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/

Interesting to see a fish shop treating aquariums like hobby tanks.

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Nailed it.

@wowdad3055

4 жыл бұрын

Back in the 70's and 80's in New York some small pet shops where just like Father fish. Those where the good pet shops but not all where good.

@georgeb6822

3 жыл бұрын

reminds me of ocean aquarium in San Francisco. Father Fish where is your hobby shop?

@roni4720

2 жыл бұрын

@@georgeb6822 its in Florida

@leuchtrakete7093

Жыл бұрын

@@Bushapes No vacuuming, low maintenance tanks

35 years ago the gentleman that taught me how to set up an aquarium said minimum 100 pounds of substrate in a 55. Best tanks I ever kept.

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER GOT.

@lightningdt1

4 жыл бұрын

Father Fish absolutely

Yes! I read the title and instantly clicked. I do deep substrate beds in all my fish tanks and have great success, even in the one I don't use a filter in.

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

That is awesome!

Wisdom right there.

I love your tanks. I'm a Peace River native and also a fan of deep sand beds in my planted tanks (5 so far). So happy I found your channel as there is always so much to learn in this hobby. Your tanks are inspirational.

Nice walstad

Totally agree , great topic!!!!!

This is my favorite way to do tanks. I've been doing my tanks similar to this, but never so deep. I'm excited to try it.

Love the set up! Thank you

I hear your birds 🥰 I have a pair of female budgies as well as a 20 gallon aquarium. They are so sweet and sing when ever they hear your voice Father Fish.

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Irene. That fills my heart with smiles. I miss al my birds.

great info ff

this is one for the books. thank you so much

@johnprofessionalexoticshri5276

4 жыл бұрын

Good day to you sir I am very pleased to see the video I really appreciate your knowledge and I'm keeping in mind when the same thing I'm new at the hobby I also want to ask do you have an easy organic way to kill the string algae without killing anything else. I hope you may reply

@KarunakaranNaresh

3 жыл бұрын

@@johnprofessionalexoticshri5276 hi

Incredible!!!

Awesome

Can't believe I just found your channel. Love the old school aquarium techniques. The KISS method from the early 70s when I had gotten in to the hobby. As a kid a neighbor w/ 'advanced' life experience. got me into the hobby in the 70's. He had been in the hobby since he was a kid. Evey tank he had he ran this way. I ran deep bed for decades always had great results. Back in the dark ages one could find the old plate filters / under gravel filters really cheap. I added a bag of poly fill @ 1-2" deep then place the filter plates on top of it then add @ 2+ " of soil then sand & river /creek stone for cover. the plates and poly would save @ 2-3 " of depth. great way to get deep bed advantages and to save space. 4" vs 6" bed depth. I always ran a deep bed irregardless of what aquarium I ran fresh, brackish, salt and reef systems and NEVER had to water changes on any of my systems. The method is incredibly stable.

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

BRAVO Daniel. Happy to hear from you. Yes, my grandmother was the love of my life.

So true, I NEVER see fish poop in my 29 gallon 😁

nicee👏👏👏👏👏

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😃

This is amazing!!!!

Nice Video you remind me of some pet shops in New York in the 70's and 80's before Petland Pet Shops.

Beautiful Knife fishes...

I am very happy to see this video. This video is a great example of how beautifully aquatic plants can be grown using ordinary garden soil/dirt and sand. Every aquarium you have is very beautiful and so are the fishes.

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

Many many thanks KM> Your efforts in this effort to teach the deep substrate soil system are vital. Congrats on your video using garden soil for substrate. It is excellent. kzread.info/dash/bejne/pXehxc-BmbStpMY.html

@madebykm

Жыл бұрын

@@FatherFish Thank you 😊

the variety of fish in the first tank is awesome

Thank you so much

very beautiful shop

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

love watching your videos over again haha I'm setting up a 55 in the next couple days I just made a stand out of 2x4s need to paint it and the back of the tank then put the soil and sand 🥰 I'll make a video of it soon thanks FF your the best 😊

👍👍

very very useful video.

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot

Great video!See you soon on live stream!

A local guy who has visited your shop through the years got a great surprise to see your videos on the KZread keep it up.

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!

I love deep sand beds no problem ever with nitrates

Great video, I have to agree 110%, i have 14 tanks but the one tank I never have to use ferts in and my swords grow out of control, is my 55gl tank with 5 inches of Caribbean Sea substrate in.

Thank tou sir for the sharing, hope you well, God bless u

Ever since I started FatherFish's deep substrate, I rarely do water changes- huge savings in H2O bills & the stability is remarkable!! Very happy fish. Unfortunately, I dealt with neon tetra disease recently too- didn't catch it early either- it's a difficult disease to treat. Appreciate your wisdom @FatherFish

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

microsporidae is tough. You are doing wonderfully well. post some pis at FATHERFISH SHOAL DISCORD: discord.gg/sgeQSduS

I'll be trying this asap

Same as reef tanks always use deep sand beds great video 👍

This is so interesting. Our 45 gallon planted community tank is 3 inches deep with dirt substrate, and when we had our 2nd kid it went almost a month without doing a water change, we just added water as it evaporated. I assumed it was the plants that kept the tank levels perfect, but this sheds more light on it. Amazing stuff.

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

Excellent Marc

Love u pops

I completely agree. I ran 4” deep substrate in a 55gallon Dirted tank. 2.5” dirt, 1.5” Flourite sand. Ran for a little over 3 years, even had a dwarf lily in it just gobbling up the nutrients. As long as you don’t have fish that will dig it up it’s amazing. I didn’t mix enough amendments my substrate though, and after about 1 year I started seeing potassium deficiencies, but the tank was PACKED with plants. Haven’t had that problem since I’ve increased how much greensand I mix in my dirt

@mr.octopus6972

9 ай бұрын

What about installing a screen midway into the sand layer ? Roots could pass but not fish.

cool info and yes I agree it works best

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

Brave, Time Epoch Videos.

Amazing tanks!!

WHAT A GREAT SITE !!

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Wayne

@waynescountry

Жыл бұрын

@@FatherFish your welcome

Informative and exciting! Thank you.

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

Exciting like an airplane ride?

Interesting theory about having a deep substrate! thanks

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Yes. All knowledge of a scientific nature is theoretical.

Those are very happy and healthy fishes; this is the first video I see of your channel, keep the good job up, I will subscribe.

Thanks sir 🙏

Love your videos….thank you!

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Stone Watt

I am convinced, will try to add more subtrate in my tank to meet 3 inches.

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

Good. It will make an amazing difference.

Well I did it, I put a layer of dirt with potting soil and the additives you use in my new 65 gallon aquarium. And then I put three inches of pool sand. And then added some leaves and planted all my plants. You ought to make up little bags of all your additives and sell them. I had to go out and buy the smallest of each bag and I'll probably only use it one or two more times. I guess I'm going to get some pots and plants some tomatoes and peppers so I can use up all the additives. Will keep you posted

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

ED! I have been selling bags of additive for years. How did you not know this? Guess I need to promote more actively. Best wishes with the tank. Good job. Post some pics on our DISCORD channel

@Ed-527

Жыл бұрын

@@FatherFish I just came across your channel 2 weeks ago and dove In deep. Are you talking about the bone meal and lime etc.... And yeah to go out and buy all that stuff is about $70 dollars. And like I said I have 99% of the stuff left over but I'm going to plant some vegetables

@sexyguy9525

10 ай бұрын

​@@FatherFishl

Very cool!

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Ben. Delighted to meet you.

@marypaigeflynn4512

3 жыл бұрын

Hello Ben 😁👋

I’m totally convinced Father Fish. Can’t wait to set up my new tank using these principles!

@johntompkins9583

4 жыл бұрын

I've used his store for at least 15 years tanks are constant. He also does salt water too.

It works because it's basically the same as occurs in nature.

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

Preciisely.

I just came over here from My he Secret Life Living In Your Aquarium channel (and Facebook group) because one of the members recommended it. I am setting up a 20 long and was going to gather soil from a river bed lower than 6” deep to hopefully get a jump start on anaerobic bacteria, then add coarse sand on top of that. I’ve never tried using river mud and silt before, so I hope I don’t regret this. I will be using change water from my guppy tank to fill this over the next few weeks as I add plants, and I plan on taking nitrite/nitrate tests as I go to see if changes are happening

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds good. You want a minimum of 2" of sand on top of 1" of soil. Fine sand is preferable to coarse sand. We have a DISCORD channel where this is being discussed daily. Feel free to join in. It will be an opportunity to engage in conversation with others doing the same thing. Link is on the COMMUNITY tab. Welcome to Father Fish

@pammugridge4106

Жыл бұрын

I just discovered that channel and this one. By far the best two out there

One old fishkeeper to another, great video. Been keeping fish since 1968. I just recently set up a planted 55 for shrimp, 3-4 inches of organic potting soil (Promix organic) under 1 inch of construction sand, works perfect. I get an occasional gas pocket but nothing extreme.

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Perfect, whipper snapper.

@MichaelClark-uw7ex

4 жыл бұрын

@@FatherFish LOL yeah I'm a newb, still learning new stuff after 50 years in the hobby. Thanks for the videos, I love learning from the old pros. LOL BTW the wild type striped Discus are the best IMO.

I set up a 16 gallon with a deep substrate, soil capped with fine sand after 4 months I was Losing faith on this tank because plants were not growing and was about to tear it down and start something else but something told me to just wait and I’m glad I did the tank is now one and a half years old and it just keeps getting better especially for growing plants, I was told that the soil would only feed the plants for 6 months to 1yr, but they keep growing and staying green .

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

If you are not removing dead material it will continue to thrive indefinitely. Smart, that one, for patience has.

Frontosa with angelfish wow haha

We need to spread the wisdoms! Most freshwater hobbyists have no clue about the sciences behind their aquariums. The ones that do have an understanding are usually limited to the nitrification cycle and how to measure ph, but that's only half the homework. There's the denitrification cycle, allelopathy, microbial biology, and fungi that can colonize and keep your aquarium healthy. There are very few individuals trying to educate people on the science and that's why the saltwater people refer to us as FRESHWATER SCRUBS! Time to step up our game

@jerichoron

4 жыл бұрын

Justin Thillens so there is only one correct way? Salt water people tend to be superior aholes.

@He.knows.nothing

4 жыл бұрын

@@jerichoron knowledge is the way.

@jerichoron

4 жыл бұрын

Justin Thillens I’ve been keeping fish for over 40 years. I do water changes and I can successfully keep any fish. So how is my way wrong?

@He.knows.nothing

4 жыл бұрын

@@jerichoron no, I said knowledge is the way. If you have done your research and you've learned from your experiences, then you have knowledge. If you're ignorant of what's going on in the tank, whether you're having success or not, you dont have knowledge. How you apply the knowledge is up to you. We aren't advocating for everybody to use deep sand bed/walstad methods. We are just advocating for people to learn more about the nature of their aquariums

@He.knows.nothing

4 жыл бұрын

@@lcsaw21 Oxygenation is a necessary component for insuring that hydrogen sulfide doesn't make it into the water column. "No maintenance" more simply refers to an almost non existent need to do water changes after the necessary maintenance for set up has been completed. I'm not here to defend anyone. I'm here to support the growth of knowledge amongst freshwater hobbyists and this channel is a great source of exactly that.

Piekne akwaria i rybki

I accidentally made a Deep Substrate when i poured way too much Sand (or so i thought) on top of the dirt in my tank...4 years later and i havent had to dose ferts other than some roots tabs and everything is looking great. Maybe once a year i run a vacuum in a few spots to mix up the sand a bit but thats it.

Great content. Playback speed recommended 1.75x

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

1.25 works well with no distortion.

Cool vid. Thanks for posting. I use similar set ups but never quite so deep. I'll give it a go. Cheers

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Have fun!

Pro Tip: set playback speed to 1.5x

@Whiteknight0721

4 жыл бұрын

you the real MVP

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

some people's brains are faster than others.

The Uaru are doing well BTW. I feed them my excess Amazon frogbit!

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Good to know!

The nature aquarium shop that,.. I believe it was aquarium co-op, visited (in some town I don't remember), had very deep substrates. More like 10+ inches and they used little to no filtration and no water changes and those tanks had been healthy for many years. They didn't look too shabby either. Just lots of substrate and lots of plants and critters and voila! Virtually maintenance free aquariums.

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Good friends from Myanmar. Shop is in SF.

@QualeQualeson

4 жыл бұрын

@@FatherFish Bingo! :)

Oh im so looking forward to going through all your video's. New sub. Excellent information. Thank you so much.

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Welcome aboard!

@marypaigeflynn4512

3 жыл бұрын

👋😁

@markhaunert5029

3 жыл бұрын

@@marypaigeflynn4512 peek a boo 😀

Thanks for your great video!! I have a 50L turtle tank with about 7-10cm of substrate. It’s going great!! - fan living in japan

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

That is awesome Winston Join us on DISCORD and share your fine efforts. discord.gg/XpqMuaVDTy

Awesome video :) Thank you so much. I'm new to the hobby and am looking to start a low-tech planted neocaridinia tank to start off in a 5.5 gal. Is it necessary to have a layer of soil underneath the sand, or is a very deep layer of sand good enough for a deep substrate?

What type of plant is in the back right corner of that first 200 gallon acrylic tank he shows along 3 min into the video? I love it!!

So glad i found this video. What kind of filter are you running on the first tank of the video, the 200 gallon Frontosa tank?

@rhprasad80

4 жыл бұрын

It's a sump filter

Thank you so much. All this time I was wondering why my fish was always die on me. I was using gravel all this time. Thank you again.💚💚

@mandriva4280

Жыл бұрын

They don't die because you use gravel.

@otallono

10 ай бұрын

​@@mandriva4280the dirt substrate is exposed with gravel

@mr.octopus6972

9 ай бұрын

​@@mandriva4280 Maybe not directly but indirectly yes. Gravel becomes so disgusting just over 3 to 4 days and the water smell is unbearable. All of this is fixed permanently with sand. You don't even have to change water.

😀

I love you! This is the video I’ve been looking for! I want to do my new 125 gallon! I’ve been nervous! I’ll be watching more videos before I start 😍

@FatherFish

9 ай бұрын

Join us on the Father Fish Shoal for help and encouragement. discord.gg/GdakStEjAy

@mr.octopus6972

9 ай бұрын

125 gallons ! 😮 More like litres right ?

@MediTANKtion

9 ай бұрын

@@mr.octopus6972 nope! Gallons!

@mr.octopus6972

9 ай бұрын

@@MediTANKtion OMG ! 😮 OMG ! 😮 OMG ! 😮🤯

@MediTANKtion

8 ай бұрын

@@mr.octopus6972 I know! I just got everything inside of it and mixed so I’m letting it sit for 24 hours 😍 I just ordered his plant package too!!! I’m so excited

Great video Father Fish very educational and experienced.Do you have snails in all tanks that fish will not eat? How often do you change water in like the 29 gallon tanks? That 200 gallon cichlid tank how is the bottom so clean with all those big poopin cichlids? I just see sponge filters in the smaller tanks is that all you need for filtration/ thanks in advance...sorry for all these questions. want to try to do a 20 gallon tank with plants and a trio of angel fish....🙏

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

The deep sand bed is the key to success

Cant agree with this man more. A mature deep sand bed tank is rock solid. No cycle issues or old tank syndrome. The only problem is it takes a while to mature.

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you J F. It does take a while to mature but you can begin with plants and fish immediately.

Never understood the low substrate around this community My mind always said deeper but all I see is shallow substrate in media Interesting video. Nice to be different

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

Boom

Beautiful! What's your opinion about deep substrate with a plenum on the bottom?

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

plenum serves no function. It is one more clever idea with no science to back it up.

Hey....nice Aquarium set up.Ever heard of Green Aqua....out of Budhapest?Its a good brand.You can seen there videos on youtube-Green Aqua.

Love the video. I totally want to try this on my 45 tall aquarium, as the lights I have will be able to reach the plants easier. Any preference on a brand/ type/ size of sand?

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

any sand will do. Pool filter sand is excellent.

Thank you for your wisdom. May I ask your opinion on akadama for substrate instead of dirt?

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

It is OK but does not contain enough mineral to last more than about a year. It is volcanic ash. There are no biologicals and apparently little iron. It should be mixed with a rich garden soil and capped with sand. It can be used as a dressing on top of sand. I have been experimenting using it as an alternative to sand. Expensive stuff.

Hey Father Fish, I've been doing some research and learnt that back in the day, fishkeepers used to place iron nails underneath the substrate to supplement iron for the plants as a slow release supliment. Sounds crazy I know, but I'd like to know more about this practice and if it works or not. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks!

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

We use iron oxide as a deep substrate supplement. Yes. It has the same effect of adding chelated iron to the substrate.

Thanks so much for all the helpful information. I understand that you don't clean the substrate but I'm wondering if you do water changes or just top off the water when needed?

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

Water changes when needed, not automatically. Top off as needed preferably with 0kh water

Great videos Sir~!!! Thanks for the sharing! Does undergravel filter with deep substrate going to work as efficient too?

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

NO. It will fail.

Sir, I just subscribed and made a "nano" 10g for work, love it! Question, what is your advice on incorporating the mineralized soil substrate recipe by Aaron Talbot in your deep substrate method?

@FatherFish

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the sub! I do not know Aaron Talbot. Mineralized soil is fine, a good choice. It is helpful to add compost to insure biological as well as chemical components.

Hello Father Fish, I find this method very intriguing & want to try it, but was wondering about the ingredients for the deep substrate, I live in Canada, & probably assume getting most of these ingredients would be Too Costly to ship from your site. Do you have a basic or shortlist set of ingredients that would suffice to start with?

Love your channel ❤️ thank you Question I'm completely new to all this. I thought if you have a planted tank, you don't need a bubbler that the plants would give it oxygen?

@FatherFish

11 ай бұрын

bubbler provides circulation. Often important

Many people says discus should be kept in bare bottom tank, they required a lot of water changes and people use commercial product like discus buffer to maintain water quality along with seachem prime. Do how much water you change for discus and how often and discus can breed these kind of tank as well. Tia.

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

I keep discus in dirted tanks with lots of plants and rare water changes

How do you feel about fine black blasting sand diamond brand 60/40 grit capping dirt? Sorry if you've gotten this question 1000 times but new to your channel and alot of what you've said makes sense. I'd like to eventually get to no water change tanks. Also about maybe trumpet snails burying into the substrate themselves popping gas bubbles would be a good idea? Maybe pushing waffers down for them every once in awhile and be a decent snack for puffers and such as they breed so easily.

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

I love it. Perfect for substrate/

Sir, great videos, really inspirational. may i ask if you dose the tanks with plant fertilizers? which if any and how much every week?

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

I never dose with ferts.

Great education. Say supposing I want to make an aquascape with higher plant decor than other plants can I just keep adding sand and build up until it produces a big mound? Thanks and I hope You understand my question.

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

You must have strips of material barricading the sand from levelling. Terracing is the effective way to do this. Cut sheets of flexible plastic about 2" wide to hold sand in place. Hope you understand.

No disrespect im curious what about tank leaks? I live in a unit.

Father fish what kind of soil do you recommend for plants to put under my sand?

Please tell me how you deal with mold on unsubmerged wood like that.

Very interesting. Question. Do you do water changes or just add water as needed? If add only. Would that make total dissolved solids very high?

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

Plants absorb minerals

I'm doing 3 experimental tanks with deep sand over yard dirt substrate. The water is so clear in those tanks, no filter, just the deep substrate, plants, and snails, fish are on the way.

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

HELLO ShelbyRae. Great work on the tanks. Have not seen you in many months. We are on live stream at 8AM and 6PM eastern US time. It would be a delight to have you join us. Hope all is well with you.

@shesellsfish

3 жыл бұрын

@@FatherFish Hello Father Fish, I will try and make a live stream when I can. Things are not going well, nothing to be done about it, but get through it and move on. One of those nasty, totally unexpected bad break ups of a 14 year live in relationship that leaves you penniless with the clothes on your back and your hat in your hand. It's not as grim as that, I'm not homeless, but I'm having to start over with nothing. Not a great place to be...but I will survive. 2020...the year that keeps on giving, 😢 Thank you for asking after me. Knowing my fish folks are still there doing what we do has been incredibly comforting. 👍💓👍

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

@@shesellsfish Please join our live streams morning and evening. We are a caring shoal of fishy friends who will welcome you warmly. You have a community here that will give you the courage and acceptance to move on.

@shesellsfish

3 жыл бұрын

@@FatherFish 👍💕👍

I use minimal substrate and use plant pots way easier to maintain and grow amazing plants and keep fish alive longer.

Hi Father fish you are building pure source of aquarium world thank you . I have a question. Is it possible to get balanced tank with 3 inches sand without any soil in 10 gallon tank or should i breakdown everything and go on with the soil?

@FatherFish

3 жыл бұрын

Yes. It just takes a while.

Thank you again for an amazing video I’m so jealous of all your beautiful plants I need to know if you have a store where I can purchase some of your items you make me wish I lived in Florida I would be at your store every day begging you to work there probably for free thank you again

@FatherFish

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, I have a store in Venice, Florida. I also sell at getgills.com.

Do you have a video of plants and what size they get to be ? Trying to figure out what plant to put in what tanks and betta bowl

@FatherFish

11 ай бұрын

all plants continue to grow. Stem plants can fill a rank with a single sprig

What is your thought on using Flourite Black Sand? I was also thinking of using this with maybe a pond soil on the very bottom.

@FatherFish

Жыл бұрын

excellent

Hey Father Fish, awesome tanks! I want to breed some rare fish but I am concerned about not vacuuming detritus in their tanks. I want to use a setup that's easy to maintain, replicate and that will keep my fish as healthy as possible. My current dilemma is - do I keep a spotless bare bottom tank with a lot of maintenance or do I use a deep sand bed and let it do its thing? How often do you vacuum in those tanks and make water changes? Give me some of that sage-like advice!

@rara5212

2 жыл бұрын

No vacuum cleaning! Little waterchanges occasionally.