Amazing LFS what am I missing?

Marchillo · 04/22/2015, 04:53 PM

So I started a thread a few days ago about which tank to get. This store which is only 20 mins from me quoted me about 50$ above cost. Didn't know they existed. Went in there today. They have over the 100 different tanks that are self contained. They only run copper in a few of them. They treat/medicate fish when they come in. They use sponge filters and live rock in the tanks. Basically looks like 3 rooms full of personal tanks setup.

What am I missing here? I was completely floored. Pretty young guy. Down to earth. Worked there about 7-8 years and bought the place a year ago.

ReefkeeperJames · 04/22/2015, 04:58 PM

Sponge for mechanical, and very established live rock with high flow levels. Probably very good skimming. Maybe reactors, maybe not.. Not needed with a good crew for water changes.

What did you think you were missing?

Marchillo · 04/22/2015, 04:59 PM

He doesn't use skimmers. I guess what I'm saying is the way the store is setup requires a ton of maintenance but as customers this is exactly what we'd want in every store right? I'm just amazed by it. They have a new customer.

ReefkeeperJames · 04/22/2015, 05:02 PM

The ocean receives 100% water changes with every passing wave. Any store that practiced maintenance similar to this would be successful. Skimming is a great way of removing 30% of proteins, but only a water change can do it all. Limit the sand and be good about water changes and you'll be successful haha. Skimming would be a good idea with a lot of fish

Marchillo · 04/22/2015, 05:22 PM

The tanks weren't overstocked at all. Seems like the right amount of fish were in the proper tanks. Some places have huge fish in tiny tanks.

ReefkeeperJames · 04/22/2015, 05:51 PM

How were the coral???

Marchillo · 04/22/2015, 06:00 PM

They had one really awesome looking coral tank. They also had a couple frag tanks. I was pretty impressed. I don't keep corals yet so I'm admittedly not an expert there.

Azedenkae · 04/22/2015, 06:07 PM

I walked into a store like that before, every one of their tanks was well 'decorated', and it was amazing. The clownfish tank had anemones all over, and all clownfish is sold from there. The frag racks look awesome, and yeah the ones with other fish had live rock and stuff too.

Kind of cool to be reminded just really how 'simple' a setup can be to be amazing.

mke07 · 04/22/2015, 06:47 PM

wish there was a gem store around me, everything has shut down pretty much.

albano · 04/22/2015, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefkeeperJames

The ocean receives 100% water changes with every passing wave...

Mark9 · 04/23/2015, 05:32 AM

And just where is this store?

toothybugs · 04/23/2015, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark9

And just where is this store?

Do tell - inquiring minds want to know!

homer1475 · 04/23/2015, 05:53 AM

From being in this hobby 20 years ago, it seemed like there used to be a LFS on every street corner. Getting back into it now, everyone I used to go to is gone and only a handful left in my area. The recession and big box stores have pushed most LFS's out of business.

On my hunt for some LFS's, Ive found roughly 5 or 6 and only 2 would I actually buy from. Its funny the "older" stores I've been in you can tell are old. Tanks are all gross looking with algae all over, dirty stores, etc. You can just tell the owner has been in it for a while and just doesn't really care anymore and just wants to sell you something.

The 2 I have bought from are run by fairly young people(mid 20's) are well maintained, clean, owners/employees are knowledgeable, DT's all look awesome, and they seem to really want to help people and not just sell you something. One of them offers a 5 week salt water class for free!! but limits it to 10 people at a time(they have a long wait list of people wanting to take their course, myself included!)

Now my only issue is these 2 stores are a 2 1/2 hour drive, but well worth the drive knowing I'm getting great advice, and quality livestock. Just wish I had found them before I started my tank. I would have known a little more on proper setup, and not listening to someone that just wants to sell me something.

Mizerooskie · 04/23/2015, 06:12 AM

Great LFSs aren't mythical. I've got a terrific one 5 minutes from me.

Marchillo · 04/23/2015, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toothybugs

Do tell - inquiring minds want to know!

I'm in Connecticut. I've actually liked the three near me that I've visited. This is in Vernon Wet Pets.

I visited one in Simsbury CT and they had beautiful fish. They were nice as well but much higher on the tank/stand price.

I guess one advantage of being in the NE is the abundance of stores. There are a few more within a 30 mile radius I haven't checked out.

homer1475 · 04/23/2015, 07:44 AM

Wish I could say the same. My closest LFS that I would actually buy anything from or take advice from, is a 2 1/2 hour drive.

Being in the north northeast is like a waste land for LFS.

gavinsepanik · 04/25/2015, 10:55 PM

The only reason my lfs (sho tank aquariums) can stay in business is because the big box stores around here don't sell much saltwater equipment and no fish or coral, they have amazing prices (better than online) and they do mainly all of the custom tanks and services in north Chicago.

04/22/2015, 04:53 PM	#1
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	Amazing LFS what am I missing? So I started a thread a few days ago about which tank to get. This store which is only 20 mins from me quoted me about 50$ above cost. Didn't know they existed. Went in there today. They have over the 100 different tanks that are self contained. They only run copper in a few of them. They treat/medicate fish when they come in. They use sponge filters and live rock in the tanks. Basically looks like 3 rooms full of personal tanks setup. What am I missing here? I was completely floored. Pretty young guy. Down to earth. Worked there about 7-8 years and bought the place a year ago.

04/23/2015, 05:53 AM	#13
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	From being in this hobby 20 years ago, it seemed like there used to be a LFS on every street corner. Getting back into it now, everyone I used to go to is gone and only a handful left in my area. The recession and big box stores have pushed most LFS's out of business. On my hunt for some LFS's, Ive found roughly 5 or 6 and only 2 would I actually buy from. Its funny the "older" stores I've been in you can tell are old. Tanks are all gross looking with algae all over, dirty stores, etc. You can just tell the owner has been in it for a while and just doesn't really care anymore and just wants to sell you something. The 2 I have bought from are run by fairly young people(mid 20's) are well maintained, clean, owners/employees are knowledgeable, DT's all look awesome, and they seem to really want to help people and not just sell you something. One of them offers a 5 week salt water class for free!! but limits it to 10 people at a time(they have a long wait list of people wanting to take their course, myself included!) Now my only issue is these 2 stores are a 2 1/2 hour drive, but well worth the drive knowing I'm getting great advice, and quality livestock. Just wish I had found them before I started my tank. I would have known a little more on proper setup, and not listening to someone that just wants to sell me something. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

04/23/2015, 07:44 AM	#16
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Wish I could say the same. My closest LFS that I would actually buy anything from or take advice from, is a 2 1/2 hour drive. Being in the north northeast is like a waste land for LFS. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

04/22/2015, 04:58 PM	#2
ReefkeeperJames Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 15	Sponge for mechanical, and very established live rock with high flow levels. Probably very good skimming. Maybe reactors, maybe not.. Not needed with a good crew for water changes. What did you think you were missing?

04/22/2015, 04:59 PM	#3
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	He doesn't use skimmers. I guess what I'm saying is the way the store is setup requires a ton of maintenance but as customers this is exactly what we'd want in every store right? I'm just amazed by it. They have a new customer.

04/22/2015, 05:02 PM	#4
ReefkeeperJames Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 15	The ocean receives 100% water changes with every passing wave. Any store that practiced maintenance similar to this would be successful. Skimming is a great way of removing 30% of proteins, but only a water change can do it all. Limit the sand and be good about water changes and you'll be successful haha. Skimming would be a good idea with a lot of fish

04/22/2015, 05:22 PM	#5
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	The tanks weren't overstocked at all. Seems like the right amount of fish were in the proper tanks. Some places have huge fish in tiny tanks.

04/22/2015, 05:51 PM	#6
ReefkeeperJames Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 15	How were the coral???

04/22/2015, 06:00 PM	#7
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	They had one really awesome looking coral tank. They also had a couple frag tanks. I was pretty impressed. I don't keep corals yet so I'm admittedly not an expert there.

04/22/2015, 06:07 PM	#8
Azedenkae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,196	I walked into a store like that before, every one of their tanks was well 'decorated', and it was amazing. The clownfish tank had anemones all over, and all clownfish is sold from there. The frag racks look awesome, and yeah the ones with other fish had live rock and stuff too. Kind of cool to be reminded just really how 'simple' a setup can be to be amazing.

04/22/2015, 06:47 PM	#9
mke07 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Harford co. Maryland Posts: 49	wish there was a gem store around me, everything has shut down pretty much.

04/23/2015, 05:32 AM	#11
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	And just where is this store?

04/23/2015, 06:12 AM	#14
Mizerooskie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 9	Great LFSs aren't mythical. I've got a terrific one 5 minutes from me.

04/25/2015, 10:55 PM	#17
gavinsepanik Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Lake villa IL Posts: 236	The only reason my lfs (sho tank aquariums) can stay in business is because the big box stores around here don't sell much saltwater equipment and no fish or coral, they have amazing prices (better than online) and they do mainly all of the custom tanks and services in north Chicago.