LFS Moron!
- Thread starter tenwhiteduke
- Start date
papagimp
COMAS Rocks!
lol, sounds typical. I was told a regal tang would simply love it in my 55g with the other 10 fish I already had in there. The guy seemed a bit stumped when I asked him what I would do with a 12" regal once he was grown. And then started trying to show me their large tanks for sale, LOL
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Most of the advice given above is rather accurate, albeit some were typed with poor word choice. Most likely you aren't being steered that far off. After all, they didn;t sell you 20 yellow tangs to put in it that same day. Either way, you wouldn't go to war without a gun, right? Well, don't go into any fish store without prior knowledge. It's as simple as that. Know some stuff before going in, ask specific questions, and double check their answers. And then double check the answers that you are double checking 
Here are some great threads to help out on all aspects of the hobby: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1031074
I'm partial to this one myself
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=912378
And lastly, make sure you know the proper way to use, clean, and store any equipment you have for your tank. You might be surprised how accurate or inaccurate some of the equipment can be. For example, here is information about reading salinity and the tools to do it with.
Refractometers and Salinity Measurement
Temperature Corrections for Hydrometers
Chemistry and the Aquarium: Specific Gravity: Oh How Complicated!
Reef Aquarium Salinity: Homemade Calibration Standards
Lateral Lines: Hydrometer Observations Part I
Review of Hydrometer accuracy by Steven Pro
Discussion of said article.
Here are some great threads to help out on all aspects of the hobby: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1031074I'm partial to this one myself
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=912378
And lastly, make sure you know the proper way to use, clean, and store any equipment you have for your tank. You might be surprised how accurate or inaccurate some of the equipment can be. For example, here is information about reading salinity and the tools to do it with.
Refractometers and Salinity Measurement
Temperature Corrections for Hydrometers
Chemistry and the Aquarium: Specific Gravity: Oh How Complicated!
Reef Aquarium Salinity: Homemade Calibration Standards
Lateral Lines: Hydrometer Observations Part I
Review of Hydrometer accuracy by Steven Pro
Discussion of said article.
Re: LFS Moron!
Being a lfs owner in the past I can appreciate your problems with just starting out. Believe me, I spent at least 50% of my time explaining the nitrogen cycle, species aggression, and all sorts of other issues with first time aquarium owners.
If you are going to get into this hobby, it is advisable to read a good book by a respected author on the subject. I always carried beginner type books in the store and always suggested to first timers to sit and read, read, and then read some more. Problem being is some people just don't like to read or take the time to read. It's easier for them to just ask their lfs to guide them. Unfortunately they don't always get the best advice how to proceed.
I never regretted taking the time to explain anything that a customer would ask of me. I always figured, if I get them off on the right foot I would have a long standing and loyal customer for years to come, not to mention probably a friend in the bargain. If your lfs does not take the time to do this, I would go elsewhere.
The best thing you can do is research through many different types of media. This will be an expense, but you will always have a reference to go back to in the future and you will need to go back occasionally. Lastly, take your time. You are going to be spending a decent amout of money in this endeavor. Don't take it lightly and it's not fair to the aquarium inhabitants if you rush into it.
We need responsible people in our hobby. So always, always make sure and try to do the right thing the first time. This will not always happen, but at least give it 110%.
I've been in the hobby on and off for over 30 years, owned a lfs for 4 years, and I'm still learning so much every day. I have so many questions in my head most of the time, I don't know where to start.
Good luck, and most of all HAVE FUN!
Being a lfs owner in the past I can appreciate your problems with just starting out. Believe me, I spent at least 50% of my time explaining the nitrogen cycle, species aggression, and all sorts of other issues with first time aquarium owners.
If you are going to get into this hobby, it is advisable to read a good book by a respected author on the subject. I always carried beginner type books in the store and always suggested to first timers to sit and read, read, and then read some more. Problem being is some people just don't like to read or take the time to read. It's easier for them to just ask their lfs to guide them. Unfortunately they don't always get the best advice how to proceed.
I never regretted taking the time to explain anything that a customer would ask of me. I always figured, if I get them off on the right foot I would have a long standing and loyal customer for years to come, not to mention probably a friend in the bargain. If your lfs does not take the time to do this, I would go elsewhere.
The best thing you can do is research through many different types of media. This will be an expense, but you will always have a reference to go back to in the future and you will need to go back occasionally. Lastly, take your time. You are going to be spending a decent amout of money in this endeavor. Don't take it lightly and it's not fair to the aquarium inhabitants if you rush into it.
We need responsible people in our hobby. So always, always make sure and try to do the right thing the first time. This will not always happen, but at least give it 110%.
I've been in the hobby on and off for over 30 years, owned a lfs for 4 years, and I'm still learning so much every day. I have so many questions in my head most of the time, I don't know where to start.
Good luck, and most of all HAVE FUN!
I also work in a LFS. If I dont't know the answer to a question I will tell them that. I am not shy to admit if I dont know something. Also every person that I sell/talk to I will ask them if they know about this site. You never can know to much about this hobby. Also some books will put you in the wrong direction also. I try to tell everyone to read, read, read, talk, talk, and talk. I think you need to listen to everybody's oppinion and then form your own. You will notace that most people have diffrent ways to acomplish something. Where most people are not doing it wrong they just have there own style. It might take a bit but you will get your style down and you shouldnt have many more problems. And if you do feel free to come here or talk to someone else at the LFS that knows a little bit more than the first kid you talked to. I am not gonna call the guy a moron but he should of had his head a little bit more clear when he talked to you and explained everything better than he did instead of just worying about the sale. I wish you all the luck. Without the people from this board and from a few LFS around my area my tank would be nothing that it is now.
tenwhiteduke
New member
I am not complainging about the LFS itself, i had a great discussion with the one of the managers who has given me a lot of great advise. I have walked in this store almost everyday since my original purchase last Saturday. No I didnt make any compaints, or point any fingers, I only explained what I did to get my salt levels too high (even though it was explained to me to do it that way) Its not a major problem since I didnt have any live stock in the tank. My levels of salt are back to normal and all is on track with my cycle. Its my first week, and I guess I was venting a bit. So all you LFS guys, please dont take this personally. WITHOUT YOU, there would be a lot less of us!!!!
tenwhiteduke
New member
I guess that was the intent, but was told to put in enough water leaving about 5 inches to the top add in the 12 cups of salt, since it was a 24g tank, then put in the LS and LR. So really there wasnt 24g of water for the 12 cups of salt. I guess I also wasnt thinking it out, just was trying to hurry up and follow the directions. It seems logical, but the excitement took over and I didnt think what so ever. I ended up having to take out about 13G out to get the levels down to normal. A NEWBIE at LARGE!!!
the greatest book for a newbie to read is SALTWATER FOR DUMMIES. it is simple to read, understand, and tells you step by step on how to start a s/w tank. i didn't know about any internet sights or clubs when i got started, so with the help of this book and bad advise from a couple of lfs employees (and some good) i jumped in and started.
darkwolf29a
New member
"You'll find alot of LFS emplyees are not fish/invert savy. " That's the best quote I have heard yet.
Your LFS people aren't morons, but they don't, necessarily, have a lot of knowledge in aquariums. In fact, mine are learning a lot from me now.
Of course, that's the major chain, not the small store...yet. >
Honestly, the smartest thing my LFS employee did was point me to a book. Sine then I have been searching around, reading stuff, buying stuff, and building stuff for 2 weeks now, and I still don't have any water in the tank yet.
The best thing that book has told me was that it's a hobby, and it takes A LOT of patience, something that every site I go to makes it a point to prove, IMO. LOL If it's going to take awhile before I get my Clownfish, then I'll just enjoy the journey it takes to get there.
I think of it this way, no reef was ever created in a day, no matter where it was created, in ocean or aquarium. Knowing that, it's going to take some time before mine is ready to roll on its own. During that time, I plan on enjoying myself and learning everything I can, and building everything I can. Because, by building stuff, I feel more like I'm getting involved in the hobby than getting involved in my financial budgetting. LOL I'm completely involved in my money...I don't need anything else to add to that involvement.
Your LFS people aren't morons, but they don't, necessarily, have a lot of knowledge in aquariums. In fact, mine are learning a lot from me now.
Of course, that's the major chain, not the small store...yet. >Honestly, the smartest thing my LFS employee did was point me to a book. Sine then I have been searching around, reading stuff, buying stuff, and building stuff for 2 weeks now, and I still don't have any water in the tank yet.
The best thing that book has told me was that it's a hobby, and it takes A LOT of patience, something that every site I go to makes it a point to prove, IMO. LOL If it's going to take awhile before I get my Clownfish, then I'll just enjoy the journey it takes to get there.
I think of it this way, no reef was ever created in a day, no matter where it was created, in ocean or aquarium. Knowing that, it's going to take some time before mine is ready to roll on its own. During that time, I plan on enjoying myself and learning everything I can, and building everything I can. Because, by building stuff, I feel more like I'm getting involved in the hobby than getting involved in my financial budgetting. LOL I'm completely involved in my money...I don't need anything else to add to that involvement.
