WHEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY AQUARIUM WATER?
In this video we answer the question, "When should I change aquarium water?" The video provides an in-depth explanation of aquarium water changes.
Too many times water is labeled as bad, dirty or polluted. Water is not its label. All water is good and does not need to be changed. Everything will settle out. As a matter of fact, old water, aged water is better than fresh water from the tap.
Is aquarium water changes a crucial aspect of maintaining a healthy and thriving aquatic environment? Is there another way to maintain healthy water? It is essential to know when, if, and how often to change the water in your aquarium. This insures your fish are living in a healthy environment.
FATHER FISH is an advocate for natural aquariums. His research over 25 years provides a wealth of information about the creation and maintenance of natural aquariums.
There is a wealth of scientific research as well as personal testimonials by countless hobbyists who have applied the Father Fish System and are enjoying its amazing benefits.
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Worked for a local breeder back in the 60's. He taught me tons about keeping and maintaining an aquarium. All my children were in the hobby as well. And they also learned the things my teacher taught me. And when I would set my tanks up I never, ever did water changes. What I did do was clean the filter every 3-6 months depending on conditions. Never had a problem with fish dying or adding new fish. And to this day I do things the same way. If it's not broke, don't fix it. To many people trying to sell you what you do not need. Don't over think the issue and do not add things when all is good.
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Absolutely! 👍
absolutely!!! , I'm still breeding tropical fish with old water for 30 years as “no water change” but It has been running very well without any major problems. just need to give a little feed to the fish from time to time. Sometimes weed trimming is necessary. But After trimming ,I don't change the water. People tell me “you crazy” But I'm not crazy.
@@FatherFish I had to re-evaluate water changes when I moved to the desert. I recognize that not everyone is willing to take the time to slowly set up a fully balanced ecosystem. I'm not going to shame the people who don't have the knowledge or understanding.... Completely agree that the water out of my tanks is better than what comes out of the spigot! I actually use plants to clean the water out of the spigot before I put it in my tanks with animals (thank you Kirkland Air Force jet fuel leak). Keep doing what you do, and sharing how to continue keeping fish as life changes us!
@@Lazy_Fish_Keeper pretty smart to use plants to age water.
From this video I learned "OLD IS GOLD"
Yes indeed. OLD IS GOLD!!
Father Fish is GOLD just like my Pops he's 81..7/4/1942
Isn't that the truth😌♥️
@@rasabernota445 absolute!!❤
The fish keeping hobby has many opinions and when I look to the elders, they have this different opinion and rich in wisdom. This is a lesson I will never forget. Thanks father fish for this insight.
Yay! Now I know my laziness has paid off. Dove into fish hobby head first without knowing much. Took advice from pet store employees. Started keeping fish knowing nothing. Tried to follow 1/3 weekly water changes, but quickly got fed up doing it. My oldest fish that i bought in 2008 is still swimming strong even though at the pet store I was told it will live 5 years max..... So I take that as a sign that I am doing something right. Last year I was given a 3 year old betta fish to live out its last days in my care. The owners didn't want to flush it down the toilet but didn't want to care for it either.. its colour was dull and it had some swimming issues, its spine curved to one side and the poor guy struggles to go deeper in the water, it couldn't dive, it would just flop around near the surface of the water... All these issues were attributed to age. All i did was pop it into my community tank of peaceful fish and changed its food. Within two weeks little betta boy brightened up into beautiful bright peacock shades from dark purple to turquoise blue. Its fins got longer, its spine straightened and it started to dive without any problem.. seems like he made a full recovery without any effort from my part. He has more space to exercise in,, he has a planted jungle to hide in and rest. I even took videos of him and sent them to the previous owner to show them he is in good hands and doing much better. He has been in my care for 8 months now and going on strong. Even though I know bettas don't live long, I am glad I could give this fella some quality of life.
Delightful story Dragoness.
You are 82 years young and amazing!! Thank you for all the wonderful information about the hobby 🐠🐟🐡🍥🎣
I appreciate that Abby!
@@FatherFish Dear Sir, your videos and approach to aquarium is really great. I have a question on Snails. Have you ever experienced excess Snail population , Since Snails lay 30-40 eggs ? Snails in my aquarium have started eating Guppy grass after finishing all the algae. I am wondering whether I should start removing Snails. Thanks,Yash
Father fish,i am83, I love my fish and worry what will happen if I pass ,i. Follow the experts who say 20% minimum water change every week ,so I carry heavy buckets of water which I shouldn’t do. Thank you for your knowledge and making my life easier.
I understand the concern. Yes, no buckets for me. I am making special efforts to include young friends and family members in my hobby, sharing with them, going to the fish store, collecting, and all. Hopefully some love of the critters will rub off and they will continue my passion.
I'm at least a year out from my last water change (I'd have to pull my notes to check when the last one was on any of my tanks), and I've been amazed at how stable my tanks are. I keep them lightly stocked and heavily planted. Top off each weekend, to whatever degree is needed to replace for evaporation. Other than maintaining the plants (trimming & thinning on occasion), all I have to do is feed and enjoy my fish. I love it! Being I live in the desert, the water conservation of NO water changes has been phenomenal, too, so that's a side benefit of ecosystem tanks. 🙂
Yes Dawn! Thank you for the post.
yes folks he is right cant tell you how many times over the years ive packed this hobby in with frustration. been following his teachings and my tanks have been running amazing no water change's for months just top ups he is a God send to this community thank you!! .
You go orando. Thank you for the encouragement.
Do you have to vacuum the bottom of the tank or will the plants and soil process the waste fast enough? Also, do you use a filter or bubbler etc
@sethburkhart1021 don't vacuum sand. No need. Sand doesn't hold detritus like gravel. You don't want to disturb the soil under the sand cap
@@kbeadle23 thanks so much!
Six months with no water changes and my tank is doing amazing! Thank you father fish. :)
Fantastic!
Did u get the algae out? Or just leave it?
Exactly the video I needed. And the pace I needed. When I got an ad in the middle, that felt way too quick. The world is running too fast.
So glad to see your videos getting a lot of views, FF! This topic especially, constantly changing water is definitely “a form of insanity” and not necessary when we emulate natural ecosystems in our tanks. Thanks again for all you are doing on KZhead!
Yes! Thank you PlantLife!
I just smile while watching this. looking at my 16 month old 75 gallon that's had 4 water changes in the beginning. 😊 you FF. Truly a life saver. Much love from michigan
HEY SNAKE> Great to hear from you. Thank you for your constant support.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I started a 5 gallon for my desk. When I tell you that the past few weeks have been so stressful. I was ready to give it up, and then my 2 guppies birthed more than 40 fry. I feel responsible for them now. BUT I knew that I couldn't deal with the continued stress of maintaining a larger tank. Then I came across your videos. Here you are saying nature knows what it's doing. I just need to replicate that in my tank and let it be. Following and binging on your videos. I will follow your formula for the large tank and redo my 5 gallon too.
Join us on Discord and share the journey;
Father Fish you are a breath of fresh air and speak sense your saying what my soul has always known to be true 👍 Big love from South Wales ❤️
Hi! Father Fish, glad I found your channel. back in the 90's my father thought me "don't change the aquarium water" and so I did. took a long break on fish keeping (2 decades) now I'm back at the fish keeping hobby and things have changed a lot and brought a lot of confusion for me. happy to hear those words again and I'm back at the hobby just like how it used to be.
Welcome aboard Ice Wizard
Absolutely incredible! Thank you for your input🙌🏼!! I’m an aquarist living off grid in New Mexico, where water begins as gold. I’ve just added my 5th aquarium to my living room and currently do monthly water changes, but needed your assurance that (in a healthy environment) water only gets better with time. Very excited to subscribe to your channel, keep up the great content!
You have my comp[lete assurance Jeff. lol
Hey Jeff!!! Do you ever show up to the NMAS meetings?
I forgot what book he bases his whole aquarium approach on but it was written many decades ago . When you have a deep enough substrate that can sustain anaerobic bacteria that remove the nitrates you basically have yourself a truly complete ecosystem in a glass box. This man knows a lot about a lot of things and everyone can learn something from him. I’d trust this man telling me something about an aquarium over some Rhodes scholar with 5 degrees in natural biology .
That's a kickass comment Kickassclone! 75!
Will the deep substraight work if you didn't do the dirt portion. I used rough black sand. I made it deep because I saw that part then....Later I saw to add the dirt. 29 gal 3-4 inches of substraight. A large peice of drift wood and 13 plants that are doing ok with two baby Oranda Goldfish. It took a long time to cycle.
@@manderson4803 fish tanks don't cycle... they mature.
@lolkotya yes that’s the author Diana Walstad.
@@manderson4803 Fish tanks continuously mature. Your tank has by now developed a nutrient rich substrate. Good to go!
I agree with you. I use well water in my house so i never have the additional additives city water has. When i set up a tank, it ends up the only time a tank gets new water. I agree with you that old water tends to be better than new. Ive got a tank that its been 5 years and never had to change the water. I do still test it to make sure there are no spikes. But every test always is the same levels. Rarely every fluctuate unless after a feeding. All are healthy. Happy, and flourishing. Only thing i do is clean out the filtration from time to time as with any filter it gets clogged with the usuals and needs the cleaning.
The fact that some of your tanks are as old as me is amazing, what a beacon of knowledge you are, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom
Happy to be here PL
@@FatherFish any chance you could make a video on how to get rid of Black Beard Algae. It’s taken over my tank and I’m so frustrated :(. I also set up this tank without any aqua soil it’s just a gravel that I bought that has “nutrients” and is for “plants” and 9 months later, my tank looks decent, but definitely not where I know it could be. Could I put some aqua soil in mesh bags and put it under the gravel? Thank you 💕💕
@@enfasia gravel with nutrients? Thats the first time i have heard about it. Maybe its the excess of nutrients thats feeding the algae and keeping it alive. Its either that or too much light. If you are keeping the light on for 8 hours try 6 for a while.
Just found this video, this is what I’ve been searching for, I’m a new holder of a 20L tank, planted the entire thing, and nobody believes me it’s going to work to have the smallest nano fish and shrimp in. The way you talk about water, made me cry as a diver ☺️
Thank you Steve. I too am certified and love diving. Too old now to try it again.
I saw that you are replying to all the comments so I just wanted to thank you for this wisdom. You are amazing and I am very grateful I found your channel!
Thank you Isaac.
I agree as well I’ve realized that old water is packed with so much benefits for fish that it is so healthy for them and can actually promote rapid growth for them I’ve witnessed it
I have just recently found your channel. You seem very knowledgeable as well as very wholesome. You are the fish keeping world's official grandpa. I love that you include a personal touch along with great information put Into simple terms. Keep doing what you're doing. You officially have a new fan and supporter out of me.
Welcome aboard Ryan! Thank you for your encouragement. Come join us on our DISCORD channel where you can meet fishy friends and share your tank with others.
I have learned so much in a brief time watching @FatherFish and I thought being 53, I had learned enough through the many aquariums I’ve had. I know nothing…
I think the main concern is if you have dissolved solids and you are adding water to your tank due to evaporation such that your TDS rises over time. If you are topping off with RO or Distilled water, this process is slowed down and delayed.
Thank you Father Fish. You are truly amazing.
Woah. Thank you TK. i need to learn to see the world through your eyes.
You're absolutely right. I have found through trial and error, that simply leaving things ALONE has reaped far better rewards both in aquarium keeping and gardening. Of course I still do minimal maintenance if necessary, but I hardly need to.
This is what i keep telling to my mom and to everyone in our house .. I am happy that i am aware before i found your channel, love you grandpaaaa
Thank you for this advice! Finally some clarity around this issue. 🙌
Thank you Abingdon
Good stuff :] I have a 75g tank done in your style and I can confirm it does not need water changes ty so much! 7 months old and it has had only one water change a week in. Solid as a rock tank! which of coarse it has needed to be topped up but is covered with glass. My water can change a lot depending when and how much you draw from the sink. Water changes are starting to feel like Russian roulette hehe Most cities take undrinkable water and add undrinkable chemicals to make it drinkable ...
Well said Cory. Old water is better than new water.
This is such wisdom! I always tell people with “ new tank” cloudiness just let it run its course!!
Absolutely love this,totally makes perfect sense ⭐️🐟👍🏼
Thank you so much father fish for your invaluable advice and teachings!!!
You are very welcome Phayzzed.
I bought a 10 gallon tank 10 months ago. I have yet to change the water. I use a sponge filter, some snails, an albino dorio catfish and my water has never clouded the pH is near neutral. My Danio’s, Tetra’s, Oto’s and Loach’s are thriving. I use water I keep in a 2.5g jar with snails, substrate and some plants to refill the main tank when it gets low from evaporation. I hemmed and hawed about changing the water, but after much research and recently finding your channel, I’m glad I haven’t change the water. Thanks for you knowledge and wisdom.
Sounds excellent.
I love the nice quotes in your background Father Fish, “Live, Love, Teach” very inspiring🌻
Your knowledge blows my mind and is teaching my the right way to keep my gaint betta. Thank you
You understand more and more.
After i came over your channel, only few weeks before i set up my first tank over 1 year ago i haven`t had nothing but success. No chemicals (except dechlorinater), maybe 5 water changes total and no fish. lost Everything is thriving. Greetings from Norway God bless you Father Fish. ps.. Sorry for my bad english
Your English is excellent MM. Congrats. Glad to hear the good report.
Well father you are damn right. The aquarium trade wants you to do whatever it takes for you to spend more money. If they told everyone the tricks of aquarium keeping, no body would simply spend much money on all sorts of treatments and medicines they create.
Listening to him is so peaceful ❤
Just found your channel! I only top off the tank when it needs water. I did a lot of freshwater snorkeling when I was younger, I owe my appeal for a natural setup to that. I have not watched your “large fish” video yet, I wanted to say an algae bed grown over rocks and wood looks amazing if you can’t keep plants.
I’m a killifish keeper in NZ and have learned so much from you.Many thanks for passing on your wisdom
Killies are a favorite. Remarkable fish. Would love to share with you on Discord about your killies.
"THERE IS MADNESS IN THE FISH KEEPING HOBBY!"
I setup my first ever 29 gallon father fish dirted tank and now going 3 months without a single water change and the fish and tank are thriving. It truly is a complete eco system. I don't even need to clean the glass anymore the snails, shrimp and oto's take care of that 100%
I've been keeping different species for around 20 years (I'm 35 now) and can confirm to never do waterchange unless it's needed for some reason. I've never had a sick fish and always have offspring (even with difficult to breed species). There are a few rules I keep to: - Only do water change if it's needed, else it's fill up the vaporized water - Don't overcrowd, - Use groundwater - Use a sponge over the inlet of the filter (get's the first filth => clean this when you see the flow lowering down of the filter) - Every other day a bit of food (the rest they get from algea) => they are not starving when the tank is established, but I keep an eye out for them to keep in shape That's it for me, for the bigger aquariums I got, I only "need" to clean it around once per year and thats more an aesthetic clean. The smaller once are the trickiest. And for those wondering, yes the tanks are almost crystal clear (I always get this question if I tell that I don't change water unless needed). During those years I've tried different water sources to start up a tank, ground, city and rainwater. And with groundwater, I've never had a tank start failure. Then 2nd best was city water to startup (need a long waiting period before you can add fish). Rainwater is 50/50, but when if it was a hit, then it flourished. So I kept with the groundwater for every specie. But this depends ofcourse of your location.
Thank you Kevin for your insights. Please visit us on Discord. Your experience is invaluable. We have lots of folks there who would love to hear about your hobby.
Will this also work for goldfish tank please without water changes every week
Water is Life. When I was in middle school we had a bingo night at church and my favorite science teacher brought the series for a prize called “Water Is Life” and it teaches about all the ecosystems water comes in and the life forms from microlife to the top of the food chain that depends on it. My favorite to watch were triops in the desert! It’s insane how long I’ve been researching everything about everything in water. This video is perfect!
Thank you Nick. For many folk there is a moment when they understood water as the foundation of life. It holds everything needed to nurture.
Thank you so much, there is much info I still didn't know about my tanks, your videos are amazing.
Pure common sense by Father Fish . I have a well established Tanganyika tank and the fish are healthy and thriving and breeding . The one thing I did was put the water chemical test kit away to stop my self be coming obsessed with trying to get perfect readings all the time and stop the frequent water changes . Instead I used my eyes and observe the fish , this can tell you more than any test kits I have found. I do deklog the filter sponges every 6-8 months in old fish water . If its not broken don't try and fix it
PRECISELY Malt!
Good topic, I gently gravel vac my aquarium occasionally, I'll add a few drops of Prime or Aquasafe to neutralize any heavy metals or chlorine, I have live plants which are thriving! Father Fish I would love to meet you, I appreciate your knowledge and insight, much respect, shout out from New Britain CT!
Thank you Precise. I will be attending some conferences in the NE. Maybe have a chance to meet. Thank you for your kindness.
and here I was looking forward to giving my outdoor plants some fish water. Thanks for the tips!!
indoor plants will benefit more.
Only just found Father Fish and you are amazing. Has opened my eyes to how an aquarium should be.
Got a 6 foot heavy stocked and heavy planted tank. It basically looks after itself. Worked for me for years, so it stands to reason what he says. I actually have to dose nitrates for the plants, as they suck it all out the water. Which is one of the main reasons people do water changes. Once fully matured anyway. But I do have about 12kg of highly porous bio media, which is also likely processing nitrates as well.
Likely, yes.
Father Fish it has been a pleasure listening to your logic and balance in the fish world. If only we had more of you in the world it would be a far better place :):) You have a new fan, stay well and safe :):)
What kind words BigSharkk. Thank you
Thank you Father Fish - I will take good care of my water! My babies rely on me to keep them safe!
Always! Yes they do dear Kathy.
I love father fish pure wisdom and loving personality Thanks FF
What a lovely relaxing video, helped calm my mind ,so thank you very much.
Lovely, Welsh knight!
I’m planning to start my first fish tank and I’m researching as much as I can. I was very confused by this people doing full water changes every week. My dad used to keep tanks when I was a kid back on 80s and 90s and he rarely changed the water. I remember he saying it wasn’t good for the fish and I only recall he doing one half tank changing. People nowadays complicate everything 😂 thank you for this video!! ❤
You are very welcome. Stay plugged in. More advice about water changes to come.
I do 10% water changes once a week
I only change the water if the parameters are off. I just do a top off to replace water that's evaporated. Why fix what's not broken, people don't realize they upset the biological cycle of the tank when they do these massive water changes.
@@corindusfanjoyz6301 MY! Such a fuss budgit you are. What else can you complain about? You have not watched my videos or you would know that I have given MANY people credit for what I am teaching.
Thats why i just buy a really good filter and top of my fish tank with water when ever. Cleaning my canister filters once a month and toping off water is all i do. And most the people dont go into fish hobby cause they thought its a time consuming thing to do especially maintaining water change. If only they know what to do. Thats whats inside my mind when ever i hear people say this. 😅
Great video FF it was like meandering down a peaceful harmonious river of information. Much love
Much appreciated abs. Very kind of you.
I have learned so much from you. I always had tanks with gravel fake plants and was always fighting ph and clouded water. I havent had a tank for 20 years now always wanted one. With your wisdom im goin to pull the trigger and get a small tank mabey a 20 gallon. My last tank was a 55 gallon. But i am dieing to set up a tank with your methods and will move up to bigger tanks. Thank you Sir for you time and expert knowledge
Thank you for making this video. I’m new to fish keeping. Got a small 3.5 gallon top fin tank filled with two neon tetras, a mystery snail, a pathos plant and four moss balls. Your method makes more sense to me than any video I’ve seen on KZhead. Please keep sharing your knowledge with us. God bless you
I agree with you that not all tanks require water changes. My saltwater tanks get water changes very rarely and do great. I have an african cichlid tank though, and the only time I have had issues with it is when I don't do water changes. I've had cichlids grow to 10" in a year doing 75% water changes per week. Totally agree with you about your methodology, but I also don't think its a one size fits all for all fish and aquariums. Your tanks look great!
It depends entirely what is being put in the tank. Fish hare fed heavily with little substrate will require water changes.
Great advice I agree 100% the only time I ever do a water change is when it evaporates or I'd say a water top up, if you are growing a whole eco system it looks after it self and the filtration is part of that eco system.
So to save on the water bill create an ecosystem. Simple. Thanks AB.
I agree with the simplicity of this video and would say the main point is basically import / export control of nutrients. Water doesn’t “go bad” necessarily but it does get polluted so you need something to balance out the other side of that whether that’s a established microbiome or water changes. Nature is pretty resilient and will figure itself out with stability in most cases in my experience. I think the last part is anecdotal in the sense of matching water but there is some intuition that I’ve developed through time in the hobby with what you’re saying. I always have some hesitancy in moving my fish from their established tank even if the water is chemically similar in most capacities through RODI and re-mineralization. Whether freshwater or marine.
We don't have lids on our tanks, so there is a fair amount of evaporation. We top off with water from the local creek. It's been going great, but I realise I do live in a very clean area compared to some in the US.
Water in nature tends to clean itself. You are doing the very best available to you.
I've kept ponds for years & so tanks were newer to me. I set them up & run them the same as my ponds, no water changes cause I didn't know that was a "thing" ! My tanks are better than fine =) Thanks for the video!
Thanks for sharing Ad. Fine it is!
Lovely man, i would stay and listen to you all day ! Greetings from Timisoara, Romania ! Good health Mr. !
Two wheels one lens. Thank you for your encouragement.
Thank you Father Fish! Love you!
Thank you too Chong! The sentiment is mutual.
Fish Keeping works best when you keep to the basics and do them well. Good video!
You betcha!
You have changed all my thoughts and learning i gained over a period of time in managing my aquariu.. Ur videos made me think about what I have been doing all these years changing water , replacing old water and giving that to my plants and never saw that my plants were growing really well cause of beneficial bacteria.... That's what I call a complete experienced professional who knows all what he is doing. A grand salute to you sir.. I wish I could get an opportunity to meet and learn from you in person. You are my 🐠 🐟 AQUA GURU 🐟🐠 🙏
Really enjoyed your video. Thank you for your wisdom
I hate I didn't find your channel before I begin pumping chemicals in my water to cycle it, and spending so much money! Just because I listened to the so-called experts. I'm just going to buy a new tank and start over with your methods! Thank you for making this less stressful!
Whether you should change your water or not depends on a variety of factors like filtration, number of fish, requirements of said fish, number of plants, experience of the fish keeper etc. I would argue that most people in the hobby will have more success with regular water changes. Not saying that it isn't feasible with profound knowledge and experience however.
Frankly it is a matter of setting up the tank for success rather than to use as a receptacle for everything the store can possibly sell you.
I would really like to say that most of the US has hard water, especially the Missouri/Mississipi/Ohio river basins and the great Western desert basin regions. There are parts, like here on the Oregon coast where our water comes out of the tap nearly as fresh rain water. Because we have a clay soil and little to no alkaline earth bedrocks like limestone or Ca/Mg and it's really important to at least add a little Gypsum and Epsom salts so the plants and Inverts can thrive.
Hi FF, age is just a number! My father recently passed at 90 and he was always active still doing carpentry in his shop. Unfortunately a severe infection in his pancreas took him away from us. So forget “old” #number and keep on keeping on! Thanks as always for another great video! Much love and appreciation ❤️
Thank you Janice. Opening minds until its over.
Sorry for your loss 💞 lost my dad a few years ago but he made it to 100
@@zeb33369 Sorry for your loss as well! It sucks losing a parent no matter what age
Father it’s so good to see you channel growing I remember when it was just a few people here love the content
The few are still around. Memories....
@@FatherFish keep up the great work lo ring tejeré the content is going
Right that's it, I've subscribed 🤪, I'm new to the hobby, bought my first aquarium last August and look forward to watching all your vids. 👍❤️🇬🇧
Welcome aboard cookie.
I like what Pops said about water, it is truly an amazing material and an absolute key to life. I try to get my water to fold over itself in the filter return. If you haven’t heard of Viktor Schauberger, well, you should. Water becomes ordered, this can be encouraged mechanically and electromagnetically. I think it develops like a kind of resonance.
An early natural farmer who studied fish in streams.
Great video and an eye opener. I do a 40% water change on my 125 and 75g heavily planted tank once every 2 weeks. I am definitely gonna leave it be with just water top ups and see how it goes. Thank you Father Fish!
Watch your perameters. Work toward a deep substrate and quality, not quantity feeding.
Water changes can be done to remove excess of detritus or to export some excess of organics, BUT only if the system has an unbalance of those qualities. The reason why many of us see the "need" of doing water changes is only because most of us feed too much or have too many fish. Another unbalance is directly related to making mistakes when choosing the plants for that system and how we want to maintain them. There are other variables that could be addressed to avoid to do water changes, like unbalance of nutrients with the wrong light intensity, for example, but the good news is that a natural system, when time is given to it, will get in equilibrium and should be left alone after that, only keeping the fonts of energy (light and fish food) to maintain the system running. It's very simple. Listen to this man. Don't waste your money with so many junk things the aquarium industry offers just to get your money.
Thank you. You have changed the way I keep fish. It is easier and more relaxed
Water can change, water can form, water can age, water can be memorizable, be water my friend..
There is romance in your soul R game.
Hello Mr. Father fish. God bless you because I learned many things from you in last days. You saved my fish from ich with your ich treatment video. I have done like you described 2 days ago and all ich disepeared from all of my fish with your described method. God bless you again. Greetings from Romania. Alex
Thank you Miagi. This is the miracle cure. Join us on Discord and share your story.
@@FatherFish by the way, I started my acvarium in Mai 2022 and did not changed the water since then. Also i have deep substrate but only sand becauze not cnowed you then but is not o big problem in a 14 galons acvarium right?
Great video! I never knew about this information, but I never change the water on my 2 aquariums. I just thought that they would sustain themselves with plants, gravel and fish. Thank you for everything and God Bless you always.🙏🏻😇🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Glad I could help!
Always got to say it.. May god bless this man!
Thank you Pesticide. Very kind of you.
pure experience father fish! bless you
Thank you kindly Matej.
I usually change about 30% every 2 weeks, but my tank has an evaporation rate of about a half-gallon of water PER day, that I compensate for every 2 or 3 days. So I'm questioning my need to do that 30% change? You're a star, sir. Keep shining. Regards from Portugal.
I think you got it. The increase in gh only serves to feed the plants and microorganisms. Problem solved.
@@FatherFish Thank you so much, sir!
I just top up from evaporation. Love loads of plants and caring for them and the fish.
That is awesome!
That is what I started doing as well and my tank is beautiful! All the fishies are happy!
Absolut faszinierend ❤ Er macht alles richtig und es ist eine große Freude Seine Videos anzuschauen! Großartig ❤ sharing a lot and caring a lot! That‘s right, father fish 👍
Great Love and Respect for you Sir (Father Fish)
Bless you My Hobby.
You're the cutest Father Fish ♡
Golly gee whiz.
Hello Father! Someone mentioned you in yesterday's live stream. This is a very cool topic. Over time I've moved more and more in the direction of simplicity and a less-is-more approach to fish keeping. Every time we mess with the tank we risk upsetting its balance and we stress the heck out of the fish, making them more prone to disease. Now I need to fit the wisdom of your video into the "that's how it's always been done" way of keeping African cichlids and their high waste, high ammonia production (ie high nitrates). BTW, will you be at Aquashella in Daytona in Nov? Take care my friend. 80's is the new 50's.
I will miss Aquashella but I will attend the Keystone Clash.Africans can be kept two ways. In small groups of one male and several females or in larger mixed groups. The small groups in a 29 require little care with a deep substrate dirted tank with a corner rock pile and some sword or java plants. A 55 minimum for a collection of no more than 12 mbunas requires deep dirted substrate, a rock hill in the center and live food and veggies. In the wild they eat insects that fall into the lake and algae. Try to duplicate that diet and the waste will be substantially reduced.
I so enjoyed meeting and talking with you at Aquashella. Has it really been 2 years? The African mbunas are a seriously problem fish. I started keeping them when they were first brought in about 1970. Back then we tried to buy pairs and kept them in bard 10s with a divider. They were allowed together to spawn. I believe the key to maintaining them long term is first to get the water right. They live in an immense lake. The lake's water is alkaline (pH 7.7-8.6) and warm with a typical surface temperature between 24 and 29 °C (75-84 °F), while deep sections typically are about 22 °C (72 °F) This means a high buffer. The substrate can provide this if it is deep enough. My formula is in a 55 or larger: 2" of soil base with significant additives including iron, lime, bone meal or other calcium, and bicarb. On top of this can be 1" of large gravel/small stone, and 3" of sand. Create caves with flat rocks sitting about an inch above the substrate. A single mound of small to medium rocks rising at least half way up the tank provides a substantial nursery. Lighting is the key. The lake has direct sunlight beating down on a rocky bottom. This means substantial algae growth. All of these fish have dentition specifically for grazing on algae. The real challenge is to nurture an algae bed on the rocks that provides 80% of the food for the fish. Certainly spinach, kale, and squash are important supplements. The secondary food source is vast swarms of flying insects that die over the lake. The fish require very specific food to restrict waste. Dried or live insects is excellent for about 20% of their diet. That's my take on Malawi cichlids. Tanganyikas are much the same.
@@FatherFish excellent summary! I use Texas Holey which is limestone, crushed coral and Aragonite sand for my bed about 4 to 5" for buffering and aquascaping. Floating plants and emersed house plant for nutrient absorption {protecting the roots is key with cichlids}.
I gave up on aquariums 15 years ago because I got fed up with the constant cleaning, water changes and general ruckus I was told I have to do. I was told keeping an aquarium was laborsome and difficult... and it was, with how I took care of it. But it only makes sense. Nobody goes to the ocean or lake to change its water, nature has its ways always and I should've known better since I was so engrossed with biology and all things living as a young teen that I was back then. I'm very extremely happy that I've ran into your videos while researching for my new small tank that I tentatively thought about getting. Now I feel more secure than ever, thank you, sincerely.
I just want to know how to find other reasonable and smart people like father fish here on KZhead. For years I’ve been fighting with the hobby. Water changes are just a stupid idea! That’s it. Btw I am a biologist and scientist. Good job father fish!!! I love your content!
👋
Few people seem to appreciate the contained ecosystem, I've always loved animals and fish especially and a fish in a bowl or tank with nothing but plastic rocks and water always felt wrong. It's an amazing thing to see an entire environment thrive, so much more interesting than fish in a sterile box
Good video, old man. 10 % water change from gravel vaccuum once a month has been sufficient for me for 5 years. planted tank is thriving.
Keep it going BetterPlay.
First-time viewer and must say you are awesome ! Finally, real knowledge !
Thank you Frank
The second video i see. Is a honour to be here. I'M IN! thaks so much!
Delighted to have you in the shoal Adriana
Great video FF , thanks for sharing 🐠🐟🙂✌️
Glad you enjoyed it Marky.
when we bring new fish home, we do a two scoops out, two scoops in, method of slowly changing the fish store water over into mostly tank water. I have to tell you, my kids feel such a sense of pride in our two FF method tanks. They can't wait to bring new fish friends home and they tell them, "you're going to love your new home".
That's fun. Would love to share with your fam on DISCORD.
@@FatherFish I'm there-- under the name Gumbiecat42 :) it's been super helpful. I feel like i know what I'm doing!
I literally just found your channel and i am amazed at the knowledge you have about keeping fish, for years ive been pumping my tanks full of chemicals but this made total sense, i think its time to take on this advice Thanks Father Fish, keep the content coming and for me i think its time i began watching through your videos
Welcome aboard Chuck!
What a great video…Blessings!!!
Thank you! You too Haansaka!
Father I agree with you.Your statements is actually scientifically Correct !!The Higher the aged of the water ,the higher the amount of health benefits to the fishes and plants .Thank you for sharing your Golden knowledge. Much Appreciated.
Thank you Miguel.