My Nightmare...

[FishNewbie]

Hello, everyone, been away a while, tending to REDOING my new tank. First bought it from my LFS. Got a wild hair one day, and went in head first. The Kent rep was there that day & just bragged to me about how I just bought the PERFECT setup....
My LFS told me I only needed to cycle with LR, later told me it had cycled after letting them keep testing my water, but as soon as I added fish, my ammonias went THROUGH THE ROOF! for 2 weeks I have been watching everything die, luckily I still have 2 Tangs and 1 clown that survived...I have since found a local guy who deals out of his home that is setting me up with a new lighting system (the LFS sold me 2-55pc, swore up & down it was perfect) am getting
4 65pc with MH, he is setting me up with a sump (to replace my 2 Emperors) and will be replacing my Cyclone skimmer, along with everything else....Just got in my RO/DI unit, after was sold a garbage tap water filter (could have bought my RO unit, for replacing the filters in this thing)
Anyways, just wanted to say to anyone just starting out, DO THE RESEARCH!!! Start out right, and don't take your LFS word for what is the best....they are there to make a profit!!! Thanks for listening

[Doug1]

Even with ever increasing access to the internet, it seems like tha majority of people who get into reefkeeping either do it on impulse or have had SW FO and convert over, usually under the guidance of the LFS that has kept them going with the FO.
Stores as a rule tend to stick with what works for them and promote that method and push products that provide a nice profit margin for them. A business has to make aprofit to stay viable, its a fact of life.
Its really disheartening to see or hear of places promoting the same old tried and trued methods that were the basis of FO for years being adapted to reef tanks. Rodney reefer sets up a tank using UGF and some overpriced base rock, then sacrifices damsels to the reef dieties. Problem after problem occurs and the friendly LFS is there with a store full of magic potions to make the problem go away right. Fish keep dying off, but hey the store will get you another mandarin,cleaner wrasse or whatever. Eventually he either figures it out, gets lucky or gives up. Who wins? The LFS prolly, as there seems to be an endless supply of new customers walkin in the door. What annoys the hell out of me is the stores that ignore or condemn the internet as a reference, afraid if people know the truth about current practices it will cut into sales of undergravel filters and magic potions. In reality, if they took time to keep up with updated thinking they would be in a position to provide what the new reefer needs to succeed. Even a correctly setup and well researched setup requires the outlay of a big chunk of cash. Is the LFS gonna get any of that? Probably not cause when the light finally comes on Rodney reefer is going to find a store that has a clue or is going to deal with online vendors.
We as consumers need to educate our selves, its the only protection we have. IF more stores would adopt the policy of selling a copy of Tullocks "Natural Reef Aquariums" or Fenners "Conscientious Marine Aquariast" and crediting the cost to the purchase of a tank setup, or major purchase, it would help change the attitude of the hobby. Even better if the store staff actually read and understood these books It would save people money and more importantly stop the senseless loss of livestock

[asmith]

Well said Doug!

I am one of the lucky ones who has a good LFS. He sells all of the good books and does not care if customers come in and read the books without buying them. He is open to new ideas and seems to know all of the current practices. We need a lot more LFS like this.

Andrew

[FishNewbie]

Doug, the biggest thing about all of this is definitely the critters that I have lost along the way....the money I have spent redoing everything is second place to the senseless loss of these beautiful creatures .. right down to the little hermit crabs, all because someone wanted to make a profit..

[Doug1]

True, its a little more complicated than adopting a dry pet from the pound or petstore. When I started in the hobby back in 75, most all the dealers I dealt with were at least honest enough to admit we were all learning as we went. Over the years as I had tanks, I figured I knew enough to keep fish alive, but when I started evolving onto reefs about 4 yrs ago I realized I didnt know nothing. What I spent on my first 29g reef would have my 75 up and running in fine shape, I stuggled with it for a year and a half till a friend turned me on to websearches on the internet and boy did I get an eyeful, its been a whole new ball game since, but I wish I knew then what I know now

[PatTheAttack]

We have learned not to take all what the LFS says to heart and honesty.They NEED to sell what they have and will lie to do it. I am not saying all are that way but better to see what others think before doing as My Husband has been through that route.We have spent alot of money that could've been saved #1 if we had a computer at the time. They know what we have for tanks and STILL try to sell us stuff.(We look at them and laugh)

[lilolme]

Dont trust the LFS salesman unless he mentions The reef tank or other respectful Message boards grin. I work at the local Petco and send ppl home to do the research b4 I even think about selling them a reef or for that matter a FW tank. When they come abck believe it or not i quiz them on what they found out. I am not the know it all but I try not to be just the LFS employee but a friend who will help them through the learning process of setting up a tank.

Jeff

[naser]

oh yea i was in a store buying a fish for my reef that has been up for ever..... made me chuckle cause there store is like a swap meet. everything comes in for sale looking pretty bad... i have better store to go to but this one real local... the thing that made me get a chuckle is some guy that was new there asking me if my water parimeters are ok..that would be ok if i said i just set this thingy up and i dont know why thingys are dying. i figured that i know more than a lfs worker would ever know... and the funny thing is.. they dont try to rob me anymore. and when i hear them talking to people that just started out. telling them to buy this and buy that. then i talk to them and say ive never used this and god no to that... makes them start thinking i hope.

[Psyduck]

You know, WE may know the LFS are full of crap, but newbies do not know that. I'm still not sure why our tank wouldnt cycle with LR, unless you added WAYYYY too many fish at once (2 tangs and a clown LEFT?! What did you start with?). Also how big is your tank? Depending what you are keeping, the 55W PCs may be ok. I had 4-55W PCs on my 90 gal and was going great, but decided to upgrade anyways. I think many of us have made the same mistake you did, so I wouldnt worry about it too much. Good luck with your new-new setup .

[jcat]

Not all LFS are bad. Mine is very helpful and won't let me make impulse buys. He knows everything about my tank and only allows his customers buy what there tank will allow and also what the person can handle. Not all LFS are bad.