I learned a lot from my very first experiences with very natural Systems, no pumps no filters no artificial lightning.
After having algae blooms and many dead fish I learned not to overstock my small systems with fish and naturally shade my systems with
floating plants either lemma minor or water lily or both, ceratophillum demersum was also a great help to keep my fish healthy and water clear.
By that time there were no computer nor internet and not much information about aquariums and ponds, in Italy there was just a magazine "Aquarium"
which i devotely red and collected, I still have all of those.
When I grew up a little,I was able to work and buy my first aquarium. I still remember that day as one of my happiest day ever.
Having understood already that a water biotope would never work without plants,.I started it with many of those, but driven by enthusiasm I tried to overdue everything including
substrate, which I made as rich as possible, putting in anything from cow manure to oak Leaves and I don't remember how many more things ........................
Inevitably, shortly after I had unimmaginable algae blooms of any possible kind and regardless of how many water changes I made, they were always coming back.
After many trials and errors and being testing any possible material in the substrate, including volcanic lava personally collected on the Vesuvio volcano in Naples,
I finally understood that yes a rich substrate helps aquatic plants to grow faster, but algae problems always outbalance this advantage by keep coming back on a regular base.
Since then SIMPLE CLEAN GRAVEL is the richest substare I use today (iron nails are added always and very little osmocote, sometimes but not Always).
Dutch acquarium style is my model and I do it with very good success (but it is very labour intensive, three hours a week is the minimum requirement for a 200 l tank).
In between, when i was studying at University I was one of the first hobbysts in Italy to breed Discus and I could finance all my studies with that.
Discus was a very rare and very expensive fish back then not to mention that in Italy it was almost impossible to buy Quality fish at any price.
I visited Jack Wattley in Fort Lauderdale, FL and brought back home my future breeders then I visited Singapore and Thailand were all the best Discus breeders were thriving
and brought back the best varieties availabe at that time.
To breed Discus you need to understand water chemestry very well and have plenty of quality water to chance daily, not to mention fish patology and advanced treatments.
These fish are delicate, subject to many parasites and diseases if not properly kept.
to be continued............