Yes! They always first assume it is saltwater. Then, after I tell them it is freshwater, some will ask "what's the difference" or "how can you tell"?
Do many people ask if your planted tank is saltwater?
Maybe I didn't notice until I started holding open houses (economy, if I ask you nice, will you PLEASE wake up? At least in my little town?) But every time someone sees my tank they say "wow! That's saltwater, right?" now, don't take this as bragging. My tank is pretty much bottom of the barrel compared to a lot of other tanks on here. I pretty much just stuck a bunch of plants in and let them do their thing.
Back to the question at hand. Why do people assume that only saltwater tanks can look good? Are there really THAT many freshwater tanks that have clown puke gravel, and bubbling ships/skulls/treasure chests? I'm not frustrated by any stretch of the imagination, I like showing people that freshwater tanks can be awesome. But why do so many people assume its a saltwater tank? I've spent a lot of time in the water(fresh, salty, and brackish alike), and most saltwater plants get BIG! Way too big for a household aquarium (excluding the likes of Oprah or Romney)
Do the rest of you get the same question?
Just curious.
Back to the question at hand. Why do people assume that only saltwater tanks can look good? Are there really THAT many freshwater tanks that have clown puke gravel, and bubbling ships/skulls/treasure chests? I'm not frustrated by any stretch of the imagination, I like showing people that freshwater tanks can be awesome. But why do so many people assume its a saltwater tank? I've spent a lot of time in the water(fresh, salty, and brackish alike), and most saltwater plants get BIG! Way too big for a household aquarium (excluding the likes of Oprah or Romney)
Do the rest of you get the same question?
Just curious.
1 - 20 of 68 Posts
I've only had that asked once, I think it's more about the popularity of Reef tanks.
I get the "I can't believe those plants are REAL?" and " Won't those snails eat the plants?" (ramshorns) but the best is "OMG what is that!!!" (amano shrimp) Which is always followed by. "Do you eat those?"
I get the "I can't believe those plants are REAL?" and " Won't those snails eat the plants?" (ramshorns) but the best is "OMG what is that!!!" (amano shrimp) Which is always followed by. "Do you eat those?"
Yes, but generally its the ones with shrimp that confuse.
Some even asked if I breed RCS for consumption @[email protected]
The shrimp have certainly thrown a few people off, but I've never been asked if I was going to eat them, lol! I keep ghost shrimp myself. Just as a clean up crew. I throw 50 a 100 in there every few months and the angels slowly eat them. I was asked once if you 'could' eat them. I said that if you were hungry enough, you could probably eat anything living in the tank. THEN they got a disgusted look, lol.
honestly i never get past the "how many tanks do you have?" when i respond with 6 people tend to get turned off.
I'm routinely appalled by folks who genuinely don't seem to grasp the inherent difference between salt water and fresh water--not in types of tanks, but in terms of the idea that species in one can't (typically) live in the other.
"You should get one of those yellow fish like the doctor's office has!"
"They're cool, but those are saltwater, I have a freshwater tank."
"There's a difference?"
"Yeah."
"What about one of those shrimp like in Finding Nemo? My son loves those!"
"Again, saltwater--they're from the ocean. My fish are from lakes and rivers."
"Oh. Do you have coral?"
*bang head against desk repeatedly*
Somehow, I thought basic science classes or a little nat geo wild would have sufficed to leverage that knowledge into folks' heads, but I guess not.
"You should get one of those yellow fish like the doctor's office has!"
"They're cool, but those are saltwater, I have a freshwater tank."
"There's a difference?"
"Yeah."
"What about one of those shrimp like in Finding Nemo? My son loves those!"
"Again, saltwater--they're from the ocean. My fish are from lakes and rivers."
"Oh. Do you have coral?"
*bang head against desk repeatedly*
Somehow, I thought basic science classes or a little nat geo wild would have sufficed to leverage that knowledge into folks' heads, but I guess not.
Yeah people ask if it's saltwater. It's a nice compliment.
Q: "How can you tell?"...Yes! They always first assume it is saltwater. Then, after I tell them it is freshwater, some will ask "what's the difference" or "how can you tell"?
Obvious Answer: "Well, I usually just put my finger in the water and lick the water off my finger when I'm unsure."
I want someone to ask me that now.
-Clayton
That is brilliant!Q: "How can you tell?"...
Obvious Answer: "Well, I usually just put my finger in the water and lick the water off my finger when I'm unsure."
I want someone to ask me that now.
-Clayton
Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2
I have a saltwater reef and people always ask me if you just and normal salt in the water. Some people just don't realize how much work goes into a fish tank fresh or salt.
I would have to say that it is because whenever you go to a nice restaurant, hotel, WHATEVER, most of the tanks they have at the fancy places are saltwater. Thats what most non-aquarium keepers know.. Its really just misinformation. Everyone thinks of Bass and trout when they think freshwater, and beautiful, colorful fish and coral and plants and stuff when they think saltwater.
You ever watch Nemo??!! Lmao..
Id probably think the same before i got into fish tanks and crap. Im guilty of starting off with fake plants and clown puke and what not. I Was a kid, but still.. haha..
You ever watch Nemo??!! Lmao..
Id probably think the same before i got into fish tanks and crap. Im guilty of starting off with fake plants and clown puke and what not. I Was a kid, but still.. haha..
I get asked if my tanks are saltwater all the time. Our school systems have totally failed us.
those were my thoughts.I get asked if my tanks are saltwater all the time. Our school systems have totally failed us.
I have three planted tanks in my computer shop and I get asked al,ost daily of they are saltwater or if the plants are real etc. it's just that most people that think of freshwater think of goldfish and cheesy ornaments with colored fake gravel
I have both. Visitors gravitate towards my 12 gallon long reef. My poor 55 planted sits dejected by most, but not me I love that tank.
Even the fiance loves the reef. He doesn't look twice at the 55 planted.
People associate reefs with color - colorful fish, colorful corals. No movies have been made about freshwater fish - correct me if I'm wrong...but then you have Nemo. Omg. No, I do not have a Dory fish. No, I will not be getting one. No, I do not have a Nemo.
Noone has asked if my planted is saltwater - there's just too much green
I love that tank.Even the fiance loves the reef. He doesn't look twice at the 55 planted.
People associate reefs with color - colorful fish, colorful corals. No movies have been made about freshwater fish - correct me if I'm wrong...but then you have Nemo. Omg. No, I do not have a Dory fish. No, I will not be getting one. No, I do not have a Nemo.
Noone has asked if my planted is saltwater - there's just too much green
Why do you say that? There's enough variation among kelp species that it's not a dumb question for the average person to ask.I get asked if my tanks are saltwater all the time. Our school systems have totally failed us.
Don't you just feel like asking some of these folks, "you do know Sebastian are Nemo are cartoon characters, RIGHT?" followed by "You do know Fish and Crabs really don't talk & sing and go on adventures ...Right?"
And don't get me started on Sponge Bob.
And don't get me started on Sponge Bob.
Visitors to my place routinely assume I have a saltwater tank - only because of the fish and their coloration - paying no mind to the plants.
I guess if the fish have bright, flashy pastel-type colors, folks assume they're marine fish, and not freshwater:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/lolliblues2
I guess if the fish have bright, flashy pastel-type colors, folks assume they're marine fish, and not freshwater:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/lolliblues2
1 - 20 of 68 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
The Planted Tank Forum
A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Top Contributors this Month
View All
Kwyet
123 Replies
Creature From The Tank
72 Replies
duanes
43 Replies
Recommended Communities
