If i didnt know any better, id say the LFS didnt want to sell me something

I agree with mikejrice.....kudos for the LFS store guy telling you what his opinion was....even though he was wrong with his advice this time. I would much rather have that happen then have someone buy something and find out it is wrong and wipe out their tank

I am working at a LFS right now and I have had to tell people NO.....you cant get that fish, NO you dont need this, and to the owners great dissatisfaction...."you can get that at so and so for half the price" It is not easy to take a stand like that and I was talked to by the owner about sending people to other stores...but tell you what happened, the customers I sent away have come back and spent a lot more money simply because they can trust what is being told to them, versus just making the sale

 

No, i definitely appreciated it. I just wish that LFS guys would state things as their opinions when its their opinion. Too often they state things as fact.

He also is pretty knowledgeable on T5 and g-mann bulbs in his defense.

Im learning there are a whole lot of opinions in this hobby....

Thank God for 3reef...

 

oh yeah! Definately! I am learning a lot working at the LFS from my customers also. Hopefully that guy will learn from this incident! Lighting is one of my (many) weakness, and anytime someone asks about lighting I transfer to someone else to handle and then listen!

I am also amazed sometimes what customers say and do! Learn a lot from their experiences but at times I shake my head a lot also!

I had a guy tell me one day that he wanted to buy all these clowns of different types "just to see them fight" I told him absolutely not...not any of my fish you are not! He kept showing me his stack of money like that was going ot make a difference!

 

If you're talking about the LFS that I think you're talking about, I think he has this thing with T5's. He told me that 4x39w over a 29 was a lot too. But personally...and through experience, I think it should be fine.

 

Haha... unbelievable

I always ask new people to tell me about their tank.

If they dont have one at home... then i am much more skeptical of any advice that they give. Most of what i have learned in this hobby, has happened at 2 AM with alot of coffee or beer....or both

You just wont get that working a few hours at the LFS.

 

Wait, so are you saying that he told you a 6x54 setup was too much or that an 8x54 was too much? Honestly I think you could have just as much growth and without any burn from a six bulb fixture. I know that before I bought the 75gal I have now, that the guy had an eight bulb fixture and ended up only running six because it was bleaching. I'd ask Dr. Fragenstein though, it seems like he actually understands the science behind it.

 

He said 6x54 was too much.

I had a 4x54, yesterday I upgraded it to a 6.

And Dr Frag has been part of the "ben's t5 decision team"

 

6 x 54 is what Id do. I have 2 - DE 250's and 2 96w CF's and I have positioned some of my lps almost half way up with my lights 8" above water surface. They are doing magnificent.
Id definitely go the route your trying to do. That will also be plenty of light for your sps.
Still be careful with your sps. that will bleach and burn some sps.