If you were to have someone take care of your tank...

If you were to have someone setup, take care of, stock, and equip your tank, what services would you want them to offer/provide?

 

To me set up is part of making 'my tank'. Having someone else do it would just make it a tank in my house IMO.

My lfs while they don't carry swf does have a couple emplyees that will tank sit if your on vacation. The ones that do this have tanks themselves, incite you to come see them as well as have background checks available. They will feed, test water, empty skimmers, and top off but you must have made water. From my understanding the more you need, the more they charge. I haven't used them myself but word around the campfire O's they are worth it. Don't know if they would do regular tank care like a tank in a business though.

 

The only things I would expect to still do would be to choose livestock and to pay the bills.

Other than that - if I had the money and was paying someone - I would want "turnkey" service. I should only have to watch the success of the tank if I am the "wallet".

 

Matt,

People want the gamut;

We've had accounts where once a month, they want you to come clean the skimmer, clean the glass, and do a waterchange. They handle all top-offs (or there's an ATO), feeding, emptying the skimmer.

On the other hand, there are accounts where they want someone there weekly doing all of the above plus changing carbon, GFO, as needed, replacing bulbs on a schedule, etc.

Then there's the clients who handle everything themselves but once every couple of months, they want someone to handle the more deeper cleaning.

Some people have their own RO/DI units. Other people buy our RO/DI water and we pump it into their house with hose from the maintenance van. That's how the waterchanges are done too. The pump is just moved to the saltwater containers.

Bass Pro Shop's 8000g aquarium requires SCUBA Diving to clean.

 

at my business, I have a 150 gallon set up. All I do is wipe algae off the glass daily and top off the water. Past that I get bi weekly visits from my LFS for water changes and equipment inspection. Costs me $150 a month. They make recommendations on CuCs, equipment, and I choose what livestock I want!