How the Experiment Started – The Father Fish Method
After years of experimenting with different lighting, substrates, fish, and plants in my larger aquariums, I decided to try something completely different – a no-tech aquarium following the "Father Fish" method. My goal was simple: to see if nature could maintain balance without the usual filtration, CO₂, or heaters.
I took a minimalist and budget-friendly approach:
- Substrate: Regular plant soil from a supermarket – around 10 EUR for two bags.
- Cap layer: Fine quartz sand to prevent excessive nutrient release.
- Lighting: A basic LED strip with a dimmer from a local hardware store.
- Background: Simple black foil for depth.
- Plants: Fast-growing species from a trusted aquarist.
The aquarium was set up in just a few hours. I filled it with water and let it sit for about a day before planting (I can’t recall if I planted immediately or on the second day). Everything seemed fine… at first.
The First Challenges – When the “Natural Balance” Fails
In the first few days, I noticed typical issues with no-tech aquariums:
- No water circulation – The water was completely still, creating stagnant areas.
- Cloudy water – Expected when using soil, but it gradually cleared up.
- Plant adaptation – Without CO₂ and filtration, plants had to adjust on their own.
Then something unexpected happened:
The plants suddenly grew extremely fast, reaching above the surface. However, at the same time, the lower parts started rotting and losing leaves. This imbalance triggered new problems:
- String algae explosion – Likely due to excess nutrients from the soil.
- I introduced snails and shrimp – Hoping they would help control the algae.
- Planaria appeared – A common issue in tanks with rich organic matter.
To deal with the planaria, I used a special treatment. That’s when the biggest shift occurred – the tank's nitrogen cycle crashed.
- The shrimp and snails disappeared – Possibly due to the treatment, lack of oxygen, or another unknown factor.
- I started larger water changes – Every 2-3 days to try and stabilize the tank.
- Nitrogen cycle reset – Suddenly, ammonia and nitrites spiked, showing that beneficial bacteria had been affected.
At this point, I realized that while I was aiming for a self-sustaining system, my interventions were actually disrupting the balance.
What Worked Well?
- Fast-growing plants absorbed excess nutrients and helped stabilize the tank.
- The soil acted as a powerful biological filter, supporting beneficial bacteria.
- The LED strip lighting was sufficient for low-tech plant growth.
What Didn’t Work?
- Plants grew unevenly – Their rapid growth above the surface led to decay below.
- Algae became uncontrollable when balance was lost.
- Planaria, snails, and shrimp introduced unexpected dynamics.
- The planaria treatment disrupted the nitrogen cycle, leading to a crash.
Final Verdict – Was the Experiment a Success?
Yes and no.
- A no-tech aquarium can work, but only with the right plants and a stable environment.
- Had I left it alone instead of interfering, things might have naturally balanced out.
🚨 But the experiment also revealed key weaknesses of this approach:
- Lack of circulation and controlled organic decomposition can lead to serious issues.
- At some point, external intervention becomes necessary.
If You Want to Try a No-Tech Aquarium, Here’s My Advice:
- Choose a mix of fast and slow-growing plants – Don’t rely only on fast growers.
- Make gradual changes – Avoid sudden interventions like treatments or large water changes.
- Be mindful of organics – Soil is nutrient-rich, which can cause problems if not managed properly.
📌 Have you ever tried a no-tech aquarium? Share your experience in the comments!