A funny story today while I went to the LFS for some RODI water. I think to do this story a bit of justice I have to give some backstory. So a couple of weeks ago I went to one LFS and it was extremely messy.
But the one that I normally go to is only opened between Thurs-Sat, and it also has a toll road so it costs $5 to go to it every time. I was in a need to get RODI water as my water has evaporated and I didn't want to add more salt water on top. So I go into this LFS a bit anxious due to my previous bad experience, but what followed had to be one of the funniest conversations to have happen in a few years.
I walk into the store and the "Marine Manager" is yelling at this lady that he wont sell her water. She was like, "But if I don't have any water my fish will die," he responded, "But I don't want to create another problem by adding the new water." She responded, "I will bring my water tomorrow to be tested," and the fish guy was like, "I might not even test it for you, I don't want you creating new problems with adding new water." This argument looped for five minutes before the "Marine Manager" said, "Fine bring your water tomorrow, I will test it." The lady storms out of the store and I nervously go up to ask a question. I later learn he has an interesting theory on water changes and how to keep your aquarium like the ocean...
Now I am a bit confused why you wouldn't sell someone saltwater, how will this add new problems? But I am new to all this so I approached the guy and asked him if he would sell me RODI water. Thinking he might yell at me that adding RODI water will kill my fish... But surprisingly he said," Oh for sure!" and went to the back room with a jug that costs $14.99, just remember that for later as becomes pretty important.
But I go back of the store where the RODI is filled and start asking a few question, this is when I started to realize something was off about this guy. I ask him about why the last time I was there why was the place so dirty. He tells me, "Well I took a vacation around that time, and the others must have not taken good enough care." This is all fine but then when I start asking questions about ATO's it became apparent either he is a savant reefer conducting complex experiments on fish or he might have one of those Colorado Treats
But I have never meet someone so passionate over ATOs in my life, for the rest of this he is practically yelling and pacing back and forth.
I ask him about his idea of using Kalkwasser with my ATO and his response was priceless. Full of jubilance speaking 1000 words a minute states, "Ya know if you have Kalkwasser with an ATO, you don't have an ATO," then pausing for some air, "you know what I am saying." I said, "Well not really, did I lose my ATO?" He was like, "Kalkwasser is an unneeded additive, I just look at my corals if they are open I am fine, if not well I figure it out," he continues, "If you have Kalkwasser you have an ATO with Kalkwasser, not a ATO." He says this about three times, and myself broken down I said, "yeah I understand." I kinda freaked was like, "yeah I will do some more research on ATO's, so I will get it later, but do you got some live-dry rock?"
He shows me over to the live rock with is priced at $6.00 a pound, this aswell will become pretty important later. But this part of the story isn't to important, I pick out two rocks that was equivalent to ten pounds and then I go to checkout. This is when the savant-reefer-marine-manager true cutting edge marine tips showed its full colors.
So I tell him, "yeah I am pretty new to reefing, just trying to figure stuff out," jubilant as ever the savant-reefer-marine-manager tells me his tips for reefing. I was telling him that I plan on doing 1/4 water changes weekly. He looks at me in disgust and tells me that he will rarely do water changes. Not to be rude or anything but his tanks are not what you call - healthy. But he was like he weekly takes his nitrates and if they are not above 60 ppm he won't even consider a water change. He said, "you should buy a coral as when it is open you are doing well, it is closed you are not," but his hand gestures were amazing, saying this about five times. Mind you at this point he was practically yelling pacing back and forth. The people were looking at me as what I assume is looks of horror.
Like I understand that there is methods such as triton that requires little-no water changes but believe me he definitely is not using these. He is like you need to treat this as an art, don't do water changes as this isn't how the ocean works. I at this point wanted to say, "Well the ocean is an open system, while my 20 Gallon Tank is definitely not the Pacific Ocean," I held some restraint. This question would only make matters worse. He was like, "Most people lie online, you need to find people like me to tell the truth." He goes on a tangent how people over complicate the hobby(which is an understandable position) but he says, I need people like him to tell me the truth. He says he tests all his products himself and religiously doesn't trust ATOs as people add additives to them(how could I think to add Kalkwasser to my tank). Maybe I meet a saltwater purist idk...
But the last part just killed me. He gives me his business card and said to call him for when he gets the "stock". I am not totally sure what "stock" he is mentioning, the Colorado own treats or maybe fish.
But all of this reefing preaching distracted my friend a bit, because my total bill was
$53.o2... In my head I was like $6.00 X 10 + $14.99 + whatever the RODI water cost per gallon. Now, I round the 2 and this math doesn't add up...
I now have pictures of this guy in the back room performing complex experiments and writing the new cutting-edge saltwater books. But that is most likely not the case. So what is y'alls opinion, reefing legend or Colorado treats expert?
I just want to get to the point were I am no longer dependent of LFS for keeping my tank live and thriving, I would still like going to them just not on such a regular basis. 
