Australians

[Fishobob]

Gday Fellas,
               I was wondering if any of you guys are from australia?  And if you are I would like to know what you think of the aquarium scene over here, by the sounds of things over in the US the aquarium scene is a lot more advanced than over here.  Anyway if any of you guys are from australia what aquarium shop do you regularly visit?  I am a regular at Coburg Aquarium and I reckon its a good shop.
Cheers Fishobob ;D

 

[colesea]

Hey, nice ta meet ya.

Hmm, if you're looking for really technologically advanced aquarium keeping, you have to go to Germany. My asst. manager at work took a tour there once with an aquarium society, and he says they've got tanks that are completely automated with microprocessor control, and don't even need water changed (or very slight water changes) because they're so well planted and very well cared for and filtered. He said they're more works of gardening art than fish tanks.

Here in the US, we're still playing catch up. Many Americans are still caught on the tacky "community" set up, at least, that's the public I deal with on a daily basis. If I see one more tank with that eye-sore day-glo gravel I'm gonna puke. More elite circles in the US are either big time breeders or are of the natural style. Dutch style isn't as big here, most American tanks seem to me to be much like American society, laid back and free form.  Manual fishkeeping is still primarily in use here, with people doing weekly water changes and personally feeding their fish.

From what I have researched on the web, the China and Japan are still the top of the goldfish world. Some of their tank and styles are so beautifully simplistic I get a sense of peace just staring at the pictures on the computer.

As far as the marine community, reefs seems to be the biggest thing over here in the US. Everybody and anybody, even the ignorant, want to do a reef tank because it is considered the elite of the elite type of tanks to keep. Personally, I'd rather go dive the Great Barrier than keep it in my house. Would cost about the same amount.

What is the scene down under like? Could you post some pictures of representitive tanks?
~~Colesea

 

[Fishobob]

Thanks Colesea for replying,
                                    Um over here we are still pretty much in the stage of manaul fishkeeping.  And what we have in terms of aquarium equipment is a lot less modern than your stuff  I would say, some of the equipment you guys mention I have never heard before.  But I might not be the best person to ask that question as I am only 18 and while I have had a tropical tank for abut 10 years I would in no way say that I am experienced.  I would say the majority of tanks over here are either tropical or cold water.  I know a few people with marine tanks but over here marine tanks are way too expensive for my liking; with full set ups with a tank greater than 3 foot costing more than 3000 dollars and 5 foot setups costing about 7000 dollars.  Marine fish are also bloody expensive over here with the cheapest costing about 30 dollars. Now this might not be much for you guys but for me this is way too much to spend on an aquarium for me.
Now if anyone else here is from australia maybe you could give us your opinion on the matter
Cheers Fishobob.

 

[Avalon]

I would have to agree with Cole on this one. There are lots of people here that have the mindset that fish are "cute," but what they don't realize is that they are fragile, and to keep fish successfully is almost an art within itself (successful fishkeepers, pat yourselves on the back!) Fish aren't like dogs and cats, you can't just throw them into a tank of water (similar to out into your backyard) and expect them live. For me personally, that's what I crave about the "hobby." It's more than just a hobby! There are so many options, subtleties, and the sheer fact that you are completely responsible for the well being of delicate forms of life! But the "lazy" american doesn't appreciate this. They think that if it doesn't bark, meow, or interact with them, then it is not worthy of their time. Maybe pets are a reflection of their owners? I would love to do a master's thesis on that one...

That may be the bad side, but there is far too much ignorance to ignore. Anyway, in the "true" american scene, there are a lot of people that do know their stuff, and choose aquatic life that reflects their personalities. I think that's kind of what it's about, just as a painter would portray his/her feelings in a painting. We have the sweet reef set-ups, abstract plant tanks, and the hardcore agressive fish tanks. I think that if you look hard enough, you will find it all over here. We tend to have a melting-pot type of culture, so expect to find anything and everything, and no telling what else.

 

[colesea]

"Lazy" Americans? *snork* You said that, not I, I was trying to be nice *snicker*. But that is true enough. I get lots of "I want something easy to take care of" where I work. And I say, "then don't have a pet" or children for that matter.

And trust me, marine tanks are just as expensive over here. Aquarium keeping, like any other pet, is status oriented. The bigger your fish tank, apparently the more money and better well off you are. I've got people comming into my shop I swear must be on wellfare and foodstamps that want a fish tank. Not that they should be denied the joys of fish keeping, but the "I want something cheap and easy" usually is the goal, and that just makes me wonder where the priority is.

But it all boils down to status. Why don't I own a reef tank even though I could probably maintain one effortlessly? I don't have five grand to dole out for equipment and livestock at the moment. Five grand would pay off my car!  I do have the ten dollar a paycheck rainy day fund, which will probably reach five grand in twenty or thirty years, but hopefully I will have by then the job of my dreams making 6Gs, or I'll marry a really rich old guy who makes me his sole inheritor. *snork*
Yet some Hollywood bimbo who probably couldn't even describe for you what a fish looks like unless it is wrapped in a California roll has this beautiful reef system in her mansion because she can pay somebody to take care of it for her. And when all her little friends come over, the go "oooo wow, so cool" and are all impressed.  Status status status...

I miss school, where I could play with really expensive stuff on grant money. I need to find me one of those aquarium set-up companies that let me play with other people's money *sigh*. Either that, or I need to use that rainy day fund on a dive trip...
~~Colesea