What type of LFS do you use?

[mike j]

Just curious, which type of LFS do you make your purchases at? A pet-mart? A small pet-store? A fish only store? A saltwater fish only store? The internet?
Thanks for your time!

 

[clownfish4life]

For equipment, anywhere where the products are of highquality and returnable if do not work properly or if I"m not satisfied. Fish I go to a Saltwater fish and coral only place. And internet that has livestock guarantees and decent shipping cost.

 

[ruaround]

All of the above. I prefer to buy from a salt water fish only store, but pricing i usually a touch higher it seems. I've even purchased a few fish from death-c0...uh hum...I mean Pet-Co and most are still alive. I'm even a Pet-Co Pals card holder (not real proud to admit, but hey sometimes you cant beat some of their dry goods prices with it <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" /> ). With price and quality being very important its good to be a smart shopper and shop around!

 

[stacy]

I purchase as much locally as I can. There are 2 stores locally that have as good of prices or better than I've been able to find on the net as far as equipment and live products. Although I do help alot of local company's to promote themselves on the Internet I still like to be able to see what I'm buying before I pay for it. I do order alot of chemicals from petwarehouse, and LR/LS from gulfview.

 

[danfishman]

i purchase my fish from a lfs coz good mates with a guy there and he can give us discounts. there is only one online store here in western australia that get fish from our local waters up north. they give good prices.

 

[broomer5]

Hardware/Drygoods - anywhere - I look for best price. Online for pumps, lighting, RO/DI unit and additivies. This site for many test kits.
Live Rock - I've hand pick most all my rock from one of the coolest saltwater coral and fish places on the planet. I would maybe consider a large LR order online - but would first order a small sample from them to see it's overall quality.
Fish - I've purchased all my fish ( except 2 little False Percs ) from one guy here in town - never had a case of ich or disease from him.
He runs SANO in all his systems - and has some of the nicest fish I've seen at resonable prices, and offers 50% store credit on any healthy fish returns for ANY reason.
Corals - mostly from the same guy here in town, although I did make (1) online purchase. Was not completely satisfied with the shipment. They sent me a "doomed" flower pot instead of what I ordered, I hesitated to keep it, but did, and it slowly withered away.
Clean up crews - THIS site for the most part. Can't beat the price and I've only lost some snails due to some agressive blue legs. They've been banished to the refugium.

 

[fish for life.]

I started using a large lfs that specialized in saltwater. After some bad info, and suspect fish, I found a small pet store run by a lady who worked at Shedd Aquarium for 20 years doing autopsies. She runs a small top notch store. I can buy a fish and watch it for a week or two in her beautiful tanks before I bring it home. I use her anything alive. Everything else I research and then search for best price, wheather it be petsmart, homedepot, or the internet.

 

[moby da goby]

MikeJ, I usually buy my fish between two small stores in Med Hat, I have gone to Pisces in Calgary in the past, they always seem to have a good selection of fish and equipment. I have started ordering my dry goods through J&L Aquatics in Vancouver though instead of through the US. With exchange and duty added to the cost it works out better to go to Calgary or Vancouver.

 

[tru conch]

the majority of the time i go to a fish only pet store, mostly salt/corals, but some freshwater. but in the near future i will be ordering some retro kits (lighting) online.

 

[nacl-h2o]

I buy most dry goods, most equipment and about half the live stock depending on what it is online. I buy half the rest at a larg local non chain store that specializes in salt water but not exclusively. And the remainer most of the non online corals at one of three non nessisarily (local) fish stores spceializing in reef tanks. There the best in NC but there in Raleigh and Greesboro both a long drive from here.

 

[mike j]

off topic but hey Moby, I named my goby Moby, weird.

 

[volitan]

I use a saltwater fish lfs for all my livestock purchases. I just like to see the livestock before I purchase it. Besides, my lfs will hold a specimen for up to two weeks before I buy it. That way, I can be sure it is healthy.