NEVER CHANGE YOUR AQUARIUM WATER OR FILTER AGAIN!: The 7 Key Variables of a Filterless Fish Tank.
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- čas přidán 3. 01. 2022
- This video delves into the 7 key variables involved in creating a stable and thriving, filterless Aquarium. no more water changes, hoses or buckets, a mere top off with a light watering can- is all you must add (I forgot to mention this, but try and use the lowest tds water you can for top offs or your kh gh tds and ph will keep rising each change.) utilize amazing products like AquaticArts.com botanical additives and dried leaves for maximum beneficial prebiotics and to lower the ph from alkaline to acidic. likewise a crushed coral, shells, root tabs or liquid fertilizer can be a key variable to ensure aquatic plant growth from water colomn feeding rhizome plants and floating plants to help reduce and establish a flourishing nitrogen cycle and to rid the system or Ammonia.
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I’ve watched this video a few times now. I’ll never get bored of watching just how chilled out the fish are in these environments. It may have its limitations, but it’s definitely my favourite way of enjoying this wonderful hobby. Over the years this has made me realise how some fish are really only at home in this kind of tranquility. Not to mention having a silent fish room is wonderful place to relax after a busy day. Thanks Alex.
Amen. Glad you enjoy it also!
@@Fishtory I agree. the silence is a true blessing. I hate all that tinkling noise and humming lights.
filterless is all I do.
Blissful isn’t it :) @@claudeclawsonne4510
Love your videos! when your talking to the camera the lighting and black bg makes it feel like ur filming from a forest w a flashlight in the middle of the night
I sort of am! Well my back yard at like 3am hehe
You have a lot of plants and few fish in the aquarium, you do not need to change the water or filter. This is the success of the fish tank
New people who wants to get an aquarium really have to watch your video. It is so informative and will save them a heartache of loosing fish❤
Glad it was helpful! I sure hope it saves people grief and fish their lives
Thank you, Alex. Just setting up my first tank. Filerless is the goal I'm going to start it with the filter and work towards it. This video gives so much information, I'm sure I'll be coming back, a lot.
Right on! I have a few others on the subject as well, probably with some different tips scattered throughout. Cheers, have fun and enjoy!
Plant-plants-plantsDon't forget stemmed & floaters, along w/ rooting pathos, peace lilies, etc- emerged from the tank top w/ stems to root in the water. 😅
I love the diversity of fish keeping techniques. There's always something new to learn and space for everyone in the hobby. I think my challenge is to be patient while I navigate my personal learning curve and attain beautiful tanks like yours.
As long as you're enjoying yourself, you're doing it the "right way". Enjoy!
@@Fishtory I think this is the most accurate advice on the interwebs.
You’re a wealth of knowledge, Alex. Thank you for sharing your love of the hobby with us all. I have a filterless, dirted 5 gallon that I keep various snails and shrimp in, plus a bunch of little critters that found their way in on plants. I love them all. I only do tiny water changes when I trim plants every couple months or so. I’m wishing you well in 2022.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us! Cheers to you this 2022 as well!
The snail tank is so awesome. I LOVE snails.
Hehe thanks
I've learned so much from you, I literally refer to you as one of my aquarium teachers. lol!! I absolutely love your videos I want to start videoing my aquariums and start a channel. I know many people will ask questions, would it be alright if I referenced you in my videos to send people your way. I wouldn't ever want to steal your viewers just want to begin showcasing my passion. You're an aquatic guru ♡
Thank you for teaching me almost everything I know fish wise ♡
Of course, have faith in yourself as well! If you know.... you know! But if I can assist, I'm happy to. Best wishes and drop a line from the channel when you have a few videos. Best of luck! Thanks for your support here as well!
Excellent Alex! Thank you
You are so welcome
What I love about this kind of channel is that you actually show people your tanks (what you are talking about), you do not just talk about it ❤. Pictures do not lie. Show them and let the viewer decide.
Think what you will about ‘water changes’ or whatever, but if someone shows you the opposite of what you believe then it should give you pause.
I also have tanks where i do lots of water changes. ... but its to manage fertilizers for plants in co2 tanks...or baby fry that require moving water...like some rainbowfish. I just want folks to know there are lots of ways to try doing this hobby. Cheers!
I run a filterless tank for 2 years and still running, and its was a bitter sweet victory to achieve.
Level 100 master unlocked🔓
I love the topic, but also the manner in which he accomplished the fancy black background just by standing outside at night. super.
Hehe thanks...it's my new "go-to" for narrative or intro pieces. Take care my friend!
Excellent video, thank you!!
Your knowledge is amazing thanks so much!
Love this. So far, I have 5 filterless, no heater tanks and all the plants, fish, and shrimp are thriving. 3 of the 5 tanks have been running for 2-1/2 years. I think they're dialed in really well. The other 2 tanks have been running for a year with no problems. I'm really loving keeping fish this much more natural way.
👍❤👍
Right on Shelby Rae! Thanks for lending your experience and testimonial to the community 🙏
Wonderful.
Thank you kindly!
You are extremely detail-oriented, you answered all the possible questions that crossed my mind before I could start building a filterless tank. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Yeah my videos are long so you can tune in and wait for the thing you wondered about to be mentioned lol...most youtubers just want a 10 to 15 min video at any cost
@@FishtoryWe can always read the script if time is limited. 😊
This video is a gem! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge 🙏🏼
No problem! Glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend
Thanks 4 the info 🎉❤
My pleasure! Thanks for coming by
This is so informative!!! Fantastic reporting; I enjoy this kind of content!🌻🌼🐝
Very helpful even just by seeing the layouts of your tanks. Great video 👍
So glad you think so :)
I prefer the filterless, water changeless method but I do use aeration because its the one thing a wild pond gets that cannot be easily duplicated inside without intervention. In the wild there is wind blowing and moving the water around, as well and animals coming for a drink and maybe to splash around a bit to cool off in the heat of a day.
And every now and then the wind whips up and white-caps the surface of the water pushing more O2 into it.
I agree that with some fish the aeration really does help a great deal
Not to mention, every lake/river/stream is fed constant fresh water from SOMEWHERE.. Which is constantly moving water & bringing in oxygen.. I do the same thing.. either an air stone to move water or a little hang on filter without the insides to circulate
Another great informative and interesting video, Alex! You are a great educator!
Well I really appreciate your sentiment and the kind words. I try my best! Have a great week!
Very usefull! Thanks a lot for tour videos . Ciao.
Glad it was of use to you! Cheers to 2022 my friend!
I very much appreciate your thorough info-dumps. Thanks.
Haha you got it. I can't help myself I guess. Thanks for tuning in!
I always find this very interesting. Probably watched these videos like 20 times over. Thanks Alex!
Well shucks! Thanks buddy, I'm so happy to hear that
👍👍👍Alex is always full of information......
Thanks Thomas!
Thank you, Alex! Once again I learn from you … hope you are well and hope 2022 is a good year for you 💝
Thanks for tuning in, and the kind words! I hope your 2022 is off to a great start!
Great information thanks😊
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent Excellent Video and knowledge
Thank you kindly
Awesome video thank you 👍👍
Certainly!
1 of the best channels on you tube. Awesome 👍 I believe i could do this on 3 of my aquariums. I may give it a shot
Well thank you for saying so. I appreciate your support and comments. I think slowly turning off a filter in your most planted tank would be a great start to that transition. Best of luck!
Great video thanks for the info
Sure thing! Glad you enjoyed it
I’ve been experimenting with using a quarter inch foam pad affixed to the entire background (with air stones behind it) of a nonfiltered tank used for growing out live food for my other fish. Not only does it provide more surface area for growing bacteria and algae and providing a hiding area for the inhabitants but it looks cool as a porous black background that’s actually functional.
Oh that's pretty cool! I'll have to play with that some time too. Thanks
Nice info. Thx for sharing 🙏🏻
Sure thing!
Great info. I have 6 filterless tanks. and 3 with filters. Love your channel! - Little Bobby
Right on! Good go see you Little Bobby! I hope 2022 is off to a great start for you
Always listening and learning brother. 💯
Thanks for coming by my friend!
Jam great I am?! Love it.😮
Slowly catching up on all your seasonal stuff xx👍😁
Thanks
You're up early, outside, in the dark and cold ... brave sole you are.
17 degrees of tropical snow storm weather lol
Thank you for sharing yrs worth of knowledge that you have. Plus you have presented your knowledge in an easy to understand way. Thank you and please keep making your videos. They are great.
So nice of you to say. Thank you. Have a lovely week. Cheers
Yep you nailed it Alex, bloody fantastic to watch & a really good dive into auquaculture in general. It's nearly 1am January 5th 2022 here now so I'd better go to bed but this was worthy to watch for sure. Cheers mate.
Cheers Leo! Thanks
A wealth of info as always my friend
Thanks for coming by!
Great video!!
Thank you very much!
love it
Alright, lets go! just got finished watching some member video's you shared.
Oh cool. Im Glad you found those m
Very informative
Well I'm Glad you think so! I try and research the videos as much as possible within a week or so. Have a great sunday!
Great overview, thank you! I am researching how to approach a nano jar this way (about 1.75 gal) for shrimp and snails, possibly grow out for endler fry. You gave me lots to think about!
Big jar! Haha naja grass is another tip...
Great content mate fantastic video 💯💯🐟
Thanks!
You certainly make sense
Thanks haha that's an Accomplishment for me, most days
I love the concept of low to no-tech tanks. I only have one that's filterless, though. It's a 1.5 gallon jarrarium with only shrimp and snails. All I have on it other than a light is an airstone on very low to prevent mosquitos from taking up residence. The submerged plants in it are low-light, but I also keep duckweed in it. Every time I test it, it's consistently 0 ammonia, 1 nitrites, and 0 nitrates. Our water here is hard, though, at about 7.4 from the tap, but this jar stays right around 7.0-7.2.
One of my 29g tanks doesn't contain a filter, per se, but it's set up with aquaponics above it, which basically acts as a filter. Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates stay at 0 on that tank, too, even with daily dosing of Easy Green. It's populated with Gambusia mosquito fish, snails, and a 6" pleco. I hope to move that group to a much larger indoor pond when I get it put together. I plan to use lots of emergent plants as the "filter" on that, instead of electric filtration. I've been laying in the various plants I want to use for that. Can hardly wait to actually do it!
Just found your channel as I’m upgrading my 20 gallon community tank to a 55 gallon. My 20 is heavily planted but for my 55 I will be adding some wood to the scape and I found your channel looking for tips on what to look for in collecting wood from nature for my aquarium. Anyway I just subscribed and look forward to learning more.
Welcome! And that sounds awesome it's so fun to watch a new tank evolve and grow! Have fun!
Neat thanks
You are very welcome
Great info. 😁
Thanks Caleb! Have a great week
Alexander, I am writing this comment as I watch this video. I know the motives are good for sure. I can go long periods of time and still not "require," a water change but!!!
The point of doing water changes is not just to make your tank healthy. Often you just do it because even in the wild, when the water is Stillwater, fish get influxes of new water. This could be just from seasonal rains, usually is. Even in small rivers in the summer when flows are low, fish get a little lethargic. I have noticed a few times fly fishing on a small river, that when you get extra runoff from rains in the mountains, as the river comes up with cooler water and an influx of food being washed down ahead, the fish become more active and their activity is greatly increased. I put that into practical use in my aquariums. I also do water changed because it gives me an excuse to look at my fish and watch the behaviour, looking for clues to health issues in my tank.
I believe in all tanks having a current so I combine a sponge filter and an HOB filter. I have found this to be a good combination.
LRB has been going filterless for a very long time and I appreciate this success, but right now, working with my fish is something I love. Maybe one day I will go filterless, but for now it is still a way to keep in touch with the fish I protect. Thanks as usual. I always enjoy your perspective on our hobby, you put a lot of thought into it!
I hear yuh. I definitely still run some tanks with 2 or even 3 to 4 timed the necessary HOB filter, powerheads and sponge filters. Like my main goby and rainbow tank gets 30% water changes every 2 days and has a HOB for a 75 gallon (it's a 20long). So I tried to make it clear that only certain fish do well with filterless or still waters. Gouramis, Catfish, badis, blackwater nano sized Characins and shrimp mainly
@@Fishtory I'm not arguing about species at all. I'm just saying if we stop doing water changes and filter cleaning, then buy an autofeeder, we lose touch with our fish eventually and the fun in the hobby, the interest in the fish will wane. I can see Aquarium Shops doing this but the more Aquarists that do it, the less knowledge there will be gathered and shared. Just my opinion and that is all it is.
All but one of my tanks are low tech and their water parameters are excellent. I can't unsee the tech so I make Walstad style tanks. They are also very low stocked with the exception of the one filtered tank. I LOVE micro fauna 🥰🥰🥰
Sounds wonderful. :)
haha, super nice. I love your style. My fish tank also has all sorts of animals living in it. Plants are key and the substrate as well.
Amen!
I am taking notes. This is an advanced topic.
Right on! You are approaching it correctly then. I don't claim to have any magic knowledge or the "correct way to keep fish"... but it's what works for me in some of my favorite tanks. Best of luck!
@@Fishtory I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge. It's better than struggling and stumble by putting fish and shrimp at risks.
I've accidentally been starting this as my hob's start crapping out 😂 so far so good but I never took into consideration trimming/ diversifying plants even more- and I might be under stocked! What a great vid
You can do it! That's what sparked me to!
Great vid Alex tanks look good
😊 thank you
I like those jewel cichlids very nice coloring
Thanks, I was experimenting with filterless tanks and keeping them...their Fry do really well in an algae coated tank and feed of micro fauna and algae all day..I barely have to Even feed them
I always use a filter and a heater in all my planted tanks
cool !
Gracious
Excellent video. I'm pretty much doing the same technique. Heavily planted in regular ol soil with a coarse sand topping. I have filters in all my tanks but they're hardly recognizable with all the algae and bacteria growing on them
Right on! Party on Wayne!
This was a great video friend nice spin with them all being filterless I was gonna guess 2 and 5 🤦🤷♂️
Hehe I have about 12 tanks that are filterless ...or maybe only get a filter once in a blue moon, after meds or spanwing projects
New subscriber here. I am very impressed with your channel and I'm really glad I came across it. I'm an old aquarist 😁 getting back into the freshwater hobby and so I have a lot of continuing education to catch up on 😳. I see you have a great selection of videos and I'm looking forward to watching them all.
Well right on! Welcome to the community here. The water's fine! If you like history or new species discoveres... vs species spotlights and care info...shrimp. nano fish or breeding fish etc I have Playlist with all those type of subjects. I hope you enjoy then! If you have any questions or info to contribute, please don't hesitate to share it with us/me. Have a great week!
@@Fishtory Thank you!
Good times
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE VIDEO :)
I DO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH NON-FILTERED AQUARIUMS :)
THANK YOU FROM ISRAEL :)
So nice of you to say so. My pleausre. Good luck, check out my other filterless videos for more info
I find your video's very informative, thank you... you also sound exactly like Corey Feldman.
Haha 😄 thanks
The plethora of information you contribute to this channel is awesome. I have a jar with macro algae growing in it and I would love to know if you have any input on whats next with that! Could I transplant it? 😂
I sadly dont know my saltwater aquaria info. My apologies
Very helpful video at the exact right time! My very first tank has been running for a couple of weeks. While it's Walstad, it's not technically filterless. It has a tiny powerhead for water movement with a small sponge filter for critter protection. It's heavily planted and growing well. The bladder snails are doing great and have reproduced, so I added some ramshorn, red-rimmed melania and quilted melania today. Next up in February, if all goes well, some shrimp.
The only issue is some yellowing on some top leaves. I guess it's either an iron or nitrogen deficiency. I don't want to add fertilizers, so I think I'll reduce the lighting even more, even though the Fluval Plant 3.0 is only running at 30%.
You probably need to add a little supplemental Potassium for the plant to metabolize nitrates faster and hopefully fix the leaf coloration troubles. Beet of luck
@@Fishtory Thank you very much! I do have some free samples of Tropical Aquaflorin Potassium lying around. I'll give it a try.
I got rid of all my gravel in my tanks and added a deep substrate of soil and sand,I also added lots of plants including floating plants . I haven’t done any water changes since. Nitrates are consistent at 40ppm . I’ve never seen my fish be so natural happy and calm, plants grow as if I was injecting Co2.
I guess aquatic plants CAN grow well without CO2 injection because that's what they do in nature.
Lol I got into tanks without real filters on accident. Had a filter die on me & didn't notice 🤦 but the tank just continued to thrive.. was actually much better once the filter shut down.
Me too!
Nice sharing, My friend.👍😃💖👍Stay connected🔔🔔👍🤝😍😍😍
Thank you!
I love changing water.
I also rarely clean my filters.
I went for almost a year with no water change way back in the 90s.
I started feeling bad about not hooking the fishes up with some fresh water.
Yeah some fish need that fresh water to be happy...but most of the ones in our hobby are okay without constant water changes
Love the info I do fitlers and 🪴 plants
yeah, my nitrtes and nitrates are always zero! Found I need to fertilize some of my plants. potassium gluconate is great
Great! Potassium is the most under utilized and underappreciated fertilizers.
It is sounds .oh my god😊
It's very interesting. I do the same set up but with terrestrial plans. Monstera and peace Lilly. I do have a sponge filter running 55g with 12 killifish and some cherry shrimp. I don't mind the filter but I do enjoy having very little maintenance other than water top off to do. I often wonder if there are any trace elements that cannot be tested are building up in the water as it is not getting removed,but fishes seem pretty happy. Nitrates are always zero!
Same here. My tds will climb over time...like 4 or 5 years in and my tds goes from 150 to 350 or so...but thats not seeming to hurt anything as far as i can tell
Another thing too is the fact that plants, being among the oldest organisms on earth, can live more or less without animals (minus the need for pollinators), Because as pioneer plants latch on to rock and start breaking it down, it creates enough soil for slightly less tough plants to grow, and eventually the bigger plants that need constant fertilizer can get it via dead rotting vegetation on forest floors (including co2). The same is true in aquatic systems, since we're just replacing one fluid media with another, provided sunlight can penetrate. Indeed, if you have a very heavily planted tank where detritus from old aquatic leaves is allowed to remain in a somewhat more closed-system tank, not only can plants survive indefinitely without the need for extra fertilizer, but a dead fish here or there will not significantly add to the waste; The constant detritus has bred such a large enough amount of various bacteria that a light fish load starts to become negligible whether the fish are living or dying, unless they die all at once or over-populate. The more traditional Amano style lightly stocked heavily planted aquariums are closer to this than the more modern synthetic high-tech tanks that like to pretend they take after Amano.
Very true
I used to do fairly regular 50% water changes on my tanks and it caused a ph spike. Lost quite a few fish from that. Now, I just do top offs and yeah the tds is probably through the roof but my fish don't seem affected by that. They will react horribly to changes in ph, spikes in ammonia and nitrates though. I have heavily planted tanks though.. the nitrites are kept in check and fish seem to be doing fine.
Yes... it's an odd thing, isn't it?
Are water changes the only way to reduce TDS? How do you keep that number stable? Thanks as always!
Good work but I think you could have been more clear on one pont. the surface area of a sand substrate is sigificantly larger than the surface area of a gravel or Aquasoil substrate. Most people think of sand as a tightly packed impermeable soil but in actuality, it houses some of the densest populations of microfauna in both our tanks and in nature.
True, as long as its not too angular, like desert sand can be. But ocean sand is indeed rounded and lots of surface
Thats true, also like to add that silt is better than anything because it is extremely aereated… the 4 year old tank substrate reminds me of my sealed ecosphere jar thats 220 days old and has macro algae growing in it.👍 this channel is awesome. Lol
👍👍👍
God I love how overgrown your tanks are
It really allows me to have a lot of wiggle room with spikes of ammonia from a dead fish, excess fish food and I just like that it helps baby fish survive as fry
This is because there is not really such a thing as a 'filterless' aquarium. Yes, you can have an aquarium with no man made mechanical filter: but the natural process by which all water is 'filtered' on the whole planet will come into play (you don't see mechanical filters in your local river - units the size of a supermarket, do you...).
The only mechanical aid I think is really beneficial in the quarium is a suitably sized pump or powerhead to provide some circulation (Even lakes have a circulation of the water: but it is generated by wind and is circular in 'flow' rather than linear, like rivers).
Ideally a 'filterless' aquarium will be very heavily planted and have quite a low fish stocking level: much like in nature.
The only thing you do have to be careful of is shifts in PH and water hardness. The water hardness can be a real problem if you live in a hard water area because only topping up for evaporation loss is can lead to problems... When water evaporates only pure water goes: all of the minerals and salts remain behind - so if you add further hard water in the topups this will slowly increase the total hardness of the tank water until the water gets so hard it is better described as concrete. Such hard water will probably create problems with plant and fish health: and if the plants are struggling then a big part of the 'filtration' is struggling.
It is certainly a very rewarding experience to get such a setup correctly established.
100% correct :)
I use external power filters on my aquariums more as insurance. My aquariums should be just fine without them, at least in their current state. I have been using filters for over 40 years without any ill effects and my aquariums are thriving. But I have had algae explosions in the past. They usually come out of nowhere. I rarely check my water parameters, but the parameters are good even when I have an algae explosion. Sometimes it just happens. I have one tank I have had running for 32 years, without any changes, other than pruning back the plants. Although I don't like java moss because it can get out of control, if you are having nitrate and nitrite problems, this is a good plant to remove them, and it is so easy to grow.
Balance,but still like my filters.
Totally understandable
30:37 rhizome plants can be planted in the substrate, just the roots. But they still are slow grower so another type of root feeding plant is still recommended
Correct...some have tubers that can rot if buried too deep, but in general you can tie, wire, anchor or even glue any rhizome plant
how do you cultivate good baterica
I was wondering if I could do a filter less grow out tank for my bettas future fry. I live in a travel trailer lol. So my electric is limited I’d like to give it a go this spring time. I maybe won’t go filters less for this first round but it’s cool to see it may be a possibility when im more experienced.
Oh 100% just make sure to plant it well and add some dried leaves (maple, alder, oak, Almond, birch, beech, mulberry or most fruit tree leaves). Then let them get enough sun for the plants to grow, or a light that's a step up from the aquarium kit type lights ... something like an LED flood light from home depot works for cheap
I only do top offs and most the time I change water I take water from 1 tank to fill up all the others and then fill that one back up with new water. I just keep enough sand and plants but honestly I believe it's more of a time thing. Like my 75G I feel like I can set a bomb off in it and it'll be fine as it's been set up for years. Also lilies are great for filterless or natural tanks.
Totally... time and diversity of bacteria, algae, Fungi, and protistt/microorganisms and biofilm, is the biggest "must have". It's why I think setting a tank up with a filter and then throttling it back over 6 months or a year.
Also it's why time is my #7 variable
@@Fishtory I agree. I think starting with a filter makes it a lot easier to ease into probably mostly bc then you don't have to let it go thru it's natural boom bust cycles before it levels out. Great vid thanks for making this kind of content! There can't be enough of it.
@@shadeaquaticbreeder2914 I know right. I started a tank and I am minimalist. So throughout the knowledge I have Acquired I’ll have a tank running on nothing with nothing in it for as long as it takes me to be able to delete this filter and heater. I only have Nubia plants, small/ medium rocks/ danios (5) and neon tetras (5). I know it takes time so I am not killing fish and plants. Truthfully this is a plant game first and that’s the best part of it. Aquatic Botanist Bostonist. Ya know. ? ¿ 🙀😽😸
Great video as always, a really unrelated question but i have a longfin female bristlenose pleco that is currently 4 inches-ish that has been slowly bullying and fin nipping at my bronze corydoras, so much so that i had to relocate them to another setup. I know this is unusual as you have kept both species together well on your channel, so I was wondering what your opinion was and any possible solutions or alternatives since the bottom of my 50 gallon is looking rather empty with only a bristlenose and a few amano shrimp, the tank is planted sparingly with only one section (roughly a fifth of the tank) being densely planted, i was also wondering if the pleco was underfed since the aggression peaked at meal times but again I am open to any suggestions you may have.
So feeding the pleco fresh blanched zucchini, green beans,, cucumber or broccoli should help that. They can graze and eat it for 12 to 36 hours and it keeps them busy and not bugging the corys. Also having 2 caves per pleco is a great way to reduce their anxiety/aggression.
Don't give up! Just try and feed them algae wafers or fresh food and let the corys eat flake food or pellets/algae wafers on 2 separate sides of the tank also. Good luck
I just went filterless with my 125 but am still using air stones would love your input on my setup and any suggestions from you thanks Alex
Right on..I think keeping the surface agitated is a good idea, until the microbes and micmcro fauna can adapt and fill the niche. Cheers!
Very nice! What is that brown thing with all of the holes in it at the end of the video?
So that is a lotus seed pod! Shrimp and baby fish love them for grazing bio film and hiding around
@@Fishtory thank you
Excellent info @Alex keep up the great work mate. One question for you. Is it true certain aquatic plants can't tolerate high pH levels?? I've a 55gallon with plenty of bog wood, various anubias, african fern,cryptocoryne balansae which grow very well but various java ferns won't thrive but die back my ph is 8 but stable. I use root tabs for the crypts an liquid ferts for the other plants,an it is filtered with an external filter.
Yes anything over ph 9 becomes makes growing plants much harder. Hornwart and Cabomba are notorious for dropping all their needles / leaves starting to shed when in water over 7.5 or so even. Anubias, some crypts, and Java fern do really well in alkaline water though
@@Fishtory like I said my ph is a stable 8 but java fern will not tolerate my water, I'm at abit of loss when thinking of plant stock for my aquarium even though ph8 isn't off the scale,an my local fish store's have limited aquarium plant choices. Also some plant species which can tolerate high ph are illegal in the uk because they're evasive ability to take over if let free into the wild.
It is interesting how we all have different experiences with our hobby. My PH hoovers around 8, but I have Java ferns growing and multiplying like crazy. I use LED lights (White, blue, and red), so maybe that is the difference. But I also have pennywort, and although it's growing, it is struggling.
Liked! Great video. In the past, when ever i introduce a plant (bought from pet store) to my beta bowl, i end up infecting the beta with ick. How do you insure you don't get ick/parasite each time you buy a plant, snail and shrimp?
So usually you should put them in a quarantine tank for a couple weeks...but most people are impatient and I am also lol...sometimes I'll dip them in hydrogen peroxide and water, like 1 part h202 and 6 parts h20.... allum or certain salt dips can also work. Just Google "salt dip aquatic plants" or similar terms and you'll find quite a few ways to do it :) best of luck!
I think the answer is more related to why the fish succumbs to the infection: is the ick in the tank or on the fish or both? If it’s on the fish, quarantining the fish has some benefits of protecting the others and potentially treating that fish separately if ick breaks out. If it’s in the tank then quarantining only delays exposure. Potentially the ick is in both, I think is the most likely scenario. I read that fish carry many potential parasites on them all the time. When they become infected is when their immune system gets stressed (similar to humans, sounds familiar?). So minimizing stress is the key. Climatizing after transportation (temperature equalization) will help with lowering stress, and of course quarantining may also help reduce the fish’s stress. I’m not sure what is the best answer, I’ve only used the floating bag process, successfully, with maybe an exception or two over the years.
Really like your video about no water changes you really now what your talking about ,im in the process of setting a no water Change tank up like deans video on the ocean aquatics store . Iv got a really deep substrate of about 5 inches of gravel on my 40 gallon I'm injecting co2 it's got plants in like how he does it on deans video. Iv only set it up today. Iv got a question about keeping a low pH in the tank 6.3 pH or below. If I put seri stone (mountain rock ) in the tank it will raise the kh and then raise the pH ? If I start with tap water that has a high kh my pH with be high as well so I'd need to use ro water ? What's the best way to keep a low pH or lower pH in a aquarium you have found . Lee
So I think the best way to keep water low in ph, (without RO) is generally to keep a 5 GAL Bucket of water that's dechlorinated, and toss in catapa leaves, alder cones or some botanicals. That should drop it to the mid 6s usually..then let water acclimate in that bucket a few days ahead of water changes. Also co2 will form carbonic acid which will help drop the ph a few points. The stone should be fine, but it can have calcite deposits, rather than quartz in some collection points...but this will be a project to monitor any how, and the co2 plus some botanicals should let you start lowering it over a week or 2. Just don't dump tap water into the tank that is ph 7.8 if your tank us 6.5 or whatnot....let the water get within a point or two 6.6 or 6.7 max, if you want to add it to 6.5 tanks etc.
Best of luck! Some water is too hard and needs RO, but usually you can work it down a whole number or Two with these methods.
Best of luck! Let me know how it goes!
@@Fishtory thanks dude for taking the time and and righting back , you really now your stuff iv been in the planted tank seen for the last 10 year and still get confused with water chemistry, kh ,GH ,pH I'll let you no how I get on on the next 6 months ,I'll ever have a nice look tank or a bowl full of green algae 😀 it's all fun though...cheers again
U can do that with a light fish load, but if u got a tank with more fish than it supposed to have them well.. 100gallon show tank, 100gallon sump tank, 5gallon canister filter. All to support a lightly planted tank, 15cory 10sidthemunkie 8discus 3male beta 9female beta 3pleco snails that the munkies did not destroy.. and they were all breeding.
I dosed micro ferts 1 a month threw in shells into the sump 1 a year and cycled the tank to simulate spring and get the fish to breed. I hated cleaning algae and constantly trimming plants so I can see the fish, so I went with water volume and biofilter volume.