Dropping In: How often do you visit your local fish store?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Reefers can get passionate when discussing local fish stores. Some of us love them, and others hate them. There aren't many in-between people. But no matter what side of the argument you fall on, if you have an LFS, we're often thankful to have this resource when we get in a stitch or can't afford to wait for a shipment and delivery. Besides, there is more to a LFS than livestock...

How often do you visit your local fish store?

 

[shakacuz]

occasionally per month about 2-4x. sometimes for food, live/dry goods, others to trade in chaeto/frags for credit.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I only visit if I need something quickly for my tank, or if I think I can get it cheaper there.

 

[edsbeaker]

It really depends on what stage my tank is at. I just upgraded, so it is weekly or every other week visits for now. Six months from now, when it’s fuller I will probably visit once a month or two.

 

[56longroof]

The closest LFS that has saltwater is a 2 hour drive. I usually try to go every other month. Mostly to pick up auction items.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

I visit about once a month, but almost never buy anything.

 

[exnisstech]

Once a month or two. I'm pretty well stocked as far as livestock. I like to buy dry goods there but all 3 of my lfs are a 1.5 hr round trip so I tend to just order online.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Used to be weekly. I became good friends with the lady that owned the place. I found myself stopping in just to talk to her and see how she's doing.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Once a week to scratch an itch. Sometimes twice for a weekend trip.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I help keep mine stocked with frags along with other Reefers. That way the store owner doesn’t have to pay for wholesale orders, and we all get store credit and trades.

 

[dakoop]

Where is the too often button?

 

[blecki]

Depends on how much I feed the fish... if I could get reef frenzy shipped I probably wouldn't ever go.

 

[Barncat]

I'd visit more if mine didn't overcharge on their dry goods so horrifically. When the dude wants $30 for an item sold for $14 somewhere else, I'm going somewhere else, because that $30 versus $14 price tag tells of some pretty significant price gouging to me.

That being said, he's got great deals on snails... when he actually has any in stock!

 

[ThatPhillyReefer]

I tend to go monthly for dry and frozen food, carbon, coral food and salt. My LFS sells Red Sea 200g bag of salt for $65! I dont ever buy corals from there and very rarely fish

 

[PharmrJohn]

With my last venture, I went monthly when my tank was on autopilot. Went weekly when I first set up. It'll be the same, I'm sure, when I launch. But man, I haven't been since my old tank crashed. Thirteen years now! Daughter gas been bugging me lately to take her. She used to LOVE going when she was little!

 

[polarbeard]

I go every other week. I don’t have an RODI system so I get all my water from them. I usually do a good job of getting only water. Usually.

 

[winxp_man]

I picked other…. Because I’m in the shop 3-4 times a week. Yea it’s pretty bad hahaha! Blame my brother for getting me into SW tanks! Haha!

 

[Joe.D]

I only go when I have to - otherwise I spend too much $ on corals. Not that they are so expensive, it’s that I can’t always control myself.

 

[GuppyHJD]

I used to go weekly to one or more stores withing 90 min drive. The last year it has dropped to about every 6 weeks. The store I like the best used to take corals in trade, but they stopped, so I don't visit as often. The next store does not price any fish and most of their corals so I visit but seldom buy from them. Two stores have closed in the last year.

 

[KQuillan]

Too often. The store is up the road from my house, and the owner is a friend of mine.