Tank Cleaner People!!!

[drfishkeeper]

I have often thought for years now how we are letting these fish stores get away with service calls only involving cleaning and water changes for the prices they charge. The same employees they pay $6-9 per hour, come to your house and make $75.00 per hour for doing the same tasks they do all day long within the stores. If you have more than one tank, you can afford all of the equipment to service it yourself for the price of one service call, maybe two!

But, as I sit here, with all the necessary equipment, I find myself just not wanting to take care of it every single time, but torn by not finding a service guy willing to make more than he can in a store, but not retire off of me either.

So, maybe this is a wanted ad: WANTED: A marine service guy, to service a 110gal, 75gal, 30gal, 20gal, and a 14gal. All marine setups, for a decent price. If the price is good, and your not an idiot who will kill my fish by not doing it the right way, a monthly deal can be arranged!

Accepting applications now!!!

[drfishkeeper]

I actually got some responses even though I was moved from the general reef keeping discussion, even though I believe maintenance and the price we pay for it to be a general reef keeping problem that should be discussed. All the more, here is some more information:

All supplies will be provided. Water will be made and circulating. Salt is provided, but due to some tanks having evaporation, you cannot fill them with full strength water or the salinity would ****e. So each tank must be dealt with somewhat differently.

Simple maintenance, protein skimmer cleaning, glass cleaning, lid cleanings, water changes and or fills, and making sure all levels are restocked. Simple jobs that people make $7 per hour in these local San Antonio fish stores for doing that they could make a lot more doing service calls. Just not $75 an hour, what are you, a surgeon? This is why unions were created, to stop monopolies. Fair price, for fair work!!!

[DrMark]

I have a maintenance company here do pretty much what you are aking for on my 214 gal. I do the other smaller one myself. They are here about an hour and a half per week.....equates to about $35 perhour and there are usually two people. This is fair to me. They are good people. There are others in my town who attept to get double..........I understand where you are coming from.
Mark

[tony]

there is/was an ad on craigslist in the pet discussion that looked like exactly what you are wanting

[chuck4824]

I think the Craigslist people are the ones I tried. A couple of young boys, did OK for what they did but charged $50 or $65 and hour can't remember which. Only used them once and felt it wasn't worth the money. I agree something like $35 is reasonable you need knowledge but mostly it ends up being muck work.

[Jonthefishguy]

Remember as in most cases, you get what you paid for.

[drfishkeeper]

I believe each job is different and the hourly rate doesn't work out to $75 an hour either way. I would much rather be charged by the job. Hourly rates can be dragged out far beyond what they should be.

I also agree you do need some skill. But I have never met a maintenance guy who will accept and recover any losses based on their work either. So, when dealing when a few thousand dollars of live stock, unless they are going to accept some responsibility if my salinity is off, or they knocked over a coral etc and pay for the losses, just do a good job for a fair price and there isn't a problem.

[Jonthefishguy]

I acually own a company in the aquarium maintenance/sales & service. I can tell you that many of the more affordable people are not insured in the event that they cause a serious issue in your home such as a flood and causes damage to your floors, or carpet. They are not registered as a company so there is no accountability if something were to happen. Not to mention they are not bonded in the even something were to become missing while they were in your home. Many dont come with their own supplies and use the customers. They dont come with thier own water and either use the customers RO/DI system or simply use tap water and add decholorinator. They also dont go the extra mile to check for other parimeters other than nitrates and pH. Many dont check salinity level, iron, calcium, magnesium, or Alk. I would bet money, many dont know what the dkh is supposed to be or what it is for that matter. Many dont go that extra mile and lets say, remove scratches that they or the customer may have accidently made. Instead they simply ignore it.
Aquarium maintenance involves much more than just wiping down glass and topping of water levels. It also includes changing the bulbs when needed and not just when they burn out. Many dont ever ask when they were purchased so that they can keep record and keep the aquarium at its best. Constantly looking for problematic hitchhikers such as red bugs or the constant search of potential outbreak of flat worms. Many dont even clean the overflow box and remove algae that is on the inside of the teeth. It also involves forseeing a potential problem if any with any future additions that the customer may want and suggest what would do well instead of not saying anything. This is just a small part of job responsibility that is expected. Once a customer hires a servicemen/woman for their aquarium, for the most part, the customer should just sit back, feed, be the eyes when we are not there, and enjoy. Unlike my company, NO ONE here is on call 24 hrs a day or night.

[Mr Cob]

I acually own a company in the aquarium maintenance/sales & service. I can tell you that many of the more affordable people are not insured in the event that they cause a serious issue in your home such as a flood and causes damage to your floors, or carpet. They are not registered as a company so there is no accountability if something were to happen. Not to mention they are not bonded in the even something were to become missing while they were in your home. Many dont come with their own supplies and use the customers. They dont come with thier own water and either use the customers RO/DI system or simply use tap water and add decholorinator. They also dont go the extra mile to check for other parimeters other than nitrates and pH. Many dont check salinity level, iron, calcium, magnesium, or Alk. I would bet money, many dont know what the dkh is supposed to be or what it is for that matter. Many dont go that extra mile and lets say, remove scratches that they or the customer may have accidently made. Instead they simply ignore it.
Aquarium maintenance involves much more than just wiping down glass and topping of water levels. It also includes changing the bulbs when needed and not just when they burn out. Many dont ever ask when they were purchased so that they can keep record and keep the aquarium at its best. Constantly looking for problematic hitchhikers such as red bugs or the constant search of potential outbreak of flat worms. Many dont even clean the overflow box and remove algae that is on the inside of the teeth. It also involves forseeing a potential problem if any with any future additions that the customer may want and suggest what would do well instead of not saying anything. This is just a small part of job responsibility that is expected. Once a customer hires a servicemen/woman for their aquarium, for the most part, the customer should just sit back, feed, be the eyes when we are not there, and enjoy. Unlike my company, NO ONE here is on call 24 hrs a day or night.

I'm sure the next question would be....

So what's your rates? Hourly or by the project?

[Kristy]

Many dont go that extra mile and lets say, remove scratches that they or the customer may have accidently made. Instead they simply ignore it.

Sounds like you run a first rate service, Jon.

I know this is a little off topic, BUT... I have heard that scratch removal is possible but it feels like the urban legend of aquarium keeping. Anyone know how to go about it? I am very careful when cleaning the glass and have almost no scratches in our tank at the moment. Since I would very much like to keep it that way, thought I'd ask if anyone knows how to go about this?

[Jonthefishguy]

Unfortunately, when it comes to scratches in glass, it pretty much is nearly impossible. There was an article at one point for glass scratches however, it also involved draining the tank and using a buffing drill. As for acrylic, there are underwater buffing kits and solvents for the outside as well as a completely submersible electric buffer.

[Richard]

It's a travesty that aquarium service people are all getting rich off of struggling doctors.

[Jonthefishguy]

Haha.....too funny!!!

[DrMark]

It's a travesty that aquarium service people are all getting rich off of struggling doctors.

:applause:

In the year or so I have been running my reef tank I have learned lots. I am well read and take great pride in my tanks. I did not want to pay $2 per gallon per month ($428), whether I could afford it or not. Perhaps if I wanted to take a back seat and do nothing, that would be the way to go. Fortunately, or unfortunately, there are those people out there willing to overpay and stay undereducated to support these types of business practices.

I wanted someone to do the water changes and cleaning once a week and be an extra set of eyes thats all. I do all the testing (at home tests and awt.com), dosing, other maintenace, pump upgrades and changes, bulb changes, etc., etc. I do it because I like it and because you will always do the best job on your own stuff.
Mark

[DrMark]

Oh, and "Jonthefishguy".........welcome to MAAST.........glad you are here. I am sure you have a lot to contribute.
Sorry I couldnt afford your rates...........tough being a physician now a days.:bigsmile:
Mark

[Jonthefishguy]

Hey, its all good. If there is ever something you are looking for or need, you know where I am.

[the CL poster]

I believe each job is different and the hourly rate doesn't work out to $75 an hour either way. I would much rather be charged by the job. Hourly rates can be dragged out far beyond what they should be.

I also agree you do need some skill. But I have never met a maintenance guy who will accept and recover any losses based on their work either. So, when dealing when a few thousand dollars of live stock, unless they are going to accept some responsibility if my salinity is off, or they knocked over a coral etc and pay for the losses, just do a good job for a fair price and there isn't a problem.

if a retail pet store wont even warranty a fish for a few days, youre going to be *extremely* hard pressed to find someone on here that will own up to his/her mistake with your tank, should one ever occur.

they will blame it on random stuff, never give you a straight answer.

all in all, do it yourself. i do, its a pain, but its SO worth the peace of mind knowing it was done the right way.

[ErikH]

Anyone give this guy Louis's number yet? BY FAR probably the absolute best for that kind of stuff here in SA. Louis used to own Aquatics WHSE here in SA. Top notch guy, and he does the tanks at Petland on Blanco and 1604. They have VERY nice tanks, especially for a retail chain. Not only is Louis good at it, he's the most honest guy to deal with. I would not recommend anyone else, to anyone, ever. I had his number but after losing a couple of phones, I lost his number.... Jeremy at B&B may have it, not sure. Someone here should though...

[ErikH]

It's a travesty that aquarium service people are all getting rich off of struggling doctors.

Richard is the best. It's his cynical responses that keep me on this site, lol!

[the CL poster]

Anyone give this guy Louis's number yet? BY FAR probably the absolute best for that kind of stuff here in SA. Louis used to own Aquatics WHSE here in SA. Top notch guy, and he does the tanks at Petland on Blanco and 1604. They have VERY nice tanks, especially for a retail chain. Not only is Louis good at it, he's the most honest guy to deal with. I would not recommend anyone else, to anyone, ever. I had his number but after losing a couple of phones, I lost his number.... Jeremy at B&B may have it, not sure. Someone here should though...

ive had excellent success with Ed at Wolf Reef off of bandea at eckert.

really great guy, laid back and funny!

[drfishkeeper]

I want to know John's professional company rates? To be all of that, insured, bonded and all.

[Jonthefishguy]

Its on the website under About Us. http://www.thefishguy.org/info.html

Too bad you are not in corpus. lol