LFS Adventures.

cameronh · Dec 4, 2015

Dtackett said:
had another one say to put in dry rock, dry sand, and saltwater then wait for 24 hours for the water to stabilize and then they could fully stock their tank right away so long as they did a 10% water change within a month... I don't go to either of these lfs anymore. now I only goto ones ran by hobbyists and professionals.

Haha, I like hearing these stories. They're getting better

Dtackett · Dec 4, 2015

I got kicked out of our highest priced LFS couple years back. this couple was walking around with a list of stuff they picked up at the front of the store (they used to have a list of recommended equipment for each size saltwater tank. it was actually a good list!) but they had no idea what half of the stuff was. so I figured id help them sense none of the employees wanted to get out of the couches to help. After looking over the list and looking at a couple of the items I flipped the list over and started writing a list of other LFS in the area to check out. the couple then informed me that the worker they had talked to a few days earlier said all the other shops in the city were amateurs and don't know what they are talking about... (we have a LFS that is run by a marine biologist with a focus on coral propagation who runs an aquaculture facility out of a greenhouse behind the shop. yeah, guess he doesn't know what hes talking about....) so I informed them that this big LFS is overpriced and showed them prices from other ones. I showed them the RODI unit they were looking at for 350 on sale, that our favorite LFS was selling for 199 regular price. I then called the other LFS and said they were on the way and to help em out. as they were walking out of the store I got walked out of the store lol. might have been bad form but my question to the guy who walked me out was "so youre willing to get off your butt to kick me out but not to help your customers?"

garra671 · Dec 4, 2015

Dtackett said:
I got kicked out of our highest priced LFS couple years back. this couple was walking around with a list of stuff they picked up at the front of the store (they used to have a list of recommended equipment for each size saltwater tank. it was actually a good list!) but they had no idea what half of the stuff was. so I figured id help them sense none of the employees wanted to get out of the couches to help. After looking over the list and looking at a couple of the items I flipped the list over and started writing a list of other LFS in the area to check out. the couple then informed me that the worker they had talked to a few days earlier said all the other shops in the city were amateurs and don't know what they are talking about... (we have a LFS that is run by a marine biologist with a focus on coral propagation who runs an aquaculture facility out of a greenhouse behind the shop. yeah, guess he doesn't know what hes talking about....) so I informed them that this big LFS is overpriced and showed them prices from other ones. I showed them the RODI unit they were looking at for 350 on sale, that our favorite LFS was selling for 199 regular price. I then called the other LFS and said they were on the way and to help em out. as they were walking out of the store I got walked out of the store lol. might have been bad form but my question to the guy who walked me out was "so youre willing to get off your butt to kick me out but not to help your customers?"

where are you from? your picture looks familir and if youre anywhere near me id like to check out that marine biologist ran place.

garra671 · Dec 4, 2015

Dtackett said:
I got kicked out of our highest priced LFS couple years back. this couple was walking around with a list of stuff they picked up at the front of the store (they used to have a list of recommended equipment for each size saltwater tank. it was actually a good list!) but they had no idea what half of the stuff was. so I figured id help them sense none of the employees wanted to get out of the couches to help. After looking over the list and looking at a couple of the items I flipped the list over and started writing a list of other LFS in the area to check out. the couple then informed me that the worker they had talked to a few days earlier said all the other shops in the city were amateurs and don't know what they are talking about... (we have a LFS that is run by a marine biologist with a focus on coral propagation who runs an aquaculture facility out of a greenhouse behind the shop. yeah, guess he doesn't know what hes talking about....) so I informed them that this big LFS is overpriced and showed them prices from other ones. I showed them the RODI unit they were looking at for 350 on sale, that our favorite LFS was selling for 199 regular price. I then called the other LFS and said they were on the way and to help em out. as they were walking out of the store I got walked out of the store lol. might have been bad form but my question to the guy who walked me out was "so youre willing to get off your butt to kick me out but not to help your customers?"

nevermind diregard, ohio isnt anywhere near me lol

cameronh · Dec 4, 2015

Dtackett said:
I got kicked out of our highest priced LFS couple years back. this couple was walking around with a list of stuff they picked up at the front of the store (they used to have a list of recommended equipment for each size saltwater tank. it was actually a good list!) but they had no idea what half of the stuff was. so I figured id help them sense none of the employees wanted to get out of the couches to help. After looking over the list and looking at a couple of the items I flipped the list over and started writing a list of other LFS in the area to check out. the couple then informed me that the worker they had talked to a few days earlier said all the other shops in the city were amateurs and don't know what they are talking about... (we have a LFS that is run by a marine biologist with a focus on coral propagation who runs an aquaculture facility out of a greenhouse behind the shop. yeah, guess he doesn't know what hes talking about....) so I informed them that this big LFS is overpriced and showed them prices from other ones. I showed them the RODI unit they were looking at for 350 on sale, that our favorite LFS was selling for 199 regular price. I then called the other LFS and said they were on the way and to help em out. as they were walking out of the store I got walked out of the store lol. might have been bad form but my question to the guy who walked me out was "so youre willing to get off your butt to kick me out but not to help your customers?"

That's pretty bad man. I hate the people that overcharge people.

Dtackett · Dec 4, 2015

garra671 said:
nevermind diregard, ohio isnt anywhere near me lol

lol this is the place though. they just added a new frag tank to their green house a few months back. now they've got 12k gallons of frag tanks in their green house.

http://www.reefsystems.com/

Dtackett · Dec 4, 2015

right now they've got a bunch of staghorn coral they've grown out and fragged. and you don't get fresh cut frags there. they frag them then let them regrow and heal so even your 10-20 dollar frag is a nice size.

cameronh · Dec 4, 2015

Sounds like a good place

Dtackett · Dec 4, 2015

its awesome man. they've even got a room specific for people to do studies. when the pacific startfish started to rot and pull themselves apart he had sever marine biologists there that he set tanks up for so they could do their studies there. he always has students from OSU in there doing studies. he does educational classes for the community. hes a good guy with a great shop. I miss living in Columbus. I was spoiled lol

Mike628 · Dec 4, 2015

Lol @cameronh your comment earlier about "I guess ill leave it at lol"

reefwiser · Dec 4, 2015

I have dealt with LFS owners since 1982 and after starting our local club I started helping get their understanding for marine life up to a good level.
I always work with the stores to make them better I want them to succeed and do a good job that means more business for them and more advanced hobbyist that would benefit from joining the club. Its hard being a LFS owner and worker. There is so much teaching that needs to be done on a basic level for a new fish keeper. An it takes a lot of hand holding. Thank goodness I have developed a level of trust with them. I am developing a coarse for marine aquarium keeping based on what is taught in Germany so that a new hobbyist can get off on the right foot. If you get a LFS that is good and interested in the hobby that is wonderful support them and send everyone their way. They need all the positive feed back they can get.:)

DeniseAndy · Dec 4, 2015

I have been wanting to make the trip up to ReefSystems. I am a bit over 2 hours away. Just have not done it. Maybe I will set up a trip to go for our local hobbyists. We tried once a year ago, but it fell to the wayside.

cameronh · Dec 4, 2015

Mike628 said:
Lol @cameronh your comment earlier about "I guess ill leave it at lol"

Haha guess I couldn't put the other one.

Dtackett · Dec 4, 2015

DeniseAndy said:
I have been wanting to make the trip up to ReefSystems. I am a bit over 2 hours away. Just have not done it. Maybe I will set up a trip to go for our local hobbyists. We tried once a year ago, but it fell to the wayside.

its worth the trip. the place is amazing. but make a day of it. goto matts corals, rivers to reefs, Lincoln village reef, and reef systems.

DeniseAndy · Dec 5, 2015

Dtackett said:
its worth the trip. the place is amazing. but make a day of it. goto matts corals, rivers to reefs, Lincoln village reef, and reef systems.

Thanks. I think we will set up a day in April for the group. We are inviting some marine biology clubs too. Hope it goes well. Thanks for the idea of the other places too.

DeniseAndy · Dec 8, 2015

Forgot this classic (was not at lfs, I won't say where it was)...

We have tons of algae because our water parameters are so good. If we did not have such good water, this algae would not be so abundant.

Baby Ray · Dec 22, 2015

One time I went to a fish store and the guy who worked there obviously didn't know anything about fish. I saw a juvenile queen angelfish and I asked him how much it was (I only have a 29 gallon tank but I was just curious). He looked at the fish for awhile and then said we thought it was either a dwarf angelfish or a damsel and he had no idea what the price was.

I was really tempted to say, "I'll give you $10 for it" hoping he would think it was a damsel, but I kept my mouth shut