Here's the thing

Of course, we could go Old School, like @AbbeysDad has suggested many times, with various containers, with various grades of pilfered media in them.
Wow, I'm not sure what warrants the incorrect pot shot and I'm not sure what you're talking about. 'Old school', maybe with 50+ years in the hobby...but admittedly still learning. 'with various containers with various grades of pilfered media in them'.
I have several tanks with only air driven sponge filters (sand and plants), I have Aquaclear HOBs and an HW304-B canister completely filled with sponge material. I do have a couple of experiments (so far not really successful) using Dr. Kevin Novak's, anoxic biocenosis clarification baskets that contain Safe T sorb (clay absorbent) and Seachem Flourish Red (for iron). But none of these materials were stolen (pilfered - of little value!!!).
 
Wow, I'm not sure what warrants the incorrect pot shot and I'm not sure what you're talking about. 'Old school', maybe with 50+ years in the hobby...but admittedly still learning. 'with various containers with various grades of pilfered media in them'.
I have several tanks with only air driven sponge filters (sand and plants), I have Aquaclear HOBs and an HW304-B canister completely filled with sponge material. I do have a couple of experiments (so far not really successful) using Dr. Kevin Novak's, anoxic biocenosis clarification baskets that contain Safe T sorb (clay absorbent) and Seachem Flourish Red (for iron). But none of these materials were stolen (pilfered - of little value!!!).
No offense intended, merely illustrating that in many instances, the old, tried and tested methods, stand the test of time.
Please don't get distracted by the odd verb...'pilfered'. In the context used, perhaps scavenged might have been more universally acceptable. I certainly pilfered broken plants pots from the garden and various stones and gravels from nearby rivers and beaches.
 
You mentioned filters. There is lot we can do to make filters work better for us, the medium in the filter can be replaced with natural products that actually leech minerals into the tank, to aid with plant growth, help control pH and hardness. These are the things that the aquarists of the past were very good at.
I don't know what people used to do 40 years ago, don't really care that much about building my own stuff and I don't mind paying for my plug and play stuff.

Having said that: I 100% agree with you on the core argument you brought up.
I bought so much cr@p that I thought was absolutely necessary when I first started, when it's not necessary at all. I was under impression from reading forums/youtube that my fish/plants will die if I don't do all this stuff and buy all this stuff.

I don't need to read 40 year old book to figure after a while that my $80 bottles of fertilizer do exactly the same thing as fish poo. And dosing just gives me algae, etc issues that I have to deal with via another bottle, etc.
Or that my filter cartridge doesn't actually do much de-nitrification; that I can make it 10x better with a piece of sponge and some filter media.
Or that the algae in my tank I'm killing with bottle is the unprocessed algae wafer.

So yeah, completely agree with the question you ask (even tho thread got derailed a bit from your point it seems)
 
And there is the problem, I will never water change a tank more than 25%.
There's a common parroted saying "there's no such thing as too much filtration" which is incorrect the way it's commonly interpreted. However, "There's no such thing as too much fresh, clean water" (you can quote me!).
I prefer 50% (or slightly more) weekly and in some of the crowded grow out tanks, I'll do about 50% twice a week.
When does anyone actually stop learning about anything?
If they're smart, never because the more you learn, the more you realize that there's much more to learn. I cooked food for thousands, I built my 2 story home with my own two hands, I wrote PC computer software, I created a website in a couple of days, I've been a fishkeeper for many, many years. I've been on the "learn as you go" program!
Even an experienced aquarists with 20+ years under his belt still needs quality test kits. I don’t care how much experience you have, or how long you have been keeping fish, you still need to frequent test your water.
With well established tanks on a stable maintenance schedule, I rarely test the water any more. Oh I once was a bit 'over concerned' about water parameter test results, but the notion finally passed.
Please don't get distracted by the odd verb...'pilfered'. In the context used, perhaps scavenged might have been more universally acceptable.
Perhaps 'repurpose' or 'recycle' isn't typically in the UK verbiage? I tend to appreciate a DIY approach and where something once used for one thing and perhaps destined for the trash bin serves very well in another use and saves money as well! Like my re-invented Tap Water Filter to address source water nitrates, or the simple bucket filter for the turtle pond, an inexpensive 45g bin for a sump, a DIY pvc spray bar for the 110g canister filter...and on and on.
I don't need to read 40 year old book to figure...
There is no denying that one could throw LOTS of money into this hobby with tanks, filters, media, food, and fish. But what if you have the "fishkeeper itch" and you're a teenager or a young adult on a tight budget, a single mother living on paycheck to paycheck.... There's nothing wrong with KISS (keep is simple, stupid)! One doesn't have to have an expensive canister filter when a simple HOB or sponge filter will do. One doesn't need expensive bio-media when sponges work just as well. One doesn't need high end lighting when floating plants do well under almost any light. With some thought and inspiration, the hobby is accessible to more 'regular people' that also have a life but perhaps not lots of cash for a HOBBY!
:)
https://mjvaquatics.com
 
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You mentioned filters. There is lot we can do to make filters work better for us, the medium in the filter can be replaced with natural products that actually leech minerals into the tank, to aid with plant growth, help control pH and hardness. These are the things that the aquarists of the past were very good at.
If I may interject. As a relatively new aquarist, who is attempting to learn how to keep fish "correctly", would you be willing to offer some suggestions of what to add to my filter to improve plant growth? Thank you!

I added crushed coral in an attempt to stabilize kH. And my filter is the aqueon quiet flow 10. It has a charcoal cartridge and some kind of filter floss or sponge type pad. I squeeze that out in used tank water and rarely replace. I don't want to kill my beneficial bacteria.

I'm struggling with my plant growth. I recently bought a new light, since the light that came in the kit isn't full spectrum. I bought the NICREW ClassicLED Plus Planted Aquarium Light. It's the best I could afford.

I also worry about feeding. Am I overfeeding? How much is enough? Honestly, I can read all the advice there is but what I really need is for someone to SHOW me. With MY foods and my fish. I feel a bit stupid but I'm a newbie and trying my best.

I'm very glad to benefit from the wisdom of more experienced fish keepers. So thank you, Old (in a very dignified way) Guard, for being willing to walk those of us with less knowledge through all this. 😁
 
If I may interject. As a relatively new aquarist, who is attempting to learn how to keep fish "correctly", would you be willing to offer some suggestions of what to add to my filter to improve plant growth? Thank you!

I added crushed coral in an attempt to stabilize kH. And my filter is the aqueon quiet flow 10. It has a charcoal cartridge and some kind of filter floss or sponge type pad. I squeeze that out in used tank water and rarely replace. I don't want to kill my beneficial bacteria.

I'm struggling with my plant growth. I recently bought a new light, since the light that came in the kit isn't full spectrum. I bought the NICREW ClassicLED Plus Planted Aquarium Light. It's the best I could afford.

I also worry about feeding. Am I overfeeding? How much is enough? Honestly, I can read all the advice there is but what I really need is for someone to SHOW me. With MY foods and my fish. I feel a bit stupid but I'm a newbie and trying my best.

I'm very glad to benefit from the wisdom of more experienced fish keepers. So thank you, Old (in a very dignified way) Guard, for being willing to walk those of us with less knowledge through all this. 😁
This would be better placed in a thread all of its own. Then we could help you out properly, without distracting from the original thread and being able to properly focus on your questions.
 
If I may interject. As a relatively new aquarist, who is attempting to learn how to keep fish "correctly", would you be willing to offer some suggestions of what to add to my filter to improve plant growth? Thank you!
I invite you to FREELY review my blog: that contains articles from 3 hobbyists with about a combined 125 years in the hobby (Myself, Byron, and Greg Sage of Select Aquatics of Erie Co.). Since you're new to the hobby, The Newer Hobbyist Primer is an article that provides links to other articles with a focus on topics of special interest for the newer tropical fish hobbyist.
 
I'm very glad to benefit from the wisdom of more experienced fish keepers. So thank you, Old (in a very dignified way) Guard, for being willing to walk those of us with less knowledge through all this. 😁
Definitely start a new thread for this, sounds like you have most of what you need already so just going through how to optimise that and make it work for you.

Make sure you include details of your tank, water parameters, equipment, stocking, etc and people will be all over it to help you get things sorted.
 
So buy a book and reinvent what your father did, Simple. Don't make excuses about water etc. Work through those things and bring your findings back to the forum.
Ok, so i'll go fill my tank with my tap water... add nothing and see how it goes... fast forward 1 week... OOPS ALL MY FISH DIED. There are somethings that just need to be added and you may have "perfect water" but a lot of us dont. Meaning we have to hand over a few bucks to the fishy people
 
Ok, so i'll go fill my tank with my tap water... add nothing and see how it goes... fast forward 1 week... OOPS ALL MY FISH DIED. There are somethings that just need to be added and you may have "perfect water" but a lot of us dont. Meaning we have to hand over a few bucks to the fishy people
Actually, if you did read a book from the Olden Days, you would've been told to fill a barrel outside, fill it with water and then let it stand for a week or two.
Then that water would be deemed safe and wouldn't have cost you anything. :D

The problem nowadays is that some water sources have chloramine in them and that wouldn't dissipate, no matter how long you left it standing.
 
Actually, if you did read a book from the Olden Days, you would've been told to fill a barrel outside, fill it with water and then let it stand for a week or two.
Then that water would be deemed safe and wouldn't have cost you anything. :D

The problem nowadays is that some water sources have chloramine in them and that wouldn't dissipate, no matter how long you left it standing.
Yup... mine has that chlorine
 

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