What is the worst thing your lfs has done?

Good stores around Dallas.

 

Charge me 40 bucks for a 10 gallon hob filter... I was a noob at the time and they seemed honest.

Thier coral prices are insane too. there was a softball sized rock covered in GSP going for 250 bucks there. The sad thing is someone actually bought it.

 

All I can say is I hope the “g” in gsp stands for gold.

 

There is one place a little ways from me that sells barely living anemones for high prices.

 

I have had pretty good luck with lfs. I have received some questionable info when talking with some of the employees, but nothing too bad. One employee told me that the owner bought a very large monti cap colony that wasn't doing well at all. Much of it appeared to be bleach or dying. He put it in their large, 1700gal display tank, a few weeks later he decided to frag the remainder of the monti cap colony and put it in their sale tanks. Well it turned out the lady whom he bought from had monti eating nudibranches so they wiped out all of their montis in their tanks. The employee said the owner should have known better, now they dont' buy montis for trade in. I know this isn't a store/customer story, but it shows everybody makes mistakes, even fish store owners.

 

bump

 

Mine is easy. A few years ago my LFS set me up with a "complete" reef system and near $1000 in corals and fish.

40 gal tank, cannister filter, lousy skimmer, LR...

No mention of teaching me about cycling, lights, bioload... starting slow... NOTHING.

The solution to EVERYTHING was to buy this or buy that. I spent close to $3000 and EVERYTHING died. EVERYTHING.

I eventually 'gave up' and degenerated into a FOWLR tank for the hearty replacement survivors.

In parallel, I had a 55 gal chiclid tank that was doing fairly well.

Then Hurricane Ike hit. The eye of the storm passed directly over my house. We lost power for weeks.... amongst other horrific damage. Anyway, following that, needless to say, both tanks were empty. They sat that way for 10 months while we tried to rebuild my wife's business which was dessemated in the storm and repair the house.

When I finally went to look what I wanted to do with the tanks, I happened to find 3reef.com. Quite honestly, I was FURIOUS once I started reading and reading and reading. I was taken for such a ride by my LFS. Damn near EVERYTHING he told me was crap to sell me more. Thus, I absolutely do NOT trust LFS's... and he is the only one around here that sells corals and such.

I order everything online now.

I feel like I am in therapy.... venting. Breathe. I am fine. Chant... Relax.

I am more mad at myself than anything. Mad at allowing myself to be taken advantage of. I trusted someone that was NOT trustworthy. I can't stop trusting because of one bad apple. Regretfully, there aren't any other quality stores within an hour's drive.

Breathe.... Relax.... I didn't mention that I really 'have issues' with my LFS.... or maybe LFFS. Sorry.

I am fine now. Buyer beware. Educate yourself before you trust.

Mark

 

I do not trust any LFS here. I always listen to other members of the club, buy from them, buy online, and get advice on 3reef and other forums. One of the LFS here recommended that someone get a tang for their 10 gallon to help their algae issues.

 

They left the door open so I could walk in. Been hooked and spending $$$$$ ever since

 

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