Why are the hippogriffs so content with living in dirty water?

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

I know they didn't have a choice when the Storm King wrecked their homeland, but he's gone. They've just started repairing everything, yet half of them still prefer to live as sea ponies under water, where all kinds of marine life that they can't control are present.

If you've ever had to maintain a fish tank, you know what that means. The hippogriffs are knowingly living in water that's infested with shit and urine. Maybe some of them filter the water around their living quarters on a day to day basis, but why should they have to? The place is practically a toilet, and they're allowing bacteria to seep into their gills just by staying there.

And by inviting other creatures under water, the sanitation will only get worse. How do they know the ponies haven't been secretly pissing in their surrounding space? If they keep this up, Seaquestria will be just as bad as a community pool where hundreds of people let loose everyday.

[Will Guide 21,372]

It's a magic world. They can be handwaved.

Besides, you know this is Not Earth. It doesn't work the same way as ours does in some areas.

It's the same reason why the World of the Little Mermaid can work.

You don't see people complaining about Ariel living in dirty water.

[CheeryFox 23,824]

I dunno about you - but...it looks pretty shipshape and clean if you ask me,,, 

[ShadOBabe 19,028]

There are tons of organisms in the ocean that eat waste and filter water. Not to mention the currents that move the water, keeping it fresh. Also it’s a million trillion times bigger than a fish tank. You can’t really compare them.

Edited April 22, 2018 by ShadOBabe

[Steve Piranha 29,496]

27 minutes ago, ShadOBabe said:

There are tons of organisms in the ocean that eat waste and filter water. Not to mention the currents that move the water, keeping it fresh. Also it’s a million trillion times bigger than a fish tank. You can’t really compare them.

Makes you wonder where they do their biological need tho

 

[ShadOBabe 19,028]

8 minutes ago, Steve Piranha said:

Makes you wonder where they do their biological need tho

Maybe they just find a riptide or other strong underwater current. And it just zooms away. XD

[SharpWit 2,867]

56 minutes ago, KillerKingBakudan said:

I know they didn't have a choice when the Storm King wrecked their homeland, but he's gone. They've just started repairing everything, yet half of them still prefer to live as sea ponies under water, where all kinds of marine life that they can't control are present.

If you've ever had to maintain a fish tank, you know what that means. The hippogriffs are knowingly living in water that's infested with shit and urine. Maybe some of them filter the water around their living quarters on a day to day basis, but why should they have to? The place is practically a toilet, and they're allowing bacteria to seep into their gills just by staying there.

And by inviting other creatures under water, the sanitation will only get worse. How do they know the ponies haven't been secretly pissing in their surrounding space? If they keep this up, Seaquestria will be just as bad as a community pool where hundreds of people let loose everyday.

I never thought I'd meet someone who didn't understand the concept of open water,,, 

Ok, Seaquestria is a small nation, that's become accustomed to life underwater. They don't have the resources funds, or necessarily need to fix Hippogriffia up in a hurry. They've been underwater so long, that there's a whole generation of youngsters who are newly accustomed to land. I don't know if sea ponies consume fish and other marine life, so calling them the apex predator might not be accurate, but they're definately going to be the dominant species in their area. They'll ward off any unwanted pests if need be.

Oceans currents are continuous. They can arrange a sewer system that's probably easier to maintain than a land based one, or have designated spots to deposit fecal matter on the outskirts where it'll be washed away. As for bacteria risks, that should be minimal under normal circumstances with the constant flow of water, in addition to the fact that our air based atmosphere isn't exactly sterile either.

Once again, anything deposited will be washed away, dumping of bodily waste shouldn't cause any issues unless it's in ridiculously massive quantities, and they live in an area where the only ponies around would be those aboard airships on route to other destinations. Hippogriffia hasn't been a a stopping point, and the nearest shoreline isn't inhabited because it's inadequate terrain. Community pools are better than a fish tank but it still doesn't compare to an ocean. Also those pools are filled with chemicals often strong enough that too much time will agitate your skin, and anything attempting to survive in that with exception to the most extreme of cellular organisms, will quickly find out that it's not a suitable environment and perish before considering to move on. Also I believe urine is sterile, and dookies aren't that common in pools, otherwise every single one would ban children from entering.

[ShadOBabe 19,028]

Don’t you just love the stimulating conversation that takes place on this forum? 

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

Just now, SharpWit said:

I never thought I'd meet someone who didn't understand the concept of open water,,, 

That's the thing, they're not living in open water. They're living in caverns, houses and castles that are closed off from the currents, and they're letting fish pass through them like rats. Novo might not be bothered by it so much given all the space she has to herself, but in smaller locations, that can get nasty.

[SharpWit 2,867]

12 minutes ago, KillerKingBakudan said:

That's the thing, they're not living in open water. They're living in caverns, houses and castles that are closed off from the currents, and they're letting fish pass through them like rats. Novo might not be bothered by it so much given all the space she has to herself, but in smaller locations, that can get nasty.

Unless the entryways and exits are completely sealed off, then it's a closed system, in which case waste isn't the biggest problem, rather burning through all of the oxygen in the water is, but that's unlikely since they're still alive.

Rats are a sign of filth or very available food source, which normally comes in the form of our filth. Fish are a sign of a healthy ecosystem, where there is ongoing currents replenishing the low oxygen levels of the water in the immediate vicinity, and being alive while also able to move around, means they're not closed off.

Maybe with them being a sentient species and all, they're capable of cleaning out their own homes and scrubbing them down, or maybe even they make use of bottom feeder fish that can feed on the waste, or grow carpets of aquatic plants that can quickly break down fecal matter if evenly distributed, or maybe a combination of these three things and the ones I previously mentioned.

Go visit a small pond, you might find mud/and or sand, but it's not brimming with fecal matter unless there's a flock of geese nearby.

 

[Conred 274]

It would make sense for half of them to live underwater and hunt for food while half of them live beneath the water and build the towns

[Goat-kun 2,531]

Holothurians: detritus goes in, mud comes out. Shit is mana from heaves for deep sea communities.

[Truffles 2,033]

9 hours ago, SharpWit said:

Once again, anything deposited will be washed away, dumping of bodily waste shouldn't cause any issues unless it's in ridiculously massive quantities

Unlike us humans, who still to this day dump large amounts of untreated sewage into the ocean in some places. =P

9 hours ago, ShadOBabe said:

Don’t you just love the stimulating conversation that takes place on this forum? 

I'm an engineer, we have a need to know how these things work. 

[Brainstorm 4,123]

The Hippogriffs are cool, being both Hippogriff and Seapony that can change back and forth, as we've seen in MLP Surf or Turf, they can go back and forth whenever they want.

[Lucartini 104]

They're into that.

 

Hippogriffs are part hippo after all