FORBIDDEN AQUARIUM TALKS - Advanced Fish-keeping in Natural Aquariums

Wouldnt the water get all stinky and stink the whole room where the fish are? Honest question. Im liking it this way. But I'm concern about growing an amount of bacteria that might be harmful for the fam.

Hi guys. Here's the tale of my 5 gallon FF tank. Two months ago I purchased the appropriate amount of FF soil with special ingredients and created a one inch layer. I then capped it with 2" of Carib Sea Moonlight sand. I filled it with 5 gallons of drinking water and added a small sponge filter for water movement and a heater at 78 degrees. I purchased the FF plant package which appropriately filled the tank. After two days I added 5 male Endlers guppies.Within 5 days all the Endlers were dead. I did a 20% water change and after a day I added 4 more Endlers. Within a week, one by one they were all dead. Today I took a water sample to my LFS and they noted that ammonia and PH were through the roof. I think I'm going to take down the five gallon and continue to enjoy my 65 gallon heavily planted and stocked freshwater aquarium. Thanks but no thanks FF.

Ah !...father & son !☺

I just changed my Betta water after 2 months.the p.h was reading 7.6 now I'm ys 6.4 and I am afraid I'm going to kill him and his snail buddies.What Should I do??

What if all that bio mass in the filter media is restricting the flow or at worst stopped the out flow of water?

Baba her videonda gerçek , doğru verdiğin bilgilerin için sana sonsuz teşekkürler.İyiki varsın.

You explain things perfectly. My dad told me about the effortless natural tank method yrs ago and
I thought he was crazy. But now I see. It all makes sense.

Cool Outro 😍🤩!

I enjoyed this, thanks. I've been treating my tank in the house the same as my pond outside for years and everyone always tells me I'm crazy. Yet I haven't cleaned any filters in years, I don't put chemicals in them except to neutralize chlorine when I need to add water and all my fish are thriving. I put 15-cent feeder goldfish in my pond 3 years ago when it was built and I haven't done anything to it other than add water and plants and now those 9 goldfish are about 10 in long and beautiful. The fish in the house are the same. It's really nice to hear other people that understand that a good ecosystem will take care of itself.

Thought the conversation with Tony Phillips was great. Educational and a great tool using microfauna and scuds. This one however with Lucas was pretty much as one would expect. Great conversation and entertaining as well. I don't care how long I have fish tanks and what I know, I still keep learning something whenever I listen to discussions like these. Thank you!

The song 🎵 ❤

Thank you for information about filters cause i haven't cleaned mine since start up in October.

Dirt and sand all the way baby. Did the pet store way for years. Switched to dirt and never looked back. Nature gives me everything I need to get a top notch aquarium going.

I like the whole idea of a planted tank and trying to mimic nature in it but water changes are essential for healthy fish and shrimp conditions. I think alot just over due them. Sure, if your on a budget going to your local water source, creating a jar ecosphere and seeding your tank is 1 way to introduce those little critters..both good and bad to your tank..but keeping a separate live food culture is probably the better option for most people. I think Father Fish is on the right track but his hands off approach is better suited for live food conditions as most would prefer a sightly aquarium. The additional live did source is just a bonus..for some species anyway. Im not convinced on his deep sand bed method, not to mention the different paramaters other species require. FF has still has lots to learn and consider. jmho.

I love both of you so much!!!! I add Tony (Phillipsfishworks) for my scuds and fauna. I started this adventure 1 1/2 years ago and now have 9 huge jungle, South American, tannins, wood, river rock and river water/well water, I have never tested anything!! I trust my gut feeling by listening to you 3 people, and I have never lost a snail, shrimp, fish or anything living. I am so obsessed I need a tee shirt 🤣 MTS!! My coworkers and friends are begging me to help them start! I am telling them to watch you guys and I will help little bit but they should learn from you guys like I have. I told my husband I want to get a storage building and move all my tanks into it so I can drink coffee all night when I can’t sleep and watch you guys play and put my over thinking mind at peace 🤣❤️❤️❤️

Lucas u hit the spot about running no filter for live food i always been doublemind about this

Very educational and refreshingly non commercial honest and good natured

Hi. Can this be used dry on wounds?

Hi Father Fish!! I am a huge fan, I found your page about 9 months ago when I started looking into more natural ways of keeping fish! Following your methods have lead to the most successful tanks I’ve ever had and have now upgraded to a 20 gallon! It is heavily planted and in there currently are some snails, 8 kuhli loaches (my favorite), and 7 rummy-nose tetras. I’m hoping you might be able to give me some advice on 2-4 more fish that would be a good addition/ statement swimmers!

Baba insanlara balık beslemenin püf noktalarını ve en az maliyetle akvaryum bilgileri verip onların bu hobiyi sevmelerini sağlıyorsun .Muhakkak bu dürüstlüğünü Tanrı seviyor .İyiki hayatımızda varsın .Sana sonsuz teşekkürler .

You guys are the best and make the most sense on you tube on how to keep a fish tank naturally keep up the good work

Hi father fish, how would you recommend setting up a tank for an axolotl?

Loved this collaboration! You and LRB rock!😊☮❤🐠🦐🪴

Hi! Father fish please advice me i really want to setup an aquarium but i bought a soil substrate on online please help.. i'm from the philippines

there needs to be a father fish convention tbh

Oh i love the song haha

It's really funny watching your videos as I do research for my future tank, because so much of this stuff actually applies to my pond outside.

For example, the detritus: always call the detritus a "self-made substrate". My mother calls it "pond gunk". It is indeed unsightly and MAN does it cloud up the water when I have to do weed control, but it's definitely serving purpose in there. I don't use any soil at all in the pond; it's all river rock down there. But all of my plants are thriving to the point where they multiply like MAD and then I have to cut a lot of it back because they can clog up the filter pump. The algae also thrives in it, which I'm slowly learning to be okay with.

Now it makes sense why the pond is thriving with no soil: it's made its own soil, essentially. It's own weird, fluffy water soil.

I also don't clean the filter itself; it cultures bacteria really well. I haven't had plants grow out of it, but it's proven to be a good place to raise baby snails. Since the actual filter media is in the waterfall, I may see if I can try to grow plants in it. Bet I could grow some pretty good stream plants in it now that I think of it.

In hindsight it makes sense that natural aquarium keeping and pond keeping would have such similarities. Essentially it's the same goal: creating an aquatic environment for the organisms you want to care for. The difference is a matter of if we do it indoors, or outdoors.

Can you do a video on how to lower your PH

Don’t know if you will read this father fish, but I just wanted to say thanks. It was because of your easy, nature heavy approach that I got into fish keeping. It’s been about 6 months now and I have 5 tanks that are all thriving. I almost never have to change water. I barely have to feed. And there’s only been a couple small mishaps. A hobby that i originally thought to be not only a hassle but borderline cruel to the fish, I now see as a simple but massive boon to my life. Thanks a million man. You’re doing great work.

Just under my sand there is a line of black growing. Just ignore it? Or should i take some measures to fix such a thing? It is a month old fresh water, heavily planted 10gallon. Soil base 1" sand cap 2". Just below the sand has turned black 😮

This video is gold to the fish keeping hobby!

You saved my fish. I could never keep anything alive. Betta or guppies would die! Thank you, Father Fish! I can relax, sit back, and enjoy my fish.

Great video and team work 😊 Detroit

I absolutely love the collaboration between the two of you. The two of you are the sole reason my fish room is dirted and no filter.
Thank you for sharing such great talking points every hobbyist should hear. Thanks FF 🙏
Ps love the song at the end 😁👍

Father Fish's Nature in a Tank is the only way to manage an aquarium.

Hi I’ve done the father fish method but haven’t added the resserection jar is this important to do this my water is lovely and clear and really don’t want to dump a load of mud and gunk in 😂😂

I go get water from my pond and add it to my tank I haven't lost any fish compared to when I kept everything perfect. I have a question ? I bought beautiful big snails I got 9 I put 6 in my 40 gall. And 3 in my 20 gallon. 😢😢😢Why are they dying 3 died our they old?

LRB nailed it on the maintenance. The main reason I am low maintenance (almost zero in some cases) is because I have 15-20 aquariums and a few mini ponds. There is no way I want to micro-manage all that. I can also go away for 2 weeks and all is good.

I manage my tanks like they are ponds. You don’t tinker much with an outdoor pond. Water changes are not even considered and I never measure anything.

Set up my first no-water change father fish stlye planted nano-aquarium with a fish in it 3 months ago and so far all is good. It is quite low stocking and the fish looks happy and the plants too. Never tried a no water change fish tank before. First time and so far am pleased with it. It is small because it is a trial. If all works out I will go bigger.

Really?? bubblers are bad for daphnia? I never knew, but they’re thriving in my tank though. could be because it’s on a low setting, with very fine bubbles and only a portion of the water is agitated but mine are absolutely fine.

Got our natural 75gallon aquarium going. Ordered FatherFish’s plant bundles. Guppies are absolutely loving the new environment. Thanks Father Fish.

Some important points covered here. What’s the take on air stones or bubblers? Isn’t using them gassing off the co2? Which the plants need.

Good Job with the tank

I have had my 46 gal tank since 1999. February, 2024 I transferred my remaining fish into a small 10 gallon and cleaned out, resealed my big tank and set it up the Father Fish way. I bought your 15 stem plant pack and and a bag of nutrients to add to the dirt i mixed up. It has been running since February 23 and plants have grown crazy fast and the fish love it. I went to the local fish store and got a few more fish, 6 red eye tetras and a pair of Boesemani Rainbows along with an amazon sword plant. The sword plant has grown to the top of the tank and is huge and some of the tetras have had babies because i found a tiny red eye the other day swimming in the forrest of hornwort and anacharis!! I have never had that happen before!!! If you have read this far, do what Father Fish says and you have a happy tank, it works!!

Where's the full video? I mean this looks like an extract from some live. I would like to know more about detritus since my tank is full of it, and I want to know what to do

Great song at the end 👍👍👍👍💥💥

Father fish theme song, coming to a record store near you! 😂😂