I Built a River Table for Real Fish

Comments · 1.4K

• JO

  @John_Malecki · 2 years ago · pinned

  Support my channel by getting Fishing Clash on your iOS/Android device for<br>free <a href="https://fishingclash.link/JohnMalecki">https://fishingclash.link/JohnMalecki</a>! Use my gift code JOHNMALECKI to get a $20 reward, and share your biggest catch in the pinned comment

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• LI

  @liquidrockaquatics3900 · 2 years ago

  Respectfully John, if you choose to make another table with fish in it again, I recommend at least watching an old “king of DIY” video where he makes acrylic (or plywood) fish tanks. Aquarists care first for their fish, second for the enclosure, and third for themselves (generally). There are great ways of making enclosed systems that are virtually maintenance free, but they always have to be accessible for cleaning, water changes, feeding, etc. having pots of soil with live plants in an aquarium underneath the table would make a great place for fish to live. If you use a canister filter and out the discharge at the top of the river to provide current flow, and leave the intake in the bottom, it would allow for the filter and hoses to be hidden. Some species of fish adore high current flow and will play in the stream, others prefer calmer water.

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• PU

  @puccipower · 1 year ago

  I think you guys should meet up with some aquarium builders. Maybe try a collab with an aquarium builder on youtube? You guys aren&apos;t even using water grade aquarium silicone. You&apos;re going at this as resin/wood artists and you need someone who is a pro! If you want to keep making aquarium themed furniture, the sky is the limit. There is always big money in clients who want things turned into an aquarium.

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• VE

  @vettefan73 · 2 years ago

  From a craftsmanship perspective, its gorgeous.<br><br>From an aquarium keeper perspective... I have some thoughts. That water is going to be toxic for the fish in no time at all. Some things to consider for next time:<br>1. Oxygen enters the water due to surface agitation. Add flow in the tank to provide oxygen to the fish. You can also add a bubbler to the water to agitate the surface as well.<br>2. The filter is in the worst possible location. The outlet of the filter is towards the inside while the inlet is tucked in a shallow corner. That filter is just going to be cycling the same few oz of water. Bore a hole through that piece of wood and pull water from the other side of the tank and center the filter so the outlet can actually provide flow through the middle.<br>3. Add a place for the fish to hide. Alcoves, tunnels, foliage, etc. Being out in the open stresses fish out.<br>4. When using acrylic, polish the edges. Get the mating surfaces as smooth as possible, clamp them in place (no real force, just enough to stabilize it) then run thin cyanoacrylate (superglue) along the seam and allow it to wick into the join and let it cure. That will be more than sufficient to waterproof the tank. Never use silicone/caulk on acrylic. It wont stick. If you did this with glass, you will need to use 100% pure silicone. No additives or anything, It needs to be pure silicone. Any additives will leach into the water and poison the fish.<br><br>What I would do, personally, is use a sump under the table and allow the water to drain into it, go through your filter media, then pump it back into the other side of the table. Naturally it would create flow across the whole tank while allowing for adequate filtration. it will also provide a larger reservoir for water, increasing the total system volume which helps mitigate problems such as ammonia spikes. It also moves the heater and all the other filtration out of the display so you have a clean as possible look where it matters.

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• NI

  @NickClarkDrums · 2 years ago

  I think the reason we want to see it done better is to see one fish could actually live in. You Should build a much deeper section on side of the table. It can lead down to some kind of canister filter or sump and all be hidden off to one side. Kind of like a desk with shelves on one side. the water return can be sent off to the other side so you actually have water flowing from one side of the tank to the other and even potentially build a waterfall. I am very good with fish, worked in a small zoo and am available for consulting ;)

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• HJ

  @hjewkes · 2 years ago

  A lot of the feedback on the last video was on how to make it viable for the fish. It would have been cool to see some of that in this build

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• AL

  @alissabenzmiller3769 · 2 years ago

  I love the concept. As a fish keeper, this type of setup isn&apos;t sustainable for healthy and happy fish. It is a beautiful build with great craftsmanship, and I&apos;m happy that the fish will be going to a good home!

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• RA

  @RainMakeR_Workshop · 2 years ago

  I think a deeper section would be nice accessed by a cave. Fish need to swim up and down too.

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• TO

  @tonyyetman6896 · 2 years ago

  At <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrOZPWILxp4&amp;t=1134">18:54</a>, Sam takes a projectile to the face while his Shop Shades are perched on top of his head providing absolutely no protection. Classic.

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• DO

  @dontknowdocare · 2 years ago

  Looks great but you&apos;d probably have to consult a specialist to make a fish tank able that could permanently host live animals and provide an adequate environment for the fish.

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• FR

  @FroogsNmanders · 2 years ago

  Have you even considered that some of those wood products could leak toxic stuff in water. I would recommend adding these things for part 3: have real flow from one end to the other, then a bio filter under, you could use an aererator to add oxygen to water, use tubing to connect filter to hide stuff, make it like a long winding fish tank (make it deeper).

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• RO

  @Rome2284 · 2 years ago

  Should collab with SerpaDesign and do this for real. He&apos;s in Pittsburgh, you don&apos;t even have to go very far

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