I know what you mean, the LFSs are gonna have to come up with a different angle to stay in buissness. The internet is killing small buissness all over this country. I hate it, but I am guilty of my fair share. I buy alot of my dry goods online. Its scary to see where our country is heading! What are all the small buissness owners and there employees going to do when the internet has finally put everyone out of buissness. at this point buissnesses have to either join the online comunity or die. I dont know how I could live without the internet. It has become an everyday part of life and buissness. But I fear someday it will be what breaks the back of America. I dont see how our econony can survive when noone can get a job cause a computer is cheaper and faster. Somebody smack me! Im off in my own little world arnt I! :lol: So anyway, what were we talking about? HEHE Oh ya reef tanks!
5th day creations in Chattanooga
- Thread starter hesstondc
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I REALLY wish Aquatic Specialties were still around. I never got the chance to visit but the first book I read to get ready for this hobby was Tullock's.
I still get all my fish and frozen food from LFS's. Maybe a coral here and there but I mostly trade for those. Then there are those things you have to have at that time.
I look at it a little different. You typical reefer spends way more at the LFS than your everyday freshwater 29 gallon aquarium owner even if you just buy the occasional fish, food and needed supplies. The internet does take away a good bit of business. Unfortunately the most successful LFS's I have seen depend on volume and that means selling people things they may not need. I can't really blame them though.
Chris
I still get all my fish and frozen food from LFS's. Maybe a coral here and there but I mostly trade for those. Then there are those things you have to have at that time.
I look at it a little different. You typical reefer spends way more at the LFS than your everyday freshwater 29 gallon aquarium owner even if you just buy the occasional fish, food and needed supplies. The internet does take away a good bit of business. Unfortunately the most successful LFS's I have seen depend on volume and that means selling people things they may not need. I can't really blame them though.
Chris
Yes, Aquatic Specialists was an awesome store! The store went down hill towards end. Maybe they were the first casualties of the online shopping craze? I have not really began to stock my tank. I have a couple of frags in there, but not much. I have not been out of the hobby that long but it seems prices have sky rocketed! A fist sized rock with 5 mushrooms for $69.99? When I was buying corals you could buy a good sized lps for $30.00- $50.00. Now they start at $80.00 and go way over $100.00. The prices online our similar to what I payed but factor in shipping and you are back near $100.00. Why the jump in prices over such a short time period? I have not ordered any livestock online because I am afraid they will not survive shipping, what is the success rate with shipping livestock?
You will save a bunch getting some things from locals. If you wait a couple of months I will have several things. I have a few now I just don't have time to mess with it right now. Randy is also buisy with school and work and when he gets out for Christmas break he should be more active again. The frag swap in Nashville in January is going to be a great place to get some good deals. Livestock usually does pretty well being shipped particularly in the spring and fall. Just think about it. Everything you get at the LFS has been shipped. I've shipped hundreds of SPS frags overnight priority and I have lost one and that was my fault. For SPS I have recieved I would put losses at less than 5%. There are also some good deals at the Coral Reef. Remember you get 10% off with a club membership.
Chris
Chris
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aarontwhitehead
New member
I think Aquatic Specialists went down the tubes when they moved to North Knoxville. West Knoxville is where the majority of people with higher incomes live and their business thrived there. They expanded several times while there. When they moved to North Knoxville they started carrying freshwater fish and I think most of their clients went to the Aquarium due to convenience. Aquatic Specialists also sold online, they were one of the first. I once traded in a 6 inch hippo that they shipped to MN.
Online livestock will probably be better in the cooler months of fall and spring. I ordered some algae and a Mangrove on line. The Mangrove arrived great and is growing like a weed. The Algae smelled like cooked spinach. I tried to salvage some of what looked alive but it all perished. I also tried feeding it to the tang but I guess he isn't like Popeye. I would guess that buying a larger amount of items that are shipped overnight and immediately picking them up would have better results. However if that purple tang that you order for $150 arrives dead you are going to be very ill.
Don't buy mushrooms, I have plenty of Purple and hairy that need to get rid of. Purple will be more like 15 to 20 per rock. Hairy are huge and I may only be able to spare a couple at a time. I just tore some hairy off a few minutes ago and strapped them to a clam shell (gosh they stink). i haven't tried to actively propogate in a long time due to too many already. Just PM me.
Online livestock will probably be better in the cooler months of fall and spring. I ordered some algae and a Mangrove on line. The Mangrove arrived great and is growing like a weed. The Algae smelled like cooked spinach. I tried to salvage some of what looked alive but it all perished. I also tried feeding it to the tang but I guess he isn't like Popeye. I would guess that buying a larger amount of items that are shipped overnight and immediately picking them up would have better results. However if that purple tang that you order for $150 arrives dead you are going to be very ill.
Don't buy mushrooms, I have plenty of Purple and hairy that need to get rid of. Purple will be more like 15 to 20 per rock. Hairy are huge and I may only be able to spare a couple at a time. I just tore some hairy off a few minutes ago and strapped them to a clam shell (gosh they stink). i haven't tried to actively propogate in a long time due to too many already. Just PM me.
Lint_Licker
In Memoriam
Fish ship better in the cooler months where corals ship better in the warmer months.
The LFS here will take anything I bring them cause they know it will be disease free and have been in a home aquarium atleast for a little while, so there is less of chance of it dieing on them. BUT I refuse to take them sps, lps and a lot of other things just because they cannot support it in their coral tank with NO fluorescents.
Just becuase they can see it in the bag when you bring it in, doesnt mean they are going to be able to see it well. Floating it in their tank will give them a good idea cause it will fully open in the bag. I wouldnt give them anything to set up in the store without any cash in hand. They could kill it, give it diseases/parasites or sell it and then you wouldnt be able to prove that they even had it to begin with. Thats why I would rather deal with an individual one on one, I make more money cause there is no middleman, and the person always comes back for more, its kinda like dealin crack, hahaha, they always come back for their "fix".
The LFS here will take anything I bring them cause they know it will be disease free and have been in a home aquarium atleast for a little while, so there is less of chance of it dieing on them. BUT I refuse to take them sps, lps and a lot of other things just because they cannot support it in their coral tank with NO fluorescents.
Just becuase they can see it in the bag when you bring it in, doesnt mean they are going to be able to see it well. Floating it in their tank will give them a good idea cause it will fully open in the bag. I wouldnt give them anything to set up in the store without any cash in hand. They could kill it, give it diseases/parasites or sell it and then you wouldnt be able to prove that they even had it to begin with. Thats why I would rather deal with an individual one on one, I make more money cause there is no middleman, and the person always comes back for more, its kinda like dealin crack, hahaha, they always come back for their "fix".
aarontwhitehead
New member
That is the relationship that I had with Aquatic Specialists. When they closed their doors I had to look elsewhere. I went to the Aquarium and obviously had to look elsewhere. Luckily The Coral Reef takes whatever I want to take them, and filled the shoes of Aquatic Specialists. It is just the issue of get only a perecentage of the items value. I typically trade for small rubble rocks or frags. It sucks to trade on basicly a 2 for 1 deal but I understand that they have to make money to stay in business.
Thought this forum had some rules about listing your opinions about Knoxville LFS's?
If not, can i talk about what a dump i think Coral Reef is, regardless if they would buy my frags lol. I mean just going into that place im turned off from buying livestock, based purely on looks alone. Id pay a little more at a place I thought seemed more credible..and had a return policy and staff not standing around circle jerking the local reef club while other customers wait for help.
If not, can i talk about what a dump i think Coral Reef is, regardless if they would buy my frags lol. I mean just going into that place im turned off from buying livestock, based purely on looks alone. Id pay a little more at a place I thought seemed more credible..and had a return policy and staff not standing around circle jerking the local reef club while other customers wait for help.
awcurl
Premium Member
Sure you can post your opinions about LFS's all we ask is that you give a true opinion based on personal experience. Based on your prior postings, of which you seem to mostly plug the Aquarium you either must work at the Aquarium or are one of their most loyal customers. Most of the praise given to the Coral reef is from their customers, NOT their employees. As for the Aquarium the same holds true, the negative experiences are coming from people that wanted to support the store but because of the rudeness of the owners and employees, unhealthy marine livestock and poor advice have chosen to support a LFS that supports the hobby by being friendly and offering a good healthy supply of corals. Using your own words, I would much rather go to a store offering a free "circle jerk" than to one that doesn't! Hey it's even free, what does the Aquarium have that compares????? ? :bum:
Wow, you must not visit the same Coral Reef I do? I have had very good service there. I do have my complaints but it is definitely not the employees. They have always been friendly and helpful. On a side not the value of your opinion is limited by your vulgar and low class approach on a public forum. My son likes to set with me some times and look at peoples tanks and read about their livestock. I look forward to explaining your comments.
aarontwhitehead
New member
Gjinn, (I presume this is your name since you do not choose to post another). Your feedback is welcome but in very poor taste. I would prefer that you just tell us what your experience has been and forget the vulgar analogies. I agree that it makes me feel better when I buy from a large nice store. Take Macy's for instance. They have lots of help, a big beautiful store, and I get to pay more for the same items. Wow what a deal......
I grew up in Blount county. There were several fish stores including a nice one in the mall. They were all nice except for Ken & Mac's. It looked like a shed beside the road. It had old worn wooden siding and bare concrete floors. They had been in business for years and the owner knew his fish and refused to order fish that were a threat to the environment or that would fare poorly in the aquarium. At first I frequented the nice stores, but eventually bought only From K & M. The reasoning being that he was knowledgable, had decent prices and kept his tanks clean and his fish healthy. So, as far as looks go , I learned a long time ago that it doesn't matter very much. Your profile states that you have "enough experience". I think you may be hiding more than your name here my friend. I am sure that when you get a little more experience you will feel the same way. By the way, if you read the return policy at the Aquarium you will see that inverts are not included.
I grew up in Blount county. There were several fish stores including a nice one in the mall. They were all nice except for Ken & Mac's. It looked like a shed beside the road. It had old worn wooden siding and bare concrete floors. They had been in business for years and the owner knew his fish and refused to order fish that were a threat to the environment or that would fare poorly in the aquarium. At first I frequented the nice stores, but eventually bought only From K & M. The reasoning being that he was knowledgable, had decent prices and kept his tanks clean and his fish healthy. So, as far as looks go , I learned a long time ago that it doesn't matter very much. Your profile states that you have "enough experience". I think you may be hiding more than your name here my friend. I am sure that when you get a little more experience you will feel the same way. By the way, if you read the return policy at the Aquarium you will see that inverts are not included.
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I also don't appreciate your choice of language gjinn. Comments are welcome. Juvenile comments, at least derogatory ones, are not.
Also if you do work at the Aquarium why don't you guys volunteer to hold a club meeting? It would a great way to extend an olive branch, drum up some buisness and promote yourselves to the reefing community
Chris
Also if you do work at the Aquarium why don't you guys volunteer to hold a club meeting? It would a great way to extend an olive branch, drum up some buisness and promote yourselves to the reefing community
Chris
Wow sorry my post on 5th day caused all of this, just wanting to post a great place for everyone to stop by. In ATL fish stores were abundent but now that I moved here, I hafta put out the good word and drive alot....Not so many saltwater fish stores.
I hapen to like the aquarium and the coral reef, have purchased from both places. I NEED TO COME TO A MEETING>>>> yall are now planning them on Auburn football days, WAR EAGLE....What did yall think of the Gator game? I think everyone was an Auburn fan on Saturday except those in the swap!
I hapen to like the aquarium and the coral reef, have purchased from both places. I NEED TO COME TO A MEETING>>>> yall are now planning them on Auburn football days, WAR EAGLE....What did yall think of the Gator game? I think everyone was an Auburn fan on Saturday except those in the swap!
aarontwhitehead
New member
Not your fault. It is the beauty of BBS and also the problem with them. Typically if you have a mature crowd there is no problem. Inevitably someone juvenile in age or spirit will change things. Your post has evolved to be more of a little discussion of LFS. It has been an interesting subject so far.
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