Sick Fish SOS: Natural Fish Tank Disease Prevention

[@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/

[@madhavsanthosh2363]

this legend is a legend. he gave a scientific and philosophical way of keeping an aquarium that others fail to make me understand. Hats off to you Sir

[@candycaneunicorn8024]

This is 100% the single most important video people need to know and understand when first getting fish. Father Fish your saving 100,000s lives thank you for all your endless educational life saving video's.

[@davidjames1815]

Thank you for this in-depth look at cause of and effect of disease. It's important to set the tank up the right way in the 1st place. Then not to overfeed or introduce too many nutrients in the tank thereafter. So far so good on my 1 mo. old tank.😊

[@mondraymondo]

whoa the vocal quality here feels like a step up! please keep this up, its so soothing and easier to listen to. very clear and crisp and has a warm tone to it. also learning so much

[@yahya_176]

Father fish now you can see your videos are now world wide. Most of them are now from India.... And literally sir you are rocking on this platform with your professional knowledge....!!❤ Thanks for making this hobby more lovable and livable for us.

[@FatherFish]

I want to start CC in an Indian language. My editor is in India. We will do it soon.

[@yahya_176]

@@FatherFish that's more amazing...!! Excited to see and wish you best wishes.

[@Wellan66]

@@FatherFish if you need someday for french it will be a pleasure

[@FatherFish]

@@Wellan66 Merci Monsieur. Un moment s'it vous plait.

[@khoffmann1978]

I have changed my aquarium setup, with soil at the bottom, a thick layer of sand and a lot of plants. I've been out in the local lake picking up rotten leaves. It looks really good and I'm pretty optimistic :-)

[@FatherFish]

It will make you happy

[@AquaticDomain]

Thank you FF for another great video. I wish 1/10 of the "EXPERTS" would take time and actually explains it like you do. But then again there's only one Father Fish :). I've learned so much about planted tanks and bringing nature into my fish tanks thanks to you. Thankfully I've never had to deal with these types of diseases before, but even prior to learning the FF ways, I've never overfed my fish or added nutrients to my tanks. I see so many people posting the same questions over and over again on Facebook. All you have to do is look at their tanks and you immediately know what the problem is. Too much overfeeding, no plants, no nature. I've been keeping fish most of my life, but you have brought me so much joy and love to the hobby. Thanks again!

[@Bossnerf22]

Everyone talking about what I was going to comment 😅 everyone needs to see this video! Thanks

[@EireFirst2024]

Everything you NEED TO KNOW to keep fish the correct way is in this ONE video.. T H E E N D Thanks pappa 🤝

[@ashenwalls3558]

I'm absolutely loving this channel! It's chill, informative, and I love the natural and holistic approach.

[@Hellbillyhok]

Great video FF, cheers from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@geofffridley3710]

People on all my fish pages on Facebook always gripe at me because I say I don't change water and only use seachem prime and stability when adding new water. I use your dirt and sand method for substrate and its been awesome for my plants since I started following you. Wish I'd have found u 20 years ago!

[@FatherFish]

excellent. Id due time you will realize that prime and stability are expenses with no value. Good work thus far.

[@precise3291]

Good info, definitely insightful. I'm just learning about fish tuberculosis. I lost a Flowerhorn a couple of months ago and I am now certain that it's present in my aquarium.

[@FatherFish]

Sorry to hear that

[@frankfrank5821]

Such a wealth of information. Thankyou FatherFish 🙏🏻

[@FatherFish]

My pleasure

[@fatrat6929]

Holy Words .Thank you Father..

[@hongkit2738]

Having an aquarium inside home and office should always be fun and enjoyable and understand the nature of our echo system. The study of life. If any one who wants to become a zen master in fish keeping they should follow your footsteps. I am one of the fish zen masters keepers just like you. I am always down with you on this philosophy my zen master. That is how a good fish keeper should be and that's the way love goes. So long folks. And peace my professor the God of fish keeper.

[@pammugridge4106]

Oh and I just cured a female Betta. Hospital tank, celtic sea salt, heat, oak leaves, and water change out every 2 days using water from my bigger established tank. Total of 4 times started clearing up after second change, clamped fins, laying at the bottom, less active, and some type of white fungus growing on her. Back to her old self😊

[@FatherFish]

Excellent husbandry skills!!

[@VolCanixWorx]

Heya! That's almost the exact symptoms that a female guppy i have is exhibiting. May i ask what temperature you kept the tank at? I am doing all that you've stated to try and help her. Thanks!!

[@awwalmare2405]

@@VolCanixWorx put salt and keep 28 to 30 degree temp and put antifungal liq

[@bumblesby]

I purchased some guppies several years ago and put them in a 20H bare bottom tank as a temporary measure. I threw in some Christmas Moss and a corner filter. They did so well, that I just kept them there. There is now 2 inches of mulm on the bottom. I was thinking of converting to a FF tank, but the tank seems quite balanced as it is and really the moss is beautiful.

[@FatherFish]

Set up a new tank and keep the old one.

[@Extra_nose_fragrances]

Does api general care work?thanks

[@pammugridge4106]

Hi father fish, Calamarous your explanation of how they are able to dominate a tank that has been fouled. In a healthy environment they are kept under control. This is an explanation I have heard of dog s and their worns. They have worms deep inside intestines, ( that would explain why puppies need to be wormed even when the mom has been.) when something has gone wrong they over grow. Sorry of topic a bit but same life forces. I love how so many are watching you and taking your advice. ❤ Saving lives

[@FatherFish]

Thank you Pam

[@bubblerings]

These are the videos we need... 😁💕 The mainstream chants are like Western Medicine... Drugs, surgery or radiation... Medicate, cut it off or burn it out... Yikes!! (I wondered why planaria and leeches don't freak you out...) Was wondering How you can take mud from a pond, without bringing in more problems than solutions... Keep 'em coming, sir!! We only have been taught what the Problems are... Not how Nature works on our behalf.. Cheers to you, Father Fish!! 🎈🍻

[@josephdonnelly3169]

More great content. I’ve never considered ‘quarantining’ plants until now. Just added new plants to 3 aquariums, and have had significant problems thereafter. Something new to consider…

[@FatherFish]

With the industry running amuck we need to know what we are putting in our tanks. Quarantine everything.

[@luissimental6191]

Awesome videos and knowledge and beautiful tanks, thank you Mr Father fish.👍

[@marymendez4178]

Father fish sir this video was very informative to me, I would save it to my favorites. Thank you so much and may you receive many more year's of life.

[@FatherFish]

Thank you Mary. and for your blessing.

[@VolCanixWorx]

This video is invaluable, such a bounty of information. Thanks for helping us in this journey of fishkeeping.

[@blakehaley1698]

Perfect timing looks like I need to feed less still. Fish just started panting. So I added more water flow to make more oxygen but will slow down my feeding!

[@SAMMYJR00777]

yea every other day feeding is good not everyday

[@jwm1893]

Great video FF as a gardner my philosophy about plant health is very much the same. Do you have a video or will you make a video about quarantine?

[@FatherFish]

How to set up a quarantine tank. Good idea.

[@coreymitchell4498]

Hello thank you for your instructions I've been subscribed to you and quite a bit of others and lot of you guys have been very great teachers especially you because yours is more common sense when it comes to it and your way seems to be quickly workable and everything that I could ever imagine to see I've been enjoying it and love it I am 33 years old and more likely will keep up because I just love how everything just keeps turning out as I go along. Ever since I have gotten my fish they have been healthy as a horse for quite a while it's amazing how everything turns out as you learned from the best experienced individuals and you're the best one at this time I have paid attention to the most thank you I do have one question I am having an idea of wanting to grow a tree in the Aquarium I would love to have some learning on that

[@FatherFish]

Find a tree that grows in water. Cypress, mangrove....

[@Admiral_tintin]

Was going to say Cypress. Been successful for me.

[@gerlandkent6377]

[thank, you father fish for another helpful video]👍

[@gerlandkent6377]

thank, you father fish

[@larryhenry719]

I place my sick guppy outside in my resin rock fountain pond it already had water and leave liter and my guppy went from swimming sideways on bottom of tank and within an hour it was swimming all over the pond.I believe the tannins healed what ever was wrong with it.

[@lilianubia3648]

Great content in your video Father Fish! thank you for sharing

[@karenhann8956]

Excellent video! Will be sharing it to my group! Hopefully it will help a few people. Thank you! (Lord knows, they won't listen to me!)

[@FatherFish]

Nice to see you in the chat tomite Karen. Join us in the Father Fish shoal. You will love the company we keep. discord.gg/mRuTrYdG

[@angeliqueandjelov537]

Hi Father Fish. I love your videos. And I am following you for a while. Unfortunately my fish got sick. I was trying to make balance in my aquarium and I brought some snails and shrimps. Unfortunately I did not quarantine them because I didn't have extra tank. So after a month my fish started to get thiner and thiner. They lost most of the colour. But also they completely lost their belly. And they have no appetite. They don't want to eat anything. I tried to give them garlic, but only healthy one eats it. One shrimp also died. My snails also overcrowded the tank. Is there anything that I can do?

[@FatherFish]

Add a tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons. Increase that by 1/2 tablespoon per 5 gallon in 3 days if there is no improvement. You have a bacterial problem that the salt whould correct.

[@skalar9]

@@FatherFish Thank you so much❤️❤️❤️

[@Daniel-kp8mj]

thank you very much

[@Anikom15Live]

In general, water changes should only be used to remove ‘dead’ matter like excess nitrates, salts, medication, impurities. These substances do not reproduce. Water changes can’t remove bacteria, algae, or any other microscopic organism, because these organisms reproduce too fast to remove, and they also live on surfaces, not just in the water. They will rapidly return to their original population. Organisms also do not come from nothing. Conservation of matter means that every organism produced in the tank has to be made from stuff already in the tank, like excess food and fish poop

[@FatherFish]

Very well described Anikom. This is important to understand.

[@berdear]

Father fish, saludos desde España. Hace una semana que he conocido tus vídeos. Tengo un acuario ya montado con sustrato nutritivo y grava. SIgo ya tus ideas, he añadido arena y hojas, tronco de raíz. Espero alcanzar la biodiversad que tu hablas. Gracias

[@FatherFish]

Suena maravilloso. Mejores deseos para usted

[@lebianitadc7572]

Gold as always

[@aprilh9210]

I have a question about keeping a clean tank. Will live plant leaves that have been ripped of or fallen into the substrate cause a problem that would allow disease to flourish in a tank? Can plant debris stuck to a sponge filter cause a problem for the tank?

[@Carl_Carabao]

i remember owning monster fishes and im pretty suceptible to this diseases simply because i over feed them plus monsterfish are realy hard to maintain, its hard to make a planted tank for them since they like to uproot everything.

[@katrinabond7974]

So much knowledge ❤

[@PaulZyCZ]

Hole or two in a head can also be sign of avitaminosis, which happens for example if fish are fed too much dry food and not enough live or frozen food. I had that happen to one Ramirezi cichlid and vitamin drops helped, but since then I'm more conscious about what I feed my fish. Which kinda goes back to the point of having fish living in a more natural environment than something sterile and artificial. It's akin to eating frozen supermarket "pizza" and chips (crisps) daily instead of a balanced diet with vegetables, fruits and reasonable amount of meat without additives (or some alternative).

[@FatherFish]

Good analogy

[@davexstuntman]

Thank you for another great video :)

[@LL-fy8qf]

Hello, love this chanel, and I have one question: what can I do with my guppy tank as fish die one by one, with some kind of a skinny disease, it looks like that this kind of an internal parasite is moving from one to another fish every week choosing one victim. I was feeding my fish with live musquito larvae witch I gather from outside standing water, and looks like I brought in also some kind of a parasite. I already tried feeding with garlic, but it does not seem to help. Thank you!

[@FatherFish]

Feed the garlic exclusively for at least a week.

[@ronron14salanguit-po7jh]

FF, can you recommended microorganisms that are needed in fish tank and where/how to get them ❤❤❤❤

[@FatherFish]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jai9YYWPirCJsMU

[@Admiral_tintin]

Hola cow! I had no idea there was so many different bacteria in a tank that could cause so many different issues, now I had some clue of a few but WOW!!! Poof went my mind! Thanks so much for the extra information and well said. Now how to treat without using Chem as I for one HATE Chem.

[@FatherFish]

Keep it healthy and if it is not return it t o a healthy condition. THAT is the treatment.

[@Admiral_tintin]

@@FatherFish Haha thanks. Some how I knew you where going to say that hahaha.

[@risingintheash]

Hi Father Fish! If the tank has no visible signs of illness (no ammonia, nitrite) and the tank is fully planted, but fish are still falling ill and dying, can some illnesses linger in the water and kill future fish? I have a tank that has had several ill orandas and I’m concerned about adding any new fish to the tank. I’m not sure if I should break it down and start from scratch or just remove old water and refill and allow it to reach equilibrium again.

[@FatherFish]

It is very unlikely that a pathogen would survive without a host for any length of time. If the fish died due to some chemical imbalance in the water that persists that is another matter. Determine what killed the fish then you will know what to do.

[@lawshorizon]

What about"The Red Death"? Red veins or red blotches form. If one fish has it they all get it and shortly die.

[@FatimDoki]

My betta lost her upper lip and a part above it. So i quarantine her with general aid drops. Some said its bacteria, some said columnaris. I just found out it wont grow back. What is this sickness?

[@FatherFish]

injury or bacterial.

[@xiq7031]

What can I do if I don’t have a clean river or lake to take leaves from ? 😢 I really want to add them to my tank

[@FatherFish]

Set a tub with your water and dried leaves outdoors for a season, about 4 months. It will, in time, develop much of an older biological system.

[@mr.con-man3617]

I recently had my white skirt tetra and my peacock chiclid die at the same time but other fish are fine. The tetra had a white film on its body I assume it’s fungus, the chiclid didn’t have any film on it but had been questionable last few days it wouldn’t eat. I assume I need to not feed them for a while and hopefully that’ll help?

[@FatherFish]

Hard to say withut seeing the fish and the tank.

[@celticlady4821]

Father Fish, some fish were dying so I tested the water and it was very hard and alkaline. I’ve had a ff tank now for 4 months and only topped up the water as there is high evaporation. Has this increased the mineral content as the minerals don’t evaporate?

[@FatherFish]

Not likely. Hard alkaline water does not kill fish. Something else going on. Join us on Father Fish Shoal and we will try to discern the problem. discord.gg/mRuTrYdG

[@nico5497]

I'm not sure what disease I have in the aquarium, I think it's mycobateriosis, after some time another fish has a very crooked spine and begins to swim in a strange way and be apathetic. I do not know what to do, all sick fish isolated and died in quarantine tank or in my main tank when i didint I saw that she was sick, but the healthy ones in the main tank are still getting sick and have symptoms only after a long time when one of them die. I do not know if I should reset the aquarium, whether it moves to the water, or this bacterium lives only inside fish?

[@FatherFish]

need more info. join us at discord.gg/sTqVMAGV

[@nico5497]

@@FatherFish thank you i will join! :)

[@ryanshussett2900]

Do I have too many fish in my 10 gallon tank? 1 male betta, 5 harlequin rasbora, 4 pygmy Cory cats?

[@FatherFish]

No. You could have a few more. They are very tiny. The more plants you have the more fish you can have

[@zaferboran5343]

Baba seni her izleyene çok değerli bilgilerini anlaşılır bir biçimde sunuyorsun sana sonsuz teşekkür ederim .İstanbuldan selam ve sevgiler.

[@FatherFish]

Başka dillerde de paylaşabildiğim için mutluyum. Türkçe favorilerimden biridir.

[@FKJ_WORLD]

informative share

[@ryanrogers8211]

FF, I was thinking, how about I go to the local pond and get the dirt and muck on the bottom and put that as my soil in my tank then put the sand cap on top of that? Would that work out ok?

[@zeb33369]

If you watch any of his videos you'll see that's what he (and many others) say to do

[@FatherFish]

Pond mud tend to be very dense. I like to lighten it with peat or coir.

[@ryanrogers8211]

@@FatherFish great thank you FF

[@ryanrogers8211]

@@zeb33369 ok I hadn’t seen that said yet. Thank you

[@LadeanaWhite]

Hi ff! My issue is the introduction of new fish (first fish) into my 6 week old 55 gal ff tank. I have a school of 8 cories and 2 have developed white fuzz on their mouths just since this am. Have only been in the tank 5 days. All acting normal, very active as corys are. Water parameters stable. Water temp 80. I also have red cherry shrimp in same tank. I’m looking for guidance on what this may be and how to treat. Thank you for any advice you have. ❤☮

[@FatherFish]

bacterial infection. Remove to hospital tank and treat with 1 tablespoon salt per 5 gall water.

[@LadeanaWhite]

@@FatherFish Will do! Thank you so much!❤☮

[@EireFirst2024]

I took pappas advice on a harlequin ( I'm sure you'll remember pappa!?), it had the same, on pappas advice - I got him out, wiped his lip with tcp ( it's an antibacterial) & 2 maybe 3 day's later... It's GONE!, besta luck 🤝

[@Admiral_tintin]

Salt generally will do the trick...sounds like what I used to call Cotton. Bacteria fungus are generally easy to treat.

[@ednelpanaligan500]

Father fish do you recommend having a quarantine tank for new fishes?

[@FatherFish]

yes

[@connorkapczuk8560]

Hello mate . I believe i have a issue with planeria in my shrimp tank . The tank has bladder snails too , also snail leeches , the leeches are taking care of the bladder snails . What can i do for the planeria , it is a shrimp only tank but also have 1 clam in too

[@connorkapczuk8560]

Found a natural solution 🤙

[@Nigelaquaticsfish]

7:47 Rofter

[@jayblomquist3339]

Adding new water like mine hard, 7.9 estimated,, because of color blind ness, high in GH. FF I have been pulling 2gal a week in my ten gal and 4 gal in my 20 gal. All 4 are filled with enough substrate to make 3 + inches. OK here's the question, I was thinking that I was feeding plants all stems and floating.? I am still a water change kinda guy should I just test and change when it gets outa sack. The changes are made with aged tap water at least 4 days. My lighting is on 8 hours a day. Enough alge to feed my snails and live bearer fry. Plants are growing.

[@FatherFish]

yes. 7.9 is perfect Ph for most fish.

[@jayblomquist3339]

I do nothing to adjust the pH. I feed the plants with water changes. All the plants I had good results in the past in the same water

[@radioraffa]

So I see overfeeding and a unbalanced system can cause many of these problems. But what to do when the fish are already sick?? Was hoping for some natural treatments to help those already sick.

[@FatherFish]

Many of the diseases mentioned are not curable. Those that are were provided solutions.

[@bluefish7809]

What about bouyancy problems of gold fish? What caouse this?

[@FatherFish]

internal bacterial infection. Feed crushed garlic

[@wkunique]

Thanks:)

[@mictlantecutli6810]

how to treat exophthalmia?

[@FatherFish]

It is a bacterial infection. Remove the fish to a hospital tank. Do not feed. Treat with 1 tablespoon salt per 5 gallon. Increase by 1/2 tablespoon in 2 days if no improvement. Feed bits of smashed garlic, nothing else.

[@jennikohl5189]

What do I do if I get gill flukes or worms? I understand prevention is better than cure, but what's the cure for parasites other than ich?

[@FatherFish]

Join us in the SHOAL

[@mayudoki1493]

I have an Asian Arowana showing sighs of hole in head disease. I don't know how to treat it as general cure is too expensive in our country. Can someone suggest effective alternative cures

[@FatherFish]

It is bacterial. Get the fish in clean, new water, preferably a bare tank. Add 1 tablespoon salt per 5 gallons of water. Use a tube of antibacterial ointment and dab it on the infected areas. DO NOT FEED until it is healed. You want absolutely nothing in the tank that will promote bacteria.

[@mayudoki1493]

@@FatherFish thank you so much, I have been stressed for days

[@DADDY_DIGI_HOBBIES]

Deathco and Petdumb needs to implements deep sand substrate, and order less fish at a time....

[@FatherFish]

And get out of the live animal business.

[@maggyf3932]

So in short? • Not to overfeed them? (Dont u always say not to feed them cuz the plants do the job?) • Have enough plants? Its a lot for my little brain to learn in one sitting....

[@maggyf3932]

I mentioned enough plants cuz I remember FF saying it cures a lot of issues, like adds the oxygen that the fish need, and eats the excess nitrates. Would anyone mind listing all the other good things the live plants do?

[@morningmorning4479]

Are you saying don’t put too much food in the tank

[@FatherFish]

Yes

[@seangram4220]

FF I grabbed stuff from a ditch 2 weeks ago now I have a craw dad who is getting big quick I’m scared for my fish

[@freakinthespreadsheets]

Remove it, it will eat your fish.

[@freakinthespreadsheets]

The orange dwarf is the least aggressive, but they can still be butt heads to snails.

[@seangram4220]

Thanks it looks crazy

[@FatherFish]

I'm with freakin. Get the bugger out. He will eat every plant.

[@seangram4220]

@@FatherFish turned out to be 2 crayfish the other much bigger, over a week of trying to catch them, one of them killed my slow little skirt tetras, I’ve finally caught them with a net and adrenaline! Although they are the best clean up crew, too good 👍🏼

[@Borkeen2024]

I only have one problem in my tank and that is that my corys all die die to barbel erosion and i tried everything yet it still happens

[@FatherFish]

You have bacterial infection in the substrate. Reduce feeding and add 1/2" more sand.

[@enigma533]

Donno who gonna increase temperature in their natural ponds in Thailand, they live great over there.. all issu s comes only with aquarium 😂 if we try to make it more natural, need to buy fertilizers bla bla.. man.. too expensive

[@jennifermcfadden8713]

We will be home Sunday June 11th from vacation we will be dog sitting for my moms Friend Sunday through Thursday so I will be available to chat with you

[@FatherFish]

Look forward to talking with you....

[@nturker]

11:48 who's laughing 😆

[@FatherFish]

That is the sound of a paper towel lying on the mic being moved slightly. does sound like a snicker, not the candy.

[@rickykridelbaugh7856]

Sailor Rick hi

[@FatherFish]

Hello Sailor Ric-Will be in the stream

[@melwinwin]

😎🙏

[@TaijaT76]

Keeping tank healthy is the most important but if you have already sick fish, medication can save their life. I don’t like the new trend especially here in Finland not medicating sick fish at all so what do you do with sick fish then, just watch them suffer and die? It is too late many times to wait for them to heal naturally. Making tank healthy again takes time. Also making stressful quarantine tank which doesn’t have beneficial bacteria just stresses out the fish and reduces the chances of survival. I would like to try father fish method but will it be possible same to take mud from the Finnish coldwater pond for tropical fish? It would be possible only during the summer when the lakes are not freezing. Also will the location matter? I don’t know the microfauna if that is compatible with tropical fish and if there is enough in cold climate.

[@Admiral_tintin]

I for one understand the issues you feel about watching fish suffer, it breaks my ❤️ to see them go threw the pain. Now I am like Father Fish, I hate Chem and prefer natural salutations, best thing I have found if the fish is already in bad shape, best option I have done ( keep in mind not a 💯%) is a salt water dip. Take the sic fish and out them in a salt dip for 30sec to 1 min and out and back to normal tank. This has saved a few but not all for me.

[@andreashessler838]

As hard as it is to think about, some fish are genetically compromised and these medications are nothing more than temporary sticking plasters. If you keep a clean environment, some fish will improve naturally with that change because they are genetically strong. Others are too far gone or are from bad breeding stock. I've tried treating fish in the past and I do think these treatments are largely a bit of a gimmick. I've had ill fish in tanks and never had a situation where they've infected everything else (thank God!)

[@FatherFish]

Tintin has the right idea. Nature is perfectly capable of healing at a better rate than chemical toxins.

[@AndrewFishman]

Water changes are not a cure for excess nutrients going into the tank, but they sure are a handy tool to clean a fouled tank and dilute the problem. There is nothing more natural than a water change, nature does one every time it rains and a creek swells or a pond runs over, redistributing the nutrients in the water into the ground surrounding the pond and feeding the plant life. Nature is wonderful and water changes in water bodies is a part of that system. Learning how to use them and when to do them is what is key, not avoiding them altogether. You should maybe try it, FF.

[@FatherFish]

Of course I do. Misrepresenting what I am saying is not helping. Hobbyists lose fish routinely from excessive water changes. Fixing every little problem by changing water is throwing the baby out with the bath water, literally. It takes time for water to mature in a system. Throwing it away at the first sign of trouble stops the natural process of the system.

[@AndrewFishman]

@@FatherFish There is no misrepresentation. The first go to, rather than treating a disease that may or may not be present, is fix the water. The surest and easiest way to do so is not to reduce feeding and other inputs, that comes later. That is long term, but short term requires that you relieve the conditions. That requires something be done. THere are several things, like putting in extra filters, which again take time to seed etc, unless chemical or mechanical, then flow is a problem. so, water changes are the first stop when problems arise, with other remedies and fixes coming as a follow up to these. You are being contradictory, are you not, in saying "Bad water is the cause of most problems and illnesses" and then saying "This water is sacrosanct because it has been in the tank and cannot have a portion removed and replaced." The balance s hardly disrupted by anything less than a 20% change, up to 30% minimal disruption. It is only when you start to get up around 50% that you worry about the disruptions and this is easily dealt with preconditioned water. What other solution do you propose for fixing the bad water other than time, which we usually do not have when fish are dying?

[@leonardbarron6967]

I understand that alot of water changes are not required to keep a tank healty, but I saw another video on utube, I forget who posted it, but they too said to many people make to many water changes to their tanks. But one thing they mentioned was that an occasional water change puts natural minerals back in the tank to replace minerals depleted used by the fish & plants. Any truth to that? If so is it best to do scheduled but longer in between water changes?

[@FatherFish]

Yes. that is true. Replacing for evaporation is the most common way to achieve that.

[@jonisolis9645]

@@FatherFish What if you have soft water that has little or no minerals. How would one add back the needed minerals? thanks

[@FatherFish]

@@jonisolis9645 Feeding natural foods adds minerals to the water. As the food is digested again and again by subsequent eaters it is reduced to its elements. There are minerals in all living organisms. As their bodies deteriorate those minerals are returned to their source. There are also materials that can be introduced to the tank that will achieve the same results. Orgamic leaf material adds considerable minerals to the system. Other organics such as egg shell are also helpful in this regard.

[@Crow4o]

Hungry fish is a healthy fish.

[@FatherFish]

If it is foraging it is feeding.