I'm sure not all LFS are bad. One in my area, will stand there and answer questions no matter how long it takes. He'll ask questions about your set up before he sells you an item. He'll even admit that he doesnt know much about saltwater fish, and he'll refer you to another person in that same store. But then, there's the other side to this guy. I bought my setup from a guy who had been open for about 3 months. I waited until the price was right, and I bought the tank, the stand, and the canopy. I told him I allready had the lights, so he dropped the price a bit lower. I took it home, let it sit for another month before I had the time to set it up....I actually did the leak test. Once I was satisfied that it passed..I went back to the store, only to see "Store for Rent" in the window. I was shocked, but not surprised. Every time I went in, to look at his SWF, he kept telling me, he was having a hard time cycling the tanks. He finally tried with Mollys. I didnt think he was going to make it there. Aside from Fish products he had small animal stuff.
But, i"m glad my equipment held together.....You just have to watch out......Last saturday, I went to a not so local supplier....I bought my Hummu, Hummu, and a Maculosous angel....I was looking to get one of the Magna Floats. Of course he handed me the largest one, without asking what size tank I have. I checked out the Price...$30....I carefully read the description...It was for Acrylic tanks.....I told him I had a glass tank, then he grabbed the same size one, but in a different package....it was $4 cheaper....Big woop! I think from now on I'll be buying my dry stuff online. Everything in stores gets so marked up....It has to. But I dont want to pay for it.
