RioReefr
New member
Just as the subject says.....lesson learned don't trust the LFS people -- research (on this forum), do you own testing, trust your own gut instincts.
I had a refractometer fall into my salt mixture bucket and became useless. As I was waiting to buy another one, I asked my LFS "expert" if he could come over and test my salt mixture.
He comes over the same day, uses his so-called "trustworthy refractometer I use in the store all the time". Tells me my aquarium is really low at 1.021 and suggests I make my 10% water change at 1.030 and do another 10% @ 1.030 to get my levels at 1.025. I trusted him and his judgement.
A day after the 1st water change, I noticed the petals on my nice mangrove plants starting wither, my small duncan corals closed up. Strange I thought and mentioned it to him. His response: "I wouldn't worry about, could be spike in magnesium/pH due to the water change". OK, seems reasonable.
2 days later, did another 10% water change with the same salt mixture he had tested at 1.030. I do the change, he comes back over with his "trustworthy" refractometer, measures my tank at 1.025 and says "perfect, you are good to go now". The next days, literally all the petals on mangrove fall off. Duncan corals completely closed up. Kryptonite trumpet looking really bleak, some of my trocus snails had died. Now, I have a nasty brownish algae outbreak. My beautiful Leather Corals covered with the crap.
I knew something was seriously wrong! I immediately ordered the newly released Hanna Instruments Salinity meter and a new Refractometer. When they arrived in a couple of days, I measured the tank AND....as you might have guessed by now....1.031 sg (41.5 ppt) on both new/calibrated devices. ***!!!
I immediately get on the phone with the LFS guy and tell him about it and his response: "Ok, when I get home I will test with my other refractometer to see if there is any difference".
I already knew there was going to be, so I started making some plans to slowly reduce the salinity. Literally, everyday I was taking small amounts of saltwater out of the tank and adding in the equivalent of RODI-only water.
Anyway, when I he did not respond to me I went over to the store to confront him. His response was something like this "yeah, you were right...my bad bro...mt refractometer measured 1.020 on 1.025 water, haahaaa" (in smirky tone of voice).
I said "Dude, ***?!....how can you call yourself a professional and NOT calibrate your equipment?". He basically said, "Listen, things happen...what do you want me to do about it now?....but excuse me, I have to attend to another customer now". Totally blew me off like nothing happened.
It literally took me 2 weeks to get my aquarium back to a normal state. My small little duncan frags shows some signs of life, but looks horrible and will probably die. My mangrove plants did not survive. All the petals fell off. 4 trochus snails died (and probably the cause for the nasty outbreak). Seems like all the hermit crabs made it though.
Green star polyps look horrible, but I think they will make it.
Leather coral is healthy and full. All the fish made it. The peppermint shrimp and Clam survived.
Total loss not much in terms of financial (maybe a $100), but more a loss of time/effort and aggravation to get things right again. Totally disappointment in this person for something incredibly basic. His lack of empathy was terribly disappointing, he really did not care one bit.
On the flip-side, I really like my new HI Salinity digital meter and got great customer support from them. Again, trust your own instincts and treat your tank like a family member.
I had a refractometer fall into my salt mixture bucket and became useless. As I was waiting to buy another one, I asked my LFS "expert" if he could come over and test my salt mixture.
He comes over the same day, uses his so-called "trustworthy refractometer I use in the store all the time". Tells me my aquarium is really low at 1.021 and suggests I make my 10% water change at 1.030 and do another 10% @ 1.030 to get my levels at 1.025. I trusted him and his judgement.
A day after the 1st water change, I noticed the petals on my nice mangrove plants starting wither, my small duncan corals closed up. Strange I thought and mentioned it to him. His response: "I wouldn't worry about, could be spike in magnesium/pH due to the water change". OK, seems reasonable.
2 days later, did another 10% water change with the same salt mixture he had tested at 1.030. I do the change, he comes back over with his "trustworthy" refractometer, measures my tank at 1.025 and says "perfect, you are good to go now". The next days, literally all the petals on mangrove fall off. Duncan corals completely closed up. Kryptonite trumpet looking really bleak, some of my trocus snails had died. Now, I have a nasty brownish algae outbreak. My beautiful Leather Corals covered with the crap.
I knew something was seriously wrong! I immediately ordered the newly released Hanna Instruments Salinity meter and a new Refractometer. When they arrived in a couple of days, I measured the tank AND....as you might have guessed by now....1.031 sg (41.5 ppt) on both new/calibrated devices. ***!!!
I immediately get on the phone with the LFS guy and tell him about it and his response: "Ok, when I get home I will test with my other refractometer to see if there is any difference".
I already knew there was going to be, so I started making some plans to slowly reduce the salinity. Literally, everyday I was taking small amounts of saltwater out of the tank and adding in the equivalent of RODI-only water.
Anyway, when I he did not respond to me I went over to the store to confront him. His response was something like this "yeah, you were right...my bad bro...mt refractometer measured 1.020 on 1.025 water, haahaaa" (in smirky tone of voice).
I said "Dude, ***?!....how can you call yourself a professional and NOT calibrate your equipment?". He basically said, "Listen, things happen...what do you want me to do about it now?....but excuse me, I have to attend to another customer now". Totally blew me off like nothing happened.
It literally took me 2 weeks to get my aquarium back to a normal state. My small little duncan frags shows some signs of life, but looks horrible and will probably die. My mangrove plants did not survive. All the petals fell off. 4 trochus snails died (and probably the cause for the nasty outbreak). Seems like all the hermit crabs made it though.
Green star polyps look horrible, but I think they will make it.
Leather coral is healthy and full. All the fish made it. The peppermint shrimp and Clam survived.
Total loss not much in terms of financial (maybe a $100), but more a loss of time/effort and aggravation to get things right again. Totally disappointment in this person for something incredibly basic. His lack of empathy was terribly disappointing, he really did not care one bit.
On the flip-side, I really like my new HI Salinity digital meter and got great customer support from them. Again, trust your own instincts and treat your tank like a family member.
