Designing A Natural Aquarium for Very Large Fish

Welcome to our latest aquatic adventure! In this video, we dive deep into the fascinating world of designing a natural aquarium for very large fish. If you're a fan of Father Fish or simply an aquarium enthusiast, you're in for a treat.
One of the key elements in this setup is the choice of substrate. We'll show you the benefits of using a dirted substrate over a bare bottom tank, creating a more natural environment for your aquatic companions. You'll learn the ins and outs of maintaining sand substrate, ensuring a healthy ecosystem for your large fish.
Hardscape plays a crucial role in any aquarium design, and we've carefully selected elements that not only provide aesthetics but also create hiding spots for your fish. Speaking of which, we'll discuss the importance of fish camouflage and how it contributes to a harmonious underwater habitat.
For those with a green thumb, we'll explore the beauty of a planted aquarium and the positive impact it has on water quality. Join us on this educational journey as we unveil the secrets of creating a stunning natural aquarium for your very large fish. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more aquatic inspiration!
FATHER FISH is an advocate for natural aquariums. His research over 25 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.
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All images and clips are used for illustrative purposes only.
Clips used under CC License:
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• Breeding Pair of Blue ... \
• Wild Green Neon Tetra ...
The Fish Room
• Species Spotlight: Bla...
Aquarium Adventures
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• 3 Spawns in ONE TANK! ...
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Chapters:
0:00 Teaser
0:31 Intro
2:04 To Plant or Not
3:13 Loot at my Tank
6:26 Water Changes
7:44 Large Fish
8:50 Recent Discovery
9:33 Big Fish Tank Setup
11:34 Hardscape
13:56 Natural Aquariums
14:35 Join Us
#FATHERFISH #deepsubstratetank #naturalaquarium #plantedtank #plantedaquarium #fishtube #fishtank #fishkeeping #dirtedtank #walstad #foodweb #deepsubstrate #naturalsubstrate #naturalfishkeeping #sandsubstrate

[@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/

[@SNS-eb3nx]

I have set up an outdoor patio pond with a father fish style deep substrate, adding muk from from a nearby creek, rarely feed them, some aquatic plants (i.e. rotalas, anubias, Amazon swords, water lilies & duckweed) and my guppies have been loving the ecosystem and they have bred multiple times p.s. the system seems to have a powerful decomposing team of microorganisms THANK YOU SOO MUCH FATHER FISH FOR YOUR GUIDENCE AND MORE LIFE TO YOU🤲❤️🇵🇰

[@Asian_Noodle]

I did the same over the summer for my daughters! Glad someone else did as well

[@Lee.Willcox]

@@Asian_Noodle I did the same two years ago. Two years later my pond is thriving with frogs, newts and snails that came from somewhere to live in it. I didn't stock it, they just came and set up home. Deep soil sub capped with sand and I took plants from my indoor tank and planted them. They are doing great too. I do perform water changes. I take water from the pond to feed our garden and house plants, then I top it up with fresh. Only during the summer though. I am in England.

[@Asian_Noodle]

@@Lee.Willcox that’s so awesome! We’re from Nevada it’s desert climate over here so the pond flourished over the summer tons and tons of baby guppies only thing we got were snails it would be awesome to see a few frogs in there to help with the guppy population ahaha

[@johncheetham4607]

Guppies are the best.

[@SNS-eb3nx]

@@Asian_Noodle Patio ponds have become a trend in recent.. these are soo awesome just because how they're so colorful (the plants and the fishes aswell) and responsive to your presence. My mom keeps harping about them as her babies lol xD

[@codmandchill6714]

I nearly quit the hobby because i dont find joy in it with conventional fish keeping where everything is sanitized and super clean. My fish prone to get sick and it saddened me. Now I'm having your way and it works like superb! Open up my eyes and enjoy this hobby like never before! Tq!

[@alexnguyen3022]

I couldn’t even keep a betta alive, but now I can breed some difficult fish that impressed other fishkeepers in my circle, thanks to your teachings.

[@NeverSeb]

The only American Fish-Tuber that really knows what his fish needs! Please continue!

[@TheFishCorner]

I agree with you 100% Understand the ecosystem in which the fish come from, then replicate it in your aquarium! I truly enjoy your opinion and knowledge on the hobby!

[@user-zf6vw2mj1v]

Oh how wonderful you see fish just like I do, I have owned fish for 6 years now, only guppies,gold fish, Balloon Molly, and Betta fish. But my babies would die on my at the two to three years and others much less than that... I NOW watching your video comprehend that I was doing it the wrong way. And I lost so many of my beloved fishes due to lack of knowing the appropriate way to keep them. Your words of wisdom have moved me to want to help get my current fishes a better looking and better living environments. I'm so glad that I found your video. Thank you so very much and I'm now subscribed to your channel. So I'm going to look forward to seeing more informative videos from you. God Bless you and Thank you 🙏❤️.

[@matthewblankenship7968]

That’s what has kept me in the hobby ..just something about a planted aquarium that I just love creating and maintaining….big fan of your channel ..very wise man here ..reminds me of my grandpa ..

[@iliutasilviu]

The quality of the videos keeps improving. Keep up the good work. This is some extremely well executed content right here!

[@Desmond000007]

I agree!

[@sarahbreisch4750]

The idea of fish being able to behave normally in a bare, open environment, is like the idea of a whitetail deer being at ease silhouetted against the skyline in an open field.

[@ejvits]

I'm falling in love with this hobby again thanks to this channel and all involved. All that I have learned has lead to successful, thriving aquariums with happy fish for the first time since I started fishkeeping. Thank you Father Fish!

[@marufabegum9715]

Thank you Father Fish for elaborating the need for a natural environment in an aquarium. I have been keeping fish for a long time, but gained a new perspective after viewing your videos. Thank you once more.

[@Good13man]

I love this! I finally have a [mostly] natural aquarium that I am proud of. I’ve been seeking this for… oh my word… 30 years!

[@Good13man]

I guess I am a slow learner. (Or I gave up for 20 years.)

[@mrkia2169]

Thanks for all free tips and info father fish 💚💚 I hope you'll always be well and healthy

[@pattys_aquatics]

Great video Father Fish, I can’t tell you how much your videos have helped me in understanding and being ok with having natural aquariums. Thank you sir!

[@orionm4268]

I really like the fact I chose to go with your improved version of the classic Walstad method of creating a natural biome, its fun to collect plants and algae and watch it grow or cultivate it

[@zaferboran5343]

Baba bilgilerini unutmamak için tekrar tekrar izliyorum .Çünkü herkez bilgilerini açık yüreklilikle senin gibi paylaşmıyorlar .Sana tekrar çok teşekkür ederim.TÜRKÇE İÇİNDE .

[@DashDrones]

Yay, my little neons made it into another video!! Thanks for sharing your wisdom Father Fish 🐟🙏

[@petermahr2511]

All this makes so much sense. We are informed by the interests of an industrie.

[@robertrennie6517]

Every words is gold! Precise, to the point and well excecuted. Thank you for sharing your knowledge Father Fish. Keep up the good work

[@valopoksi659]

I wanted to make my aquarium like in nature. I took of the plastic lid that covered my aquarium and made a new cover from net. I don´t want to be afraid my fish will jump accidentally out. Now I can see my aquariums surface and the water movement and the plants on surface. Main thing is that now the water evaporates like in nature and I add water a little bit so it is like raining then :) I use spring water.

[@zayeemsavage6488]

One of my new tetras jumped from by bucket pond cz i filled the water almost full.I saw in a video not to fill the water fully..But i didn't know it will happen to me..🙂now i keep bit lower level than that

[@joryalicabrera1830]

Our discord family will love this video . It will answer many questions ❤

[@sabine3769]

I love your channel

[@regosilver1147]

This is an excellent video

[@davidlelliott4869]

He talks a lot of sense. The natural way is better for the fish,learnt this from a good friend.

[@mattbatcher802]

Good video, I never thought about that they were digging to uncover a hard flat surface to lay eggs on.

[@teetowwelds8251]

Always learn something new with FF videos.

[@terriilnicki743]

Thank you for all your great advice!

[@maheshshirodkar1258]

Respect to sir...absolutely joy to hear his experience....

[@chandlerk94]

Would a common goldfish thrive in an environment like this as well? Very interested in doing this.

[@FatherFish]

yes

[@StormCaller5]

A little extra info on goldfish... They eat many different types of plants. I would research what they eat and don't eat. It would be a shame to plant up a beautiful tank, just to have the fish tear it up. In my opinion, plant stuff they don't eat; float stuff they will eat.

[@ociana]

Eye candy! I loved seeing all the fish. Thank you, Father Fish. I am a big group(er)ie!

[@deveshdwivedi3321]

Thankyou for sharing your knowlege.

[@joyceguerrero3739]

As always, I am truly grateful for this video. As beautiful as it is helpful. Thank you

[@TheMonkeyCollecter_]

Thank you so much Father Fish for sharing your deep understanding of natural fish environments in the wild and the one we can create for them. Your video was very peaceful as well which I really enjoyed. ❤🐠

[@FatherFish]

You are very welcome

[@Apistogramma_cacatuoides]

0:01 cute apistogrammas ❤️

[@congconggelut630]

Mantap bos

[@n.2597]

Great vid as always. I like how your videos are informative yet they have this philosophical outlook to them. Now I do have a request… sometime i the future could you do a vid on aquarium tank mates, that would be cool. Love from Colorado

[@rolfwelsch8570]

Thanks for this Video! You speaking out of my soul.

[@johncheetham4607]

First time I've seen your channel. Will take on board any advice you have to give. Regards from England.

[@caewalker9276]

Thanks Father fish. 🙏💚👍🇦🇺

[@robertdeschu4367]

I really love this man!

[@MacTechG4]

My 28 Bowfront with 3” deep sand substrate is becoming a shaggy jungle, 3 plants, a small ball of Java Moss, and a shaggy, rapidly expanding mass of guppy grass and hornwort The mix of fancy and feeder guppies react nothing like guppies I’ve ever kept before, no pacing, no darting, they leisurely hang out, pick for food on the plants and gravel, and only occasionally dart around, usually when the male guppies get amorous The full size 3” long crawfish in the tank (Northern Virile, native northern US species, sold as bait for fishing) doesn’t even bother the guppies, the guppies actually bully this armor-plated killing machine away from the food… (I feed once a week, a little more with new guppy fry) The guppy fry I let self-regulate, the ones that don’t get eaten (by the parents or the crawfish) survive and get traded back to my LFS for store credit The only time I lift the lid on the tank is to top off water or feed them their weekly food… Okay, I admit it, I do give them treats of mosquito larvae, but mainly to be mean to the mosquitoes… ;) Also, I’ve noticed the crawfish has been out and about a lot more the heavier the jungle grows in

[@marcoboet4971]

Father fish is really appreciate your channel. I am definitely going to try your system. and start a natural aquarium. just not clear on the supplements added, and if i could find the ingredients in my country. 👍😄🇿🇦

[@zaferboran5343]

Tüm bilgilerini eksiksiz paylaştığı için çok teşekkür ederim.

[@FatherFish]

Dünyanın her yerindeki arkadaşlarımla paylaşmak benim için bir mutluluk.

[@zaferboran5343]

İyiki varsın ❤@@FatherFish

[@kdr1048]

Beautiful aquarium behind you father fish! What a gem! Who needs tv? Me either

[@splattered63]

Indeed. Better than TV.

[@Kactoily]

Nice update!!

[@chrisrayford9530]

Excellent

[@sergiomorales9264]

Really nice thanks for the info father fish 😊

[@HYEpower]

I keep my koy in a swimming pool, I use filters and a uv laser in a pipe to kill and remove algea making the water clear... i have 1 plant, im going to add tons of plants next season after seeing your videos

[@akifhassanahanaf7939]

I had a question. The advice given by you can be applied in goldfish tanks??? I have bare bottom goldfish tank with ranchu and blackmoores, I used to keep them with substrate ( 2" sand layer), but they always used to bang their heads on it and injure themselves so I had to remove it. Now what can i do? Should i grow out some plants with firtilizers or without?? And how often should I clean the filters and how much should i feed? Please reply🙏

[@FatherFish]

Join us on the Father Fish Shoal:" discord.gg/GdakStEjAy

[@florentincioaba7989]

Bravo from Romania Dracula land ❤🎉

[@petshopchick132]

Father Fish I have been keeping fish for 25 years. I started when I got one of my first jobs in an aquarium store. When I started adding natural matter to tanks I'd set up, about 6 months after I started working there, the owner thought I was out of my mind and actually told me I was going to kill his fish and cost him a lot of money by doing that. 😂 He told me not to do it and I said ok let me have one display tank to do what I want and I'll show you that nature takes care of itself just fine if youll let it. Even in my early years of fish keeping I always thought it was idiotic people felt they were better at creation and sustainability than the eatrh itself. My one display tank was the healthiest and most low maintenance tank in the store. It took a long time for the owner to admit I had a point and he slowly came around but man it was tough to convince people that it was possible to do this. I really got exausted arguing with the "professionals" about this. They would always tell me how thats not possible or thats not feasible in an aquarium and I'd always prove them wrong but I was always looked at as young and ignorant even when i proved otherwise "it was a fluke" or "I got lucky" the bacteria and organisms from this environment is much different feom the bacteria and organisms in their home environment 🙄😒 Ive been keeping fish ever since that place closed and just kept to my self with my ways. Im glad I stumbled on your channel and found someone else who spreads this information and shows it to be true ❤ its fantastic to see people are actually coming around to this. 🎉❤

[@FatherFish]

Keep the faith

[@ssharwan]

Very beautiful aquarium Father Fish. Does it have a filter or is it all natural?

[@FatherFish]

2 sponge filters

[@chainsawtrout4342]

well said, nature is extremely intelligent to say the least.

[@arghanill8525]

It's true sir. Their natural environment denotes these 2 to 20 feet tanks.

[@Good13man]

75 years! Wow!

[@johnjwedrall4290]

😊👍👍

[@niteshshrestha3110]

Hello from nepal...I have kept smaller tanks with the natural methods that you promote and they work perfectly. However I have trouble with my 6ft severum tank since the severums destroy anything green I keep in there...Is there any way of maintaining a 6ft tank with a sump filtration system in a natural setup with severums.

[@FatherFish]

find some large sword plants, anubias, fern - those will not be torn up. And put as much in there as you can.

[@lynnettenaidoo1671]

Hi Father fish, I'm from South Africa. Thank you for an excellent teaching on keeping a natural aquarium I have just put in dirt as my substrate at the bottom of the tank put gravel on top. I want to put sand on top of the gravel. Will my tank get cloudy, would love to have your advice

[@FatherFish]

The gravel is not helpful. Yes, add at least an inch of sand on top of the gravel.

[@lynnettenaidoo1671]

@@FatherFish Hi, thank you, much appreciated. Keep up your good work, much love 🤗

[@morningmorning4479]

Thank you for all of your info . I love the natural fish tank . I did my first tank And I used pottingsoil My tank is suffering with ammonia . I bought plants but not enough Maybe the lake mud will be better , because you don’t have to deal with the ammonia. I’ll try lake natural on my 40 gal tank See how this works . What about heater for the tank will it need a heater ?

[@FatherFish]

The formula should be followed for the best chance of sduccess. gotowww.fatherfish.fish and click on the DISCORD banner./

[@straightener2001]

I would like to hear what you have to say about tank bullies. I know there's a certain amount of aggression within the same species but I've had fish that would chase everything in the tank all day long. I never see a video on this topic.

[@FatherFish]

good idea. I will work on that.

[@rythmjunky5292]

Set up my FF tank almost a month ago,and every plant I’ve put in the substrate dies within a week(stem and roots turn to mush,so it’s not just melting). Floating plants are thriving,but I’ve lost all of my big beautiful crypts,swords,anubias,lotus,lilies,anacharis,even hornwort dies off where it’s in the substrate. 1” soil and 3” sand cap,seasoned sponge filter and hob with old media running,and the same plant light I use on all of my other tanks with plants thriving in just sand substrate. There’s a white film that keeps developing on the surface of the substrate also. I’m tempted to just pull the substrate and start over with sand only. Sulphur smell coming from the tank,even after water changes. I’ll add that I’ve been breeding rainbowfish successfully for years in all of my planted tanks,so this experience is totally new to me. I’d love to know what I’ve done wrong to cause this! I won’t put any of my fish in until I’ve got a heavy plant load established.

[@FatherFish]

Your soil payer is overpowering the system. join us on the Father Fish Shoal. discord.gg/GdakStEjAy We will help you diagnose the problem. That is a huge variety of plants for a new tank and with no fish the system cannot balance.

[@rythmjunky5292]

@@FatherFish I’m on the shoal,and there doesn’t seem to be much help. I started out with anarchis and hornwort (as suggested),and the same thing happened. I was told to add more plants,so I did. The tank is full of snails(two species),so it’s not like there is no bio load to support the plants.

[@JvdB_NL]

There's probably too much organic material in your dirt layer. Reading up on hydrogen sulfide will be usefull. It can/will correct, but it will take time, the excess nutrients will have to be processed. What might help is to increase areation, the more oxygen the better untill everything is balanced out. I wouldn't put fish at all as long as your battling the hydrogen sulfide. Don't worry, it will get better, but it will take a good deal of time and patience

[@FatherFish]

@@rythmjunky5292 Where are yu on the shoal? I have not seen this issue raised, Please identify yourself. I will personally get involved. Contact me directly, please.

[@rythmjunky5292]

@@JvdB_NL this makes sense. Unfortunately the smell coming from the tank isn’t something I’m willing to put up with for much longer. I’d never risk fish until plants had started thriving. I’ll do another water change tomorrow and go from there. So tempted to just empty the tank and start over with just a deep sand layer at this point. It’s cost me a lot of money in plants….

[@awstocking]

Well this sums up what I've recently started figuring out since I started keeping fish again after not doing it since a teen. I had a micro 5 gal hex tank that I had put a few plants and a java ball. Ugly ugly overgrown plants, huge almost fully covered surface by the java and the next thing I saw was hundreds of baby guppies. As if the worse it looked the happier all the fish were. Since then I've removed gravel from all 3 tanks and went sand or biosubstrate heavy plantings and while not always pretty I haven't had to change water in a while. Just a little top off here and there and everyone seems bigger and calmer.

[@legendarymeatcutter]

Can I do the deep substrate method with red ear sliders? Curious about sand blowouts with turtle digging, should I add pea gravel?

[@FatherFish]

Join us on the Father Fish Shoal to learn more. discord.gg/GdakStEjAy

[@iananderson5050]

I'm interested to hear how substrate mixtures can provide both clarity and a healthy environment for fish. For example, you advise as a general rule 1 inch of dirt and 2 inches of sand. However, where I live and in a lot of rivers where these fish live, there isn't sand so much as silt (not always but fairly often). Is it possible to still have clear water if you have a river rock/gravel and sand mixture for your upper substrate, so as to mimic natural waterways? Or will such water always have a grayish or green tint since there isn't adequate capping of the lower substrate separating nutrients from the water column?

[@FatherFish]

Creeks are sand based. Rivers are slower moving water and tend to sit. Sand is vastly superior.

[@Desmond000007]

Add a thin layer of gravel or/and pepples on top of the sand

[@iananderson5050]

@FatherFish gotcha, so a capping layer of solely sand is still the nest option. I guess river rocks and such should just be reserved for a few spots of hardscape on top of that then so as to not interfere with the ability of waste to filter down into the lower layers.

[@voluntaryismistheanswer]

Watching @robsaquatics scoop from thick muck and grass is an eye opener. Just threw a bunch of leaves in my neon tetra 29 g blackwater tank and I think they like it- a huge tiger lotus is in with them- it's looking good

[@Hb-gt4xk]

Father fish god bless you...pls what kind of soil you put as a substrat under sand ? Thanks

[@FatherFish]

The soil is a combination of 4 different ingredients. Ask in the shoal for all the information you need. discord.gg/father-fish-shoal

[@jmoon4686]

I love your messages. I want a natural tank but it seems intimidating. Should I get rid of my neon black substrate and start over or can I put sand right over it?

[@FatherFish]

Join us on the Father Fish Shoal to learn more. discord.gg/GdakStEjAy

[@reegonfall8866]

The one I know best is maganese, plants suffer problems taking in maganese nutrition with anything above 6.5 PH

[@FatherFish]

I maintain a ph above 7

[@mudhus61]

Can you please suggest compatible plants & fish with different gold fish, really amazed with the knowledge & practicality of you wast experience very well explained ❤

[@FatherFish]

join us in the Shoal for in depth analysis. discord.gg/father-fish-shoal

[@angelahollars3770]

I’m a new fan! I want to set up a natural environment for my bettas. I have a 5 gallon tank. I’m going to add more plants. Any suggestions on other fish that I can put in the tank with my betta? I’ve been told lava rock acts as a natural filter for a tank. Is that a good option too or is it best to change to the soil then sand on top?

[@FatherFish]

Good questions need solid answers. Join us on the Father Fish shoal: discord.gg/GdakStEjAy for real help and sharing.

[@heathermunday6878]

What are your thoughts on using a substrate heater? My ultimate goal is a community tank that includes Discus.

[@FatherFish]

I have used reptile heaters under the trank. They are not particularly effective.

[@heathermunday6878]

@@FatherFish I have a Hydor heater. It goes in the tank under the substrate. I haven't set it up yet as we still have to finish the floors in that room. We're getting closer, so I've started looking more seriously into a natural aquarium. I was thinking a layer of sand around the cables, then soil, then sand. Your channel has been very helpful. Thank you!

[@ryanrogers8211]

Hello FF, I'm having some problems with my resurection jars and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I have two jars with water collected from two different places. One was a stream and one was a small lake. One has a half inch of sand and the other has no sand. Both have leaves and a couple small twigs. Both are roughly 2 weeks old and are not kept in direct sunlight. The problem is both stink and have a gross thick film or whiteish sludge on the top of the water. Did I add too many leaves too fast?

[@FatherFish]

The sun may have cooked them

[@ryanrogers8211]

@@FatherFish I had them inside until they started to smell them I moved them to my back porch

[@modernprimate3279]

In 12 hours this man has made me want to redo every tank i have

[@modernprimate3279]

I was sleeping for 7 of those

[@KzLollapalooza]

Thank you father fish, just washed 4 inches of concrete sand with 10 buckets of water. Went to the pond and collected some hornworts and some aquatic plants, brought back some water and happened to see a tiny fish in it. 😂

[@KzLollapalooza]

I would have never done such a thing, going outdoors and collect what I'd think it's dirty, father fish, you've changed my mind towards aquatics. Thank you! Wishing you good health and longevity through mindful eating, peacefulness and enjoyment in your daily exercise and routines.

[@user-ce2jm1hz4t]

ff, how long does it take to develop a system to add big fish to it? What should be added besides leaves so that large fish can feel safe? What makes the substrate work as a filter for large fish, if they have almost no plants and often only bare rocks and snags?

[@FatherFish]

A number of large plants such as Amazon swords and big java ferns are important. The system will be effective from day one if it is put together adequately.

[@natalieguiuan8073]

I have a question I’m going to put sand on top of my gravel but the pet store says I have to take my fish out and wait two weeks before I put them back in.

[@FatherFish]

Tell your fish store I said they know nothing about keeping fish. That is dumb advice.

[@Lee.Willcox]

Beautiful Father Fish and so is the video and the knowledge. What happened to the beard Mr ? You look so much younger. I am going to keep mine though 🥰😘🤗

[@FatherFish]

A new and improved version of FF aiming at a million subs.

[@Lee.Willcox]

@@FatherFish Should have happened years ago dear fellow. It beggars belief whit it hasn't ! Stay with it, it will happen !

[@JarkkoLaitinen211]

😃👍

[@henryrooyakkers8510]

Dear Father Fisch, When someone tells a story that is so logical and clear, and can also be proven, then it can't be any other way than everyone agreeing with it, can it? Perhaps we could have a nice little statue made of you. In that statue, there would be a speaker, and when someone presses a button, they would hear some of your wise words. Sincerel , Henry Rooyakkers.

[@FatherFish]

a talking bobble head

[@henryrooyakkers8510]

@@FatherFish Hahaha,you're right. 😂

[@providedjoker2649]

I keep getting this build up of “leaf dust” from the leaves breaking down in my all natural aquarium…it gets all over the plants n stuff….and makes the water look “dusty”. Is this ok for the fish or should I vacuum some of it out? Thanks again FF 👍🤡👍

[@FatherFish]

It is important for the microfauna. Add another 1/2" of sand. that should take care of it.

[@Alex-so5si]

do you use a silt on the soil before putting it in the tank? or is it not needed

[@orionm4268]

A layer of Silt ontop of the soil may help a bit with compation, but is not nessisary to prevent the soil from leaching depending on the sand grit size you choose. The best thing to do, is dump your soil into the bottom of the tank and fill it up just to where the water meets the edge of the soil layer, then take a stick or somthing just to agitate the soil to release any trapped air, after that let it settle for a bit then add your rinsed sand ontop and spread evenly.

[@FatherFish]

For specific help join us at the Father Fish Shoal: discord.gg/G4fkAE6qNw

[@meredithrusso1682]

I need a video on starting my small outdoor pond over. I have 11 goldfish in it, but it is full of algae, and I need to know if I should empty the pond and start over or if there’s a way to clean it and build a proper substrate, and then add plants.

[@FatherFish]

www.fatherfish.net - click on the Discord banner

[@meredithrusso1682]

So I just tried downloading the discord app and it says I already have an account. I try logging in and it won’t recognize my phone number or email. I’m really stuck here. I don’t know what the discord app will tell me but all I want to know is do I have to put down a mud substrate before I add sand and what kind of sand?

[@venkateshkesavan7976]

is there something like too many plants? Will too many plants affect the water circulation? 5 days ago, I converted my 20-gallon tank that had gravel substrate to one with 0.75-inch dirt and a 2-inch sand cap( no CO2 and with Tank Top Filter). I added 10-15 varieties of plants mostly fast-growing from day one. Some sites suggest plants also need to be limited, is it true?

[@FatherFish]

No. It is not true.

[@lynx2cross]

Also it occurred to me that besides people struggling to keep their tanks balanced using chemicals and doing water changes is they complain about behavior issues with their fish and it’s because they don’t have enough plants to provide the fish with cover to make them feel less stressed so they don’t develop behavior problems.

[@montheralomari5529]

Sir i have a big problem, i have explosion of assassin snail, and i cant get rid of them, please if you have a way to clear my 200 liter planted aquarium i would be greatful

[@FatherFish]

loaches are good. A small turtle works. A puffer fish loves them.

[@enriquecantu6000]

What fish are this shown at the 2 minute and 17 second of your video?

[@erickborling1302]

Father Fish is the Jazz Master of Fish. Heed the aquatic bonsai master. Enjoy nature daily. Make your first fish tank out of local fauna, flora, and water. Your tap water is likely the same pH as the local geology, so you're set.

[@EddieThe]

What kind of net do you use when you go out?

[@FatherFish]

I have a straight sided 30" wide, 20" tall frame net with 1/4" mesh and a 8' handle.

[@EddieThe]

Thank you for the quick response!@@FatherFish

[@fadelfadel3899]

Hi FF I caught some little fish from natural pond May i put them in my aquarium with my fish

[@FatherFish]

It would be good to knosw what they are. The most common, gambusia, are vicious cutthroat pirates.

[@fadelfadel3899]

​@@FatherFish Thnx good man

[@natalieguiuan8073]

Also my tank is growing algae on the sides of my tank and I don’t know what kind of cleaner fish I need to buy to eat this stuff up. Could you please help me it’s only a 20 gallon tank I’m trying my best to go all natural I’ll put a bunch of plants in there and other fish. I appreciate any

[@FatherFish]

Just add more plants to compete with the algae.

[@valopoksi659]

Neritina snails eat algae. If algae is growing mostly on glass, the snail is good for that. Otocinclus catfish eats algae too, but not all kinds of algae. Amano shrimps are algae eaters too. I have all those three.

[@adatewithnature8333]

don't most fish' ecosystems change their water once a week? reefs have current that replaces the water constantly, rivers flow constantly. there are some puddles that maybe wouldn't, but even still bodies like lakes still change gradually. through ground absorption, rivers and streams flowing out of them, and rainwater.

[@FatherFish]

River water gets dirtier every mile it travels. ocean current is never new water. Rain is equal to evaporation. It cannot be more. There is no such thing as new water.

[@thesolaraquarium]

@adatewithnature it is called the Hydrologic Cycle. Evaporation is a major thing going on outside. When it rains it is simply replacing what was taken. Ponds do not get a water change every time it rains. (though it is true that they can get water flowing into them after rain which is an addition of more water - I suppose that could be called a water change of sorts). I expect the ocean is the same, water is evaporating all the time, and it is raining all the time on the oceans. So much of our planet surface area is oceans that it must rain alot on the ocean. I am no biologist but I suspect most rain (evaporation) comes from the oceans. Little wonder that all rivers flow into the sea. It is the main reason I use rain water to top up my tanks. I am replicating the natural cycle.

[@richardurdaneta530]

❤papi fish 😂 how are you? I love you brother. I live in shartlesville p.a. and I want to know if you know any spots out here where I can catch guppies? T.u. in advance ❤

[@FatherFish]

There are no wild guppies in PA.

[@richardurdaneta530]

Learn something new everyday 🥺😁

[@summonersummoner9536]

The water in rivers flows all the time

[@FatherFish]

Yes but it is old water, not new.

[@sadeeshatharindu4412]

Is it ok to put sand for koi fish

[@MediTANKtion]

I love you so much 😭😍

[@FatherFish]

delightful!

[@yehoshuacirt8645]

I don't understand the objection to weekly water changes and the claim that in the wild the water isn't changed weekly. Of course not. It's changed every second. And the volume is so great that it's never going to be poisoned by the fish living there. So I don't get the comparison. (The case can be made that plants might reduce the need for water changes, but that's not what you're emphasizing). Very helpful presentation otherwise.

[@FatherFish]

In a river the water does not change. It is the same water all the way to the ocean. It picks up more and more on its way until it is loaded with silt and solubles by the time it reaches its mouth. It most certainly is not new water at any point.

[@tonybivens1945]

That’s why when you go fishing you cast toward cover

[@animablo]

Blue Pulchra hates anything in the tank

[@dougallencomedy]

I really like FF and FF advice. I just looked at his website for the first time and he’s selling leafs for $15. Lost all respect. Whoever is running it is a shyster

[@Desmond000007]

He encourages people to collect leaf litter themselves and for those in cities with no access to healty bodies of water they can buy them on the ff webpage. There will be a scientific paper on the properties and nutrients of different kinds of leaf litter out soon.