HOW TO SET UP AN OLD TIMER'S DIRTED TANK

[@carlychattox6115]

I’ll follow the “old timers” system who has done this for years before I follow hundreds of rude people on the internet that all tell me something different and argue about the right way to do things! Thanks again!

[@FatherFish]

You go Carly!

[@yup.4901]

Sunday afternoon, a cuppa, and Father Fish. All good by me. 👍

[@FatherFish]

I'm with you.

[@debrascheer4577]

thank you Father Fish! I now have a tank that reads 0 on all my tests. my fish are so happy and colorful. keep sharing your wisdom

[@FatherFish]

Good job Debra

[@wendy70ish]

The best advice always ..so grateful to have you as an educator ❤️

[@FatherFish]

TY Wendy. Delighted to be here.

[@Crslawncare13]

I appreciate your time and enjoy your content 🙏

[@FatherFish]

Thank you Chad.

[@kdr1048]

Thanks father fish, i just dirted my 45 gal tub yesterday. For my golden whiteclouds. You inspired me to do so. So far so good! Just waiting for weather to warm up some yet here in Wisconsin

[@FatherFish]

That is awesome!

[@JoyZofSoRRoW]

Didn't know about the Peat moss and the silica sand thing. I've been using just sifted soil and kids play sand as the cap... Alright old timer now I'm gonna have to try this myself sometime this year.

[@FatherFish]

Go for it.

[@jackrayaa1595]

Well, i didn't knew that we can add fish after some hours, I added fish after a month, i was observing tank parameters, plants growth & some microorganisms activities till this time.... For safer side i gave time to cycle the tank or balance it on its own with weekly 50% water change. Now my question is how often should I change water ??? My dirt tank is 2 month old with fishes & snails & thriving like anything. Thank you very much Sir Father Fish 🙏🌹🌹🌹

[@FatherFish]

As needed to control rise in nitrates, drop in Ph, or other issues.

[@jackrayaa1595]

@@FatherFish I got it Sir Father Fish... Thank you very much ... 👏👍👌🌹🌹🌹🍫

[@deepaseralathan7465]

I am setting up a 15 gallon dirted tank for my son. Since I am all for less work and nature, I am happy to have found you. I was surprised when my 11 year old was immediately enamored by you as he didn't at all like the idea of dirt when I spoke with him about 😆 If you can answer a few questions for me, I will be grateful. I brought dirt from the garden which is mostly clay. I have vermicompost instead of manure. Not sure how to substitute. I also thought of using calcium carbonate powder that I have instead of lime. I don't have bloodmeal. I have bone meal, epsom salt, baking soda, peatmoss and play sand. Could I make do with these or should I make another trip to the store? Thanks, Father fish! - Deepa (My son hacked my account)

[@FatherFish]

The only addition critical is iron in any form. The garden supply will have something. Tell your son Father Fish wants to see his tank after it is set up.

[@deepaseralathan7465]

@@FatherFish That's great! I was planning to go to the store in a couple of days. I will look for something with iron and the other ingredients too. My son is excited to see your reply. We will show you the tank after setting it up. Thanks so much!

[@FatherFish]

@@deepaseralathan7465 Outstanding. I look forward to seeing your son's tank.

[@claretquill]

Hi Father Fish from the UK. My Question might sound silly to you, but having worked a lot with sand there is a lot of mechanical difference between sharp sand and building sand ( round partials v sharp partials ). Which should I use in my tank? thanks. Love your channel

[@FatherFish]

I bellieve the sharp sand is better because it holds more surface bacteria. Some cories reputedly are cut by sharp edges. These would be catfish living in fact flowing streams with worn sand. I have not seen this condition but do not dispute it.

[@thebamafins8589]

I knew you had to have a video that answered my sand question, but I kept missing this one, or I wasn’t paying attention. Thanks for the great videos. Do you have one that answers the question why does it need to be dry sand?

[@FatherFish]

Dry sand is simply easier to work with.

[@MTSLINY]

I always learn something new from your channel, very much appreciated. Any advice for an established tank that did not use the dirted substrate method (I used a deep basalt (eco complete substrate) ) I want to make the tank environment more friendly for plants in a natural way. Thanks for answering my last question and thanks for your videos!

[@FatherFish]

Simply add 2" of sand. This will create an anaerobic layer and complete the natural cycle allowing more nutrition for your plants.

[@moshemoskowitz6968]

Hi, Father. I'd appreciate it if you could answer this question: I have have a planted Gravel tank. I want to convert it to the Father Fish method. Im considering starting fresh because i anway have to remove all the hardscape and trim the gravel down to 1 inch, because i dont want to start off with a very high substrate. (Its currently around 2 inches of gravel). So im considering mixing the existing gravel with compost/dirt from my backyard. Then putting 2 inches of sand on top etc. Will this method work?

[@FatherFish]

add an incxh of sand and build a food web.

[@jon-arildolsen8178]

Hello! Very informative video👍 Most of the Potting Soil here in Norway have som kind of fertilizer in it, and also an amount of peat moss. Is this Ok to use.....is there any thing i have to look for when choosing pottingsoil that contains fertilizer? And do i have to take out the pins and sticks (wood) in the soil?

[@FatherFish]

The fert is fine. Sticks can remain, your choice.

[@Diecastcomix]

Always wondered what kind of lighting to use on our dirted aquarium. What is your suggestion father fish?

[@FatherFish]

I use any

[@THEBLUEGLOVE]

I set my tank up this weekend. I got the dirt wet but I'm not sure if I got it wet enough before setting up the remainder of the tank. Will this not work if the dirt isn't wet enough or is partially wet?

[@FatherFish]

If you have a nadequate 2" cap of sand it should be fine.

[@joannegodfrey6364]

Hi FF, I used a good quality potting mix for my ff tank. But if I didn't use the additives, will it last as long?

[@FatherFish]

It will take longer to stabilize

[@joannegodfrey6364]

It is doing really well so far and fish are so happy!

[@lovemylifeflorida2641]

Can we use black diamond medium grit blasting sand?

[@FatherFish]

Yes. Perfect.

[@Desmond000007]

Lovely, thank you FF

[@Desmond000007]

Should i remove the integrated filter/heater/pump and get a small sponge filter? It takes up a lot of space and I wont use a heater

[@jackrayaa1595]

@@Desmond000007 Yeah, just a sponge filter is enough with good amount of aeration... Caution! don't press the filter, drift wood, sand stone or any other decorative iteam over the sand, the soil/dirt substrate shouldn't be disturb... All above tips I have learned from Sir Father Fish😊

[@Desmond000007]

@@jackrayaa1595 Got it! Thanks

[@Desmond000007]

When you disturb bacteria and fungi, its like someone came into your house and suddently re-decorated all of your furniture

[@FatherFish]

@@Desmond000007 Sorta like - yep!

[@scotth9881]

Father Fish, I've set up two 75 gallon tanks with 30% yard soil, 30% peat moss, 30% worm castings, then topping off with plain kitty litter and garden lime. I then top off with 2"-2 1/2" of black blasting sand. I have large pieces of old driftwood in as well. My biggest hurdle is getting rid of extensive brown diatom algae. I tried outrunning it with extra lighting, water changes, and lots of cleaning, but it's still going. I've determined that the other possibility is that the large pieces of driftwood are feeding it. Does that seem like I'm on the right track?

[@forsak3th]

Perhaps need more fast growing plants? Plants and algae are constantly competing with eachother. Stem plants do a good job at this. If want to try something different try adding a pothos plant. Yes, the popular house plant pothos. You can find them anywhere for around 5 dollars. You can hang it on the side of the tank. Make sure roots are the only thing in the water. Emersed growth only. Add one or two of them. You'll be surpised how well they absorb the excess nutrients feeding the algea. With all that said for most of us algae is just part of fish keeping. Good luck!

[@scotth9881]

@@forsak3th I'll have to give that a try. I have a spider plant floating in there now, so I'll have to add a couple more. Thanks.

[@FatherFish]

Your soil base may be too deep for the sand you have. Tryh adding another inch of sand. That should cure the problem.

[@FatherFish]

good advice

[@scotth9881]

@@FatherFish Thank you, I appreciate it, and I'll give it a try.

[@williamharris7357]

Will eco-complete work as well as sand?

[@FatherFish]

Eco-complete is nutrition based. It is best when capped with sand,

[@aidanduerr8535]

Hey Father Fish! I tried your fitted method earlier this year and I had some issues, I ended up having about 2 inches of soil and not quite 2 inches of sand on top. Needless to say the water column was riddled with ammonia and I was never able to add livestock. I’ll be trying again soon, this time less soil more sand!! I’m hoping more sand will keep the gas separated from the water column and out of the air in my house haha

[@KarunakaranNaresh]

Hello, most of the time father fish mentioned 1inch soil 2 inch sand capped. Please try.

[@KarunakaranNaresh]

👍🏻

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

why use peat rather than topsoil, or river bottom soil?

[@PaulC.494]

Peat is mixed with soil, it makes it easier for plant roots to navigate through the soil, river bottom soil is ok to use.

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

@@PaulC.494 He says "potting soil", which are often mostly peat anyway. I was into landscaping long before aquariums. Potting soils get warn out fairly quickly, and are low in minerals, so I figure there has to be an important reason he's not using heavier sedimentary soils. I know Walstad has mentioned issues with metal toxicity in some topsoils, but will still use garden soil provided its not mixed with peat, so I'm curious as to why he recommends a mostly light compost soil.

[@PaulC.494]

@@WhatIsMisophonia Father Fish adds supplements to his mix.

[@jackrayaa1595]

@@PaulC.494 Its a second month of my aquarium with garden/pot soil without any addings. I asked the shop keepers to get me soil with Macro Micro nutrients & he suggest me soil for flower plants with less fertilizer( mild power). Other pot/garden soil in shop are mainly use to grow vegitable with more nutrients & fertilizers added. As per FF we no need to add any root tabs later after 6 months or so... The fish waste will get merged with sand & soil very slowly & will work as a fertilizer later only if it is less in this process or plant health/growth get down we are free to add root tabs as needed...

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

@@PaulC.494 Yes, he's mentioned that, but that doesn't answer the question as to why not use a more humus rich clay soil so you don't have to add as much stuff to it. Walstad also mentions dangers of soil being smothered so as to go completely anoxic (apparently hydrogen sulfide can cause root rot), and perhaps a heavy clay soil will be more likely to do that, though Father Fish doesn't have an issue with that of course. Perhaps he's going the route that allows him to add peat because he uses hard water, and the peat stops the ph from climbing?

[@melwinwin]

😎🙏

[@williamharris7357]

I thought you closed your shop

[@FatherFish]

You thought right. This is a remastered video.

[@ilovegirls69style]

now you know people feed only single flake per fish

[@FatherFish]

Yess~!