JoeBlog

Is this skimmer really $600 as quoted by Reef?

This is true. My deltec put a pretty good dent in my wallet. However, my point was that I spent at least the cost of the deltec and then some messing around thinking that I could get by without having to bite the bullet. I eventually realized that I wasn't getting close to the performace of the deltec, and thus paid the price. I like my deltec so much that I will be buying another ap902 to run dual with the new tank. I was just worried or may have taken your statement wrong in that I thought you were comparing the performance of this particular knock-off to the performance of a Deltec, and thus the extra price of the Deltec is not warranted. I obviously can't say for certain, but find it very hard to believe given all my previous efforts. I don't want to give the impression that everyone needs the "best" skimmer. There is another thread going on simultaneously on that point already. For my method/husbandry, I needed the best possible and thus bought what I think is the best, i.e. Deltec.

This is the same thing that I would preach to anyone that would listen prior to seeing Layton’s deltec in action, which immediately prompted me to buy one for myself. There is no doubt that this “cheaper†skimmer will skim, but let’s not be ridiculous and say that it does the “same jobâ€. I happen to own a PILE of “cheap†skimmers and DIY skimmers in my garage. I wish I would have just purchased the Deltec first since in the end, I’ve probably paid twice as much to come to the final conclusion. However, everyone needs to learn this on their own.

Now that is an awesome tank!!

Just for a point of reference, do you know how much these skimmers cost and what are the dimensions? I know you said 600 total height, but can you let me know the size of the main chamber? Steve

I’ve found the same to be true. Previously I’ve had a Flame Angel, Coral Beauty and White Tale Pygmy. All of them nipped corals (SPS and LPS). I didn't have that much coral at the time and they were quite devastating. I was especially bummed about the Flame Angel since that was one of the first fish to attract me to the hobby. I now have a 4†Majestic and 3†Blue Face who are both model citizens (so far!! ). Steve

Yeah, right!

More than a few. I got a Latticed Butterfly last week as a test to see if I could sustain one and then go for something a bit more exotic. Well, this thing is terrorizing my system. My previously awesome polyp extension is null and there are actually some corals with serious tissue missing, i.e. it is actually starting doing some VERY serious damage and I am going to get him out of there ASAP. My guess is that you need a very large tank with a lot of very large SPS to sustain. I am definitely not at that stage yet. Cool fish and awesome for FO. He does eat prepared food, but CONTINUALLY grazes on SPS polyps as well. As of yet, he hasn't touched any of my few LPS, but I wouldn't trust him. Anyone with an FO interested, let me know. He will be going for a very good price.

I personally think that Layton is quite an asset to this forum and bringing valuable information (whether it is right or wrong, that is up for debate). For sure, he at least stimulates thought. If you don't want to learn, think and debate the information, then don't respond. It's pretty simple actually.

What exactly are you looking for?

I don't want to imply that prices haven't come down in the industry. I really haven't paid that much attention over time to determine. All that I meant by my statement is that the store in question with verticle integration is not the overall cheapest in a static environment. I was originally paying more for the implicit contract of good service and I get along well with the employees.

That’s very interesting. Why is it the “best†shop in town? What are the characteristics that make a shop the “best� To some degree it is stock, but it seems that if time isn’t an issue, there are enough importers around that a non-importing retail outlet can give you the same stock and possibly even more variety since you are dealing with multiple importers. As for ChCh, there are two other shops in town that import as well. One thing can be said, having vertical integration certainly hasn’t led to lower prices. That brings up a more heated topic (historically on this forum) of prices. I care about prices, but it isn’t the bottom line for me. The reason being is that I am not only purchasing the good, but also the service (bundling). I would argue that the most important factor (given that you can get product) is customer service. I have (and do) pay more for a good that comes along with good service. As you (Tanksman) refer to, the problem is incomplete contracts. It is arguable that complete contracts are an impossibility. Given this, it is the implicit contract that comes along with customer service that I am looking for in a LFS that I will show my loyalty. I guess this is established by a long term relationship and the reason that I am so pissed off is that I feel as though they have broken this contract. If they will behave like this to a devoted customer, how will they treat the new guy?

I don’t think that there is any need for legalities, at least in my case. This is just more of an exercise of identifying the social norms regarding customer service. I am unhappy with their service, made my point clear and won’t be shopping there any longer. In the future if any other reefer explicitly asks for my opinion about their shop and the service received, I certainly give it to them. I am fortunate enough to have quite a few other shops in my town that are more than happy to take my money and provide better service. Those are the shops that will get my endorsement, if that even means anything.

I was thinking the same thing. Add some diagonal pieces.

Wow, that is interesting. I didn't think those guys worked much as it is. I've bought quite a few things from John and Toby (Organisms) as well over the years. Their service is WAY better than what I've been given today.

Nice! The ol' "Pretty Woman" trick.

Which is exactly what I told him, with a few more colorful words thrown in.

The reason is simple Pies, personal preference. Just as you have presented your argument as a preference, it may also be their preference to have BB for aesthetic reasons. I have BB tank for MANY reasons and one is that personally think BB looks best, but I am obviously in the minority. From all the pictures that I've seen of your tank Pies, your sand does look remarkably white. I’ve even joked before as to not being able to tell that it’s actually sand, so why bother with the sand and just go with starboard instead. Speaking of your tank Pies, how about another round of pictures!!

It wasn't like this at all. I don't think that they mean any harm in any fish that they sell. I just think that their service to a long term customer SUCKS!! Needless to say, I won't spend another cent in that shop!! I just wanted to see what other people think, expect and their experiences.

He said that they are not in the business of selling and taking back fish. Mind you that all I wanted was store credit. I was still going to spend the money there as I have for YEARS, and heaps of it.

OK, lets add to the equation that it comes from a very long term customer that has probably more knowledge about marines than the owner (at least current knowledge from this decade). He asks my advice quite often on SPS. Therefore, it can be assume that the fish is in the same condition as that purchased, less than 48 hours prior.

This was coming from the owner, so I would imagine store policy. I am also a very long term customer who has spent spent 1000's with them (as all you can imagine) and I have even taken my own time and effort to get them product from Marine Depot since they couldn't source it themselves at a "decent" price (all of which I charged no "service fee" and they only paid the cost from MD). There was also an instance the other day when another (I would consider) newbie customer was asking for advice on whether to get a fish or not. I was standing there and warned against the possible agression of this fish (which is well documented) and I also experienced it in my tank. The store keep explicitly said that if there is a problem, bring it back. The example that I present originally in this post is one in which the behavior of the fish is out of the norm, so not the ignorance of the purchaser.

I had a bad experience at a LFS today and I just wanted to check in with the rest of the marine community to see what they expect in terms of service from their own LFS. Also, I know that there are LFS owners and employees that read these threads and would like to hear their input as well. So, here is a scenario. If you were to buy a fish from your LFS and for whatever reason, the fish does not work out in your system, e.g. fights with current tank mates, turns out to be an avid coral muncher, or whatever. How would you expect your LFS to handle the situation, i.e. say it is your problem now since you made the purchase, accept the return for full refund, accept the return for full store credit, accept the return for store credit with an additional handling charge, etc…? Let’s further assume that the purchaser is not a newbie and makes an educated purchase, but the fish turns out to be an outlier in behavior, e.g. a yellow tang that eats coral, which is certainly not expected. (This is not the example from my situation, but good for discussion.)

ditch the sensor. I've never used mine. What's the point of reducing the flow at night. With the few streams that we have in our tanks now, we are not matching the flow of the ocean even when they are set on 100%, so why turn them down at night???

Very cool. I really like the overhang!