Peeved at Suffolk County Fish & Reef in Ronkonkoma

[seldin]

I recently was trying to purchase Chaeto. Country Critter said they were out. I contacted Suffolk County Fish & Reef who said they had some.

I am a newbie and made sure to ask them, to please make sure that I only am getting Chaeto and not Grape Caulerpo, etc. However, I stupidly was honest, and said I did not know what it looked like.

Anyway, I recently, have received Chaeto from 2 new friends and Chaeto is definetely not look like Grape...

I am pi$$ed because I got the wrong stuff from the LFS especially, when I did not want this. Now, that I know what it is, I do know why I want this.

Chaeto, does not flake like the Grape stuff, that goes over the tank.

 

[Reef Junkie]

Buyer beware, a rose by any other name is still a rose.
Unfortunately, not all LFS's are aware what is what. So a Dandelion might do the trick for them.

Next time, try to get it on this forum, you might have to wait longer, but you should get exactly what you want.

 

[Julio]

yeah we give the stuff away here!

 

[JB NY]

yeah that stinks that you got the wrong stuff. If you can wait someone here should be able to get it for you. BTW I would get rid of the caulerpa if I were you. Wait out the cheato.

 

[seldin]

I already had the Caulerpa start spreading like 'flakes" becoming a nuisance. So I am hoping I got all of it out, however, I still see remnants.

So with Chaeto from my 2 new friends, I placed this in my small refugium.

 

[Reef Junkie]

If it's in the rock, take the rock out and scrub it off with a steel brush. Then rise it off with tank water. That stuff is evil!

 

[purebullet417]

hum i got my cheato from them and only got cheto. i go in there all the time and it seems the only person who really knows what there talking about is john. if you ask for him im sure youll get what you need next time.

 

[seldin]

Too bad, maybe honesty did me in. I called first to make sure LFS had Chaeto. Got there and stressed to be sure I got Chaeto and nothing else. However, as I previously said I told the guy "I did not know what it looked like". So I got taken for $10. I am tempted to complain and try to get a refund. It's just the principle.

 

[yeahcheetah]

I actually found Caulerpa quite useful for initial tank cycle. My new tank started with nitrate level of 20, then Caulerpa completely eliminated it, because then do grow like crazy. Now I toss soem of them out regularly. Feeding them to an emerald crab could be a good idea, btut I don't have one.

 

[DgenR8]

Caulerpa has it's positive side, but it also comes with risk. Chaeto offers the same benefit, without the risk factor. There's really no debate on which is preferable in the average hobbyist's system.
Depending on most any LFS for information, is sadly just not a good idea. I don't know that you were "taken", I'd like to believe that it's an honest mistake, made by a less than adequately informed employee.
In any case, there is no doubt that it's better to go into a store knowing what you're looking for, and there are plenty of people here, and in other forums at RC that would be more than happy to help you be better armed when LFS shopping in the future.