So What to Look for in an LFS?

I'm having disconcerting thoughts about my preferred LFS.  Why is this business my preferred LFS?

• They are within 2 miles of the house.
• The owners seem to be very knowledgeable, and that knowledge doesn't have to be dragged out of them.
• The business has just about any hardware a person would need.
• The business has been around for 17 years or so.
• On busy weekends, you can hear the customers talking him up by stating how far they come just to go to that store (most I've heard so far is 3 hours)
• The owners seem to like to spend time with the customers.

So far, most of my purchases have been pretty major.  First trip in was the tank and equipment... about a grand or so.  Owner was VERY helpful.  Great first impression.

Second purchase was 35 lbs of live rock and 7 fish, maybe something else, I forget.  This was about $200.  Lot's of tips from the owner on acclimation and where to go from here.

Third trip was another 15 lbs of rock, crabs, and the aqualite.  About a $500 day.  Before the purchase, he was very helpful.  After the purchase, the owners helped carry the purchases to the car since I hadn't yet learned not to take the boy if I'm going to get more than a single hand can carry.

Next trip in was in a rush to replace the heater that went out within 2 months.  I know he knows who I am just based upon the greetings I've received from him in the past.  This was my fastest trip in and out of the store.  Walked in, grabbed a heater, and went straight for the counter.  I had less than an hour to get home, install the heater, set an approximate temperature, then get to work.

I work in retail.  If I knew a customer as well as this guy knows my purchases, I personally would have wondered (and I'm the type that would ask) why another heater?  Didn't I just sell you a heater 6 weeks back?

Nothing, except "Debit or Credit".  Forty dollars spent.

Next was the big tank cleaning day and the return of the Damsels.  I picked up a 750 gph powerhead, a test kit, and 10 gallons of RO/DI water.  Tab was about $80.  Owners were lukewarm.  Maybe they had some things going on.  I've never run an LFS, so who knows?

I went in yesterday to grab 10 more gallons of RO/DI water since I misjudged the amount of water I needed to refill the tank after the big cleaning.  Tab was $10.  Owners were, dare I say, cold.  Maybe they were just really overloaded with business tasks.  They were both in the back dealing with the water system.

So what am I looking for in an LFS?

I think the most important thing is interest in how thing are going (if they are personally aware of my situation in the hobby).  I don't expect a part time employee to inquire how things are.  But I would expect the owner to - I mean we carried the tank and stand out together.  They helped load the live rock and aqualite.

I would especially expect inquiring interest since it's the subject of conversation that keeps me putting money in his register.  His register over all other registers in town.

I'm not asking for a "Hey, Norm!" moment, and I'm not accusing the owners of scaling their customer service (or even their mood) up or down with the dollar amount the customer is spending.  But I don't appreciate the times they seem dismissive.  Perhaps I'm being overly sensitive.  But perhaps not.  Perhaps I've crossed a line with the owners without knowing it and I'm the douche-bag.  Perhaps I am unrealistic to expect the level of customer care that i personally deliver to "strangers".  Perhaps the owners are human, too, and are suffering from a shitty home-life - maybe I walked in just after a huge fight (husband and wife team).

My recent interactions are funneling me towards exploring the remainder of mom-and-pop LFS's in town and also becoming serious about purchasing online.  A week ago I would have considered the previous sentence "cheating" on my LFS, as if we're in a relationship (which we kind of are).  But after yesterday, I'm ready to see what else is out there.

The Short List for the Near Future

Damsel's are small, pretty, and have a relatively small gallon-per-fish requirements.  But they're also pretty territorial.  If they aren't eating, they're usually attempting to dominate one of the other Damsels, except for the smallest - he only has the hermit crabs to pick on.

So in the next couple of weeks, the plan is to bag up the Damsels, which is no small feat.  In my many weeks of studying them, I've found that they are particularly adept at hiding and fitting into tight spaces.  End result - the live rock is going to have to be either removed from the tank completely to catch them, or at least I'm going to have to arrange it to avoid any nooks, cranny's, or hiding spots.

I've heard of fish traps but haven't really looked into them.  I'm going to want to bag these guys up pretty quickly.  My entire life has taught me that traps will generally sit empty and I just don't have inclination to make multiple trips to the LFS to drop off fish a couple at a time.

Back to moving the live rock around... I now have hermit crabs, so they will either need to be temporarily removed from the tank or I'll need to be careful moving rock around.  There are only 10 in the tank (I've only been able to spot 9 at any one time), so moving them to a temporary bowl or cup should be the easiest way to go.

I'm thinking our first fish will probably be a Clownfish, which I'm sure is a very common choice.  It's actually a close race between a False Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) and some sort of Tang - and due to the cost of Tangs, more than likely a Blue Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus).  If it weren't for the "Nemo" themed birthday party this weekend, the Tang may still be in the running.

Personally, I'd prefer to have a handful of other types of Clowns, but I'm a little limited in what's available at my LFS - I'm not yet adventurous enough to hit other saltwater LFS's or order online.

I've been doing a little research on the Clown which is beginning to sway what the first coral will be.  Still undecided, but I seriously doubt I'm coming home with a mushroom on that day.  I can't really visualize a clown claiming a mushroom.  No real hope in deciding now what coral to start with... I'm not familiar enough with the LFS selection, but I'm going to shoot for something that at least remotely resembles and Anemone, if possible.

I've also read the Clownfish live in small groups - so there's hope for a handful of Clowns living (hopefully) as they do in the wild.

Also with the first fish and first coral, I'll be bringing home some "flow".  The LFS and I have talked a bit about what I'll need.  He recommended a 750 gph powerhead for the end of the tank opposite of the backpack filter... makes sense - the filter is already producing a little flow down on it's end.  It was also suggested that in the future, if more flow is needed, get a smaller powerhead for the filter end to add just a bit more flow.

I'd also like to feed the fish a more varied diet in the future.  So I'm thinking Reefpods - they feed on detritus so they're a part of the "janitorial crew".  I've read that they love to live in Chaeto, and Chaeto helps with Nitrates.  I saw today where someone liked the look of "grass" in their tank, so they just balled up some Chaeto and nestled it in the corner.  I realize that's not the most efficient use of Chaeto for removing Nitrates, but I can see that it's a happy medium for dual use - removing Nitrates and housing Reefpods.  I don't yet have a refugium, so it doesn't sound like a half-bad idea, especially if I have some flow in the tank.  Who knows, maybe when I do get a refugium, I'll still have Chaeto in the main tank just for another Reefpod shelter...  (I have since gained insight that deters me from this action)

Eventually I'd also like to start making a little money (or losing less, whichever the perspective is) in saltwater.  I'm tossing around ideas for selling beginner fish and corals, but that's going to take a lot of equipment, time, and work (not to mention space).  But I've been in business before and baby-steps are OK with me... I'm used to it.

Look what happens when a guy brings a salt tank home for his son...

... and this is just short list (figuratively).

I guess I'll go get that water change done.