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I started a father fish aquarium about 6 months ago, after about a year of failing to keep a stable tank. My tank is now more stable then it has every been and i do less to it now then i ever have.

I just started a smaller aquarium with the aim of keeping a crawfish because I have never successfully kept fish alive for long (not counting a betta in the past), and I'm so glad i found this channel. Last week, I added 4 fish and 2 snails into my tank. The guppies, after a while were surfacing, while my snails were moving up above the water. My observations were telling me something was wrong, and that they may not live til the next day. The next day, they surely died. Just goes to show that observation is truly the best way to gauge something.

Why do I need to become a chemist if I'm doing fish when I can just watch my tank I've never used chemicals never needed to

@AmazonasBiotop

3 ай бұрын

We have different goals with our hobby. Is measuring bad or wasteful ? Measuring and testing is knowing. When you know then you learn the different relationships. Probably also far earlier than a real issue is shown. Especially just in FF is preaching to never change water then you will run into issues eventually and not having any clue of why.. When it worked for X months. 😂

@AzulaisQueen743

3 ай бұрын

Ok but what about water conditioner?

@nsane992002

3 ай бұрын

I’ve never even had to test water. I’ve always paid attention and learned all I could and you can literally just FEEL what’s needed and what’s going on.

@germangarduno742

3 ай бұрын

@@AmazonasBiotop I'm new at the hobby, could you explain why it's bad to not make water changes? Thank you!

@AmazonasBiotop

3 ай бұрын

@@germangarduno742 All is depending what you want to do. If you want to grow out discus or some sort of fish. The bigger ones put out grow hibernate hormones so the smaller ones will not grow out their potential. So hormones from fishes is not measurureble. And need to be removed by water change. Second thing is there is plant fertilizer regime that is based on putting a lot of different fertilizer in the water. And you need to reset all levels of the micro and macro nutrients. By doing a large water change so you can keep on adding fertilizers. (sounds stupid.. But if you know that plants work little bit specialized by that if for example they need ten difrent nutrients then they will not grow if just one of the ten is lacking. This fertilization regime guarantees that there is allways everything at all times avaliable for the plants. This is for those planted tank guys.) Both of the example above needs water changes becouce hormones is not measurureble and it makes hard time to analyze ALL the micro and macro nutrients and try to figure out what is missing or is low in a planted tank.. Yes you could look at plant leaves and try to figure out what difficency is in the water column. But by then you have wasted couple of weeks to let the difficency to show and develop. And you maybe lost a month of plant growth just there.. 😅 And then it is some other nutrient that is getting low when the other one is fixed and so on.. 😅 There is probably other reasons/situations. But this is long enough post..

When I was keeping fish in India, we never had test kits back in the day. Never had any issues. So called hard water fish was kept with so called soft water fish in the same water. They all acclimate, the thrived and bred.

I've scooped out a gallon, shaken it vigorously & replaced it before when our power went out. (Traditional tank at the rime.)

Dumb kills fish, smart saves fish. Be smart, learn your tank and fish by watching. Thanks!

@AMD1

3 ай бұрын

I watched a Michaels fish room video many years ago and he was the first person I heard that does not test parameters in his tanks. He observed the behavior and changed water when necessary. Of course his breeding environment is not the status quo in fishkeeping and very successful.

Just found your channel, going on 48 years in the fresh water fish , Love your channel. Ty from Windsor Ontario

Thank you. Being honest about problems and how to fix them shows how you can fix them as opposed to other tubers that refuse to let anyone see that anything was ever wrong.

So much for API's 2024 new initiative: the Water Wetness Test ;)

My tanks at 3:52 😁

@acrawley5128

3 ай бұрын

Great work!

@2ftchopsticks

3 ай бұрын

Beautiful tank

Aww look at little mystery snail crawling along the sand its just gliding along so cute hasnt a care in the world when your trying to talk about the fish gasping for breath its like look at me ha awww❤😊

Dear Father Fish, there are additives to make water wetter. They are called surfactants. So if your water is not wet enough, just use a little dish soap. But turn off your filter and air. You don't want to fill your den with bubbles.

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

"I strongly disagree." Now, Jenni. The man is just being funny. He is after all correct. Surfactants do make water wetter and we ceretainly want that! Sadly we do not want our little fish's gills clogged with soap. Son I guess you are right, Jenni. No sopap for our fishies! LOL

@hermosafish

3 ай бұрын

Sorry Father, that was just a stupid joke. I also don't recomend WD40 to quiet a noisy filter. @@FatherFish

@mitsubishi2802

3 ай бұрын

😂

@hermosafish

3 ай бұрын

I love you guys!!! @@FatherFish

@hermosafish

3 ай бұрын

I feel like an idiot! LOL!@@mitsubishi2802

Check if your water is wet if it’s not you have a serious problem 😂😂 I learned something new today 🤣🤣

Ty again has learning over the years with common sense is the best, I agree 100% never buying those test kits, Starting @ 10 given an aquarium I have had many different fresh water fish over the years from HOB leaking to some favorite fish turning aggressive, The past 10 years I have stuck with cory cats a few golden tetras & platys being the most peaceful fish, the worst thing is since CV all our fish stores have closed. I really don't like Amazon so I am lucky as only finding fish and sometimes good food is the main issue. Again great channel.

You are a wise man. I can't tell you how often I got chastised for NOT testing. Just look at the fish right? Yuppers.

I only ever use Salifert tests when cycling a new tank, i like to watch the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate cycle occurring its just something i particularly enjoy obsersving on a chemical test side of things as my new ecosystem is beginning which happens extremely rapidly because i use donner bacteria from one of my other tanks filters. I think test kits can be useful to help newbies learn from observing the cycle process it gives an indication of a cycle taking place, its kind of educational for those who have no fish keeping experience to learn about the cycling process be it inaccurate but its gives an indication of their tanks cycling taking place and the pace its occuring. Tests will also indicate the dangers of adding to many fish to soon, overfeeding, overstocking and likely they will observe their fish soon showing symptoms if not already, tests will just confirm it and helps the learning process. Newbies wont understand those symptoms by watching their fish yet so test can be useful indications and maintain fish health for newbies and this is why i recommend them for newbies until they grow in experience and build their knowledge watching a lot of father fish videos. Many people are very saddened by their fish dieing, understandably, and it often is the reason they give up on keeping fish so i recommend these two things to people to be safe and to be able to enjoy the joy that keeping fish brings, once they learn properly how to set up an aquarium and cycle it and watch more father fish they will soon learn the marketing scams of the cleaning, testing, chemical dosing, liquid fertilising industry.

Excellent video as always sir🙏

I think one would be surprised how much an established tank can handle in terms of stocking, if there is enough of the right type of plants the amount of fish that can be supported is impressive. The issue is that just like in nature the greater and grander the ecosystem the harder they fall, the more fine tuned and productive the system the worse crashes seem to effect them. I mean there is a reason extinction events happen, the dinosaurs may have been the greatest and grandest animals ever but that also meant that when a change happened all the greatest plants and animal died off. A crash like this is basically the same as what happens when any ecosystem crashes, a lightly stocked aquarium is going to be less prone to crashing then a heavily stocked one. I just use my eyes and try to keep things consistent

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

Good for you

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Some of us just can't get one of those test kits.

When the ammonia spike clouded up my tank shortly after it was new I did a partial water change, cleared up in a few days.

i had this issue with a similar situation, my one gold fish had this issue, its a 2 month old tank. I added water with a new water tablet and it fixed it. But i dont know why or whatever. maybe that will help someone. But i just added more water, and use dthe new water starter tablet and fish recovered.

🙏 happy Sunday

Love your stuff I just lost a fish recently and several others the same way they were gasping but swimming vertically with their tail down and head up any ideas please

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

The best way I can help you is to ask you to join the Shoal on Discord. I have assembled a team of serious natural aquarium hobbyistsd who are ready to helop guidle you through this great adventure.. Goto www.fatherfish.fish and click on the DISCORD banner at the top. Join our team of aquatic adventurers.

Dear father fish! I’m a new subscriber of your channel. I love your contents so much. I’ve learned a lot from your videos. I have a question. My little fish tank has clear water, happy fishes, no algae but it has slightly fishy smell. I feed my fish once every day with very little food. I wonder if that smell is normal… Also, I have a newly setup aquarium. Could you guide me how to properly take care of it at this period? Should I change 50% water and add bio everyday? Should I buy the pH and NH3 test kits to tell the right time to put my lovely fishes to the new aquarium? Thank you so much. Best wishes ❤

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

he formula should be followed for the best chance of For the best chance of success gotowww.fatherfish.fish and click on the DISCORD banner./

Just ordered a bunch of plants from you sir so I can add it to my 55 gallon I'm starting up this weekend. Wondering if I use Seachem Purigen since our tap water has a higher chlorine amount will it worth it?. Just adding a heater and sponge filter

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

purigen is not for chlorine. If it is free chlorine then spraying and bubbling the water will get rid of it. Chloramine requires chemical treatment. Vitamin C or carbon filtration will remove chloramine.

@robvalero4453

3 ай бұрын

@FatherFish thank you sir. Still learning the right way

@jennifermartin506

2 ай бұрын

Purigen purpose is to get your water crystal clear. Works beautifully.

I've got white cloudy water after (I suspect) putting too many fish in after starting my FF tank. I unfortunately wasn't able to slowly introduce fish over time. Can I remedy this issue by changing out some of the water?

@acrawley5128

3 ай бұрын

If it's bacterial it will stabilize.

@briandekoekkoek3584

3 ай бұрын

Father fish has a video specifically on how to get clear water and what causes various colors of water because there can be different causes and cures.

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

Pat close attention to the fish and plants. If they show stress make small changes - 10%.

The fish were struggling because the air feed got trapped so I guess these are a must have in a tank to keep oxygen levels high ? I have still to set my aquarium up. Thanks

Is it true that I shouldn’t do a dirt bottom take w/live plants because I have gold fish and they will just tear it up!! Please help!!

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

Use plants they won’t tear up. Also you can have a sand substrate.

My aquarium is 10 days old, and exactly this happened to my 3 guppies that I put in it, they stayed like that for a few days, then they died, I didn't know what to do, I added 3 more and they are starting to look like that too.

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

They needed oxygen

Happy Monday 🎉

How would one handle a tank that is overloaded because of free guppies (scoop was not just a scoop) and now guppies are getting ich and there are problems

@FatherFish

2 ай бұрын

Turn the heat up to 86-87 F

Gracias por los subtítulos.

I've had testing equipment that gave regular PH and hardness readings on a given tank but showed the difference between tanks. Not all over the map. Some test kits aren't as good as others (strips), but if you're doing the drop method and it says 6.4 it might be 6.3 or 6.5. It's not 4.8. That is a (bad) mischaracterization. The point is still made that you're eyes and common sense are good tools, and will become better tools in time if you pay attention. But, that doesn't justify bad mischaracterizations.

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

Hyperbole is the best destroyer of bad practices.

Never owned a test kit. Since 1976

What sizie is that tank?

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

52

Thank you! In the 40 years I am doing natural tanks I have never measured anything either, except for the salinity of the marine tank. But freshwater? NEVER! I can tell when something is off.

@moutaintopfish1597

3 ай бұрын

Me neither. Since 1976

My tank is all cloudy. I’ve done water changes but still cloudy. Well water conditioner ran out of salt. Could this be my problem? How do I fix it?

@ChristianF2424

3 ай бұрын

Do you have a good filter

@ChristianF2424

3 ай бұрын

Try to buy a sponge filter it would help

@whycamucwatuwant

3 ай бұрын

I got the same problem

@whycamucwatuwant

3 ай бұрын

I beleive my fish doesn't gives a shit.

@reluctantpit

3 ай бұрын

Had the same issue. Attached a sponge filter to my hang on back filters and it cleared up within a week

All you have to do is water change and all those troubles almost never exist

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

And other troubles make it worse.

What should a healthy tank smell like? And does purigen kill our little microscopic pals?

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

The tank should smell like fresh earth. Purigen is a chemical sink that absorbs proteins. It does not directly kill microbes but may starve them.

For the whole time I kept fish I did not use a water testing kit.you just need logic to keep a healthy aquarium

Dear Father Fish, what fish do you have in that tank? Is that a cichlid or a gourami, I’m so basic.

@keithkyli

3 ай бұрын

Probably some kind of cichlid, since gouramis can breathe air. I've now developed an interest in air-breathing fishes (e.g. gourami and catfish) as they can withstand a heat wave or power outage better.

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

Gold severum and they have paired off.

He could quickly ease them with a big water change but he’s to dead set on no water changes why I can’t take him seriously at times

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

A bif water change would kill the fish. Water out of the tap has no oxygen. I do water changes as needed. I never take you seriously.

@oioioioioioioioio

3 ай бұрын

@@FatherFish​⁠​⁠this is contradictory to your video saying to stop doing water changes. Disgraceful by trying to imply me saying to use straight up tap water for water changes. Smh. Btw, common sense person would know that reasonable cold water treated with declor will be oxygenated which will alleviate your fishes suffrage

@GuppyLove420

2 ай бұрын

We can disagree without being condescending. We appreciate your views and would appreciate respect. Thank you and have a fishtabulous day❤

I don't know I'm pretty stupid!

@FatherFish

Ай бұрын

Me too. Still, you can do it.

i wish you watched my vids and gave me some advice or kudos ive built all my Fw tanks bc of your ways!

If the tests are not accurate then why do two different brands both give 7.2 for my ph. Unsubscribed, this is kinda going too far.

@FatherFish

3 ай бұрын

Then why are there labs

@markdomenie5453

3 ай бұрын

@@FatherFishClearly those are more accurate but there is no way that those testkits are that far off. Maybe a bit sure, because they are cheap consumer testkits, that's true. My ph drops around 1 point according to both testkits when my co2 hits 25-30ppm which is the general consensus.

@nivision

3 ай бұрын

I'm a Father Fish watcher but I backed way off when he argued that Bettas don't seemingly deserve the same kind of quality setups he preaches other fish deserve. :/ on this one I get the method he's talking about, my grandmother used this and taught me how to do it, but I /also/ use the liquid tests here and there in the small setups I do because the smaller volume means things can change at different speeds than her setups did, so it's like a doctor check up when my Spidey senses are tingling to point me in a direction. it's still a symptom not a cause like he said, but knowing when the nitrogen cycle on a new tank is solid without livestock in the tank, or knowing whether my plants are growing slow because of too few nitrates or if the nitrates are fine I know to look at lights or oxygenation... ect. They might not be super accurate, but it's a general idea that I can use natural tweaks alongside.

@markdomenie5453

3 ай бұрын

@@nivisionYeah about the bettas makes absoluty no sense. Yes exactly. For example some algae grow more with high nitrates or others even with low nitrates or phosphates. So testing really comes in handy in those cases.

Hi Father Fish why I have holes I plant leafs in my cryptocorynes?

@FatherFish

2 ай бұрын

Join us in the SHOAL for help. goto www.fatherfish.fish and click on the DISCORD banner

How do yall add more oxygen easily to the tank

@FatherFish

2 ай бұрын

Air stone, sponge filters