Is your substrate deep? Is it REALLY deep? Is it REALLY REALLY deep? This is the question Father Fish is engaged in discussing on today's video. Can it be too deep. Watch and learn how deep is too deep! Also, be sure to listen to the song linked to the thumbnail. Link is at the bottom of the description.
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Father Fish is an old time fish keeper. For 70 years he has kept fish. These are his simple, easy, bullet-proof methods for keeping healthy, happy tropical fish in an environment that can truly be called a living aquarium. Louis Foxwell adopted the role of Father Fish many years ago when he decided to open a tropical fish store as a retirement business. He had been a missionary, following in his father's footsteps for 25 years. Both men served the same congregation of deaf worshipers. Tropical fish were Father fish's constant companion throughout his life. He tells a wonderful story about his grandmother who kept fish in Berlin, Germany as a child.
Well, hello. Come right on in. You're at Father Fish. Nice to have you with us.
Whoops. A minimum. Minimum what? A minimum depth. Wait a minute. I know there's a minimum depth for
substrate, but is there a maximum? Is there a point where the amount of substrate becomes
detrimental to the tank's biology? Excellent. Excellent. Yes, there is.
The maximum is the level at which whatever the tank is sitting on will no longer hold it.
So, that's the maximum. Beyond that, or before that, before you reach the point of
utter destruction, it becomes an aesthetics issue. That is to say, if you have a 55-gallon tank
that's 18 inches tall, you probably don't want 12 inches of substrate. Although, wouldn't it be bad?
Wouldn't it be bad? I mean, there's nothing wrong with it. Six inches of viewing is just fine.
It works for you. I'm okay with it. Listen. Psychedelic Hippocampus pretty much nailed
it. They put Andrew Todd. I bet you he's going to say, when the substrate's so deep that there's
no room for water. Well, that's, yeah. Yeah. Like that, right? Yeah. The problem is it's not that
so much because I enjoy a good substrate as much as the next guy, probably more so.
The issue is, would I be happy sitting there watching substrate all day? And I probably,
on balance, would not. I think after I got the microscope out and found a big lens to put over
it so I could look at all the little squigglies in it, I think after a while, I would tend to
start ignoring it. And I'd be looking at other things that would take on greater interest.
So, yeah, the limit is really aesthetic more than it is a matter of principle, if you will.
So, there is a minimum. There is no maximum. Now, let me just say this,
one more thing about that. I'm going to hang now. Sorry, guys. One more thing about that.
When you're capping with sand in a brand new tank, try to keep it at two inches. Try not to
go over two inches. And the reason is it's just going to take longer for those plants you're
putting in it to find nutrition if you're at three to four inches. Unless it's a very, very large
tank and you've got three or four inches of dirt and three or four inches of sand,
then you're basically going to be okay, but you're going to want to
plant deeply. Plant. Now, always plant at least halfway down into the sand bed.
Do not plant all the way down into the dirt in a brand new tank because the brand new dirt,
substrate, soil is going to be raw and it could very well burn the roots. So, don't do it.
The roots will find their way to food. That's their job and they do it exceedingly well.
You need not support them beyond making sure they are well anchored in your substrate.
When building a DIY aquarium, do the side panels sit on top of the bottom class? Yes,
the side panels sit on top of the bottom class. Or do they surround it? No, they do not surround
it. I've seen both methods. You can use both methods. I do the top and now why do I do it?
Why do I do it? Ah, I remember why I do it. I do it in order to ensure that there's adequate support
at the seams. And here's the trick for that. If you don't do it, if you put the glass on the
outside and that piece of glass that is upright is not supported at the same degree, the same level,
the same intensity, whatever, as the bottom sheet, it will spring and it'll leak. Happens every time.
Might take a year, might take five years, but it's going to leak. So you always put the glass
on top of the bottom in order to ensure a solid stable level support. So that's why.
Well, I hope you found something you've never seen before.
Have a great day. Nice airing with us. Come on back.
