Moron-of-the-Month Club

[Ninong]

Maybe we should start a Moron-of-the-Month Club?

I hereby nominate juan@aquariumfacts.com for charter membership.

Check it out: http://www.aquariumfacts.com/Photos.htm
Click on "My 72 Bowfront" and you will see a Nurse Shark in a 72-gal tank!!!

Juan has set up his site as a source of information and inspiration for all aspiring aquarists and invites your comments and/or criticisms.

Ninong

P.S. - Update: The two pics of the Nurse Shark in the 72-gal tank were removed following e-mail comments from some of the board members to the owner of aquariumfacts.com In case anyone is curious, you can see the original pic of the Nurse Shark in Juan's 72-gal bowfront tank here: http://www.reefs.org/cgi-bin/ultimat...c&f=1&t=026653

[wgscott]

I looked at his website and I have to say I found it quite disarming.

[Ninong]

Did you notice that he says "This site is created with the 'Beginner Aquarist' in mind." He recommends crushed coral substrates and says that the "best" filter is a wet/dry with bio-balls (that recommendation is for both fish-only and reef tanks).

When you click on his "Products for Sale" link you will find that the only product for sale is a King Neptune Wet/Dry filter with bio-balls. (Please try to act surprised!)

However, it is really criminal to display a photo of a Nurse Shark in a 72-gal tank as inspiration for the "Beginner Aquarist."

Ninong

[asmith]

Ninong,

Have you sent him your comments yet? I am sure he would appreciate them. I pitty any aquarist that listens to his advice. I can't believe he has a nurse shark in that tank. That is just wrong.

Andrew

[asmith]

What are your thoughts on this quote from his page?

The best choice to start with would be "Damsel" fish. They are the goldfish of the Saltwater World. (Good Starter FISH) Very hearty and come in many different colors. *Also the cheapest!

(I wouldn't name these for the first 60 days, until our friend Mr. BACTERIA Desides to pay us a visit and live in our filter).

So basically he is saying that you can add fish as soon as the water is clear, but don't get too attached to them because they are not going to survive? I think this guy should geta few emails from all of us here at Reefland.

Andrew

[thezookeeper]

I, for one, sent him an email as soon as this thread was posted. I urged him to find that shark a suitable environment where his needs can be meant safely. I also asked him to please remove this picture from his website to avoid steering "beginner" aquarists in the wrong direction. It just amazed me to see this on the website. I can't believe someone would do that. Hopefully, this person will listen if many speak up.


Joanne

[Ninong]

Yes, Andrew, I saw the part about cycling the tank with "starter" damsel fish and not naming them for 60 days. Pretty sorry, huh? But, as you probably know, that is common advice from the majority of LFS on how to start up a saltwater aquarium (fish-only or reef).

I watched as the owner of an LFS sold a newbie customer two damsels to replace two that didn't make it through the cycle. The customer noticed some beautiful Flame Angels (at $42 each) and asked if it would be OK to add them at this time. The LFS owner asked him how long it had been seen the last damsel died. He replied that it had been "more than two weeks" since anything died and three weeks since he started his tank. The owner then asked him how many Flame Angels he would like and sold him TWO beautiful flame angels to add with the damsels to his tank (of unknown size) that was only three weeks old. I rolled my eyes and placed my hands on my face in mock horror (only the LFS owner could see me) and the LFS owner was NOT amused. I left about two minutes later. (No, I don't think it was my place to say anything to the customer in case anyone was wondering.)

I did notice a striking similarity between that Nurse Shark dude (Juan, our charter moron-of-the-month) and the way he recommends Wet/Dry Filters with Bio-Balls as the very BEST filtration system (and just happens to list King Neptune Wet/Dry filters with bio-balls as his only Product for Sale) and many LFS whose advice seems to neatly match the products on their shelves (or in their tanks).

Oh, well...

Ninong

[Ltspd]

He's got my vote, and possible nomination for "Moron of the Year"

[nucleuscracker]

what a pud. . I hope for the health of other sharks - no one sees his website and uses it to set up their own tank. Its one thing to see a tank with a million fish in it (which company was that??) but to an actual home tank set up.......its breaks my heart....

[hcp28]

Here is a quote from his website:

Overcrowding is a serious offense and the penalty is DEATH.

apprently he doens't listen to his own advice. After seeing the nurse shark in the 75 I've been inspired to keep my white tipped reef shark in the 10 gallon I have. :eek3: :eek3: :eek3: Do I have to do waterchanges when the tank smells like dead fish, and there is fungus growing all over? I think I'll go buy another one.

Henry

[SPasse]

Hi All,

I think that this guy really does take the cake.

I don’t know if any of you freshwater guys looked at the Discus picture…

He is keeping them with Platys

That’s almost as bad as keeping the nurse shark in the 72-gallon bow-front.

I’m trying to craft an e-mail to send him that is not blatantly offensive.

Regards,

Scott Passe

[Steve]

The guy must have too much money and not enough morals. The thought of expecting to have fish die as a natural part of cycling a tank makes me very angry. Ever hear of test kits? And putting a nurse shark in that small of a tank!

[Biomanjcs72]

That's Just Sad.....

[RobG]

Think Damsels for a cycle are bad advice? When I was first setting up my tank a few months ago (Prior to finding reefland), the LFS told me to use CLOWNFISH (false percs) because if the damsel's made it, I wouldn't be able to remove them, but clownfish were on my list of fish I wanted in the tank eventually...

Then again, they also recommended a cannister filter and a skimmer that wouldn't work on a 20g tank, much less my 90, told me to use tapwater and a host of other bad advice...

Luckily I found reefland before even buying salt, much less fish...

[Ninong]

OK, we are all in agreement that Juan, our charter moron-of-the-month, is a first class jerk, but what about the online vendors and LFS that sell sharks that get way too big for home aquariums?

I'm not talking about banded sharks that get no bigger than 3-ft or so in length and could be considered "ethical" to keep by some folks, especially if they have large tanks.

I'm talking about the places that offer to sell a Nurse Shark, or a Black Tip Reef Shark, or a White Tip Reef Shark to any 14-yr-old with a VISA card. What about those guys???

Did you know that Anchofish.com lists 14 different sharks for sale? A Nurse Shark is only $82... lots of teenagers can afford that. A Black Tip Reef Shark is a prohibitive $550 (too much for a kid but not too much for somebody with a middle-age identity crisis--cheaper than a red Corvette or a Captiol Hill intern). White Tip Reef Sharks are also available for $550. Lots of other unsuitable species are available as long as your credit card clears: http://www.anchofish.com/marinefish_sharks.htm

You will find only 8 different sharks available at Flying Fish Express. But they do offer to get you a Black Tip Reef Shark or a White Tip Reef Shark for the right price: http://www.ffexpress.com/setfish.htm

Jeffs's Exotic Fish lists 10 different sharks. They will sell anyone a Nurse Shark for $150, a White Tip Reef Shark for $450 and a Black Tip Reef Shark for $650. Hmmm... http://www.exoticfish.com/

I wonder what size tank they recommend for a Nurse Shark? That would be an interesting question to ask; but first ask them what the adult size is. Maybe they will only sell you one if you have an indoor olympic sized swimming pool that you are converting to a saltwater tank.

I'm not trying to single out any particular vendors, those three just come to mind. Many LFS sell species that are unsuitable for home aquariums, either because they will get too large or because they have virtually no chance of survival in captivity.

Something to think about.

Ninong

[SCETT316]

Originally posted by Ninong

I'm not trying to single out any particular vendors, those three just come to mind. Many LFS sell species that are unsuitable for home aquariums, either because they will get too large or because they have virtually no chance of survival in captivity.

I totally agree. Sadly enough, most ppl that walk into a LFS at first, think that the advice they receive from their sales personnel, is accurate, after all it's their business, so you think they should know what they are talking about. Until problems start arising, hopefully, some of them will have the insight, to start researching on their own, and educating themselves on the hobby they are about to embark, but others don't have the initiative, or the resources, which makes it even sadder, and most of all the cruelty this animals are being put through, is a real sin.
I mainly blame the vendors that operate in this fashion, cause they know exactly what they are doing and they don't care as long as they make a buck.
I was one of them, but luckily enough, my problems started very quickly, at which point I found RL, and was able to correct some of the mistakes I did, at the advice of my LFS. (and continue getting help and support from this great BB it's members/moderators for which I am greatful)

BTW has Juan replied to anybody's emails? Hopefully he will learn something from this, update his site, so that other newbies don't follow his advice.

Sorry for the long post, but I just had to vent.
JMO

[Mikeman]

I think in an email, we should invite him a visit here, not because I'm defending him but think of his fish,

but then again he probably wouldn't listen as he is puffing himself up like an expert

I also saw the platies with the discuss, its one thing to keep a small school of cardinal tetra or a couple of ram cichlids but frickon platies?Q??@?@!??!


that poor shark

[organicreefer]

i cant beleive some of the language you guys are using to describe this guy:MORON OF THE MONTH,MORON OF THE YEAR,PUD,FIRST CLASS JERK.if anything the poor guy has probly been misled by poeple that he viewed as knowledgeable(that includes some not too old literature).a couple of you even pointed out that he sounded like an lfs....wtf do you guys expect.open youre eyes and realize that 90%of the poeple in the hobby are doing the same thing this guy is ,and its not neccesarily because they dont give a s its becuase thats the info they are working with.i bet whoever sold him that shark told him it would be just fine in his tank
all im saying is cut him a little slack HE'S OBVIOUSLY A NEWBIE HIMSELF

[Ninong]

There is a big difference between Juan and someone who lacks knowledge about the hobby and is seeking to increase his knowledge so that he can be a better and more responsible reefkeeper. This moron is out to make a buck any way he can.

The name of his site is Aquarium Facts.com. He will answer all of your questions by e-mail. He requests that you register on Paypal and donate the $5 to him. He tells you that the very BEST filter is a wet/dry trickle filter with bio-balls. When you click on his Products for Sale you find that he is selling "King Neptune Wet/Dry Filters with Bio-balls ORDER FORM (Click here) All Major Credit Cards Accepted."

He also tells you "To Advertise on this Site Contact juan@aquariumfacts.com "

If you click on Books, you will find his recommended reading (a sorry list) along with links to Amazon.com so that he will get the referral commissions.

There is nothing wrong with free enterprise and nothing wrong with trying to make a few bucks from your website, but don't pretend to be an authority on aquarium keeping who is ready to "answer all of your e-mail questions" and then display a shark that reaches an adult size in excess of 10-ft in a tiny 72-gal tank.

This guy is a first class jerk and deserves all the ridicule in the world. There is no comparing this idiot to a newbie who is simply out seeking knowledge. This moron pretends to be providing a service to newcomers. How many gullible teenage boys, who may be just getting interested in the hobby, will see his nurse shark pics and run out and buy one?

Ninong

[organicreefer]

well,maybe i should have actually looked at this guys site before defending him, thought maybe he was ignorant to the amount of info at his fingertips on the web but after looking at this guys list of links id say he knows plenty not to do what hes doing.common sense would tell anyone that fish is too big for that bowl then again he sounds like at least three lfss i can think of off hand