Phyto-Feast | Dead or Alive

[Zaxh]

For starters, I live in Madison, WI, where there aren't many local fish stores (LFS) nearby. Consequently, I often find myself traveling to Milwaukee for some pretty decent stores. Recently, I started visiting a new store where I was sold some bad phytoplankton (not Phyto Feast). It was completely translucent and had an unpleasant smell. When I called them after returning home, they agreed to compensate me. The next morning, I went back and they had an all-new product called "Phyto Feast," which they had received that morning. I didn't smell it or inspect it closely as they were stocking their fridge when I walked in.

After returning to Madison, I decided to dose some phyto with it and noticed that it smelled absolutely rancid. I have been dosing it every other day for a week and noticed my phosphates were very high (though I hadn't yet connected the dots).

After further investigation today on these forums, I understand that if it smells bad, it's bad.

How should I approach contacting the store after they sold me another bad bottle? I've had the bottle for about a week. Being relatively new to their store and not wanting to come off as trying to scam them, I am unsure of how to proceed

 

[CBonito]

Save yourself the grief and order it from an online vendor that makes it. We have a few of them here. I just ordered a half gallon from Dinkins Aquatic Gardens to name one. Algae Barn is a good one too. If they make it and bottle it live, then ship it to you 2-day, you're not going to end up with bad stuff...ever.

Bottles of that stuff sit forever at the LFS and no one shakes the bottles or anything to keep it alive, so it's usually all dead. I never buy phytoplankton from an LFS. It's just a bad idea from my own experience. That smell inspires rage. lol

 

[CMMorgan]

So, jumping in here. I ordered some phytofeast live last week. It arrived two day on Friday around 5 pm. It was packed with two tiny cold packs. The temperature of the phyto in the box was 92 degrees. For reference, I live in SWFL and it's been about 100 - 104 every day. I immediately refrigerated it. I opened it yesterday and tried it. It stinks. I put it in the tank and my sponges do not look happy today. I have never ordered phytofeast before, so I do not know what it should smell like. I have ordered from algaebarn previously and it did not stink. I welcome input ... thanks. :)

 

[Formulator]

In my experience concentrated phyto smells horrible regardless of whether it is spoiled or not. Like low tide smell.

 

[Lavey29]

They sell 2 types of phytofeast. Black cap is live and has expiration date. Still smells kinda bad. White bottle cap is dead phytoplankton and smells worse.

 

[Team ASD]

Save yourself the grief and order it from an online vendor that makes it. We have a few of them here. I just ordered a half gallon from Dinkins Aquatic Gardens to name one. Algae Barn is a good one too. If they make it and bottle it live, then ship it to you 2-day, you're not going to end up with bad stuff...ever.

Bottles of that stuff sit forever at the LFS and no one shakes the bottles or anything to keep it alive, so it's usually all dead. I never buy phytoplankton from an LFS. It's just a bad idea from my own experience. That smell inspires rage. lol

I second this. Either purchase from a reputable source if you can justify the cost of shipping or only buy from locals/stores where you see they have a live phyto culture.
Heck you could even start a live phyto setup at your home for relatively cheap :)