What do you wish your LFS had told you?

here's what I have so far as care sheets go:

Care Sheet Info


Correct name
common name
area where found in the wild
min tank size
proper nutrition and feeding schedule
compatability
for corals placement space from others
lighting requirements
current requirements
target feeding or not
temp and water parameter range
common health issues with common treatments

tell me what I'm missing anyone?
And thank you to all that are posting here this is going to really help myself and my customers!
GreyBeard

 

Well my very large lfs never really told me much of anything... but i wish they would have told me that keeping coral is wayyy more serious than keeping fish.

HOW to keep coral is essential to being successful... and the main thing behind keeping them is PARAMETERS

 

I'm hoping with your help people coming from my little lfs will happily tell others that they got lots of good info and went forward well informed.

Thanks for the post and the tip!

GreyBeard

 

if you want to impress them and make them happy right away then tell them how lighting is very important and tell them about making the Ca, Mag, and Alk extremely stable to make the corals grow. Explain how randomized flow is essential also (like a koralia or vortech). You will have very happy customers when they see their corals growing immediately after purchase due to having this knowledge!

Also the second best piece of advice to give is to tell them about 3 reef lol

 

I wish I would have gotten more information on the DIY aspect, and the true cost of a reef tank. Make sure that they know what the cost up front will be for quality equipment vs low budget and the differences between them. Let them know about the DIY options out there and sell them the things to do it with to help them save money and you still make money.

 

All Good Points Dingo thanks for responding!

 

Great idea about selling materials for the diy'ers... being a big time diy'er i can relate... not to mention saving money it's a lot more fulfilling to build than to just buy.. not always same results! LOL but still

Thanks for that idea yamaharider!

 

I like the idea for the "info card".

I'd try selling basic two part dosing solutions as well as powdered elements. Maybe even get them in bulk from online suppliers rather then reps which you may or may not have considered.

 

good idea Nor Cal Guy and no I hadnt thought of buying it in bulk to repackage if that is what you mean anyway?

With that GreyBeard must sign off till tomorrow night
Store to run in the AM and it's laaaaate here
Thanks to all I'll read any new posts tomorrow so don't stop with the ideas!

GreyBeard aka Jim

 

Maybe You possible hold classes for noobs(or people who buy there first tank set up from you) on how to maintain chemistry,spgr,how to properly acclimate fish and corals etc..(kinda like the apple store)
Also just be plain HONEST with them..I have gotten some messed up info from a place close to me....I know in the long run you have to make money thats life,but try to do it fairly..to the animals and people..