Irresponsible Reefers!

I am disturbed.

Here is the back story. I was helping a friend move some furniture today from her other friends house. We entered their house and much to my surprise I saw an aquarium in the room. The aquarium is located in the foyer of the house. When I saw the tank i had a hard time seeing the fish because the tank glass was covered in cyano, and algae. I had mentioned the tank and the lady said "oh, it needs to be cleaned." She then started cleaning the glass with the mag float. She then said "We have a lady that comes from Amarillo that takes care of it." I thought to myself, that is 50 miles away and I could do it for you cheaper and more frequently. I thought I would mention it and the husband said "the arrangement we have with her will not change." I thought to myself how sad for the fish. After further inspection, I saw the tank had many different types of coral in it, along with a hippo tang, clownfish, cardinal fish, and diamond goby. The tank size was a 36g bow front, and the skimmer was blowing bubbles out the top. After we left the house I was talking to my friend and she was telling me that these people own 3 businesses, and they are well off.

I am disturbed... These people have the resources and the money to have a beautiful reef aquarium in their house and yet they do not show to care about the inhabitants. I can barely afford to piece together my tank and I am constantly worried about the health of my 3 fish and my snails. The potential is there and yet they do not seem to care about it.

Hmm I dont know. I want to yell and scream about it, and yet I just want what I cant have.

 

Unfortunately the world is full of people with the same mentality, sad but true. Maybe it is because we eat fish people see them differently much the same as countries where dogs and cats are eaten and are shown little care...

 

+1

On the bright side, the algae is absorbing the PO4 and NO3 helping to make the water more inhabitable.

 

I've seen my fair share. I used to install communications and entertainment service in homes and seen many Ugly tanks in my day as well. I know how you feel. I went to one house that had about 15 aquariums a recliner and a TV and a bed in the bedroom that's it LOL.

 

I've seen a couple of those kind of tanks recently myself. It is aggravating. In reality, most people aren't cut out for the amount of work that goes into a marine aquarium.

 

Its a fine line we walk in our hobby while I understand what you are saying/feeling what is the difference between somebody not taking care of their tank and someone killing marine life with their power heads? A lot of hobbiest don't truly believe that a fish tank/reef is a living being so its not treated as such.....I feel sadness and some anger to be honest when I see tank crashes, fish jumping out of tanks, killer power heads, and ect.... because after 25 years in the hobby I know its the hobbiest fault 99% of the time.

 

I see your point spinner and agree to some extent. I've been guilty of the above myself. But I think there is a difference when people look at their tank and know it's not right, and have more important things to do than make it good for their pets. I do see your point though.

 

My point is this...

The people that owned this tank, clearly knew that it needed attention. And instead of taking responsibility for it. Passed the buck to someone else that they want to say takes care of the maintenance.

 

Ignorance is bliss! Show them some examples of what a tank should look like, and maybe you'll sway them.

 

This comment could be completely moot on one detail. If you live close, you can take your much better husbandry and offer to maintain their tank, for a fee. Then you can promote better husbandry and more frequent cleaning/water changes and whatnot. Then you can take the money and feed your addiction!

Thru my local forum, I responded to an ad where a reefer wanted someone to do the dirty work of maintaining the tank every week. I sent him a message and met a really busy, but nice guy and I don't get a lot, but I get enough to save up for something or a couple extra frags. It's also helped me learn on a different system how different our tanks can be. I have learned a lot just by being the "fish guy" for this guy.

It is unfortunate to see this in our hobby. We want everyone to keep a healthy reef; I believe that if you are on here or lurking or just doing research, you are taking the steps to a healthy aquarium. It sounds like people like this have it more for a "show" piece and don't touch the tank themselves or know the first thing about it.