Possible Job

Hey everyone, its been forever since i have been online.
I didnt know where else to post this at.
But i have a possible job doing aquarium maintance on 2 100 gallon aquariums. This will be twice per month, im not sure if they are going to supply the media, or if i will be supplying it. I talked with a LFS and they charge $1dollar per gallon with the clients supplying everything.
I need to give this lady an estimate for my services but do not know a ball park figure to give her.
Help with estimate is MUCH appreciated

 

Run away, run away, run away!!! Just kidding (needed a littly Monty Python humor this morning).

You really cannot give them a proposal so no one here can help you....YET.

You have to see who pays for the supplies, what kind of filtration they have, how their tanks are stocked, how they are fed, etc before coming up with a figure.

I know some places charge based on gallonage. However, I have never thought that was a good plan.

Here's 2 different 100 gallon tanks. Would you really want to charge the same for them?

Tank 1.....100 gallons, appropriate protein skimmer, LR, sand, UV sterilizer, lights are on a timer and the owner has been educated about not overstocking with fish.

Tank 2.....100 gallons, canister filter, fake corals, crushed coral substrate, and fish out the whazoo.

 

Inwall pretty summed it up. Without knowing more bout the tanks, and who pays for what, you really can't estimate how much it will cost.

 

I would say NO to maintaining the figurative TANK 2

But yeah without all the other supplemental information you, nor anyone on here, can adequately quote the job.

Id take this approach:

- fact find: gather detail on the tanks, history, bioload, whats fed what and when (you may opt to consult them on changing their feeding dependant on what the bioload is), determine how long the existing media has been in use, determine filtration methods, determine existing maintenance schedule (how long have they been letting the canister go without cleaning it, etc)
- determine who would be supplying the food, media, etc.
- then make a punchlist for each tank with the requirements and what you'd have to do on a weekly/bi-weekly/monthly basis (remember to include and determine whos paying for water chemistry testing which should be performed routinely especially when maintaining someone elses tank because you dont know what little johnny throws in the tank when you're away)
- make a spreadsheet with all the necessary components to purchase for maintaining their tank (if you are the one that has to manage the purchase of the media and such on certain timelines)

This way you'll go there with a punchlist of what needs to be done. You can sign off on the things you do, date, time, etc and have a record of your work performed. Id keep this in 3 ring binder for each week you perform work. This way the client has a copy of what you did, and you have a running history of tank parameters etc.

If you're serious about making money doing this you have to assume the client will touch the tank when you're not there and will have to assume the responsibility of the loss of those fish. Having a log of what YOU did is key to sorting out any problems down the road. If these are people you do not have a personal relationship with and they are just a 'client' you may want to consider some disclaimer that they sign that covers your butt if the tank nukes.

 

Ok so i just got off the phone with the lady, There are 2 tanks. Tank 1 is 100 Gallons no livestock, has live rock and mushrooms. Tank 2 is 100+gallons, she is unsure of size. Has 2 snowflake eels and live rock. The job would be supplying the filter media, salt and cleaning the glass twice per month. Nothing else, Pretty much just keeping up with their water changes and keeping the tank clean. I have an appointment tommorow morning to go view the tanks. This will be about a 50mile round trip for me.
So i need to figure in the price of salt, and filter media with my estimate. I just dont know a ball park figure to give them. I told the lady on the phone that a Lfs charges $1 per gallon, but we could discuss payment. My question is. What should i say as a ball park figure, giving these facts as to the job requirements. Not to over charge, but yet again not to be burning holes in my pockets and make some profit

 

I hope you have considered costs to transport the water. You could opt to sell her on a Ro/DI unit and buy buckets of salt and mix it yourself there on-site. Saves you the trouble of hauling water around.

100Gal tank for mushrooms... that seems like a waste to me, but hey everyones crazy in their own way.

 

You can figure out approximately how much the salt will cost and the media. For the salt, just determine price/gallon by dividing the price by how many gallons the container makes. For media, see how much x amount costs and decide how often you will need to change it. Also factor in your time there and travel costs.