Taking a different direction.

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siptang

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/391435/taking-a-different-direction#post_3471663
Not trying to offend you....Just stating mere facts....Dude I know all about 70 hours a week for the past 2yrs.....You think UPS cuts me any slack between work, and home life along with doing a huge build.....I don't see anything wrong with the source of water, but I do question someone who wants a tank, but it's devoted enough to take the time to maintain it......Yes I do question the commitment to the hobby and enjoyment in it.....How can you even sit back and friends over as they marvel at your tank knowing you aren't doing the labor, but reaping the fruits possibly......That's part of the hobby.....The enjoyment in the hobby, and you as well as everyone else knows there's a cost for everything.......
Ok, so it's about my devotion and commitment now that has prompted you to say what you said. How well do you know me Shawn to make that kind of statement? I spend much time on my tank on daily basis feeding, cleaning, just to make sure if everything is alright if everyone is alive and well and to see if all the equipments are working the way they should. Moving things here to there, trying different kinds of food just so that my corals will thrive.
Also if a person hires someone to maintain their tank because of time/schedule conflict or whatever. That person doesn't have any rights to enjoy their piece of ocean because they are not committed as some other fellow tanker? Who made up that rule? If one is responsible, any one in this world has a right to enjoy a piece of ocean. I understand where you are coming from and everything but I believe you are looking at this in a narrow view. I know there is a cost for everything and at this moment is $30 going out to him to maintain it. I have gotten majority of my sps frags from him and he is so confident of his work that he has personally guarantied that if he did something to kill it, he will give me other frags to replace it. Not that I'm expecting something to go wrong but that's how sure he is. After looking at his tanks and his equipments, his clients tanks I decided to go to him. You don't have to like my decision or agree with them but you shouldn't judge one's commitment or devotion or who can enjoy what.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
To each is own. The hobby means many different things for many different people. Sometimes the maintenance is a part of the enjoyment for me, other times it can feel like a drag and I just want to kick back and enjoy the tank too. I see no harm with it since you've done your homework on the guy.
I was just questioning his beer drinking abilities cause I couldn't see him making any money off of ya. But under the circumstances I can see why he might do it for so cheap. I had a lot of lawn care customers back in the day and the ones that lived in my own neighborhood or even on the same street always got much better deals because they were so close. Pluss if you do a good job for em they help spread the word to family and friends.
I can't see the water hurting anything if where he's getting it from is true. I just question what type of pathogens he could be picking up and introducing to other peoples tanks. Would leaving them in the dark kill them all? Some contaminates like pesticides can only be broken down by heavy dilution and sunlight.
I'd been kicking around the idea of doing this myself since I live so close to the water. I don't have a boat but could easily go out to the end of the pier or jetties durring high tide. Question for me is, is it going to be worth all of the work? Dunno yet. So I'm currious to hear your objective opinion based on your observations.
 
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siptang

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/391435/taking-a-different-direction/20#post_3471670
To each is own. The hobby means many different things for many different people. Sometimes the maintenance is a part of the enjoyment for me, other times it can feel like a drag and I just want to kick back and enjoy the tank too. I see no harm with it since you've done your homework on the guy.
I was just questioning his beer drinking abilities cause I couldn't see him making any money off of ya. But under the circumstances I can see why he might do it for so cheap. I had a lot of lawn care customers back in the day and the ones that lived in my own neighborhood or even on the same street always got much better deals because they were so close. Pluss if you do a good job for em they help spread the word to family and friends.
I can't see the water hurting anything if where he's getting it from is true. I just question what type of pathogens he could be picking up and introducing to other peoples tanks. Would leaving them in the dark kill them all? Some contaminates like pesticides can only be broken down by heavy dilution and sunlight.
I'd been kicking around the idea of doing this myself since I live so close to the water. I don't have a boat but could easily go out to the end of the pier or jetties durring high tide. Question for me is, is it going to be worth all of the work? Dunno yet. So I'm currious to hear your objective opinion based on your observations.
Hey Corey,
You are absolutely right. This hobby does mean different things for different people. I also enjoy maintaining my tank and I feel proud whenever I see my fish getting bigger, corals getting bigger or expanding. It feels like it's my reward for all the hours that I have invested but as I said in my other post, his offer was cost effective, possibly (I'm very certain that it is) better then synthetic salt and gives me time to do things that I need to do and it will make my wife happy. It was win and win situation for me.
People may not like my decision to hire someone to do this but I don't see the reason for questioning whether this hobby is right for me or not because no one knows how much I have invested a lot into this hobby both time and money but myself. Also it's my tank, I can decide what's good for it and what's not right?
Also from listening to my friend, collecting by piers it's not a good idea generally because of the contamination that is around the area where humans/boats are. Try to find a good inlet that's away from all the people fishing and congestion of boats if you don't have a boat. You have to time it right too. You have to know when it's the incoming tide and not the other way around and you have to let it sit inside in a complete dark place to kill off all the dying planktons and such. He then runs 2 1 micron filter socks to filter out all the things, then run it off of HUGE UV sterilizer. After looking at his equipments and general knowledge and his tanks, I was sold. I befriended the guy while buying whole bunch of his frags and beer is just something he loves so I just have some ready for him as an incentive and something for us to kick back, relax and chill after the work is done. One day I plan to go out with him and fish while he gathers water and such... I just dread being there around 5 am..
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
I think your guy and I must have read the same artical. It suggested that collection could be done from places like the ends of jetties and piers at high tide. I also had the same thoughts of keeping it in a holding tank first and cycling though u.v. and carbon filtration. Carbon would catch about 90% of any polutants,u.v. for parasites and pesticde breakdown which I cant see as being a huge concern. But certainly would expeiment first. I wouldnt start dumping it strait into a live tank. Pretty sure theres already a few folks around town that are doing this but havent spoken with them personally.
Thing that concerns me though like your guy said...the water and whats it in near coastal waters can change thoughout the season. I cant see this being terribly wise to collect durring red tide season. Eh, but who knows. If theres a will then there's a way I'm sure. I need a boat lol.
 
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siptang

Guest
Hey Corey, maybe so. He's been using NSW for over 10 years and he said that nothing will beat it if done right. D&D salt comes close he said. I have no idea what that is but he says that I don't want to know the price so I will leave it at that.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Yeah the D&D is pricey I've checked it out. Theres always going to be sceptics but I doubt that few here have tried it or have easy access to get NSW. The area that I was considering is a huge hot spot for catching shrimp including pistol shrimp and peprmin as well as snails,conches and other inverts. Im thinking if they can thrive in those waters then it cant be that bad. The area has been closed off to boat traffic for years. rhaps my logic is off in thinking so. If or when I do attempt it I'll let ya all know.
 
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siptang

Guest
Hey Corey,
You may have something there since inverts are very sensitive to water parameters or would it be that they are used to it by now? hmm.... I will ask few people that uses NSW for their opinions.
Rick - Shrimps or water? lol.
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/391435/taking-a-different-direction/20#post_3471695
Yeah the D&D is pricey I've checked it out. Theres always going to be sceptics but I doubt that few here have tried it or have easy access to get NSW. The area that I was considering is a huge hot spot for catching shrimp including pistol shrimp and peprmin as well as snails,conches and other inverts. Im thinking if they can thrive in those waters then it cant be that bad. The area has been closed off to boat traffic for years. rhaps my logic is off in thinking so. If or when I do attempt it I'll let ya all know.
I use D&D salt.
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
i am pretty sure there are hundreds of companies that maintain tanks for people.whats up acrylics rear end? really think everyone has the time to keep a tank that wants one.hell i just got around to a water change after 6 weeks.in the winter its done everyweek.my tank sometimes looks perfect and when i slack it dont.i would love to have a friend who could help out once in a while.am i missing something?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by deejeff442 http:///t/391435/taking-a-different-direction/20#post_3471724
i am pretty sure there are hundreds of companies that maintain tanks for people.whats up acrylics rear end? really think everyone has the time to keep a tank that wants one.hell i just got around to a water change after 6 weeks.in the winter its done everyweek.my tank sometimes looks perfect and when i slack it dont.i would love to have a friend who could help out once in a while.am i missing something?
Nothings up Shawns rear end......Just so much money invested into the hobby and tank.....Boy....I'm just saying you make a statement like that....Nothing wrong with the water source, but a little automation could easily take care of water changes.....I don't care how good a guys tanks looks, all it takes is a little mishap and all your hard work and effort is set back......
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
well glad nothings up there lol.no doubt about a mishap it happens to us all.personally i think natural vs. bucket sat.. i would go with the bucket.they do add minerals and calcium that natural sea water lacks
 
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siptang

Guest
Welps, I got mine maintained yesterday. He cleaned up front glass, both sides and the back (I rarely ever clean those and it was filthy). He then siphoned all the debris, cleaned the live rock, sand bed, sump and replaced all the carbon (1 in a canister, one in a large bag inside the filter sock) and phoguard media and 20g water change then buffered the water a bit to raise calcium, alk and magnesium.
Looks so clean right now, I'm very happy right now will be taking some pictures tonight to post very soon.
Will keep you guys updated.
According to the article above mentioned by Corey, nothing has really been proven about the benefits of synthetic vs natural salt water but it was just my thing on natural vs man made.
I guess this will be my little experiment.
 
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