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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 27, 2015 19:22:25 GMT -5
Looks like I'm taking on a new reef tank to take care of. I had a the owner of the Red Barn seafood restaurant in Augusta call me the other day after I was very highly recommended by the owner of the 220 reef I care for. I hadn't planned to take on any more clients but after talking with the owner, hearing how frustrated she was with the setup and the people maintaining it, I couldn't say no. Unfortunately when someone tells me just how bad their tank looks, rarely am I prepared for a tank like this. Too many issues to list but to start I've reduced the noise. The tank was obnoxiously loud because of noisy overflows and poorly thought out siphon breaks. As far as I know the tank was setup in June with tap water and boxed salt water. No auto top off hooked up either. The list goes on. Anyway, here's a pic of the tank the day I first saw it. It was promised to be a beautiful 220 reef tank. Attachments:
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 27, 2015 19:26:40 GMT -5
I'll keep this thread updated as I make progress. It's a bit overwhelming to think of all the things I need to fix but it will be worth it in the end. Also after seeing all the receipts and bills for just how much this tank has cost her, I'm donating the majority if not all of my time to helping this woman get the tank she was promised.
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Post by jasonbowdoin on Oct 27, 2015 19:31:37 GMT -5
Let me know if I can help donate time or frags
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Post by jasonandsarah on Oct 28, 2015 5:20:59 GMT -5
Ditto! If you need anything please let me know. I'm sure I have something you could use.
So sad when people charge the crap out of people for services they shouldn't be performing in the first place! Sickens me
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 28, 2015 8:26:51 GMT -5
Ditto! If you need anything please let me know. I'm sure I have something you could use. So sad when people charge the crap out of people for services they shouldn't be performing in the first place! Sickens me I appreciate the offer. If you knew the extent of it, it would blow your mind. |
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Post by Admin (RS) on Oct 28, 2015 11:20:32 GMT -5
Congrats on the new client! Don't give away all your time for free.. it's a business and the tank is a tool for there business... you shouldn't have to pay for someone else's hack job  at the same time, I can see looking at a tank like this and the reefer inside you can't help but want to fix it by any means necessary haha. Looking forward to seeing you transform this thing into the beautiful reef tank it should be! |
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Post by Admin (RS) on Oct 28, 2015 11:32:06 GMT -5
P.s. If I sounded like a jerk in that reply, it wasn't intentional. It's awesome that you're helping out, and being overly gracious in the early stages can help win over a client that you end up having for years to come.. just gotta make sure it's kept within reason so you're graciousness isn't taken advantage of.
Today's rant:
I use to manage the website for the Old North church in Boston (part of the freedom trail, half a million visitors a year). Before I got involved with them, they wanted to see some of my design ideas. Normally I wouldn't want to invest a ton of time into something that wasn't a sure thing, but I rolled with it because I wanted them as a client. I ended up donating a day or so of development time... they loved the ideas, and I scored a pretty big client for my portfolio. Win!
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 29, 2015 18:55:39 GMT -5
Started getting the parts and pieces today for a water change station.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Oct 29, 2015 20:01:04 GMT -5
Started getting the parts and pieces today for a water change station. Wish I had the room to do that! |
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Post by spotfin on Oct 29, 2015 21:23:08 GMT -5
Is this tank in the restaurant? I haven't been in there for a long time, but do like there food more than Thai food?  Work your magic on it! |
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 30, 2015 9:11:55 GMT -5
No it's not in the restruant, it's in her home.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 30, 2015 16:42:51 GMT -5
So I meant to get a pic of the tank today when I was there but I forgot. Either way, there's no timer or controller hooked up to the three kessils so they have been on 24/7 since the last time the guy who set it up was there. With all the nutrients in the water and it being cloudy already, the tank was completely green when I got there today. Plus the main pump was sucking air from not having the RODI hooked up to an auto top off. I was told by the guy that the eshopps float valve was bad which was why nothing was hooked up. Come to find out it was complete operator error. The sump chamber where the main pump and float valve would be is too narrow for the float to be installed straight out. So instead of turning the float 90 degrees, the guy said it was faulty and ordered one of the electroning auto top off setups. Either way I got her float valve properly installed in her sump and the RODI unit replacing evaporated water. All I can say is this system is a complete mess of noob mistakes.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 30, 2015 16:45:21 GMT -5
I also picked up the brute trash cans for a water change station and had the owner order a couple float valves and a box of salt so we can get started making salt water soon.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Oct 30, 2015 17:04:19 GMT -5
Idk if this is something you want to put out there but... who was taking care of the tank prior to you?
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 31, 2015 7:19:51 GMT -5
I'm not going to post the name of who set it up or had been paid to take care of it. If you want to know text me or pm me. It's not any of the professional businesses though so no need to worry about that.
On another note I've been trying to work out where all this money was spent. Turns out her pain in the ass sump appears to be a trigger systems emerald 39 sump which cost at least $472. I told her a 40 breeder sump would have cost 1/5 that and would have worked better. He guy also ordered three of the kessil gooseneck light mounts for the tank when it has a canopy. Needless to say they are still sitting brand new in the box just like an apex, chiller and a few other things that we are going to be hopefully sending back. All nice stuff but none of it was needed.
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at the same time, I can see looking at a tank like this and the reefer inside you can't help but want to fix it by any means necessary haha. 