Reef Therapy Session #6 - The Biggest Reef Aquarium Misconceptions

[@stoneprone8629]

Another incredible episode! I can’t thank you guys enough for the value you bring to the community, I’ve been obsessed with saltwater aquariums for a while and never had the opportunity to have one myself, and now that I can, you guys have given me plentiful information, and just perspective on the process as a whole. Keep it up guys!

[@ryanrich06]

You can either set up a RO/DI system or have to go to the store or your LFS (if you even have a local one) and buy gallons of distilled water, take your pick. The vast majority of the U.S. does not have clean enough water to just dump into a tank. You are the exception not the rule. The myth is that you need to buy a $400 RO/DI unit with additional carbon blocks and an inline TDS meter. I have a BRS Value 4-stage 75GPD that is perfect for my tap water and my tank, cost me $89 and it gives me piece of mind that I'm using quality water. That's worth every penny to me.

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

You're not wrong, however it's not safe to have blind faith that R.O. water is ultra pure, but it really depends on your starting water. I've worked with too many reefers having build up of heavy metals over time because they didn't realize that 1% was getting through and accruing over time.

[@ryanrich06]

@@ReefBuildersVideo this is very true. So maybe the misconception should be that an RODI unit is just a set and forget magic bullet that's everlasting? People should know which unit is suitable for their particular water source. Some people might need a 5 stage with extra carbon because they have extremely hard water with high TDS. Anyone that gets utility water from their municipality can get a report on exactly what's in the water.

[@jondahl9826]

I love these shows. There are so many reefing channels that concentrate on beginner reefer topics which is great, but I think there is a giant lane open for novice to pro-hobbiest to learn some new things from the cornerstone reefers. Great job guys!

[@skippersreef4009]

One thing I’d have to disagree with is flake/pellet vs frozen. If you look at ingredients dry foods are much more dense and concentrated in nutrients than frozen. Frozen is mostly water. So hard for me to over feed frozen but I use flake food to raise my phosphates when it gets too low.

[@russelmuldowney8736]

This one kind of took me off guard

[@seannunes2041]

I really enjoy these session especially for a person new to the reef hobby. I love how you both put everything into perspective and keep it real. The combined experience you two have cannot be discounted. Thank you both. Keep up the good work.

[@captivebredcanada]

Another good episode! The one thing I disagree with is the RO/DI. Maybe not in that it's required because obviously there are scenarios where it's not but for someone new it's just so much easier on them and on the person giving advice. Get the RO/DI and start filling up the tank. They don't need to know about ICP testing, reading water reports - that may or may not be easy to find depending on where they live, worrying about seasonal changes ect. An experienced person who has 1000s or even 100s of gallons sure maybe it's worth it for them to find out but for a new person finding out if the water is good would be more overwhelming than just hooking up that RO unit.

[@johnreefervermont4874]

I am loving these sessions. I woke up this morning hoping that one would come out soon and here we are. What a treat :)

[@Waynerock77]

I can’t think of a better way to spend an hour and a half! Love it!

[@anchor4346]

well.. I think this is the best Therapy session yet.. for me.. I learned a ton of stuff I already knew but have been ignoring due to anecdotal information..

[@miltonenglish1679]

I love how you guys geek out on this stuff. i feel at home :)

[@AquaSplendor]

My springeri ate my flatworm but bought another one a year later, didn't do anything. Just like flame angelfish, and "reef safe" Lottery I do enjoy all those different experience of reefing , it's what makes reef intricate

[@laurens6267]

realy love this podcast! Biggest misconception imo is that nitrate and phosphate are feeding corals and people start dosing it instead of upping their feeding.

[@rrrreefer9721]

Awesome discussion here!

[@OCReventsAndbuilds]

Really liking these These longer talks are my fav

[@joehernandez9453]

Jake & Mark....You guys rock!!! 🤟🙌 A one stop fun filled reef educational channel. Beginner reef guy here, a lot of what you guys say makes so much sense to me. My LFS guy told me a couple of weeks ago I can’t buy corals from him due to the fact my tank isn’t ready aka matured enough. Btw I’ve started my 75g display tank in the beginning of March this year with nothing in it accept live rock and sand. So make a long story short I’ve watched the Reef Builders KZbin channel and catching you guys on the apple podcast and immediately ordered a few LPS and SPS corals from WWC. The corals are doing awesome and they can’t even tell how old my tank is. 😂 Thank you 🙏🏼 Reef Builders!

[@Atalantum]

I add ceramic blocks to my established tanks for the purpose of selling them to people starting new tanks lol

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

now there's a good idea!

[@NickRosePhotos]

I have a Blue and Yellow tang both going on around 23 years and for majority of those years they have been feeding on 2 small cubes of homemade frozen food, plus some nori(per day) and what ever is on the rocks

[@eillyacostandinides3344]

Man. I would pay for these vidoes you guys rockkkk

[@paulukreefer5012]

Really enjoyed the stream and especially around nutrition... what pellets do you guys feed?

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

Next session is all about food and nutrition of both fish and corals

[@hoongphengcheah4740]

Love what you guys have been doing ! keep up the good work. Feels like I am at a club meeting every time I listen in. You mention something about tossing in carbon filter into freshwater before mixing my saltwater. Couple of question so I get this right 1)Does that mean I just chuck a Pentex cbc-10 carbon block water filter into a container of fresh water ? 2) how long do I leave it in for ?

[@drexistre7364]

Once again Awesome video guys keep it up Jake

[@ProducerReef]

I love these longer talk about real topics in the Reefing community. Especially this one right here. Just get the foolishness out, and show the real. Thanks guys. 💪🏾💯💯💯💯💯

[@Va4444]

Yeah so I can listen at work n it ain't only a 10-15 minute video

[@GeorgeFarmerStudios]

Great job! I enjoyed that and learned a bunch. 🙌

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

waddup George? VIP in the house

[@mikeywikeybikey]

If you’re going to bother sending off an ICP test to check your source water and then buy multiple carbon blocks to filter your water, you may as well just get an RODI unit. You could buy multiple units for the price some people are paying for a frag.

[@hannahturner4280]

A bit late to the party on commenting, been out of the hobby for 6 years and working on getting back in but people used to talk about acclimatizing corals to your lighting system. I am guessing this was more important when people had metal halides and T5s, but just wondering if people still recommend this. Thanks!

[@PhysiqueProNutrition]

Since you mentioned wrasse what's your thoughts on melanurus wrasse in a BB?

[@gonefishing5536]

WOW 20ppm pre treatment, our local is usually 200ppm +

[@cyprusreefers6030]

Loved the session 😊 Any suggestions for a real acropora ID guide?

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/

[@reefbeta3068]

I'm very agree on cycling with coral instead of fish for experienced reefer. But how would you go with introducing to new reefer? If a new reefer need to learn about all about light and flow and chemistry before starting a tank with only coral, it's hard to not consider it's hard, isn't it?

[@knels5288]

Great discussions! And very informative. It’s curious that one of the You Tubers for a large tank manufacturer always preaches against flake and pellet food like it’s poison. You guys make so much more sense instead.

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

Curious to know who's crusading against our beloved flake and pellet foods

[@knels5288]

@@ReefBuildersVideo Waterbox

[@Elev8minh]

GREAT SESSION JAKE AND MARK!!! Man this session is making me question how I approached my tank as a beginner. So I cycled my 20 cube starting with Marco dry rock and dry sand doing a fishless cycle with start xlm. I know you guys said to start the cycle with beginner hardy corals but given my situation since i did a fishless cycle, when its completed is it okay to put a couple corals in and turn on the lights? And what beginner corals do you suggest? Thanks 🙏🏻

[@ricardocarneiro7797]

ReefTherapy just in time to save the day!😎

[@tomhelmkamp9531]

Great podcast! But have to disagree with the no sand for wrasses. I placed a Coris Wrasse in my BB tank and it slept under rocks and all seemed well until the day I watched it get spooked and full speed diving head first into the bottom glass smashing it’s head 2-3x. It’s natural survival behavior took over. That fish was never right again and had obvious brain etc injuries slowly wasting away and dying. So, if it’s a sand burrowing wrasse my strong opinion is give it as close to natural habitat as possible, or just don’t buy that fish.

[@raysville7256]

Mark does a stunning Gary Oldman!

[@carlosfuentes5025]

Great chat, 👌🏼👌🏼

[@jameshaladus9165]

ordered both books !

[@OCReventsAndbuilds]

Perfect timing

[@harkinsaquatics]

It is the rabbit holes that cause real complexity in the hobby.

[@chadeikenhorst4333]

Its the lack of purity in the top off water that concerns me. You put in a a gallon or more a day, water evaporates out, but everything else becomes more concentrated.

[@travertinepico751]

Jake you said your ph hits 8.5, is that normal for you? My ph has been quite high lately 8.2-8.6 everything has been looking good though. My home has a swamp cooler running so carbon dioxide build up in my house is non existent. I’ve been dosing soda ash for a long time, I know that increases the ph quite a bit. Should I consider switching back to sodium bicarbonate to not get that daily ph boost?

[@stevenpavan327]

Jake, can you do a video where you discuss the flake and pellet foods you feed at the Reef Builders Studio?

[@stevenpavan327]

You did it! Thanks! I'm so happy!

[@ppsthlm]

Regarding acclimating coral. What you’re saying is, when you get a new coral, just dip it and then dump it in your tank as quick as you, right?!

[@spicyreef]

also, RO unit is not just about the cost of the unit, it's about all the wasted water... agreed a carbon block filter should be just fine for most, NOT all... most. take a moment and TEST THE WATER FROM YOUR TAP!!! especially if you are an "experience reefer" you should know better.

[@ppsthlm]

My oh my Jake, you really are on fire here. 🔥🤣 A lot of controversial claims here. Corals in brand new tanks. No acclimation to corals. Big swings in temperature. Raising alkalinity to desired level in an hour. Hardly any frozen food, mainly flakes and pellets, (My Bangai Cardinals have never taken any pellets, only frozen… Any suggestions what I should do?) Really interesting talk. But controversial at times, no doubt.

[@GenePlotkin]

I’m confused about frozen food. I was under the impression that it’s the flake/pellet food that was high in nutrients and therefore drives up nitrates and phosphates. Can you please elaborate on food in a future video? These have been great.

[@atfinthehouse8631]

Stability. Minimize intervention. Variety of foods and types. Sure, simple! Thanks. 👍🏻

[@brentchiazzari7826]

Love the promotion of using correct nomenclature in the reef trade. These hyped up names drive me crazy. SPS/LPS; maybe a more accurate term is robust/complex (based on taxonomy)?

[@tylercurtis5977]

Please add the Polos to the Merch Shop

[@ppsthlm]

And also for your next podcast about food. How do I get my Bangais to eat pellets or flakes? They are not even interested in giving it a little taste…

[@Va4444]

This new guy sounds alot like Jake lol 🤪

[@neilbright5346]

I know TDS isn't the whole story for the water, but I wish I had 20, ours is closer to 500.

[@PatrickJewellTheGreat]

Tbh I am going to have to give a carbon block based water purification system a go.

[@atfinthehouse8631]

Spirulina flakes are key to diet.

[@rosscredlandballantyne4936]

Taken with a pinch of 🧂.

[@amoore311]

Great episode, but why does Jake almost look like he takes it personally anytime anyone has anything good to say about Neptune?

[@DC-xg6gt]

I love you both guys but hoenstly the first 15min I was put off and moved on. Your take on "misconceptions" are personal anecdotal opinions. Lots of context being overlooked here. Best of luck to you both, still love u

[@reeftheseaforever]

Brs rodi 7 stage home and reef can't beat it

[@bopeep7806]

Love your channel mate, just watching all these talking videos is getting abit boring though being honest, would love to see your studio aquariums again and updates of reefing equipment being used and new gear being released corals and new ventures as well please :)

[@Blenny195]

What is up with the six month rule for anemones that no one can explain? Is this a new dry rock era guideline?

[@EazyP_Z]

Absolutely preposterous assertion about water purity & tap water that is going to really screw some new people over. Would prefer to see some responsibility based on the rule rather than the exception. You guys could disagree once in awhile it wouldn't hurt anything.

[@toodeloomofoz]

Jake stop interrupting him

[@mosleyaquatics6487]

Can you please do your entire audience a favor and stop with the oh let’s stop I want to save that for another episode. Literally 10x per episode you get into a topic and when you get to the good info you make it stop. Meanwhile every episode is absolutely nothing but bloops of partial info. I love what you guys are doing and I love the show but it’s genuinely absurd to stop every single conversation because you want to save it for later ?

[@phillipisland1]

Jake, your self righteousness is embarrassing. I find you informative but condescending. I think you need to reconsider your stuff mate.