New tank in Austin

[prof]

http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4592120&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

[Headless_donkey]

Don't even get me started about this place! These guys are blank blank blank and will end up killing and torturing many animals before they give up.

[erikharrison]

Saltwater is volatile enough, let alone people dancing on the tank. I have been to a club in Houston that had shark tanks above the bar. The tanks were alot smaller than 20k gallons though. Unless fresh air gets pumped into that tank, I could see some really bad stuff going on there!

[Headless_donkey]

I won't mention names, but almost all of the reputable aquarium maintenance companies pulled out of this job.
Plus, is an "ultra lounge" really keeping Austin "weird?"
BTW As soon as Jennifer finishes school it is time to find another cultural oasis.

[LoneStar]

Personally I think "ultra lounge"(s) are a joke. Too trendy of a place to get dressed up only to hang out in a 'hole in the wall'.

Funny story, a long time ago we were going to meet up with some people we knew that were at a 'ultra lounge'. We were 'undressed' to their standards but were told that for buying a bottle of champagne for a small price of $175, we could get in. Needless to say we didn't meet up with those people that night!

[thedude]

I'm not going to say much about this place, except that batfish are hard to keep ANYTIME. Cram leopard sharks (I think I saw three?), rays, and various other fish in a brand new system and the result will not be pretty. Not to mention that sharks like that need something like 21' MINIMUM to swim in a natural way and they don't have that. I'm really really interested to see what the short term success of the tank looks like.

PS: What kind of school would take their kids to a bar for a field trip?

John

[cpreefguy]

I wonder if we will be invited as a conservation group?

[caferacermike]

OOhh We could have meetings there....

Yeah I've heard of the setup a long time back and of the shady tactics used to get it stocked. Not exactly high class. Austin has tried aquarium themed bars several times and every time it's been a failure.

[MissT]

I will say that at the beginning, the acrylic top of the tank was supposed to be a dancefloor, like the article said but supposedly, the owner has decided to make the area a VIP lounge instead. I still wonder about the bass from the speakers as well as the sharks being stressed from constant shadows above because to them shadows either mean food (which they wouldn't be able to get to) or something that is dangerous. Needless to say, I don't think that my ripped jeans and flip flops are gonna get me into this place... lol!

[erikharrison]

I just see some drunk idiot tryin to feed the sharks cigarette butts. While it may be a cool idea, in no way is it practical or humane. There is a ton of insanity in vanity. I am trying not to lose it on this one as well. Breathe in, breathe out...

[Witoski]

I watched it on the news the owner saying that thetank was 100 % sound proof so it would not hurt the fish and sharks in the tank, But not 30 secs later the news reporter was grabing jumbo shrimp and dropping them in holes through the dance floor top. Question so how does that make it 100 % sound proof??????

[Headless_donkey]

Bingo!

[Headless_donkey]

Feel free to jump in on this thread.
http://www.austinreefclub.com/index.php?showtopic=2335

[brewercm]

Unfortunately asking PETA to this party was like asking the fox to watch the hen house.
Once they are finished getting there publicity through this place they will most likely start on all the local LFS's. I just don't have much use or time for these folks and their tactics.