Second, you learned early-on that your LFS is not trustworthy both in keeping appointments and knowledge. It's common knowledge among experienced aquarists that the worst place to seek advice is the very place you'd think of to go first, your LFS. It's sad but true, IME over 90% of LFSs are the worst place to get advice.
Sorry you had to experience that. Glad you learned it early. Happy you found TR.
Dick
I don't necessarily agree. Shop around...talk to the folks who run the LFS in your area. There are lots of good stores out there, you just need to do your homework on them just like in all other areas.
I have a tip for helping to keep the phosphates and nitrates down. Get a turkey baster next time you visit the grocery store. Use this to blast all the detritious and fish waste plus uneaten food off the rocks and into the water column. Make sure to keep some type of filter pad in your filtration to collect the particles (I like the PURA pads by Magnavore, but any of the many available will do.) Make sure you rinse the pad out often. By doing so you'll remove a lot of the cause of both.
Your tank looks to be doing well. Continued good luck and MORE PICS!!!!
I don't necessarily agree. Shop around...talk to the folks who run the LFS in your area. There are lots of good stores out there, you just need to do your homework on them just like in all other areas.
I tried to do my homework and there is 2 LFS in this city and I checked both out. One in the next city is a head shop behind the back door and then there is another one 2 cities away which isn't too bad. And I spoke with individuals about the LFS of choice who I got to originally do my work and all good things were said about them. So everything I have done was based on this information.
I have a tip for helping to keep the phosphates and nitrates down. Get a turkey baster next time you visit the grocery store. Use this to blast all the detritious and fish waste plus uneaten food off the rocks and into the water column. Make sure to keep some type of filter pad in your filtration to collect the particles (I like the PURA pads by Magnavore, but any of the many available will do.) Make sure you rinse the pad out often. By doing so you'll remove a lot of the cause of both.
Your tank looks to be doing well. Continued good luck and MORE PICS!!!!
Thanks! I also use a turkey baster and reposition one of my #3 Koralias to clean my LR twice a week. I also use a mat filter and floss to polish my water and it works like a charm. I've never used PURA pads, is it a material that can be cut and adjusted to the size needed like a mat filter fiber or is it a pre-made pad that comes in different sizes? Also, what is the life of one of those pads? Thanks!
I don't necessarily agree. Shop around...talk to the folks who run the LFS in your area. There are lots of good stores out there, you just need to do your homework on them just like in all other areas.
Marcye,
If you read this thread from the beginning you would realize I was referring to the LFS that Lori used to set up her tank in the beginning. And while your store is not in the same category as most, it is still a challenge for most beginners to find a LFS with reputable help that can accurately answer questions for beginners. It's not the owners of LFS that are the problem, it's the help they tend to hire. Most hobbyists with knowledge are not working for the LFS for minimum wage. There are countless stories on every forum about dubious information passed out by the LFSs.
Dick
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
You are quite correct there Dick! I do NO business with the LFS that I had to deal with in the beginning. I use the other local one as I met the owner and his partner in crime. Both are very good and I might add, I do question them and they will tell me when their knowledge base is lacking on certain inquiries I make. I have developed a good relationship with them, they give me breaks all the time on purchases because I am a regular and will order anything that I require, all I have to do is ask. I do not deal with any of their store help as the owner makes it a point to help me himself. I am very pleased to say the least. They are fine people.
same here. i have 3 different lfs within 10 minutes from my house. one, which is the closest happens to be the best one, very knowledgeable, the owners are great people and never give bad info.also, their fish are well taken care of. the next closest is an alright store...sometimes have good livestock and they sometimes have good prices....the last one, which is the farthest...is absolutely horrible. overpriced, the guy there thinks he knows everything and thinks that his way is the only way to get it right. which is absolute BS. hes never got anything good. everything has ick or is half dead. these people say that they have been successful in reefkeeping for over 10 years...and i dont see how. =\
Hey Lil Buddy Good to see you back. Probably pulling some long hours? Good/decent LFS are hard to come by, but when you find them, they treat you right. I went today myself and got 2 leathers and another kenya. Finally went back to work today myself for 1/2 a day after 4 weeks and I am wore out. I hate this recooperation stuff!
i been keeping myself busy lately. i have been checking out the forums but never really posted anything. and unfortunately nothing has progressed with my tank. which kinda stinks. the only thing that ive bought was a new shell for my monster hermit last night. ill try to post a pic of him when i take one. lol but anwyay..yea..ill continue that in my thread..haha im glad ur tank is improving though. =] good job.
I will try to catch my tank thread up to date as it has been a short while. 2008 has not been too kind to me health wise and I am hoping that it will plane off and stabilize into an even keal and even some much needed joy and happiness. I have met my medical insurance deductable and look forward to my summer fun in the sun, on the water and all that it brings... fun, excitement, a trip or two to the ER, never a dull moment in my household. We will be steering clear of sharks and sting rays this year my friend. Plenty of other dangerous and poisoness marine creatures to discover! With that said, let us proceed to something more interesting.
When I last left off, I was having difficulty in improving my water quality. I had 0 amonia, 0 nitrites, 10 nitrates, 380 calcium and a ph of 8.0. (This was the best I could manage on my own with the ph and calcium as I have found trying to raise one affected the other and visa versa. And we all know I am not a chemist. ) I would like to further reduce my nitrates to a non readable number, increase my calcium and ph values. After much struggling, I finally came to my senses and turned to a think tank that has always been there for me in the past.... Dick, aka Amphibious. I have chosen him for my mentor and feel that with 40+ years of experience, I sure can't go wrong and anything is better than my own trial and errors. And we all know errors in this hobby is rather a hefty price for stupidity! Funny how when money is an issue, we get smarter by the minute.
Let me post a few pics here, before I continue forth with my instruction from the master.
You all know that my main squeeze is Van.... Vandamere. I adore him and he goes along with my suggestions. What a guy!
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I've never used PURA pads, is it a material that can be cut and adjusted to the size needed like a mat filter fiber or is it a pre-made pad that comes in different sizes? Also, what is the life of one of those pads? Thanks!
Both are very good and I might add, I do question them and they will tell me when their knowledge base is lacking on certain inquiries I make. I have developed a good relationship with them, they give me breaks all the time on purchases because I am a regular and will order anything that I require, all I have to do is ask. I do not deal with any of their store help as the owner makes it a point to help me himself. I am very pleased to say the least. They are fine people.
Good to see you back. Probably pulling some long hours? Good/decent 
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
) I would like to further reduce my 
I have chosen him for my mentor and feel that with 40+ years of experience, I sure can't go wrong and anything is better than my own trial and errors. And we all know errors in this hobby is rather a hefty price for stupidity! Funny how when money is an issue, we get smarter by the minute. 
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