Having Water tested at LFS
- Thread starter gregs
- Start date
sepulatian
Moderator
While you are there pick up a liquid master test kit so you can test the water yourself and always know what your water quality is.
chipmaker
Active Member
Ph is not worth the trouble to take in for a test. Why are you having your water tested by the lfs......I do hope you have test kits......They should have been among the first items purchased when yu bought the tank and such or at least once cycling wsa started and before fish/ critters were added.
I think the biggest joke in the lfs business is having to take in a sample of water along with a dead fish.........
I think the biggest joke in the lfs business is having to take in a sample of water along with a dead fish.........
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by chipmaker
Ph is not worth the trouble to take in for a test. Why are you having your water tested by the lfs......I do hope you have test kits......They should have been among the first items purchased when yu bought the tank and such or at least once cycling wsa started and before fish/ critters were added.
I think the biggest joke in the lfs business is having to take in a sample of water along with a dead fish.........
Easy chipmaker, this person is new and he never stated that he had anything alive in his system yet.
Ph is not worth the trouble to take in for a test. Why are you having your water tested by the lfs......I do hope you have test kits......They should have been among the first items purchased when yu bought the tank and such or at least once cycling wsa started and before fish/ critters were added.
I think the biggest joke in the lfs business is having to take in a sample of water along with a dead fish.........
Easy chipmaker, this person is new and he never stated that he had anything alive in his system yet.
xdave
Active Member
The one thing that will be different is specific gravity. If they use a swing arm meter it will be inaccurate because of the temperature difference.
Why is taking a water sample in when you return a dead fish a joke? The death of a fish is quite often directly related to things that can be tested for.
Why is taking a water sample in when you return a dead fish a joke? The death of a fish is quite often directly related to things that can be tested for.
chipmaker
Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
Easy chipmaker, this person is new and he never stated that he had anything alive in his system yet.
Makes no difference. They still should have bought and had a test kit on hand when they initiated the cycle of the tank so they could monitor it.
Easy chipmaker, this person is new and he never stated that he had anything alive in his system yet.
Makes no difference. They still should have bought and had a test kit on hand when they initiated the cycle of the tank so they could monitor it.
chipmaker
Active Member
Originally Posted by xDave
The one thing that will be different is specific gravity. If they use a swing arm meter it will be inaccurate because of the temperature difference.
Why is taking a water sample in when you return a dead fish a joke? The death of a fish is quite often directly related to things that can be tested for.
IOts a joke from the customers prospective. The lfs usually use it as a means of rejecting a claim to replace a fish. Its used to the lfs advantage not the customers. What is the average shop going to tell yu that your own test kit will not? Not a thing.......except..Oh, you have ammonia in your tank so thats what killed the fish, sorry we can not replace that fish as you killed it by high ammonia level. Sorry. But we do have them on sale right now for 99 cents!
Give me a break. If you have a test kit you are not going to be told a thing that can not be leaned by taking a test and repeating to clerk what the results were without carrying in a sample of water. No most lfs do not trust customers so there fore require a water sample to dispute any claims a customer has......
The one thing that will be different is specific gravity. If they use a swing arm meter it will be inaccurate because of the temperature difference.
Why is taking a water sample in when you return a dead fish a joke? The death of a fish is quite often directly related to things that can be tested for.
IOts a joke from the customers prospective. The lfs usually use it as a means of rejecting a claim to replace a fish. Its used to the lfs advantage not the customers. What is the average shop going to tell yu that your own test kit will not? Not a thing.......except..Oh, you have ammonia in your tank so thats what killed the fish, sorry we can not replace that fish as you killed it by high ammonia level. Sorry. But we do have them on sale right now for 99 cents!
Give me a break. If you have a test kit you are not going to be told a thing that can not be leaned by taking a test and repeating to clerk what the results were without carrying in a sample of water. No most lfs do not trust customers so there fore require a water sample to dispute any claims a customer has......
mandarin w
Member
Just a thought I had, I am not saying don't take water to a LFS, or they were wrong in not haveing test. This is just a thought I always felt put us the hobbist at the disadvantage anyway.
When your fish dies the LFS says they will give your money back if you bring in sample water from your tank, and everything test fine. The problem I have is more often than not the fish dies while you are at work or sleeping. and by the time you find this fish, your amonia has already started to rise. So you take the water to the LFS, they test it, and say we can't give your money back, your water showns an amonia spike. Which is stupid. Maybe your water was perfectly fine until the fish died, and the fish dieing is what spiked the amonia, But you are still out of luck as far as getting your money back.
When your fish dies the LFS says they will give your money back if you bring in sample water from your tank, and everything test fine. The problem I have is more often than not the fish dies while you are at work or sleeping. and by the time you find this fish, your amonia has already started to rise. So you take the water to the LFS, they test it, and say we can't give your money back, your water showns an amonia spike. Which is stupid. Maybe your water was perfectly fine until the fish died, and the fish dieing is what spiked the amonia, But you are still out of luck as far as getting your money back.
Y
yote
Guest
There is another reason for having the LFS test your water ( from time to time).
I have my LFS test my water every so often just to see if their test yield close to the same as mine.
I have my LFS test my water every so often just to see if their test yield close to the same as mine.
mandarin w
Member
that is my point, maybe I didn't phase it right. I meant that if you never have your LFS see your water, and you buy the fish, and it dies, and that is the only time you ever bring water in, they are not going to know that the amonia spike if from the fish that just died or what and you definately can't get your money back. I bring water in with me, let them test it, before I buy any fish, then they know what was going on in the tank before I put that fish in. and if it dies. they know that amonia spike is from that fish dying, so that amonia wont even factor into the issue.
I feel that if you have a good relationship with your LFS they should know what is going on in your tank as well as you do. Alot of times they can catch something you missed.
I feel that if you have a good relationship with your LFS they should know what is going on in your tank as well as you do. Alot of times they can catch something you missed.
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by yote
There is another reason for having the LFS test your water ( from time to time).
I have my LFS test my water every so often just to see if their test yield close to the same as mine.
I agree, there is nothing at all wrong with bringing your water in to be tested from time to time. I know it seems a little unfair to the consumer, but the lfs's ask for a water test to be certain that your water is not the reason for the death. For example, if your lfs had a fish for a month and it was eating and acting completely normal, then you buy it and it dies they have every right to see what caused it. I wouldn't give a refund to someone who brings in a water sample and their ammonia is at 1ppm and their nitrites are at 1.5 (these are just examples). If the ammonia is at .25 and all else is good then certainly that would be just because of the dead fish being in there. LFS's have to protect themselves from people who buy 4 large fish and throw them into a system that isn't finished cycling. I am sorry if that seems wrong to some people, but it just makes sense.
There is another reason for having the LFS test your water ( from time to time).
I have my LFS test my water every so often just to see if their test yield close to the same as mine.
I agree, there is nothing at all wrong with bringing your water in to be tested from time to time. I know it seems a little unfair to the consumer, but the lfs's ask for a water test to be certain that your water is not the reason for the death. For example, if your lfs had a fish for a month and it was eating and acting completely normal, then you buy it and it dies they have every right to see what caused it. I wouldn't give a refund to someone who brings in a water sample and their ammonia is at 1ppm and their nitrites are at 1.5 (these are just examples). If the ammonia is at .25 and all else is good then certainly that would be just because of the dead fish being in there. LFS's have to protect themselves from people who buy 4 large fish and throw them into a system that isn't finished cycling. I am sorry if that seems wrong to some people, but it just makes sense.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Originally Posted by chipmaker
IOts a joke from the customers prospective. The lfs usually use it as a means of rejecting a claim to replace a fish. Its used to the lfs advantage not the customers. What is the average shop going to tell yu that your own test kit will not? Not a thing.......except..Oh, you have ammonia in your tank so thats what killed the fish, sorry we can not replace that fish as you killed it by high ammonia level. Sorry. But we do have them on sale right now for 99 cents!
Give me a break. If you have a test kit you are not going to be told a thing that can not be leaned by taking a test and repeating to clerk what the results were without carrying in a sample of water. No most lfs do not trust customers so there fore require a water sample to dispute any claims a customer has......
If they did not require a water test, can you imagine all of the customers who have terrible water quality that try to return dead fish?
If your water quality is good, they will not find a problem with your water and thus, they will have to give you a replacement.
Like others also stated, having the LFS test your water also re-confirms that your kit at home is working properly (if you have one).Although, many customers are not willing to even buy the darn test kit for $20!
Before you are so critical, you should look at the issue from every point of view.
IOts a joke from the customers prospective. The lfs usually use it as a means of rejecting a claim to replace a fish. Its used to the lfs advantage not the customers. What is the average shop going to tell yu that your own test kit will not? Not a thing.......except..Oh, you have ammonia in your tank so thats what killed the fish, sorry we can not replace that fish as you killed it by high ammonia level. Sorry. But we do have them on sale right now for 99 cents!
Give me a break. If you have a test kit you are not going to be told a thing that can not be leaned by taking a test and repeating to clerk what the results were without carrying in a sample of water. No most lfs do not trust customers so there fore require a water sample to dispute any claims a customer has......
If they did not require a water test, can you imagine all of the customers who have terrible water quality that try to return dead fish?
If your water quality is good, they will not find a problem with your water and thus, they will have to give you a replacement.
Like others also stated, having the LFS test your water also re-confirms that your kit at home is working properly (if you have one).Although, many customers are not willing to even buy the darn test kit for $20!
Before you are so critical, you should look at the issue from every point of view.
xdave
Active Member
Originally Posted by chipmaker
IOts a joke from the customers prospective. The lfs usually use it as a means of rejecting a claim to replace a fish. Its used to the lfs advantage not the customers. What is the average shop going to tell yu that your own test kit will not? Not a thing.......except..Oh, you have ammonia in your tank so thats what killed the fish, sorry we can not replace that fish as you killed it by high ammonia level. Sorry. But we do have them on sale right now for 99 cents!
Give me a break. If you have a test kit you are not going to be told a thing that can not be leaned by taking a test and repeating to clerk what the results were without carrying in a sample of water. No most lfs do not trust customers so there fore require a water sample to dispute any claims a customer has......
Very few stores guarantee salt water fish anyway, you're not getting your money back no matter how good your water is. I guess you've never worked in a store and had to deal with the endless stream of fish killers. 90% of the time that water they bring in has serious problems. The statement a customer makes like "my water tests perfect" is useless when they don't know how to test, or they don't even have a test kit and are just lying. Maybe, just maybe, the store is trying to help you but needs something to go on.
IOts a joke from the customers prospective. The lfs usually use it as a means of rejecting a claim to replace a fish. Its used to the lfs advantage not the customers. What is the average shop going to tell yu that your own test kit will not? Not a thing.......except..Oh, you have ammonia in your tank so thats what killed the fish, sorry we can not replace that fish as you killed it by high ammonia level. Sorry. But we do have them on sale right now for 99 cents!
Give me a break. If you have a test kit you are not going to be told a thing that can not be leaned by taking a test and repeating to clerk what the results were without carrying in a sample of water. No most lfs do not trust customers so there fore require a water sample to dispute any claims a customer has......
Very few stores guarantee salt water fish anyway, you're not getting your money back no matter how good your water is. I guess you've never worked in a store and had to deal with the endless stream of fish killers. 90% of the time that water they bring in has serious problems. The statement a customer makes like "my water tests perfect" is useless when they don't know how to test, or they don't even have a test kit and are just lying. Maybe, just maybe, the store is trying to help you but needs something to go on.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Dave, you could not be any more right. The worst thing a customer can say is, "All my levels are great". Then, you ask them what thier nitrate is and they say, "Well, I don't remember the exact number."
billyg
Member
MOST LFS DO NOT REPLACE SW FISH, NO GARUNTEE ON THEM,I DEALT WITH 1 LFS & THEY HAD A 48 HOUR TIME FRAME,I ,LL SAY THE BEST WAY IS TO HAVE YOUR OWN TEST KIT & WHEN YOU WANT TO DO IT YOU CAN,I DID MINE THE OTHER DAY ALL IN SPEC & TOOK A SAMPLE UP TO A CHAIN PET STORE A 3 MINUTE DRIVE & THEY ARE TELLING ME THIS IS OFF ,THAT IS HIGH.THE BABE IS USING ONE OF THOSE MULTI STRIPS TEST KITS WHICH IM NOT TO SURE OF.
gregs
Member
I was headed to Dr Mac's on Marylands Eastern Shore this weekend, and he suggested I bring in a water sample. I've delt with him before and he has my confidence.
I was wondering why he suggested it. I have Amonia (0) Nitrite(0), Nitrate(10), pH(8.2), sp 1.024, cal(575), Alk(200), Phos(0) test kits, and preform regular water checks.
If nothing else, it would validate my test kit, and test methods, if the water chemistry doesn't change drastically during the 90min drive.
Thanks for all the positive feedback.
Greg
I was wondering why he suggested it. I have Amonia (0) Nitrite(0), Nitrate(10), pH(8.2), sp 1.024, cal(575), Alk(200), Phos(0) test kits, and preform regular water checks.
If nothing else, it would validate my test kit, and test methods, if the water chemistry doesn't change drastically during the 90min drive.
Thanks for all the positive feedback.
Greg