How to Make Money With Salt Water Tanks

Check the Demand

• 1

  Start by checking the local demand for the services you plan to provide. It is a good idea to check with local medical and dental offices to see if they would be receptive to a service that would set up and maintain a saltwater aquarium. Also check with the large employers in your area; they may be interested in setting up a saltwater tank in their lobbies. You might also want to ask the staff at your local pet store to post an advertisement for your services.

• 2

  Purchase the saltwater tanks and supplies you will need and head out to your first appointment. Be sure to arrive early for your appointment, and be careful to keep your work area clean and tidy. Set the aquarium stand up first and carefully set the tank in place. Add water and use the aquarium salt to adjust the salinity to the proper level. You can use a hydrometer as you work to check the saltiness of the water.

• 3

  Allow the tank to cycle for a week or so to make sure the water quality will support the livestock you plan to add. Use a test kit to test the quality of the water and then carefully add saltwater fish. It is best to start with hardy species like blue damsels and clown fish; these species will be more forgiving of water quality changes than more delicate fish. After the tank has stabilized and the water quality is good, you can add additional fish.

• 4

  Offer your initial customers a discount for spreading the word about you and the quality of the service you provide. In the long run, you will make a lot more money on the maintenance of the saltwater tanks than you will on the initial setup, so be sure to generate strong word-of-mouth advertising for your business. You can also advertise in local pet stores and aquarium centers, and in trade magazines devoted to the medical field. Since doctors and dentists often keep aquariums in their offices, this can be a natural, and generally inexpensive, form of marketing.

• 5

  Determine how much you will need to charge for your services to make a decent profit. The cost of the service will naturally vary according to a number of factors, including the part of the country where you will be doing business, the level of competition and your costs. When setting up the initial tank, it is typical to charge a 15 percent to 20 percent markup over your cost of supplies, but you might be able to boost your profits a bit by negotiating a discount rate with a local pet store. If you plan to buy in bulk, you might be able to get at least a 10 percent discount on tanks and related supplies.

  When adding or replacing fish, you can charge a small markup -- about 5 percent to 10 percent -- and again, you might be able to negotiate lower prices and higher profits by negotiating with your local pet store.

  The cost of ongoing maintenance will vary, but a monthly charge of $50 to $100 per month plus the cost of any additional supplies is pretty typical. In most parts of the country, this monthly charge will be enough to cover the cost of consumables like filter cartridges as well as the cost of gas and, of course, your profit. Any major replacements, like new lights or a new filter, should be billed to the customer.