I Don't Understand LFS

There are worse LFS out there. Like the ones around here. At one of them, the owner (OWNER) tells people they have to attach the corals to the rocks so they can suck nutrients out of the living rock. Also won't stock ocean nutrition algae strips because they contain garlic and it's not good for fish. The other LFS has recommended that people put tangs in 10 gallon tanks to help with algae problems.

Yea, there's worse out there. Maroons are the most aggressive clowns. I have been bitten several times by mine.

 

oh yea, this was the LFS owner also. I liked the looks of the maroon/tomoatos but they even look mean where the black and white, and i think the clowns will be fine in my tank because i the max amount of fish that i plan to have in my tank is 4, so there would be more than enough room for everyone.

But one thing that he did say, was to not cycle with damsels because of how mean they are, and i was surprise. He was saying somebody cracked their tank while trying to get a dmasel out after cycling. So that's why he suggest the chromis as testers.

 

That is not exactly bad advise. I was very happy when my sacrificial damsel (PL) died.



Also, I feed my fish twice a week... sometimes three. They also get some food from when I feed the coral twice a week separately, but I would say that is mostly too small for them to eat anything meaningful.

If you feed them daily, they have no ambition to hunt out their own food, which apparently they are capable of doing. So never say never.

But like said, does depend on the fish. (sig)

 

with the fish u have thats fine, now if some one had tangs or anthias and feed twice a week there fish would slowly starve and die

 

First, I would trust "what I hear on the internet" (aka 3reef) much more than I'd trust an LFS. An LFS is a handful of reefers with a handful of ideas and suggestions, 3reef is dozens or hundreds of reefers with just as many ideas and suggestions

And to repeat wha everyone else has said, Maroon clowns are definitely the most aggressive. Those suckers HURT.

I would have more to add...but everyone's pretty much hit it and the meds I'm on at the moment are kind of *ahem* weird.

 

To put it in perspective, when I first started this hobby, my LFS sold me my pair of clowns and an anemone for my first additions after cycle. And they new well about my single bulb normal flourescent lighting (the generic hood kind). Needless to say, The only things alive a month later were the clowns Which is what actually brought me to 3Reef, as the atypical noob with an anemone way too early that wiped out the tank. Believe me there are worse LFS's

 

speaking of anemone, he said i could buy one for the clowns if i wanted, i don't think he was talking aout if i were to buy it today because he had mentioned to try the other corals, but didn't even ask about my lighting. Lol everything is just so much easier online

 

although some of what this LFS told you is against what other research will tell you i would say all in all he is not totally wrong.

put it in perspective this way he could of tried to sell you a $100 tang for your tank right out of the shoot and some expensive coral but instead it seems he was trying to steer you to some of the common and successful fish in a smaller tank. and as far as the coral he was pointing you to some decent starter coral.

i am of the mindest that when i got into a store i want what i want and that is what i am getting. however there is merit to be said for an LFS making sure what you get will work in your tank.

as for the clown issue i dont believe that black and whites are the most aggressive maybe he mispoke when he was talking to you and mean to say that those to specific fish do not get along together and should not be placed in a tank together.

i have seen some fish in the past that are suppossed to be nice and docile and they were the worst fish i ever had.

so to you i say i would give this guy another shot and as you talk to him next let him know the research that has gone into your stocking list and you tank set up.

 

yea, i know he ment well, lol but i did have my mind set on what i wanted. But basically you have to special order what you want. So i'd almost rather just go to the other lfs for livestock as they are cheaper and have a much broader selection. I'll probably end up getting some zoa frags from this guy, as i want zoas, and i might want to do a green star polyp background. But really, i just prefer to go in get what i want, and leave. But they guy was nice, and like you said, trying to stear me in the right direction

 

reading the whole thread IMO you are lucky with the LFS you went to

he advised cheaper fish and corals to check your tank out, and offered advice on what he believed to be the case, sure some may not be 100% factual and in some cases other peoples experience will be different

but he did not try and talk you into buying things you dont need or try and encourage you to spend more money on this visit

its a great idea to cross check the information you get from a LFS Via the experienced hobbyists on this site

but IMHO - you seem to have a good LFS there, with a decent person offering you advice
someone looking for a long term customer rather than a lump sum and then no re visit

he seems like one of the good guys to me, but sure, I empathise with you as it can be irritating when you have researched, believe you know what your doing and then someone who you dont know tries to steer you in a different direction


Steve