Observing tanks at Rainforest Cafe

[Sk8r]

I wouldn't be surprised if some national/city/state aquariums do have reproduction from fishes ordinarily beyond our means to reproduce...but even for these huge tanks one problem is that our water circulation kills the eggs and hatch. If we could get a circulation system that could work on a kind of two-tank 'surge' and yet not suck the eggs into a filter, who knows? Maybe using gravity and a motive force to lift could create a no-kill surge. We already have a filterless filter, in live rock and sand.

 

[freetareef]

i went to the rain forest cafe for my bday. i was very disappointed to say the least.
if all these ignorant consumers are awed by the crappy folr tanks, imagine how much more awestruck they would be by coral display tanks...
"Mommy mommy... I want to sit next to the acan tank!!!"

 

[Aqua Goddeess]

Has anyone here eveer asked to meet with the curator if they are available. Each location has their own staff of aquarists so I'm sure you could ask them questions.

 

[WaffleWalffle22]

guys pleae dont be mean to rainforest cafe because they are experts and thye get the help they neeed for their fish. they know what they are doing mroe than most of you so stop and SHUT UPP PLEASE STOP ITS REAINFOREST

 

[bigreefnutt]

I know exactly what you mean. I run a maintenance company and I have taken over many tanks to where that the way it was setup to where it was easier to just replace the fish instead of keeping them in good health. It has been a challange at times to explain to the client its easier and cheeper to do it the right way instead of constintly replacing dead fish all the time

 

[chrisv]

What you may not consider here is how cheap the tangs are wholesale.


Looking at a wholesale list now: flame angel $19, snowflake moray $3.99.

I would like to know how much more expensive it is to keep a tank going for long term health as opposed to replaceing everything the next month? Some of the fish they buy such as the sohal tangs and purple tangs aren't all that cheap... Sohals most definantly go for upwards of $250 as a guess(basing off of what I have seen) and $299 at bluezooaquatics. The location I went to had maybe 4-5 sohals and replacing them every month might be an extra $1500 if they die every month... They do fish only from what I saw so they don't need the fancy lights(MH that shoot up your electric bill).

It would be really nice to start being able to mimic the ocean enough to breed the larger fish like tangs and triggers! From my understanding though you would need an extremely large tank with seperate ecosystems(reef/shore zone then the "open" ocean). At least we have gotten far enough to captive raise the blue hippo tang, but that still hampers the population. I think seaworld should add on and build a seperate Shamu show tank and load it with different tangs and try breeding them...

 

[toromp]

totally sucks for the fish :-/ such beautiful creatures

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I don't know I personally think that the tanks that are privatly owned by people in this hobby have better looking tanks than the cooprerate run fish only tanks. They don't even use rock, its the fake coral inserts(at least at the one I went to). If the coorporation was shown a budget of the way the tanks were run now vs. if they were run properly I bet they may see the money lost on something they should only have to replace every decade or two... Even clownfish can live for 15 years, so save the $20 every month and you would be amazed how much of a difference it will make over time. Its just like putting that money in a savings account.

 

[GreshamH]

I don't know I personally think that the tanks that are privatly owned by people in this hobby have better looking tanks than the cooprerate run fish only tanks. They don't even use rock, its the fake coral inserts(at least at the one I went to). If the coorporation was shown a budget of the way the tanks were run now vs. if they were run properly I bet they may see the money lost on something they should only have to replace every decade or two... Even clownfish can live for 15 years, so save the $20 every month and you would be amazed how much of a difference it will make over time. Its just like putting that money in a savings account.

My job takes me to all corners of the US and I get to visit a LOT of aquariums, public and private. The Downtown Aquarium in Denver, a CORP run aquarium, has some very nice tanks that rival most private ones I see.

Lest not forget Atlantis Marine World on Long Island. Its not a "public aquarium" but rather a private aquarium (read: corporate) and please show me any private aquarium that rivals their 20K g tank?

Of course I can't find the really stunning photos using Google right now

 

[GreshamH]

Although Steve's 1,200g tank is STUNNING!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sncfi4hgnM0&feature=related

Awesome video, but it still doesn't give you the full scope of that impressive tank.

 

[Marco67]

Where's the like button for Greshs' last two posts ?
FWIW thats an old pic of Joes tank ...so much more grown in now :beer:

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Well if you go to manhattan reefs club forum you will find someone that built a 20k gallon tank in their house. Personally I think they make it look small by having numerous naso tang species that get pretty dang big(2 footers). If the aquariums are true reefs in public aquariums, they can be gorgeous. I have only seen one at that was at the Minnesota Zoo. Wasn't that great fishwise though, just a bunch of chromis. If most of the aquariums were true reefs without the fake rock then they have a bigger capability of being stunning. I just haven't come across very many.

 

[GreshamH]

If you go to numerous forums you will find Bill's thread... but I bet you didn't know Bill started that thread here on RC years ago. That is an old build

Funny you would choose that fish and not the Napoleon Wrasses Joe has in the AMW tank :lol:

@Marco... yah I just did a quick web search. I have some great shots myself but don't want to upload them just for this thread Joe can GROW coral, that is for sure!!!

 

[Reefing Newbie]

The only thing that I recongnized were the unicorn tangs lol. I had no idea he started that thread here, guess thats what happens when you haven't been here very long!