do you have a probem with your LFS?
- Thread starter darkclamz
- Start date
zacharytrimble
New member
It's like about anything...there are those who do know and those who don't...in this business, I must say...it seems like most don't know that much...but there are some great ones too. Part of the problem is that we (humans) are still pretty young in this reefkeeping business...I mean, people have had domesticated dogs since people have been around...reefkeeping didn't really start to become a widely done thing (and then even not that much so) until the 80's. We're still figuring this stuff out.
My lfs told me that crocea clams are the least light demanding of all the clams knowing that I had PC lighting. That was 2 years ago and the clam when it was small, did great 9 inches below the lights. But now, I had posted a picture of it, and you guys pointed out that it looked like it needed more light, and it did, so I had to get T-5s. Just a few weeks ago, I went back there and told them that they were giving out the wrong info. about croceas. They disagreed and told me I was wrong. I had to get one of thier own books off the shelf to prove THEM wrong. They said, opps, sorry. At least now, the color in my clam is beautiful again.
kau_cinta_ku
New member
the prob. I had with my LFS is they went out of business. I was lucky to have a great LFS that had great knowlege and sold stuff for not much more than online prices.
but I guess you can't keep a store doing that. lol
but I guess you can't keep a store doing that. lol
downhillbiker
New member
i still go to several local fish stores and all they want to sell for SPS food is DT's phytoplankton. when i tell them SPS dont even eat phyto they laugh at me, then i site sources such as eric borneman, and they say who's that. they have a little reading to do.
****I think the problem is people read and study a lot when they are hobbyist, but as soon as they start working for the LFS they think they know everything there is to know and they stop learning. YOU SHOULD NEVER STOP LEARNING!!!
****I think the problem is people read and study a lot when they are hobbyist, but as soon as they start working for the LFS they think they know everything there is to know and they stop learning. YOU SHOULD NEVER STOP LEARNING!!!
RicksReefs
New member
lee ching eng and robert straughn would be surprised that reefkeeping didn't start until the 80's... 
hootie51
Premium Member
I am actually pretty happy with my LFS. Since day 1 I have dealt mainly with the owner and mostly he's given good info and advice. I also deal a lot with the general manager and he's good too. He actually one of his personal reef tanks set up at the store. If they ever close I don't know what I'll do cuz my other LFS sux
oceanparadise1
In Memoriam
most of my lfs suck, i got one guy to sell me a rock COVERED in zoas for 8 dollars thinking it was an anomone LOL he was like yea this anomone looks awsome.....
I listen to the advice given by some employee at chain stores and scringe at what I hear s awhen I am buying supplies. It also saddens me to see the sick fish and inverts at these stores that are suffering and are not taken care of properly.
I also have experienced arrogant store staff. This is a major turn off to me. You won't get my dollar when you have a major chip on your shoulder or that you are a know it all!
Alot of stores have kids working in them and I give them credit for working, however, some are learning. A good store will train the youngsters appropriately. Some do and some don't.
I am fortunate to have a facility with knowledgable staff that I can drive too that has excellent livestock. I pay more, but it is worth it. They know me and I know them. No diseases, they hold there fish, good coral selection. They also helped me out when I had system crash. They housed and kept my livestock until my tank was ready. In my eyes you can't beat this type business friendship.
I also have experienced arrogant store staff. This is a major turn off to me. You won't get my dollar when you have a major chip on your shoulder or that you are a know it all!
Alot of stores have kids working in them and I give them credit for working, however, some are learning. A good store will train the youngsters appropriately. Some do and some don't.
I am fortunate to have a facility with knowledgable staff that I can drive too that has excellent livestock. I pay more, but it is worth it. They know me and I know them. No diseases, they hold there fish, good coral selection. They also helped me out when I had system crash. They housed and kept my livestock until my tank was ready. In my eyes you can't beat this type business friendship.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12603853#post12603853 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hop
I have no LFS
The closest one is 40 minutes away... I have a Petco that is 20 minutes away, but I don't buy much other than dog food from there
+1... I have a Petco and that's it.
widmer
Drug Enthusiast
The last time I went to an LFS here in the Minneapolis area, called Something Fishy, is when I decided I'm finnished visiting them:
I had just set up a new reef, filled the tank with SW and never-used-before manmade rock. Water had been circulating for about a week. I was going to stop in and buy a couple little hermit crabs and a peice of LR to introduce some life to the system. I asked employee #1 which hermits he would recommend most out of his stock that are reef safe. He showed me the hermits, but he also really wanted to sell me some fish and corals that day. So I asked him if he has a reef aquarium, to which he replied "Oh I used to have saltwater, but now I just have freshwater because the saltwater was just too much trouble and work for me."
I picked out a couple of little hermits, and had them test my water in their refractometer just to make sure that my salinity measuring was accurate, and found I had about a third more salt in the water than I needed, at which time employee #1 turns to #2 and is like "Oh that's fine, isn't it? Let's get this guy some fish and corals picked out."
Employee #2's heart was in the right place, but he didn't quite get it either. I told him I had water circulating in the aquarium for a week, to which he said "You should have that thing going at least a month before you put any creatures in it." I then told him again and explicitly: "All I have in this aquarium is salt water and LR that I made out of cement and crushed coral. Not a single organic being has been in there. I'm just trying to get the bacteria going with a couple hermits now." Somehow, he just felt like I was an idiot and told me "Look, I've got a new reef I'm setting up and I've got everything stabilizing for 3 months before I start adding creatures. You need to let your tank stabilize before you put anything in there."
So between employee #1 trying to set me up for failure and employee #2 thinking I'm an idiot while he clearly is doing some of these things without really understanding why, it wasn't a great experience for me. That's OK, the LFS that's a block down the road has been great in the meantime...
I had just set up a new reef, filled the tank with SW and never-used-before manmade rock. Water had been circulating for about a week. I was going to stop in and buy a couple little hermit crabs and a peice of LR to introduce some life to the system. I asked employee #1 which hermits he would recommend most out of his stock that are reef safe. He showed me the hermits, but he also really wanted to sell me some fish and corals that day. So I asked him if he has a reef aquarium, to which he replied "Oh I used to have saltwater, but now I just have freshwater because the saltwater was just too much trouble and work for me."
I picked out a couple of little hermits, and had them test my water in their refractometer just to make sure that my salinity measuring was accurate, and found I had about a third more salt in the water than I needed, at which time employee #1 turns to #2 and is like "Oh that's fine, isn't it? Let's get this guy some fish and corals picked out."
Employee #2's heart was in the right place, but he didn't quite get it either. I told him I had water circulating in the aquarium for a week, to which he said "You should have that thing going at least a month before you put any creatures in it." I then told him again and explicitly: "All I have in this aquarium is salt water and LR that I made out of cement and crushed coral. Not a single organic being has been in there. I'm just trying to get the bacteria going with a couple hermits now." Somehow, he just felt like I was an idiot and told me "Look, I've got a new reef I'm setting up and I've got everything stabilizing for 3 months before I start adding creatures. You need to let your tank stabilize before you put anything in there."
So between employee #1 trying to set me up for failure and employee #2 thinking I'm an idiot while he clearly is doing some of these things without really understanding why, it wasn't a great experience for me. That's OK, the LFS that's a block down the road has been great in the meantime...
ludnix
New member
Well you probably shouldn't be putting hermits in your tank like he said. You can cycle the tank with a piece of raw shrimp quite easily.
My LFS has been great to me. Even the employees that I considered less knowledgeable about saltwater would know enough to discourage people from buying fish they could not care for at least getting an employee who knew what they were doing.
RicksReefs
New member
hmmm, considering it could take three months for that homemade rock to cure and not kill things, employee #2 wasn't to far off the mark...
you guys want cheap stuff and are suprised when they have to hire cheap help? then you go buy stuff online, making them hire even cheaper help.
I see complaints that they're not good enough
I see complaints that that the ones that are, are to arrogant.
so they're damned if they're not and damned if they are.
petco's aren't LFS's. that's like saying home depot is the local hardware store.
and yes, I work (manage) a LFS and hired two former petco employees because they cared to much. one even tried buying a gallon of copper from me to secretly treat petco's fish since they don't allow meds. I've never regretted hiring her. are most of them dumber that the sand they sell? yup. but you should expect crappy advice from a crappy store.
I need coffee...
you guys want cheap stuff and are suprised when they have to hire cheap help? then you go buy stuff online, making them hire even cheaper help.
I see complaints that they're not good enough
I see complaints that that the ones that are, are to arrogant.
so they're damned if they're not and damned if they are.
petco's aren't LFS's. that's like saying home depot is the local hardware store.
and yes, I work (manage) a LFS and hired two former petco employees because they cared to much. one even tried buying a gallon of copper from me to secretly treat petco's fish since they don't allow meds. I've never regretted hiring her. are most of them dumber that the sand they sell? yup. but you should expect crappy advice from a crappy store.
I need coffee...
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