What Makes Your LFS Unique?

[HeulittSalmi]

I am asking this question to see how LFS's vary throughout the world! Feel free to share whatever you'd like about your LFS that makes them unique and your favorite. One of the LFS's in my area often times will have schools come in for field trips and set up the class a small nano tank for educational purposes.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

I'm constantly amazed that all 3 are still in business.

 

[Labridaedicted]

All the employees take tests to get certification to work on the different departments. If they don't pass, they can't help you there. Makes for a knowledgeable staff.

 

[HeulittSalmi]

All the employees take tests to get certification to work on the different departments. If they don't pass, they can't help you there. Makes for a knowledgeable staff.

What certifications?

 

[keddre]

My LFS (minus the owner for some reason) all build tanks for a living and have to go quite a long time before they are "allowed" to help a customer. Also, they won't think twice about what's best for the health of the fish; I was just their yesterday and almost their whole saltwater section was closed off due to some sickness, I don't know what the sickness was but it wasn't noticeable so they would've been able to easily sell them anyway. Lastly (minus some special cases), they won't sell a fish until it's eating frozen; they use to have a trumpet fish that they held for a little over a month because it would only eat live food. Finally they won't hesitate to refuse sale if they know that a fish isn't right for your setup.

Plus they even agreed to order special food for me every month and hold it so that no one else can buy it first, all for free!

Edit: Sorry I can brag a lot about my lfs, but another cool think is that until they found out that I know what I'm doing (or at least appear to) they wouldn't special order me things like scallops, sea apples, etc.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Interesting topic!

 

[Labridaedicted]

What certifications?

From their website:

"The Aquarist here at AF (***abbreviated name since the thread isn't really for reviews***) are required annually to take continuous Aquatic-Professional courses. Animal diversity testing and certifications are performed yearly. We believe in keeping up to date with new trends, theories, and equipment. We wish to aid-teach and serve you better with all of your aquatic needs.

Our M-1 certification program is equivalent to a micro college course. The classes require a commitment of approximately 3 month and candidates must pass a series of exams scoring 80% or higher to pass. We currently have 19 M- 1 certified staff members and 10 professional Aquarist board certified."

I was in there while they were going over the coral portion one time and its pretty in depth from what I overheard.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Mine is so unique that I have to travel out of state for quality anything

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

From their website:

"The Aquarist here at ** (***abbreviated name since the thread isn't really for reviews***) are required annually to take continuous Aquatic-Professional courses. Animal diversity testing and certifications are performed yearly. We believe in keeping up to date with new trends, theories, and equipment. We wish to aid-teach and serve you better with all of your aquatic needs.

Our M-1 certification program is equivalent to a micro college course. The classes require a commitment of approximately 3 month and candidates must pass a series of exams scoring 80% or higher to pass. We currently have 19 M- 1 certified staff members and 10 professional Aquarist board certified."

I was in there while they were going over the coral portion one time and its pretty in depth from what I overheard.

That's cool!

 

[HeulittSalmi]

Mine is so unique that I have to travel out of state for quality anything

Well this made me giggle here at work, I completely understand, although it may not be out of state for me, its about an hour and a half drive to any decent LFS. The closest one is riddled with dead fish and every type of algae and on top of that has a very unprofessional staff. I am not one to down on an LFS but when they sell the TLF CorAffix Pro Coral Glue 295ml bottle (Online at MD for $42) for $90 its a little outrageous.

 

[HeulittSalmi]

From their website:

"The Aquarist here at ** (***abbreviated name since the thread isn't really for reviews***) are required annually to take continuous Aquatic-Professional courses. Animal diversity testing and certifications are performed yearly. We believe in keeping up to date with new trends, theories, and equipment. We wish to aid-teach and serve you better with all of your aquatic needs.

Our M-1 certification program is equivalent to a micro college course. The classes require a commitment of approximately 3 month and candidates must pass a series of exams scoring 80% or higher to pass. We currently have 19 M- 1 certified staff members and 10 professional Aquarist board certified."

I was in there while they were going over the coral portion one time and its pretty in depth from what I overheard.

Thats insane, I think I need to move near your LFS just to pick their brains and pick up some knowledge.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Mine is so unique that I have to travel out of state for quality anything

HA! Yes seen those stores before!!

 

[NewSaltWaterGuy]

I am asking this question to see how LFS's vary throughout the world!

To answer your question strictly.
The most unique thing about my LFS, is that its not even there....!

*I don't have an LFS... haha..*

 

[reeferfoxx]

Well this made me giggle here at work, I completely understand, although it may not be out of state for me, its about an hour and a half drive to any decent LFS. The closest one is riddled with dead fish and every type of algae and on top of that has a very unprofessional staff. I am not one to down on an LFS but when they sell the TLF CorAffix Pro Coral Glue 295ml bottle (Online at MD for $42) for $90 its a little outrageous.

Yep. Sounds almost identical. What really makes me giggle is their coral and livestock is so deplorable and they won't take anything in trade. I've tried giving them frags for food credit and they actually told me they couldnt accept trades due to algae hitchhikers and pests. I actually laughed really hard and left.

 

[keddre]

Yep. Sounds almost identical. What really makes me giggle is their coral and livestock is so deplorable and they won't take anything in trade. I've tried giving them frags for food credit and they actually told me they couldnt accept trades due to algae hitchhikers and pests. I actually laughed really hard and left.

Have you tried telling them? There's been times I've told petco managers "look, you have hair algae overgrowing your corals, so you should move the tang into that tank. And you need to take that whole section down and treat for ick." They tried to hire me, but I didn't have time for the job. Ironically, they want to hire me but don't want to actually take my advice...nice

 

[aKlevans]

Mine is unique because of the prices.
Utter chos zoa + favia + chalice + $10
Their summer sales are amazing.
Shoutout to Fintastic aquariums

 

[scurvy dawg]

I know I am not answering the OP's original question, but I am like a few others on here that really does not have a quality LFS option.
There is an interesting, albeit cheesy, youtube video called "50 fish stores in 5 days" by Coralfish12g. There are some pretty interesting and unique LFSs in the video. All I know is that after watching the video, my LFS envy increased by 1000%.

 

[HeulittSalmi]

Yep. Sounds almost identical. What really makes me giggle is their coral and livestock is so deplorable and they won't take anything in trade. I've tried giving them frags for food credit and they actually told me they couldnt accept trades due to algae hitchhikers and pests. I actually laughed really hard and left.

I had a disagreement on a purely opinion based topic with one of the workers and not only did they kick me out of one of their facebook groups but they also wanted to pin their poor coral/water quality saying I put copper in one of their systems on a day I was out of the country... The disagreement was that I was running too low Alk Wise at 7.1 and they said I should never be below 10...

 

[HeulittSalmi]

I know I am not answering the OP's original question, but I am like a few others on here that really does not have a quality LFS option.
There is an interesting, albeit cheesy, youtube video called "50 fish stores in 5 days" by Coralfish12g. There are some pretty interesting and unique LFSs in the video. All I know is that after watching the video, my LFS envy increased by 1000%.

From my experience everyone will have LFS envy for one reason or another, whether its poor LFS in your area, prices, quality of pieces, the Customer service/knowledge of staff, frequency of shipments, discounts, loyalty programs etc.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Have you tried telling them? There's been times I've told petco managers "look, you have hair algae overgrowing your corals, so you should move the tang into that tank. And you need to take that whole section down and treat for ick." They tried to hire me, but I didn't have time for the job. Ironically, they want to hire me but don't want to actually take my advice...nice

Oh haha! Ya i don't waste my breath anymore. They know better than to ask if I need help with anything. Only the new kids ask. Heck, the ones they hire couldn't sex a female betta from a male. Sad.