TANK MATIANCE FEES ? HOW MUCH ?

[robert]

I am starting a aquarium maintained service and am trying to figure out how
much to charge. I have aquarium size as a variable and three types of
aquariums to consider. Reef tanks ( the most desired it seems and
expensive ) , salt water aquariums and fresh water aquatics. Any one know
where I can get a fee schedule to extract a scale that considers the
variables so I know what to charge ? I see people paying $ 300 a month for
a 100 gallon reef tank but how much for say a 300 gallon reef tank ? Or 100
gallon salt water aquarium ? or a 300 gallon salt water aquarium ? Or a
100 gallon fresh water aquarium or a 300 gallon fresh water aquarium ?
Thanks.

Robert G Smith

[BigHaig]

In Los Angeles, there is an LFS (in the city of glendale to be specific)
that provides monthly maintenance at $50 a trip (people usually get once a
month). They charge the same for SW or FW tanks. The charge a 5% fee on
items they deliver (if you need supplies, they charge 5% to get it to you on
the trip).

"robert" > wrote in message
. ..
> I am starting a aquarium maintained service and am trying to figure out
how
> much to charge. I have aquarium size as a variable and three types of
> aquariums to consider. Reef tanks ( the most desired it seems and
> expensive ) , salt water aquariums and fresh water aquatics. Any one
know
> where I can get a fee schedule to extract a scale that considers the
> variables so I know what to charge ? I see people paying $ 300 a month
for
> a 100 gallon reef tank but how much for say a 300 gallon reef tank ? Or
100
> gallon salt water aquarium ? or a 300 gallon salt water aquarium ? Or a
> 100 gallon fresh water aquarium or a 300 gallon fresh water aquarium ?
> Thanks.
>
> Robert G Smith
>
>

[Fish guy]

Prices vary by size and type of system, also by what service you are
providing. Are you bringing the customer your own pre mixed and aged salt
water? or are you just going to mix it on site and hope your client has good
source water? Prices also depend on location, Alabama would certainly be a
lower price than Manhattan NY, for the exact same system. Where are you
located?

"robert" > wrote in message
. ..
> I am starting a aquarium maintained service and am trying to figure out
how
> much to charge. I have aquarium size as a variable and three types of
> aquariums to consider. Reef tanks ( the most desired it seems and
> expensive ) , salt water aquariums and fresh water aquatics. Any one
know
> where I can get a fee schedule to extract a scale that considers the
> variables so I know what to charge ? I see people paying $ 300 a month
for
> a 100 gallon reef tank but how much for say a 300 gallon reef tank ? Or
100
> gallon salt water aquarium ? or a 300 gallon salt water aquarium ? Or a
> 100 gallon fresh water aquarium or a 300 gallon fresh water aquarium ?
> Thanks.
>
> Robert G Smith
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

> Prices also depend on location, Alabama would certainly be a
> lower price than Manhattan NY,

That's because we Alabamians tend to our tanks for ourselves. :)

kc

[Angela Lesley]

Please do not go into "business" if you do not already know the answers to
these questions. It is obvious that you are interested in earning a living
while working for yourself, but your post clearly says, "I have no clue what
I am doing".

Asking us for pricing information in regards to what you should charge for
your experience is ridiculous if not reckless. I am surprised someone hasn't
already gone off on you. You had better hope that your name is well known in
the area where you are going to do business because anyone with a clue
wouldn't hire you if it isn't, I wouldn't hire you. Risk losing thousands of
dollars to a guy who doesn't even know where to start charging let alone a
guy that doesn't know how to spell maintenance? No thanks.

Angela

"robert" > wrote in message
. ..
I am starting a aquarium maintained service and am trying to figure out how
much to charge. I have aquarium size as a variable and three types of
aquariums to consider. Reef tanks ( the most desired it seems and
expensive ) , salt water aquariums and fresh water aquatics. Any one know
where I can get a fee schedule to extract a scale that considers the
variables so I know what to charge ? I see people paying $ 300 a month for
a 100 gallon reef tank but how much for say a 300 gallon reef tank ? Or 100
gallon salt water aquarium ? or a 300 gallon salt water aquarium ? Or a
100 gallon fresh water aquarium or a 300 gallon fresh water aquarium ?
Thanks.

Robert G Smith

[Dragon Slayer]

don't hold back Angela, tell us how you really feel about it.

:)
kc

"Angela Lesley" > wrote in message
...
> Please do not go into "business" if you do not already know the answers to
> these questions. It is obvious that you are interested in earning a living
> while working for yourself, but your post clearly says, "I have no clue
what
> I am doing".
>
> Asking us for pricing information in regards to what you should charge for
> your experience is ridiculous if not reckless. I am surprised someone
hasn't
> already gone off on you. You had better hope that your name is well known
in
> the area where you are going to do business because anyone with a clue
> wouldn't hire you if it isn't, I wouldn't hire you. Risk losing thousands
of
> dollars to a guy who doesn't even know where to start charging let alone a
> guy that doesn't know how to spell maintenance? No thanks.
>
> Angela
>
> "robert" > wrote in message
> . ..
> I am starting a aquarium maintained service and am trying to figure out
how
> much to charge. I have aquarium size as a variable and three types of
> aquariums to consider. Reef tanks ( the most desired it seems and
> expensive ) , salt water aquariums and fresh water aquatics. Any one
know
> where I can get a fee schedule to extract a scale that considers the
> variables so I know what to charge ? I see people paying $ 300 a month
for
> a 100 gallon reef tank but how much for say a 300 gallon reef tank ? Or
100
> gallon salt water aquarium ? or a 300 gallon salt water aquarium ? Or a
> 100 gallon fresh water aquarium or a 300 gallon fresh water aquarium ?
> Thanks.
>
> Robert G Smith
>
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

> don't hold back Angela, tell us how you really feel about it.

hehehe

> :)
> kc

> > while working for yourself, but your post clearly says, "I have no clue
> what
> > I am doing".

ive been doing many things for years and I clearly have no clue what i am doing :)

> > wouldn't hire you if it isn't, I wouldn't hire you. Risk losing thousands
> of
> > dollars to a guy who doesn't even know where to start charging let alone a
> > guy that doesn't know how to spell maintenance? No thanks.

me kname ar rechard and me kan evin spel it. IT!!

I can spell ask any regular on this NG. (they will even tell you so after picking
themselves off the floor from ROTFLTAO)
I also work around things that cost ppl much more than a few thousands of dollars
I also sometimes know what I am doing and I always have to ask others in the field how
much they charge so I can keep competitive.

though I kinda agree with the point Angela is making research and learn before you enter a
service business.

> > Angela

--
Richard Reynolds

[Angela Lesley]

Do you have URL where I can see pictures of your tanks? You seem to know a
lot from all of your posts, but yet I have never seen pictures of that
experience at work.

Thanks,
Angie

"Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
news:2vOHb.32511$gN.9648@fed1read05...
> don't hold back Angela, tell us how you really feel about it.

hehehe

> :)
> kc

> > while working for yourself, but your post clearly says, "I have no clue
> what
> > I am doing".

ive been doing many things for years and I clearly have no clue what i am
doing :)

> > wouldn't hire you if it isn't, I wouldn't hire you. Risk losing
thousands
> of
> > dollars to a guy who doesn't even know where to start charging let alone
a
> > guy that doesn't know how to spell maintenance? No thanks.

me kname ar rechard and me kan evin spel it. IT!!

I can spell ask any regular on this NG. (they will even tell you so after
picking
themselves off the floor from ROTFLTAO)
I also work around things that cost ppl much more than a few thousands of
dollars
I also sometimes know what I am doing and I always have to ask others in the
field how
much they charge so I can keep competitive.

though I kinda agree with the point Angela is making research and learn
before you enter a
service business.

> > Angela

--
Richard Reynolds

[robert]

Bringing 5 stage RO water and mixing it on site. Minimum tank size is about
125 gallons. I am in Broward County ( Fort Lauderdale Florida ).

Robert G Smith

"Fish guy" > wrote in message
v.net...
> Prices vary by size and type of system, also by what service you are
> providing. Are you bringing the customer your own pre mixed and aged salt
> water? or are you just going to mix it on site and hope your client has
good
> source water? Prices also depend on location, Alabama would certainly be a
> lower price than Manhattan NY, for the exact same system. Where are you
> located?
>
> "robert" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > I am starting a aquarium maintained service and am trying to figure out
> how
> > much to charge. I have aquarium size as a variable and three types of
> > aquariums to consider. Reef tanks ( the most desired it seems and
> > expensive ) , salt water aquariums and fresh water aquatics. Any one
> know
> > where I can get a fee schedule to extract a scale that considers the
> > variables so I know what to charge ? I see people paying $ 300 a month
> for
> > a 100 gallon reef tank but how much for say a 300 gallon reef tank ? Or
> 100
> > gallon salt water aquarium ? or a 300 gallon salt water aquarium ? Or
a
> > 100 gallon fresh water aquarium or a 300 gallon fresh water aquarium ?
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Robert G Smith
> >
> >
>
>

[robert]

I am experienced and HONEST which gives me a leg up on everyone else
because ALL the people who are involved in this that I know either lie like
rugs and / or POACH the local reef ( I am in Fort Lauderdale Florida ) for
specimens to sell. They set up systems that kill the specimens so they can
keep selling new ones. I just want to see if the fees being charged by
these people are way out of line. They charge $ 300 a month for a 125
gallon reef tank and $ 200 a month for sal****er aquariums and $ 150 a
month for freshwater aquariums with ONE visit a week . Gravel cleaning two
times a month , a 30 % water change once a month and test ONLY the PH on a
weekly basis. I will run exhaustive tests once a week. They also have ONLY
that joke of a filter ( wet dry ONLY ).

Robert G Smith

"Angela Lesley" > wrote in message
...
> Please do not go into "business" if you do not already know the answers to
> these questions. It is obvious that you are interested in earning a living
> while working for yourself, but your post clearly says, "I have no clue
what
> I am doing".
>
> Asking us for pricing information in regards to what you should charge for
> your experience is ridiculous if not reckless. I am surprised someone
hasn't
> already gone off on you. You had better hope that your name is well known
in
> the area where you are going to do business because anyone with a clue
> wouldn't hire you if it isn't, I wouldn't hire you. Risk losing thousands
of
> dollars to a guy who doesn't even know where to start charging let alone a
> guy that doesn't know how to spell maintenance? No thanks.
>
> Angela
>
> "robert" > wrote in message
> . ..
> I am starting a aquarium maintained service and am trying to figure out
how
> much to charge. I have aquarium size as a variable and three types of
> aquariums to consider. Reef tanks ( the most desired it seems and
> expensive ) , salt water aquariums and fresh water aquatics. Any one
know
> where I can get a fee schedule to extract a scale that considers the
> variables so I know what to charge ? I see people paying $ 300 a month
for
> a 100 gallon reef tank but how much for say a 300 gallon reef tank ? Or
100
> gallon salt water aquarium ? or a 300 gallon salt water aquarium ? Or a
> 100 gallon fresh water aquarium or a 300 gallon fresh water aquarium ?
> Thanks.
>
> Robert G Smith
>
>
>

[robert]

I don't have the ability to post pictures from this ISP. Don't take this
the wrong way but I was only asking about fee structures and where do you
get off demanding I put up pictures of anything from me. My questions are
reasonable. Your demand for pictures is not. You have no tight to judge
anything here and neither do I.

Robert G Smith

"Angela Lesley" > wrote in message
...
> Do you have URL where I can see pictures of your tanks? You seem to know a
> lot from all of your posts, but yet I have never seen pictures of that
> experience at work.
>
> Thanks,
> Angie
>
> "Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
> news:2vOHb.32511$gN.9648@fed1read05...
> > don't hold back Angela, tell us how you really feel about it.
>
> hehehe
>
> > :)
> > kc
>
> > > while working for yourself, but your post clearly says, "I have no
clue
> > what
> > > I am doing".
>
> ive been doing many things for years and I clearly have no clue what i am
> doing :)
>
> > > wouldn't hire you if it isn't, I wouldn't hire you. Risk losing
> thousands
> > of
> > > dollars to a guy who doesn't even know where to start charging let
alone
> a
> > > guy that doesn't know how to spell maintenance? No thanks.
>
> me kname ar rechard and me kan evin spel it. IT!!
>
> I can spell ask any regular on this NG. (they will even tell you so after
> picking
> themselves off the floor from ROTFLTAO)
> I also work around things that cost ppl much more than a few thousands of
> dollars
> I also sometimes know what I am doing and I always have to ask others in
the
> field how
> much they charge so I can keep competitive.
>
> though I kinda agree with the point Angela is making research and learn
> before you enter a
> service business.
>
> > > Angela
>
> --
> Richard Reynolds
>
>
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

> I don't have the ability to post pictures from this ISP.

<snip>

I think she was asking me for images, and ive been to lazy/busy to get any good ones
croped and posted, plus I have new frags Xmas time for me :)
including this nice piece ill have to work extra hard on getting a pic posted it set me
back a huge $5 and its awesome 2 types of mushrooms 4 types of zoo's :)

> I was only asking about fee structures

<snip>

I think I picked up on that, but maybee you should have given your credentials at the
beginning, at the worst it would have help us tell you what to charge, though I dont live
in florida(cant even spell florida) also around here most ppl bring in pre mixed salt, one
of the things that gets advertised is that the salt is airated for X hours

one of the Dr.'s offices has a huge preditor tank probibly 2000 gallons, acording to the
receptionist they pay something like $250 a month, and the service ppl do everything
including guarantee livestock. though its lightly stocked (2 small sharks and a voltan)
the guy comes in on mondays takes a vial of water to be tested does a waterchange and
feeds them, he doesnt even do the tests on the spot but takes them to wherever off site he
goes.

> Robert G Smith




--
Richard Reynolds

[Angela Lesley]

I was not asking for pictures from you. I was asking for pictures from
Richard.

Angie

"robert" > wrote in message
.. .
I don't have the ability to post pictures from this ISP. Don't take this
the wrong way but I was only asking about fee structures and where do you
get off demanding I put up pictures of anything from me. My questions are
reasonable. Your demand for pictures is not. You have no tight to judge
anything here and neither do I.

Robert G Smith

"Angela Lesley" > wrote in message
...
> Do you have URL where I can see pictures of your tanks? You seem to know a
> lot from all of your posts, but yet I have never seen pictures of that
> experience at work.
>
> Thanks,
> Angie
>
> "Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
> news:2vOHb.32511$gN.9648@fed1read05...
> > don't hold back Angela, tell us how you really feel about it.
>
> hehehe
>
> > :)
> > kc
>
> > > while working for yourself, but your post clearly says, "I have no
clue
> > what
> > > I am doing".
>
> ive been doing many things for years and I clearly have no clue what i am
> doing :)
>
> > > wouldn't hire you if it isn't, I wouldn't hire you. Risk losing
> thousands
> > of
> > > dollars to a guy who doesn't even know where to start charging let
alone
> a
> > > guy that doesn't know how to spell maintenance? No thanks.
>
> me kname ar rechard and me kan evin spel it. IT!!
>
> I can spell ask any regular on this NG. (they will even tell you so after
> picking
> themselves off the floor from ROTFLTAO)
> I also work around things that cost ppl much more than a few thousands of
> dollars
> I also sometimes know what I am doing and I always have to ask others in
the
> field how
> much they charge so I can keep competitive.
>
> though I kinda agree with the point Angela is making research and learn
> before you enter a
> service business.
>
> > > Angela
>
> --
> Richard Reynolds
>
>
>
>

[robert]

OK that's an aquarium. 2000 gallon tank with live stock warrantee for $
250.00 a month. Weekly water changes ? How much ? We don't know what kind
of equipment is on that tank. You would need a huge protein skimmer and UV
sterilizer as well as a huge calcium reactor. That tank sounds like it
needs about $ 8 grand worth of equipment including the chiller. And doing
the tests off site does not display what tests they do. There should be
like 8 or so from a LaMotte Master kit and a redox calculation. Does it
sound like I know what I am talking about ? It sounds like ( from the fee )
that the tank has minimal equipment ( no , UV , skimmer or calcium
reactor ). Thanks for your input.

Robert G Smith

"Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
news:V2%Hb.32671$gN.23491@fed1read05...
> > I don't have the ability to post pictures from this ISP.
>
> <snip>
>
> I think she was asking me for images, and ive been to lazy/busy to get any
good ones
> croped and posted, plus I have new frags Xmas time for me :)
> including this nice piece ill have to work extra hard on getting a pic
posted it set me
> back a huge $5 and its awesome 2 types of mushrooms 4 types of zoo's :)
>
> > I was only asking about fee structures
>
> <snip>
>
> I think I picked up on that, but maybee you should have given your
credentials at the
> beginning, at the worst it would have help us tell you what to charge,
though I dont live
> in florida(cant even spell florida) also around here most ppl bring in pre
mixed salt, one
> of the things that gets advertised is that the salt is airated for X hours
>
> one of the Dr.'s offices has a huge preditor tank probibly 2000 gallons,
acording to the
> receptionist they pay something like $250 a month, and the service ppl do
everything
> including guarantee livestock. though its lightly stocked (2 small sharks
and a voltan)
> the guy comes in on mondays takes a vial of water to be tested does a
waterchange and
> feeds them, he doesnt even do the tests on the spot but takes them to
wherever off site he
> goes.
>
> > Robert G Smith
>
>
>
>
> --
> Richard Reynolds
>
>
>
>

[robert]

sorry
"Angela Lesley" > wrote in message
...
> I was not asking for pictures from you. I was asking for pictures from
> Richard.
>
> Angie
>
> "robert" > wrote in message
> .. .
> I don't have the ability to post pictures from this ISP. Don't take this
> the wrong way but I was only asking about fee structures and where do you
> get off demanding I put up pictures of anything from me. My questions are
> reasonable. Your demand for pictures is not. You have no tight to judge
> anything here and neither do I.
>
> Robert G Smith
>
> "Angela Lesley" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Do you have URL where I can see pictures of your tanks? You seem to know
a
> > lot from all of your posts, but yet I have never seen pictures of that
> > experience at work.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Angie
> >
> > "Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
> > news:2vOHb.32511$gN.9648@fed1read05...
> > > don't hold back Angela, tell us how you really feel about it.
> >
> > hehehe
> >
> > > :)
> > > kc
> >
> > > > while working for yourself, but your post clearly says, "I have no
> clue
> > > what
> > > > I am doing".
> >
> > ive been doing many things for years and I clearly have no clue what i
am
> > doing :)
> >
> > > > wouldn't hire you if it isn't, I wouldn't hire you. Risk losing
> > thousands
> > > of
> > > > dollars to a guy who doesn't even know where to start charging let
> alone
> > a
> > > > guy that doesn't know how to spell maintenance? No thanks.
> >
> > me kname ar rechard and me kan evin spel it. IT!!
> >
> > I can spell ask any regular on this NG. (they will even tell you so
after
> > picking
> > themselves off the floor from ROTFLTAO)
> > I also work around things that cost ppl much more than a few thousands
of
> > dollars
> > I also sometimes know what I am doing and I always have to ask others in
> the
> > field how
> > much they charge so I can keep competitive.
> >
> > though I kinda agree with the point Angela is making research and learn
> > before you enter a
> > service business.
> >
> > > > Angela
> >
> > --
> > Richard Reynolds
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

humm must not have made this all that clear

> OK that's an aquarium. 2000 gallon tank with live stock warrantee for $
> 250.00 a month. Weekly water changes ? How much ?

yea weekly, donno how much my guess is that, however much is needed from last weeks test
to get the numbers where they want them. Ill see if i can find out.

> We don't know what kind
> of equipment is on that tank. You would need a huge protein skimmer and UV
> sterilizer as well as a huge calcium reactor.

preditor tank no calc reactor, an aqua c skimmer, and yes to UV but I have no clue as to
what it is, ive seen it, its probibly 4' long SS behind the tank.

> That tank sounds like it
> needs about $ 8 grand worth of equipment including the chiller.
no chiller.

> And doing
> the tests off site does not display what tests they do. There should be
> like 8 or so from a LaMotte Master kit and a redox calculation.

I have no idea what kit he uses, which tests he runs, I am not the dude, I just know
someone who works there :)
ive asked everyone in the office no one knows anything about it except the names that they
have given each fish.

> Does it
> sound like I know what I am talking about ?

wasnt saying you didnt, just saying you should have told us exactly what you know before
asking for us to figure out how much you should be paid:)

> It sounds like ( from the fee )
> that the tank has minimal equipment ( no , UV , skimmer or calcium
> reactor ). Thanks for your input.

this is just maint. fee not the cost of purchase which I suspect they did, and I suspect
it was purchased from the guy doing the work.

>
> Robert G Smith




--
Richard Reynolds

[Marco Qualizza]

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 19:38:00 -0500, robert wrote:

> OK that's an aquarium. 2000 gallon tank with live stock warrantee for $
> 250.00 a month. Weekly water changes ? How much ? We don't know what
> kind of equipment is on that tank. You would need a huge protein skimmer
> and UV sterilizer as well as a huge calcium reactor. That tank sounds
> like it needs about $ 8 grand worth of equipment including the chiller.

Yup, you're ready to go into business. haven't even seen the tank, all
you know is that it's 2000 gallons, and you've already set up $8grand in
expenses for it. :-p

[Chris]

Just my thought but, "a huge calcium reactor" denotes a reef and a "UV
sterilizer" is more fish only as i've noted is not typically used on a reef
as it detrimental properties?




Marco Qualizza wrote:

> On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 19:38:00 -0500, robert wrote:
>
>> OK that's an aquarium. 2000 gallon tank with live stock warrantee for $
>> 250.00 a month. Weekly water changes ? How much ? We don't know what
>> kind of equipment is on that tank. You would need a huge protein skimmer
>> and UV sterilizer as well as a huge calcium reactor. That tank sounds
>> like it needs about $ 8 grand worth of equipment including the chiller.
>
> Yup, you're ready to go into business. haven't even seen the tank, all
> you know is that it's 2000 gallons, and you've already set up $8grand in
> expenses for it. :-p

[Richard Reynolds]

> Just my thought but, "a huge calcium reactor" denotes a reef and a "UV
> sterilizer" is more fish only as i've noted is not typically used on a reef
> as it detrimental properties?

often times tanks that are maintained by outside individuals/companies run UV and a few
other things you shouldnt run at home.

also when keeping sharks UV is just about mandatory.
but no a calc reactor in a non reef is a waste, he probibly didnt catch that. its not like
anyone would actually make a tank maint. quote w/o seeing everything.

--
Richard Reynolds

[Uncle Arnie]

"Angela Lesley" writes:

<<You had better hope that your name is well known>>

He is VERY well known in alt.amazon-women.admirers........He's
been turned down by so many women that he's on a crusade..........