Our "Trusty" LPS stores...

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Zoom, Sep 26, 2009.

  1. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    I've been doing a bit of LPS hopping over the past 2 weeks, mostly because I am always stopping at an LPS when I see one, but also because I am looking out for some Adolescent Apistogramma cacatuoides... which seem to be scarcer than hen's teeth at the moment.

    I have had some very interesting finds.

    (1) LFS (Local Fish Store) has a fairly good amount of fish, as well as a fairly wide variety. Prices are slightly higher. Sadly, NO-ONE in this pet store has any clue about fish. The funny thing is they ONLY deal in fish and reptiles! They have a fairly large sump with runs filtration on all their tanks. (Obviously a different one for the fish that prefer different water, and another for their marine.) What was so hillerious is that they have ZERO, NOTHING, NADA filter material in their sump. The tanks run with no gravel either... So therefor no bacteria colonies are able to populate anywhere. When someone finally decided that I had wondered around the store long enough to justify someone actually asking if I wanted help, (30mins after I walked in), I asked them about their filtration and why they didn't have any material in it. The guy proceded to tell me that they don't believe in filtering with material, because then dangerous bacteria could also populate the material, and they don't want to pass on infections to their customers tanks. I also did a head count in their tanks, and for every 10 fish, there was at least 3 lying dead in the tank or stuck to the overflow system. that's 30% of their stock dead... left in the tanks.
    Their prices on fish food and hardware was also very high priced. "No we don't give discounts, that's the price." was the answer I got.

    (2) Another LFS (also pretty much dedicated to only fish, but do stock cat and dog food) runs ALL their tropical fish on the same sump. The Malawis, Cichlids, Discus... everything was running on the same sump. When I asked about a Sponge Filter (for my new grow out tank) they didn't have a CLUE what I was talking about, and thought I was talking about filter floss. WHen I described it to him, they said they didn't have anything like that. He then tried to sell me a Cascade clip on filter with built in protein skimmer promising me that it was the best on the market, and well priced. (It was rated for a 300litre tank) which would be a bit overkill for my tiny 20litre tank. I then decided just to look around, and low and behold... on their shelves was 12 "Bio Sponge Filters." HEEHEE. Price was a little high, but I didn't feel like going all the way to my normal LPS. Granted the 2 owners were a little novice, they were very helpful, very interested in the hobby, and did try. I asked if they had/knew of any Adolescent Apistogramma cacatuoides. Never heard of them. BUT they took the time to pull out a book and look it up, and will try source some locally for me. They had a good range of hardware, not the rolls royce stuff, but because they are literally 2 mins away from home, I will pop in there once in a while.

    (3) I have 2 other LPS (Pet stores) that I frequent a lot, and buy a lot from. The one is very well priced with chemicals, hardware, food, and have a fairly large selection of fish. They publically display sick fish in a quarantine tank, (which they will not sell), and all their new stock is quarantined for a few days before they sell. Fortunately they carry large enough stock to be able to quarantine. The staff are fairly knowledgable, but because they are in a very high traffic shopping centre, getting someone to spend time with you is sometimes a problem. THe best time to go there is during the week when it is quieter.

    The second LPS is actually run by a guy originally from Cape Town, and has a passion for fish (and other pets in general) that will compare to most of us here. He is so passionate that when he sells cats and dogs, he makes a character judgement on you, spends a few minutes talking to you, and ensures that the animal is going home to a good home. He refuses to sell a kitten without a litter box, food, toys. He will not sell you only a kitten, but sells you a kitten PACK which comprises of all the necessities... the pack is about R300.00. The same with a puppy. He also puts you down on his LPS list, and gives you 15% discount on any food, bedding or toys that you might buy for that particular dog or cat.... ON CONDITION you produce the dog/cats certificate showing it has been vaccinated regularily etc.

    ANYWAY, his fish stuff is also VERY well priced... and he is very finicky about his tanks. The down side to his stock is that because he comes from CT, all his fish are shipped up from CT... which obviously puts undue stress on the fish. And sadly I have noticed that whenever I buy fish from him, I HAVE to qurantine them for a week. They either die within a day or 2 if I put them into my tank (probably pH shock), or my current fish are not use to the pathogens of the fnew fish, and a few of mine die within a week.

    BUT after they have been quarantined for the week, I introduce them to my tank, and they survive.

    So... I guess LPS hopping shows that there are ups and downs to every fish supplier. And because we all run different tanks and different types of fish, we all need to find what works for each person individually. I've worked out which LPS I'm prepared to buy what from, but obviously it has taken me 8 months to work out what works best for my set up.
     
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  3. Zafgak

    Zafgak Old fart

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    Zoom - a very interesting read, just shows, shop around.

    I do notice that the "best" LFS owner comes from CAPE TOWN :)
     
  4. wito-zn

    wito-zn

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    Very nice Zoom. Some interesting and funny stuff there.
    But the not putting any filter material in the sump. Come on what stopped you from laughing and smacking some sense into the person. When i here or see stuff like that i say thank you and just walk out.
     
  5. Slojo

    Slojo

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    Oh No now youve done it Zoom.........
     
  6. guido.coza

    guido.coza

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    Hi Zafgak
    You might be right with that but to find them all.
    Also some shop keepers are very knowlagable but what they tell there customers is something different, "just take it, just take it, i give you a good price" (i didn't mean you, at least not with the good price):bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile:
     
  7. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    zoom, that 1st shop, wouldn't happen to located in pretoria somewhere would it? a street named after an old president perhaps?

    otherwise i found its clone... :eek:
     
  8. OP
    Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    The street it's on is named after a famous person... at least I thing Mr. Hendrik Potgieter was some famous dude... but no.. not pretoria.
     
  9. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    then its gotta be another clone following the same mentality.

    Their stock looks dodgy in paul kruger, cause their tanks have NO filter media in, the tanks therefore don't cycle, and the lose a crapload of fish, which is sad to see everytime i've gone there, poor fellas didn't stand a chance cause the shop is ignorant of the needs of its livestock, shame.

    At least every purchase i've made from them is still alive and well in my tank
     
  10. SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    I don't know why you guys even spend 5 minutes in those stores - let alone buy fish from there. I wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot barge pole...
     
  11. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    i've only bought glowlights and cories from them, but they are doing fine and dandy, the glowlights are actually bigger and better looking than the neons i bought from Petstop, and Moolis's tanks are well kept to be sure.

    The cories i bought from them are also better looking and were physically in better condition than the ones i bought in Montana,

    The problem is that the tanks are uncycled, so fish die, which is sad to see, other than that the fish makeer nothing
     
  12. OP
    Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    Haven't bought from that particular one... they only opened up about 6 weeks ago... so I keep going in hoping that they have seen the light somewhere... but alas...

    I heard today from my sister that apparently their MASSIVE marine tank display (I recon 1500litres +) bust! Heehee
     
  13. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    shoe, that couldn't have been fun to watch if you're the unlucky bloke standing next to the tank when it broke, was it like KA-SPLASH or just a leaky crack?
    were there fish in the tank?
     
  14. OP
    Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    Yeah, there were a lot of marine fish in it. Sister says the entire front cracked.... not sure if is went "ka-splash" or "leaky leaky"
     
  15. SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    With a big tank like that, a big crack in the front glass is likely to just burst under sheer pressure - I hope they have a really nice mop for that one...
     
  16. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    shame, hopefully fish survived
     
  17. Philfarm

    Philfarm

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    Thats almost exactly my thoughts, especially when this forum has some decent sponsors!

    Haven't been 2 an lfs in ages and usually get irritated (4 all the reasons above and more) when I do..

    Oh and Zoom good luck with the apisto hunt, most rewarding fish I'v ever kept..
     
  18. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    STOP TALKING ABOUT APISTOS!!

    :D lol, i now wanna get a 3ft and just keep a few apistos innit. especially that inka type, thats an awesome fish...

    Then i think of the money and suddenly remember i'm innoculated against full blown MTS...
     
  19. Philfarm

    Philfarm

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    Dude there is no cure! Besides my 1.2 there is a bonsai nano in the cabinet and an apisto breeding tank on my study desk..
     
  20. LanceP

    LanceP

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    Zoom I know which lps you're referring to. I actually think the tank was closer to 3000l. It was about 3mx1mx1m!

    In terms of whether it was a Ka-Splash, it was probably a mega ka-blooming big-splash. The entire front pane was completely buggered.

    Pity about this lps though, because they have a very cool looking store.
     
  21. OP
    Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

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    3000litres is very much possible! It was a monstor... and I recon it would've made an amazing marine tank after it had settled down.

    They are in a good spot too... got good shop space, and "apparently" will be specialising in the more rarer fis species once they have extablished themselves. But without filter material in their sumps, I don't see how they will ever "establish" themselves.
     

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