Under charging? Or just straight robbery?

[ReefQuestCorals]

I had to come up with a catchy thread name.. This is for all those tank maintenance companies that screw over good people and their hard earned money. Lets hear any horror stories from maintenance companies you have ran into, before and after pictures would be great!


This week I finally took over maintenance on my sons daycare tank in return for free daycare! Who can pass that up?? What your about to see is horrifying to say the least :angry-face: The owner had been paying someone for years to handle this 125 gallon tank, and since my son has been attending the last 2 years its been nothing but algae and half open frogspawn (only coral in there until a few months ago) So here is where I took over and what iv found so far

Temp - 72 verified with glass thermometer, found all 3 of the heaters were not working
Salinity - 1.03 / 40 ppt
Magnesium - 1380
Calcium - 470
Alkalinity - 4.5
Nitrate - 0 of course being consumed by the huge amounts of algae
Ammonia - 0
Phosphates - didnt have a test to use, have bigger issues at hand

So far I have thrown away the 3 none working heaters and put a old working 500w I had laying around in the tank for the moment. Ended up adding 5 gallons of RODI into the tank over the past couple days to get the salinity back into range. Starting slowly raising Alkalinity daily by roughly .3 - .5. Mixed up water for a water change tomorrow so I can start manually removing algae and will retest next week to see where parameters are sitting at.

On top of all the big issues found the tank is running with 2 large marineland hang on the back filters which isnt an issue, my first 2 tanks were set up this way. No protein skimmer and the daycare was informed to feed 2 cubes of frozen everyday to the maybe 6 fish in the system. I have not seen any clean up crew but maybe 1 blue leg hermit. Will be a long road ahead, but I cant wait to make their system look great again and something to show off to all the kids and parents!

 

[Fish Fan]

Good luck here! Please post pics of the progress.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Good luck here! Please post pics of the progress.

Thanks! Ill for sure keep updating the thread and including pictures, im sure by next week the tank will look night and day different!

 

[rookie 220]

So how’s the tank coming along?

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

So how’s the tank coming along?

Sorry i lost track of the thread and just tied up in life..

So the tank has finally been switched over to a sump with hang on the back overflow. Along with have an ATO hooked up

Upgraded lightning to a single reef breeder edge 63 in the reefer 14k spectrum. Set about 80% and is working amazing to light the 125g

A week ago i started adding snails and a sand sifting goby seeing that i am still battling some algae issues and cyno in the sand.


Iv been manually removing algae weekly along with 10g water changes every 2 weeks. Iv been able to add in some zoas and mushrooms, along with cut up that huge frogspawn that had died back. So tank is coming around pretty well so far I'll have to take some updated pictures, but here are a couple taken about 5 weeks ago

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Few pics i grabbed today. Tank is looking so clear compared to when i took it over!

Snails have been putting in some work, soon algae will more under control but dang diamond goby has been in hiding so sand still needs some tlc. Overall corals are looking great and what was left has made a nice come back

 

[vlangel]

I used to maintain tanks for a lfs. At one point I had about 25. It was a good job and I took pride in doing a good job. It got harder as I aged and being a woman. I had some that I had to carry water up stairs and that was getting tougher.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Wow great turn around. Looking so much better!

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

I used to maintain tanks for a lfs. At one point I had about 25. It was a good job and I took pride in doing a good job. It got harder as I aged and being a woman. I had some that I had to carry water up stairs and that was getting tougher.

I have contemplated maintaining systems, I do enjoy the husbandry on systems especially simple tanks such as this one! But I commend you for servicing all those systems! I can only imagine the stress on someone's body, and one of the reasons I could not do it! lol Luckily the daycare tank is down the street, and I only lug in 10 gallons of water at a time

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Wow great turn around. Looking so much better!

It had been a tough road but for sure happy with the results!

Iv been on the search for some larger soft corals locally that doesnt break the bank. I would really like to add a couple larger leathers to give something to really look at. I think thats what is really missing, something to take up some space along with adding movement

 

[Reef Jedi]

It had been a tough road but for sure happy with the results!

Iv been on the search for some larger soft corals locally that doesnt break the bank. I would really like to add a couple larger leathers to give something to really look at. I think thats what is really missing, something to take up some space along with adding movement

Kids love the movement! At least mine do! An anenome and would also get the kids going!

GSP has great movement once carpeted also.

I loved maintaining tanks. I worked for my LFS through high school and college. I would maintain all the tanks in 3 hospitals and also a couple private residences. It was always a good feeling when people would come ask questions and see the care put into the maintenance.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Kids love the movement! At least mine do! An anenome and would also get the kids going!

GSP has great movement once carpeted also.

I loved maintaining tanks. I worked for my LFS through high school and college. I would maintain all the tanks in 3 hospitals and also a couple private residences. It was always a good feeling when people would come ask questions and see the care put into the maintenance.

Yea I need to find a larger anemone to put in there, I had bought a small rbta but I havent seen it since I put it in the tank so not sure what happen to it. I have a softball size piece of GSP in the middle, my thoughts were like yours on a fast grower that has bright colors and movement once it takes off.

For sure more of a younger adult type job. I dont think my back would enjoy maintaining tanks as a full time job outside of my home haha but sure is rewarding giving people/kids something to look at. Everyone at daycare enjoys looking at the tank now, filled with so much life and movement compared to before.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Yea I need to find a larger anemone to put in there, I had bought a small rbta but I havent seen it since I put it in the tank so not sure what happen to it. I have a softball size piece of GSP in the middle, my thoughts were like yours on a fast grower that has bright colors and movement once it takes off.

For sure more of a younger adult type job. I dont think my back would enjoy maintaining tanks as a full time job outside of my home haha but sure is rewarding giving people/kids something to look at. Everyone at daycare enjoys looking at the tank now, filled with so much life and movement compared to before.

Yea, there's no way I could do that full time anymore. the 10 years I did it was enough.

Great to see the turn around on the tank! It's amazing how a little love and time will turn it around!

Keep up the good work, you know the community appreciates that!

P.S. How close are you to Agra, OK? If I can get one of these larger maybe 8" across RBTA Fire's out of my tank (I have 38), I could send it up with my business partner next time he comes up here. He's in Agra, however I'm sure he would meet you if I sent him with an anemone.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Yea, there's no way I could do that full time anymore. the 10 years I did it was enough.

Great to see the turn around on the tank! It's amazing how a little love and time will turn it around!

Keep up the good work, you know the community appreciates that!

P.S. How close are you to Agra, OK? If I can get one of these larger maybe 8" across RBTA Fire's out of my tank (I have 38), I could send it up with my business partner next time he comes up here. He's in Agra, however I'm sure he would meet you if I sent him with an anemone.

I can only imagine! 10 years is a lot of jug handling

And yes this was my first tank to take over from such neglect.. Always just handled my own, tlc and time really did amazing!

I am roughly 1 hour from Agra. Sounds like you have an infestation! lol But I would gladly meet him, that would be amazing to add into the tank. Their old fish guy they believe took the one he charged them for, or never put it in the tank. They were not sure, was just charged for a large rbta and never saw him actually place it in the tank.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

I have to give credit to @Bobby daniels

Bobby and his wife Brandy have supported the tank by donating corals for the children. Along with hooking me up with a good price on the sump needed. I appreciate both of you!