TV=Entertainment. Multi Multi Million Dollar Company=Know what they are doing. The guys don't own an international business just from pure luck. It's been discussed plenty before. Animal Planet/Discovery makes more money from fake ideas, troubles, situations than they would in the real aquarium hobby. So they simply make everything over the top.
+1! Sadly, that is the point everyone. If they want to have a show on TV, ATM has to deal with what Animal Planet wants to portray in all it's sillyness.
All the real stuff that is actually left out of the show behind the scenes and all the stupid stuff that is essentially "made up" on purpose for each episode. Why? Agree or not.. Animal Planet thinks it's funny and "sells" to make up goofy situations. The fact is the scenes are done on purpose for a script and cut together in editing to match up perfect. But the true scenario did not happen that way for the customer in the end result, when the cameras were "Off" at different points and not there.
They have "High End" equipment certainly. But No magic potions, treatments or attachments to equipment/faucets, lol
Water is trucked in btw. When you see a tap at a customers site running water in... that's fake. Filmed on purpose. (The tank was filled more than once, cleaned more than once, tested several times) Some jobs take days to weeks, some even months long. The ones chosen for the show, had parts "mocked up" for them. For Animal Planets "entertaining" factor... To many hobbyists this seems very irresponsible and not funny. But ATM seems to not be bothered by the risk this reputation may cause. They are willing to put up with the fakeness and bs to still have a show on TV which shows their tanks in a fun setting.
The hope is.. it's a fun show for anyone. Hopefully most hobbyists can over look everything we know is wrong on the show.. which is most everything usually! lol
But those that are not in the hobby that may become interested... hopefully by nature of "common sense" all do their research appropriately before they believe it's as easy as something on TV. Much of what is on TV is FAKE. Including most advertisments with claims on products available much less hobbies like this...
My take on any new hobbyist:
Hopefully most people ask real hobbyists, Read good books, go to Superb local LFS shops like ABC Pets and see G. and if your in the $ bracket for a tank from a commercial/residential provider like ATM, know that in the real world your going to get professional service as well as advice and maintenance programs you pay for. It's not like on the TV program in real life.
Yes many people new to the hobby have spent $ frivalously and lost it. Done things wrong and paid the price. Many have become discouraged and eventually quit. But this leads back to "common sense". Researching your dog before you adopt it or purchase it. What are it's needs truly. etc.. Talk to others that have been doing it for a while and learn the truths. Can I afford this? The time, research, and money? The problem is with people that failed: most threw stuff together, never listened and never invested the proper research time. A price you have to pay, if your going to be stupid about it. People either learn through experiencing failures and accept them or from others experience before them. "When you take the time to LOOK and LISTEN, you increase your chances for the correct choice, save yourself loss and failure." But people do this with many things becasue they want it all to be too easy. That's why humans often fail at things.
It shouldn't ever be blamed on stupid stuff like TV shows. TV shows that are simply, if ridiculous.. just trying to entertain people.
That was all my point really was and not directed at anyone here at all. Just in general. That no one (in the hobby) should really get bent and take this or any TV show so seriously. Just enjoy it if you do or refuse to watch if you don't care for it.
But expect entertainment. Not an education in real aquarium knowledge.
If you want the latter, there are plenty of good people on this site around the world that can help with true knowledge. At the very least, I'd look here way before I believed any television show.
