Thank you for responding. Actually, I have been around the area almost 30 years. I find my best advice from actual research, but I also believe the LFS is an important marker to how well the hobby is doing in the area. I also frequent Ebay and Critter and I can't say that FINs is actually better or worse than the others at this point in time. Critter has a larger assortment, but very little time for individual support and are somewhat curtailed hardware selection. I suspect this is price-point based rather than lack of knowledge of the industry. Ebay has recently moved farther away from where I live so I haven't seen them in a while, but when they were in Believe (great guys), they had a much larger selection of coral in many sizes, but had quite a few cleanliness issues related to algae, aptasia, etc. But, given the price and a quarantine tank, worth it. Also, for their size they had a great selection of equipment and live rock. FINs, I would say is somewhere in the middle.
I have to say aside from specific equipment, I haven't taken advice from and LFS, for over 30 years. There is a very simple reason for this; conflict of interest. In other words I really don't expect the LFS to be able to give me advice (though they could and should be able to help people just beginning) because generally, on a day-to-day basis they are not going to be running their tanks the way I would and if the need arises they will be able to completely tear down a tank and replace everything in it to make a particular tank a marketable to their customers. To the extent that critter sponsors groups, clubs etc, this is great thing and ideally would be a joint effort for all the local LFSs
As for me and joining, I have never been joiner, but I do occasionally check out the forums either for a particular interest or more likely skim new comer threads to help if I can. But, one never knows; I may change.
