing nature's balanced cycles is invaluable. I appreciate you and your passion for helping us create thriving planted tanks. You're the best!

[@LushSaltyAquariums]

Loading up w plants day 1 great and simple tip for so many reasons. Looks great, too!

[@sunsetjen2398]

Love it 👍🤩 Love a FF Rant 🤓😝 Love UR input in the hobby 🌱🐟🌿😘👏

[@andrewfalek8766]

Thank you very much for your work done to shaw haw we can make our aquarium good looking and not to compliceted. Greetings from Poland.

[@cassandrafrancis2246]

Thanks big FF info was priceless and easy to understand, very hard to miss a single word pure glue'd to every word.Cassandra. Glasgow.Godbless..

[@GoldXy]

Thank you FF my hobby became much easier and natural.. I never change the water on my heavily planted tank just top off when evaporated.. I'm planning to buy a fertilizer to keep my plants healthy but I think it's better not to. 😅

[@joelkoonce8559]

Thank You Father fish. You da Man !!!

[@DaRealTono]

father fish's style tanks need to be coined in history with its own type no doubt. completely unique and i'd say his style is really patriotic to me classic american throwing it together for years and good too.

[@FatherFish]

You are gonna love my next video!

[@DaRealTono]

@@FatherFish as always🙌 thank you man

[@comfortablynumb9342]

I used to have aquaponics systems and the rain topped them off or I did to replace the water the plants used but I never had to change the water. The gravel filled grow beds and plants cleaned the water, it was always clear. I had the same goldfish for 4 years in NC. In Costa Rica I used tilapia in my tank. Both make lots of fish poo to grow salad greens, strawberries and a bunch of strange things. I don't think there's a better way to grow some things, especially lettuce, but I had a pineapple plant in mine in Costa Rica. In NC I grew tomatoes and peppers in fabric pots on top of my aquaponics grow beds so the water touched the pot when the bed was full. When it drained there was air space under the pot, and the pot had good organic soil. It's called a dual root zone and it was pretty awesome. Plants can definitely clean water, so well that you can grow crops while cleaning fishy water.

[@pattys_aquatics]

I honestly can say every video of yours I watch I learn something new. I can’t tell you how much I have learned and helped me to incorporate into my fish room from your channel . Was also delighted to see footage of one of my tanks made your video and it definitely made my day😁. Thank you for everything you do for this hobby sir🙏

[@phili799]

Yep me too, i've been listening to Lou since 2019 just before covid and I'm so glad i found him. he's changed everything about how i view aquariums, he's been amazing. I spent years being almost numbed by tropical fish stores here in Ireland when all they really want is your money.

[@pattys_aquatics]

@@phili799 very cool, I stumbled across him about 4 years ago looking on what to use for a dirted tank and have been amazed ever since on just how healthy a “dirty “ tank can really be😁👍

[@1X7SL3]

Thank you so much for your Videos! I love youre alternative approach. Much love from germany...keep up the good work :) A Aquarium-roomtoure on regular bases would be appreciated;)

[@moonbear897]

thanks for the tip about reusing the water after the sludge has settled. Why didn't I think of that?

[@abiyellow]

Thank you father fish

[@Trifln214]

I have 3 tanks now using the father fish method, now my ghost shrimp have bred successfully and I have baby shrimp, it only took one month to witness nature to take over using this method

[@williamavery1758]

FATHER FISH I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR VIDEOS AND THE IMPORTANT KNOWLEDGE YOU GIVE US ON OUR FISH TANKS. AND TO KEEP OUR FISH HEALTHY AND THRIVING. ANOTHER GREAT VIDEOS FROM THE MAN HIMSELF 😊

[@QL16202]

Thank u really much Father ❤ my oscar tank is full of micro creature now and it's really amazing to watching them ❤

[@FishinNDishin34]

You are the man Father fish🤝

[@drinesantos8596]

Thank you, Father Fish, for creating such an amazing video. I really enjoyed the part where you discussed nitrates and fish medicine. Thank you for sharing all these amazing tips. I have started applying them to my fish tanks, which are now converted to dirty substrate-planted tanks. Now I can enjoy my hobby without worrying about unnecessary water changes. I have realized that water changes are only necessary in a few cases, such as when you have little to no plants and nitrites are higher at the beginning while you are waiting for the tank to get stable/mature. Another instance would be if you accidentally added too much food to the point where the fish are all full, and the food won't be eaten, as I did by mistake today. 🫣Anyway, keep up the good work!😊👍

[@abrahamyu6652]

What to use when reusing water but take the sludge out?

[@jeremymoore450]

FF, What a wonderful video. I to have set up three heavily planted aquariums and all I do is top off water. I get worried if I have to do a water change than I test the tank for ammonia and nothing so I don’t worry and just let the tank go and nature run its course. I wondered about dosing with fertilizers and whether that helped or harmed plants. I was dosing weekly and realized that the plants would come lose in the sand substrate so now I know why it is the fertilizing that is not allowing the plant to get a strong root system. I have been cutting back on the fertilizer to every other week and now I will cut back even more. I love what plants do for the fish and the water.

[@willadeefriesland5107]

🐠I just have to ask. What is that musical tune accompanying the intro and finish of the video? PBS used it for a weekly program called 'Star Hustler', concerning astromical events...🐟

[@user-qr5oe7qm4i]

Great video Sir! Very refreshing and unique, intelligent strategies for curating a natural aquarium complete with healthy plants. There is no question about the beneficial relationship between plants and animals. I particularly liked your antibiotic suggestion, I was unaware of that.

[@Centraxal]

Make a video about black water tank without plants and we need a video about plants for beginners

[@AUTO.LYRiCS]

stay healthy father fish.... aquarist need you❤ keep uploading informative videos... i hope you plublish a book.

[@FatherFish]

book is in the works

[@sum1434]

Thank you so much FF, you truly are a Godsend, bless you 🤗.

[@FatherFish]

Happy to help!

[@sum1434]

@@FatherFish you have helped so many, so much, I can't express how grateful I am ♥️.

[@zaferboran5343]

Mükemmel bilgilerini Tüm akvaryum severler ile paylaştığın için seni taktir edip , teşekkür ediyorum .Baba iyiki hayatımızda varsın .

[@dennishenry3784]

Dear father fish. I was impressed by the concept and created my own tank which has been doing great. However i noticed a parasite attached to two of my fishes. The cory is really sick and has a bleeding spot. It looks like a fish leech and i dont know what to do about it but iam worried about my fishes and this parasite growing in my tank. Please tell me how to get rid of them and how to save my sick cory. Love from 🇮🇳.

[@sammifruitbat]

I love my natural fish tank the fish are happy the plants are happy and i'm happy cos I dpon't need to clean it, everybodies happy. these nsatural tanks look stunning to .

[@davidmcdonald-hunt6506]

Are air pockets in substrate bad?

[@Lapinmiez]

What do you think of UV in filtration? Because ive started to wonder is that actually what alot of tanks are missing since the nature owns the biggest UV bulb ever but when you have a fish tank indoors the water doesnt come into contact with any UV radiation ever if you dont add a source yourself.

[@fishman1347]

I love this guy:)

[@idealchanful]

I dont have a father fish tank, I just discover you. But I set my tank to have plants, mainly. I love all plants. Now I have shrimp and rabbit snails in. They both breed as crazy. I give them food sometimes, but I have to pull it out , they only eat the stuff in the tank. I think my sponge filter is useless in that setup, but I still let it run.

[@TurtleAddict]

I trust the father fish way! I have a betta/guppy sorority planted fish tank. And I just top it off every 3-4 weeks

[@dn7096_]

You're one of my heros 💚

[@regosilver1147]

This is an amazing video

[@FatherFish]

HEY REGO!

[@SarumanDeWhite]

Power of plants. Importance of plants!

[@Phillycheeseaquatics]

thank you

[@bradysonnenberg5730]

Algae is cool. It's kinda a check and balance for the nitrates. It will cut back as it overthrives and uses all of the ferts. Then it starves back. It's all like energy waves. Ups and downs.

[@bradysonnenberg5730]

Also love that you talk about the root tabs being a sales pitch! They rent needed! The plants will be ok but only while the tab is there. Once it's gone the natural ferts take time to come back.

[@FatherFish]

@bradysonnenberg5730 is correct

[@gutezrusgutezrus8811]

my plants keep dying. my fish are fine?? what am i doing wrong?

[@bluebug2005]

Are you the father fish in Venice Florida? I live in South Venice and I pass by the store all the time and wonder if it’s you! I’d also like to thank you for your knowledge, before watching your videos i was worried too many plants would overwhelm the fish, but they seem much more happy in a jungle than a lightly planted tank!

[@FatherFish]

Yes we are

[@razinfishes1918]

Love it. I think I fell out my chair when you said they are twits. I haven't heard that saying since Archie Bunker show.

[@johnnybest6386]

I like this topic

[@pedrocalel3317]

You the best father fish 🐠

[@fatoskumnova8782]

Great informations,What temp can tolerate and grow plant with tropical fish?

[@FatherFish]

75-85

[@thefinestmusicforeverytest643]

Sir which type sand is best for aquarium

[@FatherFish]

any sand that is inert.

[@teddyfresh9605]

Whats odd is I've always heard the horrors of fish keeping. "Fish are hard to care for" "aquariums stink" Well, 11 months ago I caught a baby sunfish in a local pond. Bought a 10 gallon tank, filled it with well water (no chlorine), a bed of gravel, and planted the aquarium with 2 plants. 10 months later the fish was beginning to outgrow its tank so I set up a new 40 gallon and did a bed of gravel topped with a thick bed of black sand and went crazy planting plants of all types. Heres the main point. After researching how to set up a new tank not wanting to kill my beloved wild fish, I came across your videos talking about planting aquariums and have been following your advic. My tank has had crystal clear water for almost a month not once getting foggy since I've set it up. I might've done my substrate different but I got it half right. Its funny because I clumsily found out what worked on my own and became educated on the matter through your channel. Thank you for sharing your profound knowledge and experience regarding aquariums.