The Master's Guide to a Healthy Aquarium

[@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/

[@n.2597]

I honestly wish I could go to Florida and meet father fish in person, it would be so cool

[@centralcarolinaaerialimaging]

Father Fish lives in Maryland now I believe. Store in FL was shutdown a couple years ago.

[@ryanrogers8211]

FF WOULD LOVE TO MEET US I'M SURE

[@bettyb1313]

Right just sit and talk shop

[@maryvalent961]

Sunday nights he goes live on his website

[@mr.resistance4015]

He's like the Bob Ross of planted aquariums!

[@Scionmalth]

Father fish nails it again!! I had ick in one tank, I used two brands of "meds" to clear it up, it didn't fully work and I lost a fish. The ick appeared in another tank, fearful of the "meds" I took a bunch of local duck weed with seed shrimp and other "bugs" on it and threw it in the "sick" tank, 3 days later, no ick and the fish are all alive and clear of disease... Ultimatly, I feel the fish aren't that much different than us and like us, to be healthy, they need some nature in their enviroment. Just like we need to stick our hands in the "dirt" to keep our immune system strong enough to fight off infections, our fish need some "dirt" to keep their immune systems strong...

[@rylanblack8571]

You are the Bob Ross of fish. I could listen to this all day.

[@notyoureverydayashleyxoxo]

😂 FACTS! 👏

[@Hagzorz]

Man you hit the nail on the head totally. My dad always taught me to mimic healthy bodies of water in nature in an aquarium. Now I'm a marine biologist and know for a fact how right this is, aquariums are miniature ecosystems, not sci-fi technology.

[@Universe_Stormer]

May God give you a long healthy life, father fish. You’re truly fish whisperer. You helped me grow the healthiest fish over the years.

[@oskee305]

haven't fed my fish in almost a week, at night i watch them feast on the larva and bugs that fly by. The pond is crystal clear, and the fish look awesome!! the guppy grass is covering the substrate already and lilies are looking great!!! Thanks again Father Fish! Now I wish my stepdad would listen to me, lol! for his pond! I've watched all your videos. Great lessons!

[@toriechuntraruk3611]

Do you use a filter in your pond? What kind of substrate do you have?

[@benicio1967]

It’s like my very first day at school and I’m the one who doesn’t know yesterday’s lesson. This man really has such a strong grasp on how to keep fish happy and healthy. As for me I think this hobby just might be WAY above my ability to fully understand. There is so much you have to know to be a good responsible keeper of fish or aquatic life. I’m definitely going to keep watching because it’s really interesting but I’ve talked myself out of buying an aquarium.

[@FatherFish]

You do not need to know very much to be successful. You only need to be able to follow direction and create a stable natural system. I guarantee you will succeed if you follow my system carefully.

[@smb963]

i decided to full send and get myself a 10 gallon tank - its not hard as u think and with father fish and people like caveman aquatics at ur side - you'll be golden ponyboy

[@ken-mb5cp]

@@smb963Just recreate what’s in your local healthy pond. I put local fish and plants in mine and did the FF substrate. Working out well so far. Add decomposed leaves. I even have tadpoles.

[@micorayray9832]

@@FatherFish can i put jbl aqua basis than potting soil?

[@danmaltby3271]

great character you created Father fish, the tone of the voice …soothing, when he said that I should bury that fish with my plants like the American Indians I was hooked. I’m like I love this guy.

[@demetriuslove9597]

After all these years I've been doing things totally wrong. I appreciate all the great videos that you take the time to engage with the ones who really thought they had a clue about the fish world. Great information thank you. God bless thanks again 😊

[@mikerusso4775]

"A healthy tank is not simply one in which the water is clear, it's one in which the biology is stable and strong and able to withstand the things that might go wrong, or even the things that are going very right."

[@hummingbird3771]

Established jungle val is one of my favorite "surge protectors". The sand cap on my gravel (thanks FF) has helped immensely!

[@ALittlePB]

@@hummingbird3771 I capped my gravel with sand and I haven't seen progress yet. Any suggestions?

[@hummingbird3771]

@@ALittlePB How long has it been, and what do you mean by progress? a lot of my sand worked down through the gravel. It has mostly made things easeir to plant.

[@Victor-su2lf]

@@ALittlePB My tank got an algae bloom when I only had gravel so I waited to have some mulm in the substrate and then capped with sand. Things are going well now, no more algae in the water column.

[@JolaFasolaGroszek]

Thank you Father Fish for teaching how to do aquariums the right natural way. In the such a confusing and artificial times.

[@danielcleghorn8625]

Father fish I have almost watched all your videos, and man u are so amazing, someone that actually cares for fish and not trying to make money out of people. Father fish it's so easy to understand what u are saying and I can't stop saying how appreciated I am for sharing your wisdom with us. I'm busy moving into a new house and once settled in I'm going to start a guppy tank your way. Love u Father fish and can't wait for more videos to come out ❤❤❤ God bless

[@shushyshushy6762]

I absolutely love watching Father Fishes videos, so much information, so much learning can be gained from hearing his wisdom. Thank you, Father Fish, for sharing your wisdom with us.

[@cbf8521]

Love this, have had my current tank for almost two years now. Low maintenance, filled with plants. I keep a box filter in it for my own sanity (I find the bubble sound super calming), and only “wash” the sponge maybe once every 2-3 months? Just top it off and trim plants when feel like there are too many to give to friends/compost. Haven’t cleaned the actual tank since I set it up. Had to “reset” it up after a move (move inhabitants, drain most of the tank, move, then put new water, let it settle, then add the fish back) but didn’t lose a single fish (some snails were lost but they have more than bounced back) now to to add more pants!

[@MilosStevanovic1]

I have been keeping fish since I was 10. Now I am 40, but 7 years ago I got my hands on Walstad book and then via KZbin on fatherfish. Since then I have arguably better looking aquarium, close to zero work, fish got to their full size. That has never happen to me before, so the important thing here is to remember you don’t need expensive equipment, and weekly water changes because if you do need that to maintain the aquarium then your aquarium is not balanced. Awesome video as always….

[@FatherFish]

Absolutely

[@leannebeckwith1797]

Hello father fish. Just wanted to leave a heart felt thank you for all the sound advice you've given on your channel. I recently found myself having my arm twisted into buying a tank after my little daughter fell in love with some fish at our local pet shop. I admittedly, had zero clue how to care for a fish properly, so found myself going on youtube searching for some information and guidance. I watched several different creators that didnt seem to sit right, then came across yourself. I have spent hours and hours listening intently to all your videos and went out for a good old foraging trip and stocked up the tank with all things natural. (The ugly plastic tat we got at the shop went back) Any who, it has now started me off on quite the journey learning as much as i can about fish and their keeping and we're now on our second tank, both of which are thriving and wonderful. You sir are a blessing to fish and people alike.

[@elijahhome3187]

For so many years i have been doing it wrong I do appreciate a lot (FF) for the strong infor Much love FF

[@KeyleBolos]

It's my first time here and I'm so lucky to find your video. The aquarium with plants is naturally beautiful and considerably wise than cleaning it and not stressing the fish. A clean and environmentally aquarium equals Happy and Healthy fishes. ❤❤❤

[@kemalozkan2408]

Amazing information. I stopped keeping tanks due to how difficult it was to keep it clean and healthy and I always seeked professional help. Your advice makes great sense. Many thanks

[@mrbscpds5801]

since i've been keeping fish using this method, i no long stress out when we lose power, another advantage to this method, great video, thank you

[@leem200]

We love you too. Thank you for your knowledge and sharing it with us. Peace!

[@evonai]

Hello there. Just commenting to thank you. I was about to set up a new tank and you made me do all the things i never would’ve dared to do - it just makes sense!! So far so good❤

[@watchtvatmyplace6691]

Thank you father fish. Sins these video's my aquarium is doing better then ever 😄. I told this to my mom that you teach to let nature do it's thing, and now her aquarium is great to.. 😄 Life is finding it's way here thanks to you.

[@marymendez4178]

Father fish I'll be very happy to receive the book, when is out for purchase, I cant wait.

[@kulyro]

Your videos make sense, thank you for them. I'm starting an aquarium now, after watching your videos for a few days, I'll go 100% on your hand. Keep the videos coming!!

[@autumstearns7729]

Thank you sir! If I had not stumbled upon your channel, my poor 10y daughter would just be heartbroken haha. She’s been asking for fish tank since she was a toddler, recently decided it was an appropriate time, so we got all the basics, set up tank(based on general knowledge and basic knowledge) bought fish, and they died in under 12hr 🤦‍♀️ knew I had done everything to the T, didn’t understand what happened. So started doing more in depth research on everything I’d done, everything in tank, searching anything I could think to. Then found ur channel!!! Next day I removed all the gravel, replaced it with sand(but my daughter then put couple handfuls of gravel on the sand for the color🤷‍♀️😂), and added 8 live plants(2species), waited a day, added only 2 fish in case they died, DID NOT feed them first day, and woo they made it! Water is kinda cloudy but if the fish alive I’m assuming it must be livable, so trying to refrain from doing a partial water change in hopes it’s going to get there(clear). Anyway again thank u sir for ur plethora of knowledge! My daughters wanted fish for years, she’s ecstatic she finally is able to enjoy them ❤

[@FatherFish]

Join us in the Shoal. We would love to share your experience. discord.gg/father-fish-shoal

[@srenbundgaard88]

Hi FF. I Just set up an 8 gallon aquarium with your technique. All that is in there comes from my garden and garden pond. I couldnt get it to work with the fish store bought things (chemicals). I belive that THIS is THE WAY!

[@NelsonBoomerSchwarz]

Whaching your videos got me into a stable aquarium & no water change. The only trouble I still cant get out is that my fish keep eating my shrimps. 😅. I had to stay outoftown for 5 days and there was no problems. All my fish got well till I came back. Tks dude. You really helped me a lot. 🙏

[@Tchefong]

So glad to have found you! I'm 58 and own aquarium since i'm 5. I finaly found the last thing that i was missing deep subtact. I try all my life to make people understand the best thing to do for your fishs let them be. Treat fish with product in last resort and never in (or) the tank. The ecosystem in your tank build over time and must be preserve. And stop feeding to much fish will still be alive when you're be back from a two week travel.

[@Tchefong]

I'm not alone anymore. 🙂

[@FatherFish]

Welcome aboard!

[@ninapiazzac.4903]

When is the book coming out? I'd love to buy it. Thanks for your endeless wisdom, Father Fish. Best wishes from Argentina

[@FatherFish]

First stage will be in a month, around Christmas.

[@chrisave2680]

Many thanks Father Fish for sharing your system to the world

[@salvadoralcala3152]

They just don't know the game bradda been watching your channel And my fish are doing amazing

[@barugongameroff2914]

Father Fish at his best! so calming and lecturing us all the right way. I can't get enough of this wisdom!😊

[@petroman-cg8tt]

Father Fish i Agree to a certain point, most people over crowed there tanks, in nature you don't have over crowding. As you know with my Discus tanks i have 4- plus inches sand and no over crowding in all my Discus tanks. I never loose fish and my nitrates stay 10ppms or less. Great Video

[@geckopete]

I agree with this 100%.. I run Under Gravel filters with deep gravel in most of my tanks. I have tanks that have been running for 6 and 8 years without little to no maintenance or cleaning. I rarely do any sort of water changes, I do top them up as water evaporates but that's about it. If a fish does pass, I often just leave it there with no issues .. The tanks don't "crash" or even smell, they just keep on going. The most work I need to do is regularly trim or remove plants as they grow so well the tanks are often filled with plants to the point where there is practically no space for fish to swim.. Running UG filters means I don't ever have to service filters or change filter media.. I have moved the tanks, but that involved emptying them down to around 2 inches of water in the bottom and moving them, then just refilling them with water when they were moved.. Some of my other tanks I use sponge filters instead of UG filters and again, I never need to do any real maintenance other than rinsing out the sponges ( in plain old tap water) and then just putting them back in the tanks. I don't ever bother testing my water, I don't treat water with anything when i do replace water in my tanks through evaporation, and I very rarely need to replace fish as they generally live long happy lives.

[@FatherFish]

about 4" of gravel will eventually create soil deposits in an UG system. HIGHLY beneficial. Excellent. My best fishy friend swore by gravel and UG systems.

[@FoolyLiving]

I dont think undergravel filters get enough respect! haha. I used to have them and they are literally 'no maintenance tanks'. I dont have that set up now, but I do want to create one again some time. I also need to do a proper deep substrate sand capped tank. My water is constantly changing though, because we have our water trucked in, and my tank did crash after I added water to it. My fish have been waiting to go back home for almost a month now. Poor dears.

[@jillbastow8590]

It's been years since I ran an UG filter. I bought a 40 gal high tank months ago and I came with one, I do have an old canister filter, maybe I'll clean thst up and buy some new hoses and try it out. Planned on an Angel community tank for this 40 gal.

[@ted-3516]

If you have a tank running for 6 - 8 years and rarely do water changes but do add water to make up for evaporation, I would think the mineral level would get higher and higher. The water that has evaporated has left the minerals behind. I am doubtful this is good for fish which are soft water fish.

[@geckopete]

@@ted-3516 Its not that I never do water changes but I rarely do and when I do its not much.. On a regular basis though I dont do much more than top up and even then its when i feel it needs it... I add very little else to my tanks.. If a fish dies i just take it out if i see it but dont then go treating the whole tank .. Most fish die because they are stressed, so if one dies than I dont have the belief they will all then get sick, I just leave it.. This is how I run all my tanks and always have.. been keeping fish for around 45 years or so..

[@notyoureverydayashleyxoxo]

So glad I found this channel! My tank is so healthy and I never change out my water. I do too it off when needed but I’ve never done an actual change in 6 months but because I built an ecosystem vs a “fish tank” I am able to do minimal maintenance

[@williamavery1758]

Well I was one of those guys that started with gravel. But I'm doing a father fish tank 1inch of mud mix and 2 inches of celica pool filter sand and once I get back I'm gonna start filling it up and putting my plants in the tank. What a night I had I completely broke my tank done with a female electric blue acura and probably 250 fry that just started to be wigglers. Put them in a 5 gallon bucket VERY CAREFULLY hopefully they survive. BUT IM DOING MY 55 GALLON TANK RIGHT WITH THE FATHER FISH WAY. Father fish is a genius and very knowledgeable. Well I will up date when the tank is filled up and going after the first week. THANKS AGAIN FATHER FISH

[@JO-nh6mo]

Since I changed from external canister filtering to HMF I got a much more stable tank, that can cope with all kind of "extremes" much better. The only advantage- I suspect the bacterial mud to bind a lot of iron fertilizer, so I had to add more or more frequent. Apart from that, I feed my -tank-, not just the fish, as all "imported" food will be broken down, CO2 from this process gets bound into plantmass, which I remove. Removing plants (healthy, fast growing) ones is in fact the most "work" I have to do. Thanks for your videos!

[@amineiss9175]

This man is so lovable , it take me just 2 videos to see it

[@simona4442]

From the UK your the Boss!

[@jillbastow8590]

Awesome to hear you have a book coming out, I'll watch for that! So happy with all my dirted tanks so far, converting others as I go.

[@silkqueen8498]

He's so right...life does continue naturally...I have 3 tanks and my 10 gal I took all the fish out to make a community tank in my 40...well I thought I did I just found my pleco I've been looking for..under a rock..ha he was hiding this whole time😂😂 he's healthy and safe with the others now amazing❤

[@9to5killaCartel]

Thanks brother....love your content and delivery. You have inspired me. I found 3 tanks on facebook marketplace for $30. I'll be starting them soon as well 4 of thise jars you talk about. Do you think it is possible to use a dirted tank for raising fry?

[@FatherFish]

yes and congrats

[@DuoSonicHS]

Well said Mr Fish. After finding your channel I realized I was overstocking/overfeeding my medaka. Cutting back has improved their breeding success significantly. Cheers from Akron, OH!

[@simshlamie7184]

Thankyou father fish , you have got me wanting another tank ❤

[@theschoolofthoughts5274]

Hello father fish .i recently followed your steps to make a natural aquarium, layer of dirt sand and then i put a layer of gravel with plants in sand. I can notice some tubifex worms. I also put some scuds in it. But the thing is that it stinks and the scuds are dying what to do?

[@FatherFish]

There should be no odor. 1" dirt, 2" sand

[@theschoolofthoughts5274]

@@FatherFish then what is wrong with it.

[@DashDrones]

Happy Friday Father Fish 🐟 Am loving my new tank, mud, sand and leaves. Addicted to it! #Natural

[@zaferboran5343]

Father Tanrıdan sana sağlıklı uzun ömür diliyorum .Çunkü insanların bilgilerine ihtiyacı var.

[@FatherFish]

Nimetiniz için teşekkür ederim, Tanrı sizinle olsun.

[@OtterSC2]

What are your thoughts on using terrestrial plants like pothos to "cheat" at removing waste? My future tanks will be FF method but my very first micro practice tank I'm running neocaridina and some snails with lots of java moss, a few other plants, a pothos climbing out and an air stone with an inch of gravel. The pothos is maybe unnecessary but I like the safety valve since I'm feeding to grow the colony and only topping up water.

[@orlandoquintero5296]

Thank you very much for your guide, I want to ask about the green water that appears when having an outdoor aquarium and that the sun proliferates these algae that do not allow fish or plants to be seen.

[@PlanetaryDweeb]

Just a couple days ago I got some more creek sediment and tiny critters to add into my new 75 gallon tank, exciting stuff

[@paulaerasmus5527]

Plants, plants and more plants. They do all the work.

[@jamalalmulla1355]

Thank you father fish the god bless you❤

[@springkraft5878]

Your knowledge is a real gift, thank you for that!

[@RJVortex]

Thank you so much father for such a great information regarding a healthy tank. God bless you love you too. 😊

[@MelodieRose727]

Always enjoy your perspective and wisdom, thank you.

[@johnlarsen8308]

I fully agree, at least 2 inches of substaight. Glass bottom tanks are a disaster in the making

[@ricardoramirez9510]

This is like being in school and the profesor is telling you what he wants from the project but doesn’t explain how to do it lol. Of course I want a self sustaining tank. I was expecting this video to be a how to guide. Still however a great video.

[@RB-tm7xc]

Thank you. First fish tank and following your wisdom. Natural makes sense 😊

[@inventions47]

Brilliant, thank you sir 🙏

[@ali84uk]

well done and thank you so much Father Fish and I am glad to hear about your 1st Book being released, I will definately be buying it. God bless you ❤

[@jorgediaz7294]

Thank you father fish, you have changed completely the way I saw and treated the hobby. I have an axolotl and I would love for you to make a video about a planted “almost self sustaining” community aquarium for an axolotl. Love your videos, I have become a really big fan of you father fish. Thank you :)

[@sandypar00]

Yet another amazing video! Thank you!

[@mikerusso4775]

The lack of beard spooked me for a sec lol ❤❤❤thanks for the knowledge Father Fish!!!

[@bonnielucious1]

Me too

[@yushuf5827]

thank u father fish you saved my life

[@denfordbacayana2303]

Howabout the replenishing rainy days in the nature? Do we have to simulate it by doing water changes (ofcourse we use stock water) . rainy days in the nature adds water volume, decreases tannins as it dillute, i think healthy aquariums should be able to withstand water changes like rainy days in the outdoors. Like the light we put on top of our aquariums simulates the sun that helps our aqua plants to photosynthesize and more of the positive domino effect will follow..

[@FatherFish]

Capping off for evaporation is the best approach.

[@denfordbacayana2303]

@@FatherFish yes in nature rain replenished water loss by evaporation.. i love how you explained in details of whats is really happening in natures perspective.. i just want to ask if it is ok do water changes (stocked water) routinely in the healthy tank which i assume can handle water changes. I do my water changes even if the parameters are way to good because for the reason that i did not like tannins. Overtime my aquarium water becomes crystal brown as there are plants on my aquarium eco. Well i did wc on a regular basis and my fish are not only thriving but they are doing great. I dont gravel debris, i do only water changes.

[@AVD128]

Hi There, love your thoughts and very much agree with them. I do have a question for you? At 2:45, there is an orange fish in your aquarium, on the right side of the frame. What kind of fish is that?

[@FatherFish]

discus

[@TheHalfworkShaman]

Honestly you’d be the best dad

[@psychebeauty611]

One thing to juat say as a point about when we look at ponds, lakes, streams, basically nature in general, there is always an introduction of new water at some point(rain mostly but you can also say that a rivee flowing is usually constantly pulling in new water ans carrying away waste). Granted, we can say that adding/topping off a tank can count as the aquarium version of this. However, i also think there is a value to water changes. I do think though that weekly water chnages unless a situation requires it can be counter productive. And if one has to do a weekly watwr change or else there's problems, then i think that can be a sign of an unhealthy tank or an unbalanced tank. Especially if its like 50% or more. Heck even 25%. I say rhis because if i think about a pond that geta rain, some of that rain may either oveeflow and carry away some waste or help push thw waste down into the substrate, but unless its a large amount of heavy rain, generally maybe 10 to 15% of the pond water is "freshened" or replaced at least i think juat based on my own logic. I cant back that up of course. Anyway i think people can keep fish a variety of ways that work but i do think the more naturalistic we can do this the better and in a way that can be somewhat close to that fishes native biotope. I think thats why i cant totally agree that a gravel substrate is not good because in some situations i can see its value. I think of fast flowing creeks with gravel beds! However the key here is the river flow. So its always getting good oxygenated water and waste is carried away. And often this waste will settlw in a quiet area where plants will grow in the shallows ans thus can provise oxygenation and take care of the waste. I guess my thought here is look to the fish tou want to keep. A fish meant for a high flow river may not do well in a tank with that same gravel bed because unlike a river where the waste is carries away, thw waste in the aquarium has no where to go. So you either have to remove it or improvise with the soil and sand substrate beneath a layer of gravel! And use plants that can handle the flow. In the end i think its about paying attention to the tank and its health ans sometimes it is bettwr not to do supee frequent, if any, watwe changes and other times more frequent water changes are better

[@FatherFish]

A single hard rain increases the volume of water in a pond by about 1%. Do the numbers. A pond 10 foot deep is 120". A 1" rainfall is 1/120 of the volume. This is less than the typical topoff in an aquarium.

[@psychebeauty611]

@FatherFish that's fair and makes sense to me! So that's a good point that even in nature there's not that much water changed. Now maybe in a small pond or puddle or ditch this water change may be more impactful, but even then fish survive and thrive there too! But many have adapted to account for that. I think that's also a good argument for keeping appropriate sized fish in the right kind of tank! But yes this is a good point that we can use nature's processes in our tanks and be successful without large water changes (except in maybe extreme cases)

[@Desmond000007]

@@FatherFish Cleared the table with that one

[@siribotmaster9184]

Hey had a question about the next tank I will be setting up. I heard that gravel or volcanic rocks stuff like that is good to have under the dirt for beneficial bacteria. Now would this help or just waste space in the tank?

[@FatherFish]

It is not particularly beneficial.

[@johnwhodat8135]

You are the guru.. father fish!

[@ryanrogers8211]

I'M PRETTY SURE FF IS A CHRISTIAN SO HE'S NOT A HINDU

[@johnwhodat8135]

@@ryanrogers8211 ..you know what I mean. Let's not get too technical.😉

[@ryanrogers8211]

@@johnwhodat8135 A Guru is a Hindu cult leader, not everyone will take being called that as a compliment. lol

[@jabarriley3799]

Thank you father fish .for all the great info

[@ghostwriterinme5050]

Absolutely Excellent Thank You! 3/18/2024

[@phd_gaming5010]

Im aiming for both personnally. I want a healthy tank that is appealing to look at (I can see my fishy friends doing fishy things). Plants and low feeding does the trick. Haven't done a water change in 5 years and only time I had issues is when we lost power for 6 days during winter. I lost almost everything sadly (generator is on my to buy list, even the guinea pigs had to be moved to survive). Has always, great video with down to earth (or pond?) content

[@jasminegomez2786]

Hey I had just gotten a betta and was wondering how to keep the tank nice and healthy like u explained in the video I am a beginner and really need help and tips anything will help thank uuuu

[@FatherFish]

Join us on the Father Fish Shoal for help: discord.gg/yZKHPVPTMv

[@williamMikmaq222]

My 40 gallon has been running for 16yrs with just water changes and once a year partial filter cleaning. Its planted, including floating plants, wooded, stoned and has deluted lighting. In the summer months i collect bio material from ponds and add it as needed. I do add some egg shells a couple times a year. I'm always add and never subtract. It has a healthy colony of trumpet snails, a few panda corys, a school of giant danios and I keep a small group of guppies, one male and three females. I hardly feed the fish, three times a month at best. I keep a three inch bed of organic materials including solid clay and I add leaf litter every couple of months. The leaf litter actually grows lots of worms and other little creatures. I try keeping a few ghost shrimp and some learn to avoid the danio. Its an amazing system. The tank maintains a 6.0 - 6.4 PH without fail and nice soft water. My tap water i top off with is 9 ph solid. I live in Boston, Massachusetts. Im 55 years old and learned this natural method from an older gent like yourself when I was 14 yrs old, I perfected the method after 5-7 yrs and have never looked back.... Like i said,... Its amazing! Build a bio system!

[@williamMikmaq222]

I do use some liquid mud for fertilizer that I add once a month, sometimes once every two months. I never grow algae because of the diffuse lighting which is just a full spectrum LED system that I cover with regular white tracing paper. I keep the light about 18 inches above the top of the tank. The mud feet is Fox Farms liquid fertilizer...

[@FatherFish]

You are amazing!

[@williamMikmaq222]

@@FatherFish you're amazing! I love your channel and how you teach everyone. I'm still learning and, you're a big part of that process. Thank you Pop!

[@MrAlanevo]

Hi father fish. I’ve been watching your videos and learning about zero water changes. One thing I’m not quite clear on. Do you run filters on your tanks?

[@FatherFish]

Yes but not always.

[@regallax137]

I have 2 to 3 inches of gravel in my tank, is that ok? The Nitrite always appears to be fine at 0.mg. But was told to change at least a quarter of my water once a week. All my fish looks happy and also having a few fries at a time. The water always looks clear too...just thinking do I need to change the water every week, I have not changed the filter in about three months.

[@shenberry]

I love the definitions that have been clearly laid out for a newbie. I already know the answer to whether are not my fish can survive for 5 days without new food being added and it seems like that answer is yes. However when I go away for 5 days I do not plan on using my ac and the interior of my house will reach 85 degrees fahrenheit 30 degrees rounded Celsius will that be to hot for fish?

[@FatherFish]

not unless you have cold water fish.

[@shenberry]

@@FatherFish Geesh more definitions dont get cold water fish lol. Thanks will be ordering soon

[@JasonRenoux]

As long as your tank is started the same way as the Father Fish's tanks, you're good to follow his advice. Not all like the idea of a very deep substrate on the front face of the tank.

[@FatherFish]

cover it with paper.

[@TomShortreed]

Thank you for your videos. I haven’t been this enthused about keeping an aquarium since I was a kid. I have a 48 gallon aquarium that has been running for almost 45 years and I think it has achieved a balance despite my best intentions and requires almost no attention. I look forward to using your methods now. My question is, how long does a glass aquarium last before it needs to be replaced? Thanks again.

[@FatherFish]

until it breaks or becomes to etched it cannot pass light

[@aphonictx8293]

Deep substrate alone enough or does there have to be live plants? I ask because I would like to start an African cichlid tank and there are few plants that will grow fast enough (Anubias) to active use the waste. Any pointers for that setup?

[@FatherFish]

lots of light, develop algae, add plants

[@Katherine-zp4bq]

Hi father fish, thanks for all your videos. I would like to add sand to my tank but what it ok? I have some sand which is for outdoor paths in the ice, I think it's a mixture of sand, salt & fine gravel. Can I use this? If not where do I get this sand from? The beach? I want to get it right as my plant died so need more but want to plant them in the substrate like you advise. I have gravel at the moment. Had my tank for one year & a few deaths in that time. Would like to achieve a more natural set up like you suggest. Thanks

[@FatherFish]

I have many videos explaining how to do this. I recommend you visit my YT page and scan the categories of videos. Beginner aquarist is a good start. Watch some videos and learn all the details, how and why.

[@Katherine-zp4bq]

@@FatherFish Thanks

[@THEBLUEGLOVE]

Father fish ! My tank has been set up about a month following your instructions and I have been having a big problem. It smells the whole room up like methane. I am struggling to fix this and I am close to breaking down the whole tank because of this.

[@FatherFish]

sand is too shallow. Add another inch. Methane is an odorless, colorless, flammable gas. You have a dirt layer that is far too hot.

[@THEBLUEGLOVE]

@@FatherFishif I already have two inches of sand, should I just keep adding? Or break down the tank and start again?

[@LeeSutton-t7d]

I love watching all your videos pal and i have a question can i put sand in my pond

[@FatherFish]

yes

[@ckwong1593]

This must be one of the most honest channel there is and he instills knowledge that no one else provides

[@Aquafinity]

Thank you for those AWESOME words of wisdom! Brilliant advice!

[@Crawww200]

Good afternoon, from Argentina, I thank you very much for your videos, and for your way of telling with so much passion about your aquariums and the way to make them sustainable, my question is what to do with a covered aquarium, and the condensation that falls through the glass, is ruining my furniture XD, thank you very much and I gain a subscriber at the end of the world! THANKS!

[@FatherFish]

There should not be condensation outside the glass box. Explain more please with me on the Father fish Shoal: discord.gg/GdakStEjAy

[@josemac7891]

Father Fish que me encantaría poder tener ese libro que usted comento al final del vídeo, solo deseo hacerle una petición si es posible, si edita el libro sería fabuloso una versión traducida al idioma español, sería bendito tener acceso a toda esa maravillosa información que Father Fish nos ofrece, ¡Muchas Gracias!.

[@kathleenbronson9849]

Love the lack of facial hair ❤! Great makeover!!

[@salvadoralcala3152]

Better to soke up the knowledge Instead of thinking you know everything learned alot from you OG

[@MiaJ-t3s]

Hello 👋 Should I take my dead fish and shrimps out or push it gravel as a fertilizer? I got 37 gallon tank, 3 otosinclus, 2 bamboo shrimp, 1 beta, 5 ghost shrimp, 5 small Indian glass fish, 3 orange tetras and 2 loaches. It’s 3 month old tank with Fluval black substrate, Fluval light, real plants and everyday fertilizer liquid. Thank you)

[@FatherFish]

your call.

[@wannabe_D7000]

2 months no water change and feeding fishes daily, with one filter pump + few Anubis lucky bamboo plant !

[@kenrooke9047]

Got the soil supplement in Canada. Thank you. Now I have the peat moss,manure and organic soil. Would it be beneficial to add some pond mud and a bit of old dirt and sand from an established tank with the aforementioned. Great inspirational video by the way.

[@FatherFish]

Yes. small portions. No more than 1" of soil capped with 2" of sand.

[@kenrooke9047]

Thanks Father 👍❤️

[@deniserooks9049]

I have made my fresh water tank set up as father fish has recommended ( natural plants, substrate of sand soil) My question is.. I will be out of the country for 3weeks. Will my guppy fish need to be fed or will my fish survive through its natural habitat I have provided for her?

[@FatherFish]

They will be fine. If you have started a food web so much the better.

[@Everlong8640]

Hi Father Fish, thank you for all of the great info! My 8 year old son and I have been watching for a few weeks now and decided to re do his tank with the proper substrate and some plants. Right now we have only a few plants and 2 fish. We are wondering how many plants/fish do you think we could fit comfortably into a 10 gallon tank?

[@jessshaffer2644]

How many fish depend n size of fish. I have , nano fish means you can you can stock more, stock slowly!

[@stephanies9689]

As many plants as will fit works just fine, my cryptocoryne have great grand babies and I've got probably 45 individual plants in a thick jungle. I started with 3 pots of each species and let them sort themselves out, happy plants make baby plants.

[@joeyanderson6660]

What are the essentials needed to have your tank grow and have babies?

[@funforsameer1769]

Quick question, i just started a tank. Im trying to follow your ways! So far I have 3 guppies. i have some fish waste settled on the sand. Would you advise me to vacuum it?

[@FatherFish]

no

[@funforsameer1769]

@@FatherFish What would you recommend as a cleanup crew to take care of the waste that's accumulating on the sand, thanks for your response

[@connorfitzpatrick8417]

Hi father fish, What are your thoughts on my tank? I have 1 inch of gravel and 9 different plants inside my tank. I have shrimp 1 Scarlett badis, 1 dwarf gourami, 1 bumblebee gobi, and 2 harlequins tetras. I wish I put sand in there instead of gravel, with a layer of dirt underneath. It has a pump filter with bio-bacteria balls to help healthy bacteria. Do you have any recommendations?

[@connorfitzpatrick8417]

It’s also a 10 gal

[@FatherFish]

add an inch of sand on top

[@OriginalAzaeal]

Is a sponge filter or wavemaker necessary for a healthy tank? I have been trying to have the tank look after itself biologically byt recently had what appears to be a bacterial bloom occur

[@FatherFish]

I find it helps.