"Tanked" Poor Example

[Marinworld]

Has anyone been watching the Animal Planet program "Tanked?"

Talk about responsible reefkeeping! This program is a travesty to that. I find it inexcusable the way the livestock is tossed around on that show. Perhaps they are quite good in constructing things from Acrylic, but as far as showing some care or responsibility for the livestock; that is definitely lacking.

Dumping mass quantities of fish into brand new systems, (many showing obvious signs of disease) is completely irresponsible.

The subtle little remarks made by the hosts regarding the proper acclimating/conditioning does little to the novice to show the importance of the proper procedures. Very disappointed with the show, as well as with Animal Planet, in not attempting to be more responsible for the content.

Marinworld:rollface:

 

[Sk8r]

I watched the tangs in a phone booth episode. One of the damsels had lymphocystis, and the stocking list was a food-chain. One tang was oxygen-short, and either about to expire of sheer panic---or might have had impaired gill function---who knows, maybe ich...

I've seen 'tank maintenance' like this, and they don't reveal to the corporate customer the weekly 'butcher's bill': they scoop out the dead ones and plunk in some replacements. The fee for 'maintenance' is high enough to include it.

Then the fashion-statement ends, the corporation has no more use for the tank: this quarter's theme is something else, so they rip it out in favor of something else, and the 'maintenance' people just cart the survivors off to dump them in some other corporate tank.

There are caring maintenance companies: I've seen them, and I've seen 'business' tanks in which fish had very long and happy lives---Harry the Shark, who outgrew his bar and ended up at the city zoo: he did so enjoy the seafood tidbits---I doubt the zoo could match it; and a couple of monster tilapia at a neighborhood restaurant, who must be well into their second decade, but I don't think a caring maintenance company has the stomach to deal with a Las Vegas kind of fish-as-decor operation.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Right now I am watching the show. A couple years back they built a 57,000 gallon tank for a church. There are over 600 fish including tangs, triggers, rays, hogfish, and sharks. They are still adding to it from two years ago! I hope they know that you can't keep adding to a tank until you get tired of it! I don't think zoos or public aquariums have near that many fish in similar aquariums. As mention led many times here, they are good at building, not stocking.

 

[jimmyj7090]

No no, you keep adding to replace the fish that die every week.....

 

[HndMafia]

am I the only one that has a problem with a 57,000 gallon tank at a church???????????? Do something for people in need instead of building a church around a 4.7 million dollar aquarium!!!

 

[Reefing Newbie]

No no, you keep adding to replace the fish that die every week.....

Ohhh yeah I forgot, I thought it was a daily thing. That marine biologist isn't doing his job right... Is it just me or is a 400gallon tank a little on the small side for three sharks? From online retailers, I was always seeing the minimum being 1500 gallons for them. Not to mention that these guys are putting in difficult to care for fish like morish idols in these tanks. The proposal one was the best by far! Ohh, the rays buried themselves. Okay dial the phone and bring in about 20 or so TANGS for the tank. I think I will go buy 10 for my tank lol

 

[indatank]

Also pumping in water from any sources they can hook up to

 

[jeosbo]

I have actually never watched the show...but did read the recent TFH article that pointed out how they are well seasoned hobbyists first...kinda funny reading that after hearing comments like this. Sounds to me like "We are seasoned if thats what you want to hear", we know what to do, but your money is more important than doing it right...but again, I haven't watched the show and can only base that on the comments I have read here and in other places.

 

[scionreefing]

am I the only one that has a problem with a 57,000 gallon tank at a church???????????? Do something for people in need instead of building a church around a 4.7 million dollar aquarium!!!

Nothing wrong with it. A church that large probably does a lot more than you think. I know mine does.

Raffle grabber

 

[lucky_snapper]

Right now I am watching the show. A couple years back they built a 57,000 gallon tank for a church. There are over 600 fish including tangs, triggers, rays, hogfish, and sharks. They are still adding to it from two years ago! I hope they know that you can't keep adding to a tank until you get tired of it! I don't think zoos or public aquariums have near that many fish in similar aquariums. As mention led many times here, they are good at building, not stocking.

It really bothered me too.. We are supposed to be good stewards of the money God has given us and while I like aquariums as much as the next guy it seems like a waste of allot of money that could be helping people instead of bringing attention to your building or yourself.

 

[wicz101]

I think forget it's a tv show and made to entertant. Things are cut, edited and who knows what else. Give those guys a break, these no way they have a huge thriving business like that where they travel around the country set up tanks if they were really that bad

 

[milesofreefs]

im 50/50 on this one..... most of the tanks they build are none reef tanks..... qt tanks....... that run things like copper and dont need to be cycled.... so putting fish into a new system like that isnt a "bad thing".... your lfs more then likely kills just as many fish every month.... its an industry of caring for things that require a lot of care and when you are trying to care for a lot of things at once your going to have some bumps in the road.... but 3 sharks in a 400 gallon system well thats a little much..... or 20 tangs in one tank i myself wouldnt do it... i think they should be more careful with there stocking list but you cant blame them for wholesalers selling fish with ick...

 

[deepblue68]

i hope there stocking lists for there tanks are all flash for tv, but i do like watching the show to see the different tanks they make!

 

[chrisv]

am I the only one that has a problem with a 57,000 gallon tank at a church???????????? Do something for people in need instead of building a church around a 4.7 million dollar aquarium!!!

hey, some of us treat this hobby like a religion...

 

[vessxpress1]

It's been a while since I've posted here but I just watched the show where they made the phone booth aquarium. I see so many problems with this show, it isn't even funny. I'd like to see a check up on these tanks 2 years down the road. After the saltwater has taken it's toll on all the "props" these people need.

Problem #2 is, the clients don't have enough passion to care for the size tanks they get. I don't believe it for a second. They just want a tank, like they want a car and have somebody do all the work for them so they can have it instantly. People with more money than brains, IMO. It would appear the owners are making a fortune.

Problem #3. Maintenance. How do you get a small fish out that dies at the bottom of the phone booth tank?

Problem #4. WAY too much livestock. I thought the show would be more responsible in this aspect but they're pretty much mindless when it comes to stocking numbers. Basically how ever many cool fish they can find, regardless of size, get dumped in. A small amount of forethought goes into what will and will not get along. But lets face it. When you cram hundreds of fish in a tank, there's going to be stress over time. They're only thinking about the big initial show off and entertaining tv land.

I would also guess that they choose to go with so many fish because it's more profit. The customers have no friggin idea how many fish a tank should hold. They just want to see it busy. So they go all out and have their mark up on every fish thrown in.

The over stocking is my biggest pet peeve with the show. Other than that, I would say the owners learned how to build large acrylic tanks and are mildly knowledgeable on fish. They're obviously filling a roll but I think it's somewhat misguided, driven by the tv show. Which copies other tv shows where people with deep pockets need to have everything customized to fit their tastes.

Why you wouldn't want to view fish in their natural reef environment, I have no idea. I probably will not continue watching the show. I think it sets a bad example and highlights the selfish nature of people. I believe the show is for people who have no clue about keeping tanks. Not so much for the advanced hobbyist that knows what's up.

 

[Wrench]

Jeez o wiz, would all of you freakkin' goofballs that want to complain about this show PLEASE consolidate your whining into one thread? If you dont like it then change the channel. Trust me, crying about it on the internet isn't going to make you famous.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I think their stocking is bad enough on the longer tanks with more surface area as it is. Then they build the cylidars, keg, and the tall aquariums and add twice as many fish! It should be the other way around as far as oxygen is concered, especially when most of them are TANGS. I guess we could all agree that they are good at building the tank, not filling it?

 

[derek4real]

I understand that most of the people here are "more responsible" with their fish and tanks than the customers of the show. Keep in mind, most their customers seem to be doing very well financially and thus don't care about "being responsible" cause they can afford not to be responsible.

I mean come on, a guy spent $30,000 on a custom Quarantine set up. Realistically, not your average person has a $30,000 display tank at that.

 

[derek4real]

Although I do not agree with their stocking methods and the use of tap water.

I think this show will bring in more interest to the Local Fish Stores which is always a good thing. I would hope that the LFS would set them straight and explain that the instant set up route is not a good idea.

 

[talon4x4]

The show is meant for entertainment, not to teach people the proper techniques for fish keeping. The show has never claimed to be for educational purposes. Take the show for what it is, entertainment, and watch it like that. As has already been said, there is tons of stuff still left on the editing room floor. We probably don't even see 10% of what goes into making one episode.

As for tap water, I guarantee there are plenty of people on this very message board that still use tap water for there tanks. I have a feeling that 30 years ago when people had saltwater tanks they weren't using RO/DI. I know my uncle didn't and he successfully kept fish for 10 years.