All my fish are DEAD!

[AydenLincoln]

I’m sorry that happened and that your Dad hid it from you. I’d honestly have them replace everything and then some like they stated. Taking them to court is VERY expensive and most courts and lawyers have more important cases that need their attention. It sucks but taking them to court is not going to turn back time.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Ultimately it’s your responsibility

This I agree with. While the local pet store was in error what the heck their sloppy work. It was the OP's responsibility to vette the store, find out how much experience and success they have had.
It is a shared responsibility.
I just had a heat wave disaster when one of my temperate tanks chiller blew a fuse in the middle of the night. When I woke up, the tank went from 64 deg to above 80 in a matter of hours. lost two sculpins, some urchins, a load of mini brittles. Is it my fault that the chiller blew a fuse? No. Could I have done something to prevent all of this? Yes. I could’ve easily installed some sort of temp alarm.
So ultimately what had happened IS my fault.

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

Now your going to extremes... but yes, you put your grandma in a fly by night nursing home... Yes that would be your fault.
And now your being mellow dramatic... You are good with the words, but it's your actions in life that counts.
@jmichaelh7 was being supportive. He was trying to give you a valuable lesson in life.
You can collect that participation trophy in life, or you can bleed a bit, cry a little, learn from your mistakes and get the trophy for the win.

 

[Tiki_Reef]

First off sorry for your loss. That being said suing them I would probably stay away from that considering even if you filed the claim yourself it will cost you more than what the fish are worth monetarily. I practice civil law and a judge is only going to award you the average market price for the livestock and possibly legal costs if you win. If the LFS is offering to reimburse you for the cost of what you lost I would take it just my two cents.

 

[Gtinnel]

While the local pet store was in error what the heck their sloppy work. It was the OP's responsibility to vette the store, find out how much experience and success they have had.

Unless I missed it I don’t remember anything that stated that the store wasn’t reputable. The most experienced and knowledgeable reefers in the world still make mistakes, wether they work for a lfs or not.
I’m honestly amazed that anyone would fault the OP for what happened.

 

[PeterEde]

I have spoken recently to one of my local lfs about looking after my tank while away and his take was similar to the fathers. He'd do all necessary to maintain the tank and any extra I asked but should the worst happen he would not tell me until I was home and then explain it. Telling me my tank died a week or 2 into a month long overseas trip is only going to ruin a months holiday. But at the end of the day there was nothing I could do.
Fathers are protectors. He did what he thought was right.
But the LFS in this case should at least replace the fish and ensure the tank/system is clean enough to restock.

 

[muffinmanXL]

This I agree with. While the local pet store was in error what the heck their sloppy work. It was the OP's responsibility to vette the store, find out how much experience and success they have had.
It is a shared responsibility.
I just had a heat wave disaster when one of my temperate tanks chiller blew a fuse in the middle of the night. When I woke up, the tank went from 64 deg to above 80 in a matter of hours. lost two sculpins, some urchins, a load of mini brittles. Is it my fault that the chiller blew a fuse? No. Could I have done something to prevent all of this? Yes. I could’ve easily installed some sort of temp alarm.
So ultimately what had happened IS my fault.

Now your going to extremes... but yes, you put your grandma in a fly by night nursing home... Yes that would be your fault.
And now your being mellow dramatic... You are good with the words, but it's your actions in life that counts.
@jmichaelh7 was being supportive. He was trying to give you a valuable lesson in life.
You can collect that participation trophy in life, or you can bleed a bit, cry a little, learn from your mistakes and get the trophy for the win.

Making a lot of assumptions; not sure how your judgment is helpful here.

Sorry for your loss OP

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Making a lot of assumptions; not sure how your judgment is helpful here.

Sorry for your loss OP

How many assumptions are a lot? What are those said assumptions? The only judgement I believe I made was, it is a " Shared responsibility".
I do not think I was Judgmental. But my summary statement, I feel, could be pretty helpful. In Life...
I am sorry for his loss also. But I am not going to placate someone because he feels his emotional loss deserves a whole new tank set up. The store said they would replace what was lost, by proxy admitting their mistake. If the OP just left it at that, do you think we as a group would say " Nay! You deserve their first born?" (well maybe) I don’t believe (hopefully) that would be the case. The kid has choices in life. It is his decision what those choices are.

 

[2Wheelsonly]

I do try to support local fish stores but I have very little trust in their capabilities unless you're near some of the great ones in the Orlando area. While my LFS are great for supplies and other things I feel like they are lucky if their corals last 2 weeks in their tanks before being sold.

 

[T-J]

I say good on the LFS for owning up to their mistake. They could've just shrugged their shoulders and said "They didn't die because of anything we did."
I also say good on them for doing what they should: replace your fish. You'd never get more out of that in court. Courts make people "whole" again, and that's what the LFS is trying to do.
I agree that the rock/sand should also be considered.
I use citric acid on my MP40's to clean them. It's a great way to clean reefing gear. I'm curious how much of that stuff got into the tank.

 

[Garf]

How on earth does a bit of acid left in a syphon tube kill a bunch of fish? Sounds a bit fishy to me.

 

[i cant think]

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

I believe Classical Music works best when curing live rock. Although I have also heard that some rock cures faster with Pop songs

 

[i cant think]

I’m sorry for what happened to you @Gobyboy, I would definitely try and see if the LFS can replace any of the rocks or sand just in case they came in contact and absorbed some of the Citric Acid.

 

[exnisstech]

How on earth does a bit of acid left in a syphon tube kill a bunch of fish? Sounds a bit fishy to me.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[LiamPM]

They said the syphen wasn’t washed and they used it around the back of my tank to break down salt

Got any more info on what actually happened out of curiosity?

Would a small citric acid residue kill fish in the water would be my first line of research - Im not entirely sure it would - Corla on the other hand. Imagine it just plays havoc on PH but thats from adding direct, not a small amount of residue if so.

Maybe thats jsut me though - Id want to be certain i knew the cause of deaths and im not with that one line above - Sorry for your loss either way.

 

[Hairyteeth]

Do we think it’s more likely that they didn’t clean the sand on transfer and stirred up a nuke in there?

 

[Rmckoy]

After reading all the comments a few things come to mind .
1) the lfs is wrong for killing the livestock but they already promised replacing the livestock .
2) if you’re away at school , do you honestly have the time to properly care for these animals without putting The responsibility on someone else to care for your animals

with a hobby such as this where it can be very involved and hands on . Knowing what I have invested in mine over the years , I wouldn’t trust anyone to provide the same care as I provide .
essentially . It’s not their investment.

again sorry for your loss . It should have ended different
Accidents happen , things don’t always go as planned .
hiring Someone to do things for you had it’s risks .

 

[DaneGer21]

Why should they replace your equipment?

If anything, clean your own equipment and have it ready for the livestock they’re replacing

 

[albano]

1) the lfs is wrong for killing the livestock but they already promised replacing the livestock

That’s a good offer… don’t expect the courts to do better.

 

[kingoftheHiLLpeople]

I’m sorry that happened and that your Dad hid it from you. I’d honestly have them replace everything and then some like they stated. Taking them to court is VERY expensive and most courts and lawyers have more important cases that need their attention. It sucks but taking them to court is not going to turn back time.

Not for small claims usually

 

[kingoftheHiLLpeople]

Here is my advice and its very difficult to do now i know. Take a breath and step back for a minute. Dont refuse their offer. But take a minute and think very carefully about how to proceed. Dont say/do something you will regret. Remember actions now may impact you down the road.