Desperate for Advise
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: General Help
Forum Description: The place to ask about pest, problems, hitchhikers, etc.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=83701
Printed Date: January 14 2025 at 8:50pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Desperate for Advise
Posted By: SaltySammy
Subject: Desperate for Advise
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 5:14pm
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Hello Folks, I need some advise. I have little knowledge of SW tanks, but have had a 90 gallon unit for several years now. I got my tank from my son who used to work in the industry, but had to move and gave me this tank. I have been using a local company to service it every three weeks for a couple of years now, but I am very frustrated with them. My tank had severe hair algae for a couple of years and last year I started to get over run with aptaizia, (spell). Then in June, they sent a new tech to do my service, and within 6 weeks I had a tank that was trouble free and looked fantastic! But whenever they sent other folks, they would do the service, give me a piece of paper saying they had done all of this stuff, only to find my skimmer completely subserviced, and blowing the garbage it had been skimming right back into the newly cleaned tank! Not always, but more times than I can count on both hands! I even resorted to taking pictures after each service to document it for the owner. Twice the tank almost overflowed due to not cleaning the return filter on the sump. Thank god I caught it before major disaster. Bottom line, about a month ago, same thing happened, (skimmer/filter). I called the company, and got no response and they have yet to contact me. I think i may have gotten a divorce and don't know it, LOL. So, I think I have 3 options. ONE. Find another company to service me, TWO, learn to do it myself, (I have to tanks, a recirculator, and about 300 lbs of salt, or THREE, sell the system. Suggestions/Advise? ------------- Currently Clueless |
Replies:
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 5:30pm
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My first question- What do you want to do? Do you want to learn about it and keep it? Or do you want to be free of it? Also, if you can share some photos of the tank. That will really help us in seeing how much work is involved with it, how delicate the animals are, and the type of equipment you have to work with. Thanks Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: SaltySammy
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 6:02pm
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Ideally, I would like to keep it and learn to do the maintenance on it myself. Right now I am so busy in business that i feel like i can't do it justice, but I may just have to reprioritize to get this done. Second best option, would be to find someone/company that would do the maintenance and teach me as they go so I could eventually take over. Least favorite option, but i am right at the edge of this is to sell the tank and be done with it. I have attached a pic of the top and bottom to give you an idea of what i have.   ------------- Currently Clueless |
Posted By: SaltySammy
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 6:14pm
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Here is a pic of the system in my basement that was to be set up for water changes, but is currently shut down.  ------------- Currently Clueless |
Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 6:42pm
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I would see about finding another company and then setting out to learn more. Meetings, online forums and LFS employees are great resources as well just verify everything. YouTube has a lot of great info as well. Keep the tank! ------------- 180G Mixed Reef Tank 170G Dart Frog Tank |
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 6:58pm
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There is a ton of information (albeit some outdated) in the reefkeeping tips thread here on the forum. You would probably find everything you need to handle that tank on there. Plus there are many on here that can help when you have specific questions. Keep the tank, learn the maintenance routine and enjoy the tank even more knowing you made it look that good. ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: Corey Price
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 7:13pm
...and save some money! It's not too difficult, but it does take time and effort. I do have my work aquarium serviced due to the cost and the ease. I can be making money while someone else does a water change. |
Krazie4Acans wrote:Posted By: SaltySammy
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 7:36pm
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I think i can do it, and do a better job, and ohh, first thing is to find out how to set this thing up so the skimmer shuts down on the same circuit, so it doesn't pump the crud back into the system if you forget to shut the skimmer off first! It worked that way with my old skimmer, but when they replaced it, they put it on a different circuit. And I am quite sure I can remember to clean the darn skimmer when doing a water change, i just can't understand why a commercial SW company can't remember to. Even when they give me a darn checklist saying they did! ------------- Currently Clueless |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: December 02 2017 at 9:54pm
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This tank looks simple enough, and has the option for low maintenance. One option I'd consider now is just unplugging the skimmer. If there's a possibility of it causing a problem, let's address it later. That tank looks very self sufficient. No water changes necessary, and very little feeding (if any) needed for now. Clean the glass every day and just sit back. That's my advice. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: phys
Date Posted: December 03 2017 at 4:55am
| It looks like a pretty simple setup. Id be willing to go down and we could build a list of weekly/monthly maintenance steps. Then as you go along, you can hop on here and ask more questions and learn new stuff! |