AWESOME show, but...

[kron]

Let me start with I love the show and the first to episodes were great! Wish I could stick my wife in a shark tank and live to tell about it. The tanks are unique and just dreamy..

BUT...

Why FISH ONLY tanks? Inserts are cheap and look so ***** compared to adding some actual LR and getting some nice corals in there.

To answer my own question: It's a tv show and hard to show well established tanks with live rock. So, build a tank and let it mature for months (awhile) then go back to it. Gives you a way to revisit old episodes and tanks.

Just my .01

 

[soccerbag]

It's just not what they do. They picked a niche and are sticking with it. The artificial reef and fish only tanks are much easier to maintain. And that comes in real handy to alot of their clientele who seem to have NO idea how to take care of a high tech reef tank. Not to mention it would raise the cost significantly.

While I agree that a full blown reef in some of those tanks would look amazing, just imagine if there was an alk swing and lots of corals started bleaching - in a big Casino tank. It wouldn't go over too well...lol.

 

[pumarjr]

I believe in the 5th episode the indeed setup a reef tank for a customer.

 

[GR808]

Maybe they can do a show on fantastic reef tanks with some detail!!!!! that would be awesome...

 

[keokea]

Gotta remember they are geared towards aquariums for public viewing. Here in LV there work is everywhere, and like everything in Vegas we have everything fake. Fake is easier to clean and they are also a maintenance service. If the inserts are done right it looks decent, plus you can use crazy chemicals that will kill our reef tanks like copper to keep maintenance simple.
My sister has a 280gal FO from them. corals are fake n all but her family loves it.

 

[Illusions]

Cost

Yeah, I would have to think cost is the main reason for all the artificial reef compared to a real reef with LR and corals. Plus the fact that they are mainly for display. People who work at the restaurants most likely have zero knowledge on the care. JMO