I have owned a fish tank for about 7 years. I started out with a freshwater tank and subsequently moved to saltwater. I have had a rotating door of companies who have serviced my fish tank, and Reef Mechanics are hands down the best.
I met the owner, Brian, over two years ago when I got sick of my fish dying every couple of weeks. The guys servicing my tank could not provide me with any explanations, were unreliable when it came to regular service, and left me stressed and almost ready to give up my tank. A previous client who owned a tank referred me to his guy, who then referred me to Brian. The moment I met Brian, I knew he was the real deal.
During the consultation, he actually asked me background questions about the tank, the type of tank that I envisioned having, my budget, specific preferences, etc. He was looking at the big picture and also cared about my opinions. It was also immediately apparent that his intelligence and passion made him stand out from the rest. He patiently explained the science of keeping the water healthy for the fish, the types of fish that I had and their personalities, what environment they would thrive in, and what else I could add to the tank and why. He truly wanted to provide me with as much knowledge as possible. When he finally came to service my fish tank, he laid out towels to protect my wood floors and was mindful of my furniture and my home.
A year into the service, I wanted to upgrade to a new tank. Brian connected me with another customer having considered my budget and what would be aesthetically pleasing to my home. The fish tank matched my furniture perfectly, and he took charge of handling the transfer. Brian successfully integrated the new tank, coral, and new fish with my original fish, and they all flourished.
Throughout the time that Reef Mechanics have taken over maintenance and care of my tank, my corals have thrived and my fish are extremely happy. Brian has always made suggestions on how to make my tank even better than it was. What truly makes him the best is that he does not stop trying to improve his craft. He has made different suggestions on how to integrate different fish, coral, snails etc to my existing environment and keep the balance perfect without disrupting the established ecosystem. This is readily apparent given that my fish reproduce regularly.
A couple of weeks ago, I had used a new fish service, Aquarium Doctor, because I knew that Brian had his hands full on other projects and may not be available in the next couple of months. This was simply a temporary change. The first service I received from this fish guy was a disaster. First, I thought Craig was going to come over just for a consult. He came in ready to service my tank. He did not ask me any background questions and was quick to put down Reef Mechanics for mixing a trigger and "other big fish" with the bright and thriving coral in my tank. He continued even after I reminded him that I had a great working relationship with Brian and was only needing temporary servicing. His focus was making my sand extremely white and trying to convince me to get rid of my triggers because it was "impossible" to have it coexist with "a reef tank" even though it had done so successfully for over a year with no issues. He then proceeded to exact chaos to my tank. He threw out a living conch, some other shells including the shell that my clowns have been living in that had live anemones and eggs, because he considered it grimy, and rearranged my tank without considering how I wanted it to look. He also did not fill up my water jugs, didn't even have his own towels to clean, scratched up my floors, and then used up all my paper towels cleaning up the spilled water.
The next day, the water looked extremely cloudy. My rabbit fish looked like it labored to breathe, and the rest of the fish looked traumatized. I called Brian on his day off, and he arrived immediately and saved my tank and fish as best he could. Unfortunately, my rabbitfish did not make it. The rest of the fish, corals, and snails, thankfully survived.
To a lot of people, it may seem like guys who service fish tanks are all the same, but I learned the hard way that there are those who simply do the basics, focused simply on cleaning and maintenance, and those who have a vision and passion for their work. That's what separates Brian from the rest. He cares about the science, adding to his knowledge, pushing the boundaries of what can work, and constantly focused on perfection. This is what makes him an expert in this field. He truly cares about each and every tank he services, the client's own desires and tastes, the living beings within the tanks, and to create bigger and more sustainable tanks. He pushes the envelope and creates harmony in tanks where other fish guys have deemed impossible. My fish and I are so lucky to have him. #fishmaster read more