The money in maintenance in Reef tanks is when you own the tanks and its contents. Control of the system assures success and profit and ready expansion. Starting out at a LFS is probably the best way of getting satrted other than working for an even longer time at a public aquarium. It only takes a few years before people become interested in funding a business for you. Try to avoid any and all contracts for maintaining someone elses tanks unless you have nearly complete control over all maintenance, products and tank contents. Otherwise you spend money cleaning up others mistakes and neglect and that does noy build a reputation for you as any thing but a laborer. I have people who take time off from work every time I do work on their tanks just because they want to learn. They do not want to be responsible for the tank though. Money is big in quality tank maintenance but money invested is big also. Insurance does not cover for what nature causes like a tank with out circualtion or skimming due to storm caused power outages. I have two employees, plus I maintain usually 4 - 5 tanks myself. About an hour and a half each week per tank at $35 per hour per tank. Materials as in salts, foods, carbon etc. is placed against their accounts at a local LFS. I provide corals and complete tank set ups to include internet connection hardware. The tanks are on one year leases and the corals they purchase from me out right. In the last 9 to 10 years I have only lost two customers after their one year lease. I allow few fish and thet must be approved in advance and I quaritine them (actually n employee does) before their introduction. No large fish or predator fish. I have a little over 170 thousand in depreciating supplies in use and on hand. That does not include my tanks in my apartment, any vehicles or electronics for tanks tied by internet to my computer for monitoring.
