need help setting up a tank for someone else

NateFank · 11-06-2009, 07:41 PM

so heres my delema. i work at my lfs and a guy came in talking about some swords he is having problems with, he got them from another lfs, well it turns out the swords he got were the ones i traded the other lfs (my store doesnt have a tank for 2 18" tall swords) so we got to talking about planted tanks and he wants me to set up his tank to be planted!!!!

well im a newb and dont really have the time but he's willing to pay. so i was thinking i can make time, everyone can use some extra cash. well heres the issues, he has a 125 gal tank with some pc lights (dont kno the watts), has regular gravel, it needs to be some what low tech do to the fact that he doesnt wanna do any maintanence on it, he's willing to do co2 but i dunno what other upgrades he's willing to do, so what could work possibly low light and thats basicly maintanence free

topfrog007 · 11-06-2009, 07:50 PM

I suggest this method:

http://www.barrreport.com/articles/4...2-methods.html

You'll want a better substrate than gravel, Eco complete, Fluorite, MTS, ETC.

Find out some more details about the tank, filter, lighting system, fish he wants to keep, etc.

**jjp2** · 11-06-2009, 08:00 PM

Estimate you time and price first. Make sure he is aware of it. Discuss maintance too as if he wants to take care of it after it is set up, that may change what you do.

**lauraleellbp** · 11-06-2009, 09:04 PM

If he wants low maintenance then you don't want to put CO2 on the tank. Trimming a 125gal planted tank will take hours each week, not to mention ferts, etc.

I'd just make sure he's got a good light level for his size tank to stay low tech, and stuff the tank with low light plants- Vals, swords, crypts, Anubias, mosses, Java ferns of different varieties... put some root tabs under the rooted plants and call it DONE.

NateFank · 11-06-2009, 11:52 PM

ya i want low maintenance cuz if i do do this i kno he wont do any maintenance, he has a sw nano cube that he pays someone to come and clean it and such

Ariel301 · 11-07-2009, 02:27 AM

If that's the case, he'd probably be paying someone to maintain this tank for him too. Maybe that someone could be you! =)

timwag2001 · 11-07-2009, 04:08 AM

how would your boss feel about you doing this?

11-06-2009, 07:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
NateFank Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boulder Creek, CA Posts: 63	need help setting up a tank for someone else so heres my delema. i work at my lfs and a guy came in talking about some swords he is having problems with, he got them from another lfs, well it turns out the swords he got were the ones i traded the other lfs (my store doesnt have a tank for 2 18" tall swords) so we got to talking about planted tanks and he wants me to set up his tank to be planted!!!! well im a newb and dont really have the time but he's willing to pay. so i was thinking i can make time, everyone can use some extra cash. well heres the issues, he has a 125 gal tank with some pc lights (dont kno the watts), has regular gravel, it needs to be some what low tech do to the fact that he doesnt wanna do any maintanence on it, he's willing to do co2 but i dunno what other upgrades he's willing to do, so what could work possibly low light and thats basicly maintanence free

11-06-2009, 07:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
topfrog007 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 253	I suggest this method: http://www.barrreport.com/articles/4...2-methods.html You'll want a better substrate than gravel, Eco complete, Fluorite, MTS, ETC. Find out some more details about the tank, filter, lighting system, fish he wants to keep, etc. __________________ Dog Symptoms * Watch Twilight Online * Watch New Moon Online

11-06-2009, 08:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
jjp2 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cape Coral FL Posts: 607	Estimate you time and price first. Make sure he is aware of it. Discuss maintance too as if he wants to take care of it after it is set up, that may change what you do. __________________ John http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...nbow-tank.html

11-06-2009, 09:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (53/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 11,728	If he wants low maintenance then you don't want to put CO2 on the tank. Trimming a 125gal planted tank will take hours each week, not to mention ferts, etc. I'd just make sure he's got a good light level for his size tank to stay low tech, and stuff the tank with low light plants- Vals, swords, crypts, Anubias, mosses, Java ferns of different varieties... put some root tabs under the rooted plants and call it DONE. __________________ Laura Lee's tank Journals: At Work-10 gal Shrimpy Crypt Jungle, 29 gal Planted Tetra Tank (in progress), At Home- 46 gal Low Tech Planted (in progress), 90 gal New World Community August 2009 Fishing trip in the Amazon; my Journal of 10 days in Bolivia along the Rio San Martin (in progress)

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11-06-2009, 11:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
NateFank Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boulder Creek, CA Posts: 63	ya i want low maintenance cuz if i do do this i kno he wont do any maintenance, he has a sw nano cube that he pays someone to come and clean it and such

11-07-2009, 02:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ariel301 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kingman, Arizona Posts: 376	If that's the case, he'd probably be paying someone to maintain this tank for him too. Maybe that someone could be you! =)

11-07-2009, 04:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	how would your boss feel about you doing this?

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