Confessions of an Aquarium Technician

[Timmain42]

<sigh>

I suppose I had to write this down at some point. So here goes...

During Dec. 2001, I got laid off. Having not much else to do, I decided to pour myself into freelance work, and I started reading the AC forums. A LOT. So much so, that people around me were asking me questions as if I were the expert and sending over fish-curious people my way.

Not a problem.

However, around Jan 2003, money got tight when the freelance work trickled out, and I realized I was going to have to do something to make money and support my family. What did I do?

I became an aquarium technician for one of the largest saltwater service companies in the DFW area.

I have pimped the AC Forums for months, mostly for information. I have used the data I gathered here to not only become a better-than-average aquarium tech, but to start my own series of planted tanks (with great success, I might add).

I spent almost 10 months as a technician. I am so sorry that I have abused the Forums in a way they were not meant to be used.

Fortunately, I no longer work for this company, having gone back to the Web industry. I did manage to steer dozens of people toward these Forums, in hopes that they will take better care of their pets.

Flame on.:(

[Hans]

technician? haha i guess i could call myself a laundry engineer in my house than!

[Hans]

this is a 240 gallon? those books must be gigantic because it looks like its about a foot high and 5 long? http://www.member.serverpro.com/~praxx42/fish/Panorama_7_20_03.jpg

[OrionGirl]

Yep, you're gonna' burn for this one. :laugh:

Heck, I take it as a compliment that this was a resource you were able to use to support yourself.

[LMOUTHBASS]

this is what the forum is here for to get info - you didnt commit anything wrong -
hey you gotta eat

[Leopardess]

You didn't do anything wrong! Information is free and is meant to be used! If we didn't use it, what would be the point of having it? I used information I got from here and other sites and put it towards building my tanks - and I might be starting a planted tank up at my fiance's restaurant (there's an extra 500g tank kicking around - but I don't think i'll use it. Thats another story though).

Relax dude - you're in the clear:cool:

[Timmain42]

Originally posted by Hans
this is a 240 gallon? those books must be gigantic because it looks like its about a foot high and 5 long?

Yep, that's because most of the tank is hidden under trim or behind the blackout curtain. It's 8x2x2, you can see the 2' height if you count from the top of the ledge to the top of the trim behind the curtain. The room it's in is only 9' wide, so it's a pretty tight pack.

http://www.member.serverpro.com/~praxx42/fish/TankRoomDoor3.JPG
This shows a little more detail, the "business end," if you will.

[Hans]

well i have to admit that is quite awsome!

[shewlett]

I don't think you did anything wrong. In fact, I think it would be great if more employees of LFS did what you did. It seems to me that you were able to provide better and more knowledgeable service to your customers and thereby help to ensure the health of their fish than if you had not researched and tried to learn as much as you could about your job.

[beviking]

shewlett is absolutely right! Good for you and those you advised! Now, where's our cut of the $?;)

[Timmain42]

Originally posted by beviking
shewlett is absolutely right! Good for you and those you advised! Now, where's our cut of the $?;)

I would fork over, but I shudder to tell you how much I made. Let's just say it almost paid the bills.

[NatakuTseng]

All the power to ya Tim, your the one that took the effort to be willing to learn things in order to apply them to something you liked doing. Really its not different than if you took a class on it, cept you didn't have to pay for it and it was your own initiative to learn in order to further yourself. Noting wrong with that at all.