What is the worst thing your lfs has done?

Depending on your age, you *could* get a job

I started working at 14. At that age even minimum wage adds up fast since you don't have any bills. That's the time to strike! at 7$ an hour you'd have enough money for a rose in one day. I'm just saying.

That's half the reason I decided to get into this hobby, I just had money laying around I didn't know what to do with... and I LOVE, LOVE learning things.


As far as the worst thing an LFS has done to me... Me and my GF went(not going back) and there was a Ricordea Yuma there. Keep in mind that our tank was about... 2-3 weeks old at this point. Just hit 0's. We were assured that it was a great starting coral etc etc. plus she really liked it and how can I say no to "the eyes". The problem with it, after a ton of research, is that it was a tank raised yuma rather than one collected from the wild. Tank raised are apparently very sensitive to lighting and prefer PC. It was about the size of a silver dollar when we first got it, my 54W T5 ballast turned it into the size of a dime and almost completely bleached it, except for a bright neon ring around it's edge. I light acclimated it as well and it still happened. I've moved it all over the tank and now have it sitting in a far corner, under a piece of salt covered plexiglass hanging over the edge of the tank so it's almost under "cloud cover". It's starting to look a bit better... sorry for the novel here. Hope you enjoyed this ramble. :-X

 

You should have gone back when you started over in search of LARGE discounts.

 

I will turn 16 in 5 days, so one LFS said they would give my a job when I’m 16. They are pretty trustworthy, but talk is cheap.

 

It is definitely worth a shot. One of the benefits could be products at cost of slightly more.

 

I really have no complaints both stores I go to hook me up with good deals and garuntee their products. The only place that makes me wonder is this place that has been doing fresh water for a while and they started saltwater. Hmm let me say its just a little inhumane. They have all 2.5g display tanks for their fish and they have like tangs and clowns and all sorts of stuff in these little tanks. Not the best way to keep a tang and not too many people buy salt from them so these tangs sit there for months.

 

I should be able to get stuff at cost, or at lest get an employee discount.
I’ve been going to this store since I was 2 or 3. So I’ve been going there longer than most of the employees have been working there.

 

WoW! Where to start? I have no favorite LFS. I do have a few favorite "people" that work at LFS that can be trusted. Keep in mind that takes in maybe 20 LFS within 100 mile radius of my home.

The biggest thing that bugs the heck outta me is watching them open the boxes dump the fish in tanks and start selling them to people that dont know better. Shoot...many of the fish aint alive in the tanks and people are still buying the others. No QT period, the fish arent even acclimated yet.

Then the coral issue. Any one thats been in this game a while knows the risks of putting corals into their tank with out dipping and or QT. The nudis, crabs, even jelly fish that comes in on some of this stuff is incredible. Most LFS Ive been in doesnt give a darn about any of that stuff. Just get it sold!

 

I think the worst I've seen so far was the owner of an LFS selling someone a 20 gallon tank, sand, salt, live rock, powerheads, nemo and dori. I tried to talk some sense into the poor customer and got the nastiest look I've ever seen. Poor noobs think LFS employees and owners know everything.

 

where i am in downtown chicago the LFS is actually (JMO) very nice with very helpful people. They gave me a behind the aquarium tour and showed me the sump and filter rooms. the store space is limited (its chicago) but the corals look like they are very well taken care of with a total of ~500g of dedicated coral tanks. the people know me and i tell them what kind of livestock i have and they tell me what will and wont be good and wont sell any fish that is a new arrival. They are salesmen tho and will be quick to try and pile on supplies if i ask for a recommendation (cant rly blame em). they seem very knowledgeable on DIY projects well educated in aquarium water chemistry and seem aware of the crazy bioalogy that goes on in aquariums. they seem like hobby guys first then business people, but im glad i have this site to double check what they say. also not much room for displaying maintenance stuff. overall cool people i actually became friends with some and goto Hawks games with em all of em have tanks of their own... i kinda wish i worked there sometimes...

 

OH NO! Dory in a 20g. Thats like buying your child a crib and hoping it will be fine until they go to college.