Great Tank Sitter!

[CD]

I would only hire a person who kept reefs to watch over my tanks

Wow...that's a scary story!! I agree totally...someone who's never kept a reef tank has no business looking after someone elses! YIKES - bleach? :o

Your empathy with animals will also be a huge factor in your success. My guess is that most of the existing services are strictly doing it as a money-making opportunity

Thanks Alex! Yeah, I suspect you are right about that. Not that I wouldn't like to make a *little* money for doing it, but I'm not out to get rich...just to help Chris pay the bills and have some grocery money. At least our critters are well taken care of though. Our tank, doggies, and parrots needs always come first with us ;)

Wendy

[astrong]

Thats common practice for fish tank maintenance. Plus a lot of companies charge you for 2 sets of decorations so there will always be a clean one ready to put in the tank!
I have been to too many accounts where the nitrates were off the scale high and all the fish had hole in the head. You would be surprised how many people out there still think nitrates aren't toxic, and if the water is clear, it must be fine, right?

[GaryP]

Aaron,

There is a big issue with nitrites and human health. Where there are nitrates there are have to be nitrites. A lot of the dairy industry was chased out of California because of nitrite contamination of the groundwater. Nitrites were implicated in the death of a few infants in California. They inhibit the action of hemoglobin, similar to the way that cyanide and carbon monoxide do.

As a side note, guess where a lot of those Cailfornia dairymen ended up? You guessed it, Texas, especially up in the Stephenville area.

Gary

[astrong]

The stars at night are big and bright...