The 5 Must-Have Items for every LFS?

[CiXeL]

If you could list 5 products that every LFS should have what would they be?

I haven't thought of five (which is why I'm posting this) but I would definately have freeze-dried Cyclopeeze and Joe's Juice on the list.

I would also have plain generic superglue on the list since its a must for fragging and I've never seen it once at a fish store.

 

[Anonymous]

Good quality carbon.

 

[fade2black]

1. Light bulbs! MH, PC, and flourescent
2. Salt - several brands
3. RO/DI filter cartridges
4. Plumbing parts
5. A wide assortment of corals that aren't dead

 

[SpicyBalls]

i hardly ever buy dry goods from the lfs any more.. usually buy most online... therefore, i'd expect the lfs to carry a good assortment of salt, good variety of substrates, corals, marine fish, corals, marine fish... =)
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[tenshi]

"Products LFS should have!"

1. External pumps that don't have to be special ordered!
2. Metal halide bulbs and ballasts that don't have to be special ordered!
3. Quality protein skimmers that don't have to be special ordered!
4. Replacement parts for products they do carry!
5. Good and Healthy assortment of corals!

 

[CiXeL]

oh yeah. i forgot im spoiled in southern california. do they really mark up salt that much further from the west coast that it makes it worth it to pay for all that shipping on a huge bag or tub of salt? i really have no concept on what you guys pay since i can go to jeffs exotic fish and get liverock for $2/lb

 

[sawyerc]

Thanks for rubbing salt on the wound I live in NH and the LFS charges $10 a pound for base rock. You're lucky if this stuff has nuisance algae on it let alone coraline.

 

[Anonymous]

I can hit premium aquatics for stuff like that. They're local here in Indy. IO for around $35 a bucket. Not too shabby.

 

[tenshi]

i hardly ever buy dry goods from the lfs any more.. usually buy most online... therefore, i'd expect the lfs to carry a good assortment of salt, good variety of substrates, corals, marine fish, corals, marine fish...

See the problem with this reasoning is that the day something goes out on your tank and you need it today, the LFS won't be there to help you out. Yes, alot of the time we order from the net because we can find it cheaper there and we don't have to pay tax if the online store is out of out own state. I for one would rather pay a little more to have the convenience of having something available locally. Usually I'll go in to a LFS and ask if something is available. They usually don't have it available or have something available that is comparable. So then we get into a special order that can take up to a couple of weeks to get in. By that time its easier to look on the net and get it delivered in about a week. You could also just order two of everything you buy just in case the first goes down for some reason.

 

[CiXeL]

geez for $10 a lb for base rock i think youd be better off just buying dead coral skeletons from online crafts dealers and such and leaving them in your tank for awhile till they become liverock, that or making your own out of concrete.

i'd like to hear what people in florida pay for their aquatic stuff. i know theres alot of laws of what you can and cannot do. i've been considering moving there because the cost of living in california is ridiculous.

 

[CiXeL]

"See the problem with this reasoning is that the day something goes out on your tank and you need it today"

yeah i imagine if you live out in the middle of a nowhere and a powerhead busts you'll be stirring your tank with a ledil for a long time until your order arrives.

 

[Anonymous]

how about 5 employees who know saltwater and are willing to take time out of their busy schedule to assist you in your purchase.

 

[Anonymous]

i forgot to add in my last post that with prices being so much cheaper from mailorder and online stores, the only way a lfs can compete is by providing the expertise that you can't get from a mailorder company. if the lfs doesn't give good service, they will be out of business fast.

 

[sawyerc]

yeah i imagine if you live out in the middle of a nowhere and a powerhead busts you'll be stirring your tank with a ledil for a long time until your order arrives.

Yup, been there done that.

how about 5 employees who know saltwater and are willing to take time out of their busy schedule to assist you in your purchase.

well said!

 

[cdeakle]

how about 5 employees who know saltwater and are willing to take time out of their busy schedule to assist you in your purchase.

:wink: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Since etail will eventually gain total domination over the drygoods market (if it hasn't already) I'd have to say my top 5 would all be livestock.

In order:
1: Cleanup crews
2: Anything CB / propped
3: Frags
4: Net-caught fish
5: Cyanide fish (honestly labeled as such...)


:wink:


Norm

 

[SpicyBalls]

i hardly ever buy dry goods from the lfs any more.. usually buy most online... therefore, i'd expect the lfs to carry a good assortment of salt, good variety of substrates, corals, marine fish, corals, marine fish...

See the problem with this reasoning is that the day something goes out on your tank and you need it today, the LFS won't be there to help you out. Yes, alot of the time we order from the net because we can find it cheaper there and we don't have to pay tax if the online store is out of out own state. I for one would rather pay a little more to have the convenience of having something available locally. Usually I'll go in to a LFS and ask if something is available. They usually don't have it available or have something available that is comparable. So then we get into a special order that can take up to a couple of weeks to get in. By that time its easier to look on the net and get it delivered in about a week. You could also just order two of everything you buy just in case the first goes down for some reason.

I stock up during online sales and what not... but there's def still times when i need something asap... but those things are usually more common.. i usually order the harder to get stuff, or the stuff that are too expensive at the lfs, online... the products in some of the lfs around me are quite high compared to online prices.. in this hobby, i do whatever i can to save money...
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[SpicyBalls]

"See the problem with this reasoning is that the day something goes out on your tank and you need it today"

yeah i imagine if you live out in the middle of a nowhere and a powerhead busts you'll be stirring your tank with a ledil for a long time until your order arrives.

you don't have extra powerheads?
i got many extras.. usually i have at least one extra to stir my freshwater/salt mixture for water changes...

but i hear ya.. one of the things i don't have extras is, lights! one of them units go out, my corals are dead... i do have a good supply of bulbs though.. hehe
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[Anonymous]

A Clue on saltwater
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[sawyerc]

4: Net-caught fish
5: Cyanide fish (honestly labeled as such...)

Just curious... I don't understand. Maybe I'm naive. Are you saying that cyanide caught fish are inevitably going to make it into the market so they should be labeled as such? I was hoping that that practice was on its way out. Maybe I need to read the industry news more?