The Father Fish Method
The Father Fish Method
Who is Father Fish? What is a Natural Aquarium?
Who is Father Fish?
From Seminary to Substrate
Louis Foxwell, known on YouTube as Father Fish, is a seasoned fishkeeper with 70 years of experience. His simple, easy, and natural methods ensure healthy, happy tropical fish in your aquarium. Lou adopted the role of Father Fish many years ago when he opened a tropical fish store as a retirement business. Before this, he was a missionary for 25 years, following in his father’s footsteps by ministering to a congregation of deaf worshippers. He currently promotes the Father Fish Method on YouTube.
Louis Foxwell
Lou fondly recalls his grandmother, Lena, from Berlin, Germany. She inspired his love for fishkeeping as a child. As a founder and original board member of the National Aquarium, Lou played a significant role in its development. He served as chair of the Community Relations Committee and participated in the Search Committees. With extensive experience across nearly every level of the fish industry, Father Fish offers a wealth of knowledge and products. Including plants, soil supplements, and more, to enhance your aquarium experience.
Method of Fishkeeping
Substrate
Soil, supplements, peat, compost, and sand. Together, these are the foundation that the plants use to grow.
Plants and Leaves
Plants maintain the water quality. Decaying leaves feed and provide shelter for the food web.
Food Web
Feed your fish and maintain your aquarium with the help of aquatic organisms.
The Supplements
Our mix of ingredients prolongs the ability of the soil to provide for the plants. Long enough for the aquarium to become self-sustaining.
The Natural Aquarium Substrate Supplements
You can mix your own or buy a mix from our store
Plants
Plants are the best keepers of your aquarium water quality. As a general rule, natural aquariums should have at least 50% of their substrate planted from the start. Aquatic plants and nitrifying bacteria will keep harmful nitrogen compounds and more from building up to toxic levels.
Pogostemon
Moss
Ferns and Rotala
Food Web
Your aquarium can grow organisms that will be food for your fish, fighters of disease, and controllers of algae. We lovingly know this as the food web, the basis of all systems in nature.
Finding and maintaining a population of some of these organisms is as simple as keeping leaves from a stream in a jar. Find out more about this process from our resources on Resurrection Jars and The Food Web.
Want to learn more about the Father Fish Method?
Check out our book: The Natural Aquarium – A Complete Guide