All my fish are DEAD!

[SaJon]

I went to college 3 weeks ago and left my local pet store to move my tank to my dads office. They kept assuring me that I didn’t need to move it and that nothing would go wrong. I kept asking my dad about the tank and he was being conspicuous about it. I came home for Labor Day and my dad said my fish died after a day of being moved. Turns out that they used citric acid and F&@&$D UP my tank. I am LIVID! They said they would replace everything in my tank, but I loved those fish what should I do? I wanna make them pay for a new tank because of the emotional connection.

I totally inderstand your frustration. I believe I would be livid as well. YET, if it wasn't done out of malice and it was an honest mistake, maybe you should forgive them. I would expect my system to be replaced. Look at it this way, ehat if one of your children did something thar killed all your fish, would you forgive them? Well, again if it wasn't done out of malice, they are your parents so forgiveness is important. Not sure how religious you are yet we are supposed to forgive others to be forgive ourselves. Everyone makes mistakes especially in this hobby. Unfortunately we are trying to keep an ecosystem in these glass cages for our own enjoyment, it's very sensitive when coming to water quality as you know, im sure your parents thought they were doing the right thing. Forgiveness is hard sometimes yet it is necessary not to hold grudges. The worse thing is to be vengeful. As a parent myself, if I had done something like they did and I didn't know any better I'd replace my child's entire system and probably give them an upgrade in the process.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Why would you say it’s my responsibility if I hired them and was away? They assured me multiple times I wouldn’t need to do it my self. By saying it was my fault really makes me feel like sh$t

Typically if you have any type of animal it’s your responsibility. If you buy a Doberman pincher for e.g. and don’t take it out to play ball, and exercise, it tears up your yard and house. Is that the dog walkers fault or yours? You signed up for the hobby

 

[SaJon]

I was confused for a second, thought you were angry at your parents lol. I mean.. just get as much as possible from them. Put them out of business not like they deserve to be running a lfs when they can't be trusted with fish heh

Oh , I thought he was talking about his parents as well. I misunderstood too.

 

[SaJon]

Why would you say it’s my responsibility if I hired them and was away? They assured me multiple times I wouldn’t need to do it my self. By saying it was my fault really makes me feel like sh$t

Take what people say as constructive criticism, never let anything make you feel thst kinda way. Sometimes things were meant a certain way but a text can be taking out of context. Keep your head up , you did nothing wrong. We live amd we learn everyday. Listen to what people say yet at the end of the day, it's your hobby !!

 

[Gtinnel]

I totally inderstand your frustration. I believe I would be livid as well. YET, if it wasn't done out of malice and it was an honest mistake, maybe you should forgive them. I would expect my system to be replaced. Look at it this way, ehat if one of your children did something thar killed all your fish, would you forgive them? Well, again if it wasn't done out of malice, they are your parents so forgiveness is important. Not sure how religious you are yet we are supposed to forgive others to be forgive ourselves. Everyone makes mistakes especially in this hobby. Unfortunately we are trying to keep an ecosystem in these glass cages for our own enjoyment, it's very sensitive when coming to water quality as you know, im sure your parents thought they were doing the right thing. Forgiveness is hard sometimes yet it is necessary not to hold grudges. The worse thing is to be vengeful. As a parent myself, if I had done something like they did and I didn't know any better I'd replace my child's entire system and probably give them an upgrade in the process.

It was a lfs that messed up and killed his livestock and not his parents.

Eta- sorry I didn’t read far enough to see that it had been cleared up

 

[Gobyboy]

Typically if you have any type of animal it’s your responsibility. If you buy a Doberman pincher for e.g. and don’t take it out to play ball, and exercise, it tears up your yard and house. Is that the dog walkers fault or yours? You signed up for the hobby

How would you feel if you placed your grandma in a nursing home and she died because the nursing home gave her the wrong pills and someone said it was your responsibility? Same principal man. I am just really sad and torn up expecting support from this amazing community and you are saying I screwed up. I am sorry if this is taking too far, but I LOVED those fish and you basically saying I killed them crushes my heart. I tried to provide a excellent life for them. I am sorry if I am not up to your standards. Which in that case makes me just want to cry in a corner and wish they were back which is what I’m doing.

and thanks to everyone who was supportive

Gobyboy signing off

 

[SaJon]

It was a lfs that messed up and killed his livestock and not his parents.

Yes, I misunderstood I thought it was his parents. I still feel the same way about forgiveness if it was not out if malice YET , we would think an LFS would know better right ? Such a sad situation. I gave my rock an acoustic bath when I was curing it but I never put acid near my system.

 

[Gtinnel]

Typically if you have any type of animal it’s your responsibility. If you buy a Doberman pincher for e.g. and don’t take it out to play ball, and exercise, it tears up your yard and house. Is that the dog walkers fault or yours? You signed up for the hobby

it is the dog walkers fault if they kill the dog from neglect while you’re paying them to take care of your pet. I don’t understand your analogy at all.

This is IMO no way the OP’s fault, I just think they are being unrealistic about what the lfs should be giving them.

 

[Gtinnel]

How would you feel if you placed your grandma in a nursing home and she died because the nursing home gave her the wrong pills and someone said it was your responsibility? Same principal man. I am just really sad and torn up expecting support from this amazing community and you are saying I screwed up. I am sorry if this is taking too far, but I LOVED those fish and you basically saying I killed them crushes my heart. I tried to provide a excellent life for them. I am sorry if I am not up to your standards. Which in that case makes me just want to cry in a corner and wish they were back which is what I’m doing.

and thanks to everyone who was supportive

Gobyboy signing off

For what it’s worth it is in no way your fault that your fish were killed.

 

[SaJon]

Yes, I misunderstood I thought it was his parents. I still feel the same way about forgiveness if it was not out if malice YET , we would think an LFS would know better right ? Such a sad situation. I gave my rock an acoustic bath when I was curing it but I never put acid near my system.

Sorry for my typos , acid bath not acoustic. Lol these smart phones tend to type in theor own sometimes.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Sorry for my typos , acid bath not acoustic. Lol these smart phones tend to type in theor own sometimes.

And here I was going to ask you what music worked best

 

[SaJon]

And here I was going to ask you what music worked best

I'm dying laughing lol. I love it when someone can take my typos and make it funny. Thank you for that.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I went to college 3 weeks ago and left my local pet store to move my tank to my dads office. They kept assuring me that I didn’t need to move it and that nothing would go wrong. I kept asking my dad about the tank and he was being conspicuous about it. I came home for Labor Day and my dad said my fish died after a day of being moved. Turns out that they used citric acid and screwed UP my tank. I am LIVID! They said they would replace everything in my tank, but I loved those fish what should I do? I wanna make them pay for a new tank because of the emotional connection.

I'm so sorry! The LFS should definitely replace your fish, but unless they damaged your tank or other equipment, I can't see the reason they would replace those.
However, I would ask them to replace anything that could harm future livestock, like the sand or rock, if it was exposed to a contaminant as well...

 

[PeterEde]

Typically if you have any type of animal it’s your responsibility. If you buy a Doberman pincher for e.g. and don’t take it out to play ball, and exercise, it tears up your yard and house. Is that the dog walkers fault or yours? You signed up for the hobby

If you are going away and put a pet dog/cat into care you would expect they actually look after the animal. If you pay a LFS to care/move your tank you expect a professional job is done.
This sounds like amateur hour.
They should have ensured the tank is now usable and replace all lost stock at a minimum.

I would expect a college student not have a lot of spare cash to replace the lost fish and he shouldn't have to.

 

[Gtinnel]

I'm so sorry! The LFS should definitely replace your fish, but unless they damaged your tank or other equipment, I can't see the reason they would replace those.
However, I would ask them to replace anything that could harm future livestock, like the sand or rock, if it was exposed to a contaminant as well...

Very good point about the substrate and rock.

I at most would insist on live rock. One of the hardest parts of this hobby IME is waiting on your tank to mature to where it’s stable. I would hate to start completely over.

 

[Spare time]

Ultimately it’s your responsibility

No? He hired people to move the tank. Its their fault for being careless. Sorta a rude comment in my opinion given the guy's tank just got wiped because of movers. Maybe try some sympathy next time?

 

[Spare time]

Typically if you have any type of animal it’s your responsibility. If you buy a Doberman pincher for e.g. and don’t take it out to play ball, and exercise, it tears up your yard and house. Is that the dog walkers fault or yours? You signed up for the hobby

That doesn't make any sense in this scenario. He wasn't neglecting his reef tank. Did you read his post at all?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Very good point about the substrate and rock.

I at most would insist on live rock. One of the hardest parts of this hobby IME is waiting on your tank to mature to where it’s stable. I would hate to start completely over.

I just don't know if citric acid has long lasting effects or if new water and a cycle will take care of any residue. I assume it's similar to vinegar in the tank and won't be a problem. Can't hurt to ask though...

And, live rock from an LFS tank can be problematic sometimes depending on hitchhikers...

 

[Gtinnel]

I just don't know if citric acid has long lasting effects or if new water and a cycle will take care of any residue. I assume it's similar to vinegar in the tank and won't be a problem. Can't hurt to ask though...

I don’t either and I doubt it would be an issue, but I honestly didn’t even think about the possible contamination of the rock/sand.

 

[PeterEde]

I just don't know if citric acid has long lasting effects or if new water and a cycle will take care of any residue. I assume it's similar to vinegar in the tank and won't be a problem. Can't hurt to ask though...

And, live rock from an LFS tank can be problematic sometimes depending on hitchhikers...

All acids are water soluble to my knowledge and can be nullified by alkaline.