Service question for all new reefers

[Reef Lobster]

So how many reefers on here do we have putting in the husbandry!

Some of you are quite new to the hobby and I hope you are enjoying it and putting in the effort to learn.


So, how many of you are out there learning but getting service from a provider too?

What do you think of it? Will you do it alone some day?



Please no COMPANY bashing, do not use names of stores or employees. Just share your experience and your plans!

 

[edd]

to me a big part of enjoying the hobby is the maintenance, building and tinkering.
if i were to pay some one to do it, then i wouldn't consider myself in the hobby. only sitting back and admiring some one else's work.

 

[Reef Lobster]

well said Edd and i am in agreement! The husbandry to me is 90% the satisfaction. Just seeing where new reefers are getting stuck and need help. I doubted any service people were on here though

 

[ohana888]

is your service insured?

 

[Waleedwale1]

to me a big part of enjoying the hobby is the maintenance, building and tinkering.
if i were to pay some one to do it, then i wouldn't consider myself in the hobby. only sitting back and admiring some one else's work.

+1 maintenance is something that I have to do myself. One thing I've noticed is that Maintenece companies just remove water, scrape algae, and fill it up. They don't really go to your filteration and lift it up and siphon detritus underneath it or anything like that at least as far as I've seen.

 

[CleanYourTank11]

That's a crappy maintance guy, unfortunately it can be true.

 

[Reef Lobster]

Yea im insured, but thats besides the point. Im just trying to learn what beginners are having issues with and guide them rather than find out whos who in good or bad servicing. It is sad but true, some companies are subpar and will be in and out real quick

 

[duromega]

to me a big part of enjoying the hobby is the maintenance, building and tinkering.
If i were to pay some one to do it, then i wouldn't consider myself in the hobby. Only sitting back and admiring some one else's work.

+1

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Do it yourself or ask for help bottom line, my tank is maintained by myself from reactors to cleanings and sand sifting out detritus waste, it takes me about 1 hour to do it all while taking my time , definitely a must know if your gonna be in this hobby ........if your not servicing your own home tank ( business not included) your not a true reefer!

 

[NYreefNoob]

as someone who used to maintain tanks for a couple of people and still do for one person, i dont view them as hobbiest. and usually it is people who dont want to learn, just want a tank or like mine, just does not have time to do it. and not all service companies are the same. my client has had several companies take care of the tanks, but none like me. i do it for awhile then start to dislike doing it and stop then few months later i get the call to come back cause other company let tanks go down hill.. this is no different then the guys that buy a finished hot rod and consider themselves car guys

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

as someone who used to maintain tanks for a couple of people and still do for one person, i dont view them as hobbiest. and usually it is people who dont want to learn, just want a tank or like mine, just does not have time to do it. and not all service companies are the same. my client has had several companies take care of the tanks, but none like me. i do it for awhile then start to dislike doing it and stop then few months later i get the call to come back cause other company let tanks go down hill.. this is no different then the guys that buy a finished hot rod and consider themselves car guys

Totally right 100%%%%%

 

[BioMan]

I think I check my systems components 10 minutes a day waiting for the cubes I feed the fish to melt and about half hour a week cleaning things and swapping out water or changing the flow pattern

 

[zenfish]

personally, Red Lobster, I think you're fishing for new clients and people to buy stuff from you.... and you sure as heck aren't going to find them on manhattan reefs.

 

[Dan_P]

Yea im insured, but thats besides the point. Im just trying to learn what beginners are having issues with and guide them rather than find out whos who in good or bad servicing. It is sad but true, some companies are subpar and will be in and out real quick

Here are some thoughts that might be useful. Maybe others will have other ideas.

1) New salt water aquarists can find cyanobacteria and nuisance algae a troubling and difficult issue to resolve.
2) Achieving desired nitrate and phosphate levels, and pH to some degree, can be mysterious.
3) Water chemistry in general is tough to grasp, but alkalinty and calcium levels seem challenging to understand and maintain.
4) Circulation in the tank v through the sump could be better understood.
5) Determining flow rate to each piece of equipment in the sump seems to be based on suggestions or seat of the pants judgements.

 

[Reef Lobster]

Thanks dan for the helpful insight for new reefers. Regarding Zenfish... Yes i am a vendor but please do not try to twist my words into something they were not meant to be. I started this thread simply to see if there actually is any one on this forum that uses service and WHY. I am taking a census if it would be worth advertising that here as an AD campaign. My prediction was true however, WE ALL LOVE REEFS! and do it all ourselves haha!

Honestly Im proud to see so many people putting in work, and im more than happy to help new reefers regardless if they are paying me. I even offer free service so I dont know why you have to try to tarnish my name. I dont go to where you work and harass you..

 

[Dan_P]

Thanks dan for the helpful insight for new reefers. Regarding Zenfish... Yes i am a vendor but please do not try to twist my words into something they were not meant to be. I started this thread simply to see if there actually is any one on this forum that uses service and WHY. I am taking a census if it would be worth advertising that here as an AD campaign. My prediction was true however, WE ALL LOVE REEFS! and do it all ourselves haha!

Honestly Im proud to see so many people putting in work, and im more than happy to help new reefers regardless if they are paying me. I even offer free service so I dont know why you have to try to tarnish my name. I dont go to where you work and harass you..

Vendors and consultants do get knocked around a bit don't they.

Forum members are dyed in the wool aquarists who look at maintenance, problem solving, gadget building/buying and animal husbandry as all part of the fun, which you probably noticed.

In your line of business, I imagine that you see all sorts of approaches and systems and problems. I have a more limited experience. I would find this broad perspective useful on this forum, assuming you don't find it too tough on vendors

Good luck!

 

[shauns220]

personally, red lobster, i think you're fishing for new clients and people to buy stuff from you.... And you sure as heck aren't going to find them on manhattan reefs.

+1

 

[Reef Lobster]

Ill take the toughness on vendors as a sign of a strong community! All i know is that when I started this hobby id be nowhere without this forum. It's great to see real refers when all i see in life are tank owners



By the way Red Lobster was bought out and will be out of business in a few years

 

[b-ridge]

Red lobster or reef lobster?

 

[Reef Lobster]

Haha no not Reef Lobster infact our cash flow has grown where we can get a store by winter