Done with LFS

justjes45 · Sep 28, 2015

Ok- I quit-
This is hard to say as NOBODY I know in our area has a saltwater tank, and the nearest fish store is an hour away....
But in looking back at my whopping 8 months of experience, EVERY fish I have bought at my LFS has died. I have one clown left that I got 3 hours away, ( he is a snowflake clown named Ranger..[emoji12])
In all fairness, my Blood Shrimp and Flame Scallop are still alive.... And they came from my LFS...
I am sad and discouraged.
Thank goodness for you all here!

melypr1985 · Sep 28, 2015

Good on you! Now, you know where to get your info so really you can still shop there. Just dont listen to them and do lots of research before a purchase. If their fish are sick, and you know that, then QT is your best friend. Plan to QT and treat any and all new additions before putting them in your tank. You'll have better success this way for sure.
If your looking for a specific fish, then you can call them and have them order it for you. You can pick it up before it even goes into their system, or wait until you've seen it in person to decide to buy it. I'll add, that some places will make you pay for a fish (or at least half of it) before they order it for you.
My point here is that you can treat that place like walmart. You dont ask for, or need their help. You go in knowing what you need and get it. That's it. This is all assuming they have decent livestock and you have no other sensible options. Ordering online can get pricey with shipping but that might just be me.

SoFloGator · Sep 28, 2015

I am very new here and in fact don't have a tank build going at the moment. I am in exactly your same position, I'm about an hour (and 60 miles) from the closest LFS. I have researched on different forums and have about decided when I do get a tank up and running I may try (I hope this is OK to mention a name I have heard in positive comments) purchasing mail order from Divers Den.

MrDJeep123 · Sep 28, 2015

A few questions:
Do you quarantine?
Do you acclimate the new fish? If so, how do you do it?

justjes45 · Sep 28, 2015

Wow--- now THAT is a lot of eye candy!!

justjes45 · Sep 28, 2015

I'm pretty new at this. I am just now looking into what it means to "quarantine"… When I get a new fish I was told to float it in the tank for 20 minutes and then release the fish only, and not the water he came in.

melypr1985 · Sep 28, 2015

justjes45 said:
I'm pretty new at this. I am just now looking into what it means to "quarantine"… When I get a new fish I was told to float it in the tank for 20 minutes and then release the fish only, and not the water he came in.

Read this, it's very helpful and uses language we can all understand. It helped me more than Mr. @Humblefish knows.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/

I would also peruse the desease and treatment section of the forum to learn more about it and how to treat. Check out the stickies there.

Psiber_Syn · Sep 28, 2015

i always add lil bits of my tank water to the bag as its floating over a 30 or so min period then drop the fish in the tank the reason for acclimation is to get the fish use to ph and other water parameters

Psiber_Syn · Sep 28, 2015

read and read some more i have literally crammed solid books into my head in my short time reefing nothing like my old fishbowl LOL

MrDJeep123 · Sep 28, 2015

Some LFS have lower salinity for fish. My guess you just temp acclimated, threw in the fish and they've been shocked at the difference in parameters.

Don't buy another fish until you've read about proper acclimation procedures, and most certainly look into quarantine.

Humblefish · Sep 29, 2015

As mentioned above you probably either have a disease in your tank or you may not be acclimating properly.

I see @melypr1985 has already provided you with a link to my QT guide, but you may find this "How to Acclimate" useful as well: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-acclimate.192300/

Humblefish · Sep 29, 2015

melypr1985 said:
Read this, it's very helpful and uses language we can all understand. It helped me more than Mr. @Humblefish knows.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/

I would also peruse the desease and treatment section of the forum to learn more about it and how to treat. Check out the stickies there.

I know now!

Thank you for the kind words.

justjes45 · Sep 29, 2015

Thanks, all!

owen386 · Sep 30, 2015

Dont get discouraged. And dont always blame the lfs. I have lost many fish in my day. And im sure im not alone. They are sensitive fish we keep its all part of the game. And i have lost fish to numerous things from jumping out the tank,not eating,not acclimated properly, disease etc etc. But much i have learned and can hopefully lesson deaths overall with my knowledge. But know if your trying to keep things like flame scallops dont expect to live long.