Ethical Dilemma: Artificial or Authentic reefkeeping

[JLAudio]

Ok, so a bit of a strange title, but here is my dilemma: My Mothers boyfriend an avid boat owner and someone who really admires my tank, decided to purchase me a large replication of a shipwreck (without asking or telling me), I greatly appreciate the present, and now feel obligated to put it in my 125 reef tank.

It actually looks half way real and im wondering if I should put this in my tank but fear it will ruin the authenticity of the tank, but also dont want to offend him as well he spent over $100 on it.

Im wondering if in time when it gets covered in coraline and ill put frags on it if it will actually look kind of cool. If I dont put it in he will be insulted so im kind of confused on what I should do

 

[hijinks]

if you really don't want it maybe make up some excuse why those things are toxic or such to a marine tank?

 

[Keith P]

Is it reef safe? Just curious.

If so, give it a try. This hobby is all about experimenting. Like Paul B's glass bottles

 

[House of Laughter]

Jl, whats the composition of the item? allot of these thigns are made with a reef-safe resin nowadays.

Do you know what the product name is? maybe we can look it up and check for you.

House

 

[aznt1217]

This Thread is Worthless Without Pics!!!

Oh man J that would be interesting to see. How big is it?

 

[JLAudio]

Yea its made for fish tanks, just never seen one in a reef tank before and have bad images of the tank in "Finding Nemo" with all the cheezy fake stuff, but as Keith stated the bottle in Pauls tank, begins to become authentic as the reef builds on it, and It might actually work. I would put some GSP frags and Mushrooms on it and feel when they start to take over on it it might be pretty nice, but for the first few months, its going to be painful to look at.

Im going to get the link for it and you would have a better Idea at what im dealing with

 

[JLAudio]

This Thread is Worthless Without Pics!!!

Oh man J that would be interesting to see. How big is it?

Its got to be 24+ inches, but actually one of the less cheezy ones and colors are dark and looks almost as if its made of stone, so not real colorful,

 

[House of Laughter]

wreck

Does it look anything like this one?

House

 

[JLAudio]

This is the one:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19758

 

[JLAudio]

Perhaps I could pretreat it with something to take away any shine and make it duller to no distract from rock too much but rather blend in while adding some extra shine

 

[House of Laughter]

I would leave it alone and let nature takes it's course - it's a resin and is for sure FW safe - not sure about SW - i would worry taking off the epoxy coat would leech something into the system.

House

 

[Pedro Nuno Ferreira]

Hi ;-)
There is nothing to be confused with, its your reef and you decide what goes in or not, so if you do not want to have "the RMS Titanic" or "the USS Bismarck Sea" or "the USS Lexington" sunk in your private "coral sea", you are entitled to that and if people really like you, they will respect you. Its good to have temperate water or reef tanks looking as much as possible like nature or what we many times turn it to look like, like the nice bottles and really interesting display they make in Paul B's tank...and for the Titanic it would have to be real deep and cold waters:tongue1:...but it is not a must...above all one should have a tank with the display that one likes, provide that display is friendly for the species to be held in the tank and the species combined are compatible with each other, so in your place and not wanting to put the sunk vessel inside the tank, I would display it on top of the tank or nearby it.

Remember, it is your tank, your decision and if people really like you they will understand...you can always say that it would be damaged by coralline algae, encrusting critters, etc...and you don't want the piece ruined the say way you do not want it to interfere with your reef display. This should put and end to the "coral sea battle" with no casualties and no losses on either part.
Well you can always display that "black Pearl" next to your tank.

Cheers
Pedro Nuno ;-)

 

[boozeman]

maybe you can set up a small display shelf for it above the tank and just say ''oh, it was much too beautiful for me to put into the tank to let it get covered with crud''

 

[aznt1217]

maybe you can set up a small display shelf for it above the tank and just say ''oh, it was much too beautiful for me to put into the tank to let it get covered with crud''

:lol:


It's you call. I think it would look cool if you perched it like between some rock then another piece right near it on the floor.

 

[Reef Reaper]

Maybe you should go with your mom's boyfriend and return shipwreck. While you are there pick out something else, such as a coral or something else you may need for your tank. Good luck!

 

[jackson6745]

No one tells the truth these days???

 

[Pinkheine]

Oddly enough this cracked me up.. for this reason... most people that have freshwater tanks will put these types of things in their tanks and not think twice. Shipwrecks, sunken ruins etc. reality is naturally though most of those things would occur in saltwater more than freshwater. Not very many sunken pirate ships in lakes :lol:

It is a personal preference. There should be no reason to worry about insulting someone. They gave you a gift with good intentions. Doesn't mean that the expectation should go any further. If you use it, cool, if not should be cool as well.. otherwise the original premise of giving a gift is lost. I think everyone puts entirely too much emphasis on what others think when it comes to this time of year and gift giving and trying not to "insult" one another.

If you really don't want to use it, don't. If you want to see what it will look like covered in coraline, put it in your sump/fuge-- wait it out and then decide. Or just do what I know many do... plunk it in the tank when he is coming over... lol j/k.

 

[Keith P]

Maybe you should go with your mom's boyfriend and return shipwreck. While you are there pick out something else, such as a coral or something else you may need for your tank. Good luck!

Good call. Put the money to good use. It sounds like he may learn something about reef tanks in the process!

 

[ecvernon]

tell him it don't work for you(if you don't want it). its the thought that counts right?. since he is not a reefer he did not know any better. a little explanation will probably solve it. and after the explanation you may come home next time and find a bubble king or a vortech.

 

[JLAudio]

Thank you for all your feedback, and I love the "above tank" suggestion. I think Im going to put it in my tank for multiple reasons.

1) In my past me and this gentleman have had a rocky relationship and I feel him taking interest in my hobby and me embracing his gift is symbolic of more than just a simple gift appreciation, but a recognition of a good person that I wouldnt accept for a long time due to me being protective over mother as I was growing up now Im an adult I appreciate and respect him.

2) I think theres a chance this will work, and will eventually be really impressive and if not I will remove it and use one of the above suggested excuses