Episode 47 pt2, The 150 Gallon Live Rock Soapbox, LA Fishguy

[RhosFishKeeper]

Just wana say ive seen a load of your Vids and this one is the best yet :) love the "hula hula" and would love to see a full Vid of you on your "Soap Box"

keep up the good work

[bjorker40]

Love the vid, although I'm one of those guys who prefer everything live ! It's just a much more exciting setup for my family and I !

[lafishguy]

hey B, well lets hope you dont have the need to medicate your tank as the whole point of the video was to point out that you can not use the more effective medications in a tank with LR or LS.

[1087goku]

can i sleep at your house.HAHAHAHAHA.NO REALLY

[1087goku]

can you summarize the equipment,kind of sand,and fish . and were you got it

[lafishguy]

hey 1, 125 gallon tank, overflow, w/d trickler filter, skimmer, Little Giant water pump, rocks, sand and coral decorations. I did not set it up, I just serviced the tank. you can find these items on MyFishTankDOTcom.

[Zaphyr1276]

Hello Jim, I was wondering if you can get sand for a fish only fresh water aquarium? Sand that I have seen says its live sand.

[lafishguy]

hey Z, i have never seen it offered, but LS can be as simply as sand that has become biologically active. you could also contact an importer of fish and ask if they would import the gravel your fish were collected in.

[PaNdeM0niuM]

"hula, hula" look !!

hahaha

[lafishguy]

hey P, that's the effect you get when the current moves things back and forth.

[DanJames777]

Jim, I am just starting up my marine tank. I was developing orangish algae on the walls and scrubbed it off with my magnet scrubber. All the orange stuff landed on my live sand. If I cannot use a vaccuum cleaner, how do I clean it off? thx

[lafishguy]

hey D, why cant you vacuum it off the sand? are you concerned with disrupting the sand? dont be, its just a small amount of algae.

[DanJames777]

@lafishguy Jim, I was concerned because in this video, as you were vaccuuming you said something like "Now, keep in mind this is not live sand."

So I thought you meant you couldnt do the same to live sand. So I'm okay vaccuuming the live sand then if I try to disrupt as little as possible?

[lafishguy]

hey D, I think you are confusing yourself by combing methodologies. Live Sand Beds or DSB's should not be radically disturbed, but can tolerate some digging. A simple layer of sand or gravel to represent the 'bottom of the ocean' is not intended to become a biological or intergrital part of the filter system and thus is cleaned on a regular basis, or easily vacuumed as would be a patch of fallen algae.

[DanJames777]

@lafishguy you said "and let me clarify, this is not live sand"

[patif35]

so i can just put fake corals and still have good biological filtration?

[lafishguy]

hey P, careful you are not confusing decorations from biological filtration, two completely different things.

[guywer2001]

i started my first saltwater fish only aquarium more than a month ago and since then not a single fish has survived more than 6 days.9 fishes have died(2 clown, 7 damsels).i have no live rocks, my specific gravity level is 1.020.ammonia is 0.50.no protein skimmer. have a sump for filtration.ceramic rings, and ammonia filter media, bio balls. temp is 87.8 degrees F. What can be the cause of fishes death?please help.

[lafishguy]

hey G, i would remove the ammonia remover as your 'cycle' needs the ammonia, but beyond that it sounds like its set up correctly. either you are getting really poor fish, introducing them wrong or something you have not found or told me me is really out of whack.

[guywer2001]

@lafishguy , ok i have removed the ammonia remover but should i keep the ceramic rings? what about ammonia as it is 0.50 or temp. it is 87.8 F, can they be the cause?

[lafishguy]

hey G, bio-balls only would be fine, but dont start removing too much stuff as its all part of your biological filter. the prefered temperature range is 70 to 80 degrees, and 87 is way too warm.

[dctrib]

I am going to try to emulate that tank the best my budget will allow

[dctrib]

@LAFishguy What are the decorative corals that are not on floor of the tank sitting on?

[lafishguy]

hey D, i do not understand your question?

[dctrib]

@lafishguy Just looking at the tank it looks like there only a black background there but some of the corals are a foot about the base of the tank. Are they sitting on dry rock, a black platform you built or do you have something attached to the back of the tank to allow those coral to sit above the base of the tank?

[lafishguy]

hey D, the decorative corals are sitting on top of rock that has been placed in the tank.

[lafishguy]

hey T, the reason for the fluctuation is you are allowing the pH to drop too much before adding the buffer, hence the pH comes back up, that being a fluctuation. consider adding the buffer on a regular basis

[cahernand1]

Question, why does your custommer use mh, if they don't have live corals? Y not use flourecent bulbs??? Cheapper and cooler too

[lafishguy]

hey C, this was a reef tank at one time so the MH were there before I started servicing the tank, and if the customer likes the look of MH who am I to make changes.

[lafishguy]

hey H, take a look ay LAfishguysDOTcom

[0FFTHEH00Kent]

LOL how intense



[TheStvnsan89]

Thank you, you're a really big help.

[TheStvnsan89]

I was under the impression you need live rocks to keep the fish healthy. Is this not true?

[lafishguy]

hey T, while there are some benifits in using Live Rock, you do not need Live Rock to have a saltwater fish system.

[TheStvnsan89]

@lafishguy This actually helps me out a lot. I had fresh water tanks. It's been years since i've kept fish and I think a salt water system is just beautiful. This tip will save me a ton of cash when I'm ready to get it all started. Thank you.

[guywer2001]

can i use play sand for fish only system?

[lafishguy]

hey G, i dont know whats in play sand. if its quarts that will do you no good. I would look for calcerous gravel.

[wiifan62]

hey jim, where would i get some of this "dead Sand" just want it for a fish only tank. any help would be greatly appreciated

Brian

[lafishguy]

hey W, not sure who has it. check with your local fish shop. i think that sand was called Golden Pearls.

[CI321]

in the beggining of this clip, when u disturb the sand bed, how come it doesnt go into the water & cloud it. if i move a rock my water gets cloudy from the sand

[lafishguy]

hey C, because it is vacuumed every two weeks so no dust or debri collects. remember I am not striving for a 'live' sand bed, its just a sand bed.

[monsterman1122]

Hey lafishguy, I'm setting up a 50 gallon fowlr aquarium. I bought a bag of salt for 50 gallons. I filled up the tank and then poured the salt in. I mixed it and waited for it to dissolve. Once it dissolved i measured the water with a hydrometer. It read so low that it basically showed there was no salt in the aquarium.

[lafishguy]

hey M, either you have more than 50 gallons or you need to add a little bit more salt. its also possible all the salt has not dissolved or the hydrometer is incorrect.

[Arteolike]

@monsterman1122 Taste the water and you'll know if its low or the hydrometer is broken =)

[xmazz31x]

@Arteolike soak your brothers toothbrush in it...

[Arteolike]

@xmazz31x Um... What????

[CI321]

@monsterman1122 ya i would get a new hydromiter

[telmo200]

This is so wrong in so many levels that i cannot begin to comment....

You can only go fish or corals? -.-'

Plastic plants offer something corals just cant offer? Common...

No live rock because treatments will kill off the live part? Comon even freshwater enthusiasts will tell you that to treat a sick fish you use hospital tanks... You never dose drugs into the main tank

There is wrong but this is another level of wrong... Guys Search up David Saxby and see his tanks...

[lafishguy]

hey T, obviously you are a LR fan, thats great. good for you. I bet if you ask 10 SW hobbyist you will find 2 or 3 who actually have a hospital tank. i feel LR is over rated, most hobbyists do know the downside, and i dont see what Saxby's aquarium has to do with this.

[telmo200]

@lafishguy Im not just a LR enthusiast, im also tottaly against the use of most artificial treatments on my tanks, namely my reef, and specially my 4 planted tanks. Sure i had some trouble with algae in the past, but the way to go is not to go all out with chemicals on it...There are so many other ways... Nanmely the use of refuges both in the sumps with caulerpa (wich i saw you cant use due to legislation in the US), or the use of mangroves (i actually got 3 saplings leeching nutrients)

[telmo200]

@telmo200 Also not being restricted by a budget helps me quite a lot... But my approach both to reefs and planted aquaria (which are my favorite btw) is that fish are just there to decorate, they are not exactly the goal of my tanks... The important in my tanks are corals and plants... Fish are there just to add some movement.

Sure i love inverts and plants=P

But even in a salt fish tank, Live Rock is needed to break down ammonia into less toxic compounds.

[telmo200]

@telmo200 Also, after seeing your video on algae control (all 9 episodes), i saw that you didnot make enough water changes...Sure you did a lot of gallons per change, but its not the ammount of gallons that count, but the space betweeen changes... i mean every 2 weeks, well even with 100% changes 2 weeks is enough for the tank to fill up in phosphates and NO3. My way is to do 25% changes every week, going up to 50% week, or more than one per week. Sure corals wont like it, but algae wont either

[telmo200]

@telmo200 Also i doubt the people you are servicing have enough knowledge of their pets, not to overfeed them... Better to underfeed than to overfeed... But hey if things are as bad in LA as they are in Portugal Europe, people will overfeed because they can, and not because they should... Knowledge is power, and in our society, knowledge is not pretty,... Ignorance is queen=S

[whereswalid]

how much do you guys charge to set up a 50 gallon reef tank? like actually design and buy the stuff and set up? thank you

[lafishguy]

hey W, thank you for asking, but I am not interested in doing 50 gallons. you can go to MyFishTankDOTcom and select the tank, overflow, stand, canopy and filter system to get an idea of cost for equipment but you will still need protien skimmer, lights and a chiller.

[roblox84]

i like that tank alot and i'm thinking about setting up a new 150 with fake coral. But why the metal halides if the coral is fake and there is no live rock, were they really necessary?

[lafishguy]

hey R, this tank use to be a reef tank, its now just a fish only tank.

[MrFishman92]

how do you get the coral to stick to the background.

[lafishguy]

hey M, one could silicone it in position before adding water, which would then become permanent, or create a 'seat' of some sorts that lets you place corals in it.

[VisualJusticeFIlms]

I'm a big fan of your show.

But I haven't reached salt water yet.

Any fresh water tank shows?

[hoaon]

How do you do that Gravel cleaning thing...OMG i hated it so muchhh, i still can't use it correctly.... T.T

[lafishguy]

hey H, starting a siphone does take a bit of practice. just make sure you are siphoning to a lower level. vacuuming is controlled by piching the tubing to slow down the flow when needed.

[dannym1994]

youre a dumbass, first off corals move back and forth like your fake plants depending on what corals they are, along with you can do both fish and corals, you dont have to strictly do only one

[lafishguy]

hey D, i dont think you really understood what I was trying to say, but thanks for your comment. goodbye.

[bananatree94]

@dannym1994 omg you need to learn how to pay attention, this guy knows what hes doing. 1. he never said REAL corals cant move back and forth, because he was obviously talking about synthetic corals. and 2. he said corals and fish are possible. the only thing he said was a risk was by putting liverock in a FOWLR tank because a lot of fish medications are copper based which will kill the inverts on the rock! im ashamed because you make teenage saltwater hobbyists look bad everywhere. *dumbass*

[dadecountyalan]

hey quick question. ive started a fish only system and ive used my budys water that already has bacteria.how long should i wait to add the fish. i have the ph and temp ready.

[lafishguy]

hey D, well you might have added a bit of bacteria, but the cycle does not start until you add starter fish... and then wait 30 to 45 days for the tank to complete its cycle. i cant believe you set this up and then asked the question!

[dadecountyalan]

@lafishguy well i just saw your videos now and thought i could use your advice.thanks

[playergame06]

hey Jim where do you buy those coral sculptures,do u know any online stores ?

thank you

[lafishguy]

hey P, if you are refering to the coral skelatons I get them from Tideline, if its artificial i have some listed on MyFishTank, bottom left link, or look up David Manwarren.

[I2eapz]

hey mate i know iv asked afew questions already just 1 last 1 im setting up a bedroom 8x2x2 (very nice looking tank that i have - im going fish only as id love to go with a puffer like in this video + other fish ect my question is the filter is a reef style sump filter witch i used to have liverock ect inside id like to run a tank that can have meds should i used boiballs or live rock as the biofilter /wouldnt both be the same as they both have to gain bio matter anyway ?

[lafishguy]

hey 12, purchasing bio-balls would be less expensive than buying live rock.

[liv4daoutdoors]

so why would someone put live rock and live sand in a "fish only" tank. are there any benefits of having it in a fish only system.

[lafishguy]

hey L, sure... biological, de-nitrication, and potential food sources to name a few.

[AleyEsteban]

woow you are so smart thanks for the tips

[kikeronaldo]

Does the "dead" rock becomes live??

[lafishguy]

hey K, it depends on your definition of live, but yes it does.

[megarepsol]

i just made up my mind again lol ...i want a fish only salt water tank...i luv puffers.

[meowey55]

is the pH buffer Sodium Carbonate?

[lafishguy]

hey M, i am not sure, but Google will know.

[oscar2hot4u]

do you what video shows you cleaning the fake corals with bleach

[lafishguy]

hey O, i cant recall but I think its an episode that is not currently on-line.

[btonben23]

Hey Jim i have a couple of questions...where do you get your fake corals from...and how hard is it to bleach the corrals

[lafishguy]

hey B, there is a Dead Coral Wholesaler locally and its not hard to bleach these corals at all.

[sogarud3baii]

hey jim Today i went to my local pet store and i got a "ocean sun " 10,000K and it says that it promotes the growth of zooxanthellae algae Essential for the growth and well being of all photosynthic corals and invertebrates. Can this bulb help me grow corals out of my live rock? and how long do you think it will take. Thanks jim =]

[lafishguy]

hey S, do not expect corals to grow from your LR, you obtain corals seperately and attach them to the rock.

[sogarud3baii]

oh ok

[JamieT96]

Hi, Jim

That aquarium you have setup up is very attractive and I would like to thank you for all the informative videos you have produced. Infact all the aquariums you have setup up are all very attractive especially the cylinder aquarium. I have one question, how much would the coral skeletons cost approximately.

Thanks.

[lafishguy]

hey J, which coral skeletons?

[Nugburner420]

wiil un live sand become live sand after a while? like rock does?

[lafishguy]

hey N, yes it will

[collinw24]

Hello jim, I was wondering if there are any invertebrates that can be kept with a porcupine puffer?

[lafishguy]

hey C, this is the second message you have sent. i do not know what inverts will not be eaten by a puffer.

[collinw24]

Ok thanks. Sorry for sending it twice, I deleted it and re-posted on this video because a saw that there was one in this tank so I thought that it might be a little more appropriate. (:

[sogarud3baii]

Hey Jim, i have a yellow tailed blue damsel and it seems to be pretty aggrisive it killed my striped damsel while cycling the tank i added some live rock and im waiting to add new fish do you think if a ocl. clown fish goes into the tank it will have some problem with the yellow tail .D.?

[lafishguy]

hey S, Damsels are great for cycling tanks but are very territorial when adding new fish. its possible he may not be pleased with your new clownfish :)

[sogarud3baii]

hmm yea i see now... i should let him settle in then add the clown fish il make sure its bigger for sure thanks jim

[ERNY161]

what about crack rock?

[lafishguy]

he3y E, i have no idea what "crack rock" is ?

[gotmoney0107]

hey jim i hav a snow flake eel and hes not eating properly its been like 4 days im wondering if its the water quality becasue i did a little water change an tryed feeding him he takes the food but doesnt finish it

[lafishguy]

hey G, when a fish stops eating it can be a bad sign. having said that, eels quite often will go for days or weeks without eating.

[gotmoney0107]

hey thnx jim so when do u think i should feed him next and wat should i feed him

(the eel hasnt ate food 4 like 4 days

[lafishguy]

hey G, you can try to tempt him with small offerings but he is going to eat when he is ready. squid is usually what I feed the bigger eels.

[jamesgang94591]

Plus over time, won't the dead rock eventually become live with the introduction of your corals and live copipods?

[lafishguy]

hey J, it does become live over time but I dont feel as guilty pouring in copper based medication on dead rock ( or becoming live ) as I would live rock.

[xtmreef]

It's weird, but I actually like your videos Jim!

[XxXsageofsarowXxX]

jim i want a bamboo shark but i also want a dogface puffer snow flake eal and a fuzzy dwarf lion fish twould they be okay in the same tank?

[lafishguy]

hey X, the shark and lionfish will require special foods or feedings. watch them closely but I think they would work together.

[Pimporly]

Hey you make a good voice over!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheOneAndOnlyProdigy]

Hey, whats good Jim? I understand your take on not having live rock, so this implies towards live sand as well, right? I want to set up an aggressive saltwater tank. Inhabitants: Lionfish, humu humu trigger, dogface puffer, and a panther grouper. I was wondering how maintenance will be, like a 20% every 2 wks or could I stretch it to monthly? Are these Inhabitants fine in the long run in a 72g bowfront tank= 4 ft long or will they outgrow it. I want to start with a tank the right size. Thanks

[lafishguy]

hey T, these fish are big eaters and live food eaters. because of the amount of food I would have less rock for debri to hide behind. the grouper will be hugh within months, the Lionfish is venomous, the DogFace will scuff the tank and the Huma can bite...especially when fed live food.

[TheOneAndOnlyProdigy]

Dog face will scuff the tank. Do you mean scratch it and if so with what? Thanks Jim Also, there is a huge controversy as to use tap water or not in a fish only system. If I used a dechlorinate could I get away with using tap water?

[lafishguy]

hey T, Dogface Puffers have beak-like-teeth. as they grow they need to be shaved down. acrylic tanks get scuffed as a result of this tooth trimming method.

[lafishguy]

hey T, purified water is the best to use when making SW. tap water, or filtered tap water is definately an alternative, not as quality or pure, but an alternative.

[14cichlid]

hey jim you should really do some freshwater tanks.

[williemammoth]

how do you get the debris out without sucking the sand out

[lafishguy]

hey W, the debri is lighter than the sand so if you watch you can see the seperation and know when to stop the suction in the hose.

[Sarrixx]

what kind of tang was in that tank?

[lafishguy]

hey S, a Powder Brown Tang

[anthonymovies5]

hey thanks jim for the tip

[jay733]

Just curious why is it called a soap box?

[lafishguy]

hey J, because it was my opinion and the episode was actually centered around the LR vs. bio-ball issue.

[jay733]

So soapbox was an opinion on how the aquarium looked? Sorry if I sound stupid, doesn't really make sense to me.

[MrDirect23]

wow great videos man , still just cant get enough.. love em..

[anthonymovies5]

hey jim in order to keep FISH only tank I should get a wet and dry systems at all times?

[lafishguy]

there are many methods for filtering a fish tank or fish-only system. a wet dry is what I consider to be the best choice.

[DaytonaRoadster]

Jim, soft corals will move too, not just plastic plants :)

[lafishguy]

hey D, it is a former reef tank. now its a fish only... with Butterflies.

[DaytonaRoadster]

oh i know Jim, i'm just saying

[lafishguy]

hey Y, its decorative rock and you can find it at your local landscape supply.

[yosimar95]

what type of rock is in that tank and where can i get it?