want the perfect setup

[segen77]

My boss is getting a new house, and wants a full reef system. all kinds of corals fish, you name it, he wants it. He was thinking somewhere around 200+ gallons.

The catch is he doesn't want to deal with it, once it's up and running, so here's my question. What's the most automation for the best tank, and what would it cost. I originally through out a figure of about 10k for everything not counting livestock. Do you think that's too much, not enough? What would he need to make everything, and I mean everything simple. Heck, if he never had to do a water change, or once every few months he would be ecstatic. The more technology we can put into it the better.

He has plenty of money, and is willing to spend it, if I can explain to him how it will make everything better, and more importantly easier for him.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as I have been out of the hobby for almost a year now.

Also, if he wanted to have someone take care of it for him, what would he expect to pay and how much. He'll be in the cedar hill area.

thanks for any help.

 

[chrisrush]

http://www.seavisions.com/prod02.htm

And 10k isn't going to cut it. Have him at least double it if he wants top of the line.

 

[orchidsnfish]

He can buy mine up and running with livestock for 10K.

 

[segen77]

@chrisrush wrote:

it looks like about 3k will cover what he needs from that site, but I've gotta admit. I am a bit confused as to what all this actually does. Any chance you could enlighten me?

 

[Ashlar]

Hrmm.. float switches _everywhere_ in case a drain stops up, or an overflow gets clogged. Calcium reactor, AC3, fish room behind the tank with water change barrels..

 

[pineappleface]

If you want real human kidneys for those filters it will cost much much more.... He will have to deal with "it" on some level sooner or later even with some automation. I think he would be better off hiring an aquarium maintenance service and sticking with a FOWLR tank.

 

[DaveJ]

Call Franks Tanks and see if they are interested in taking on a new service client for a tank that size.

If not, then call Dallas North. If he is wanting top end equipment and livestock, they should be able to help him get what he wants and will also service it. They do that all the time.

You might also give Rift to Reef a call and see if they are interested.

Unless this guy is going to do some of the work himself or at least do the day to day stuff, then its best he deal directly with the company that will be handling the service.

 

[BigJay]

@DaveJ wrote:

This is what I was going to suggest, the best automation money can buy is a reputable aquarium service.

 

[segen77]

@BigJay wrote:

This is what I was going to suggest, the best automation money can buy is a reputable aquarium service."]

Right on. I'll let him know. If there's any other suggestions, please let me know.

 

[Jeff]

Does he not even want to do feedings? Does he have any experience with the livestock at all? You know as well as anyone that the tank needs daily if not twice daily 'trained observation' and feedings if it's fish heavy.

Sounds like a problem waiting to happen. Sorry to be such a downer... :sad:

 

[segen77]

@DheereCrossing wrote:

It's not that he want's to be that hads off, and actually his girlfriend is going to probably be even more hands off.

His issue is that he has seen tanks basically take over someones life. He doesn't want to be stuck sepnding 5 hours every week doing water changes, checking all the levels, and everything else that is involved in a typical setup.

 

[Jeff]

I guess if money's not a problem and he can get a good service to come twice a week it should work ok.

My guess is once they sit down and start really watching the tank they will probably want to be more involved later on.

As far as the origional ideas... I'd suggest getting the report output from the controller getting to the maintence store.

Perhaps a $8-10k initial budget for startup and a $300-500/month maintenance?