shih-tzu mom

Hi;all, just as a point of interest- please purchase your own test kit -API-and here'swhy- As Dozey tried to explain in a earlier post.I took an uncycled tank to my LFS and the readings were[fine good to go-put fish in-]lol the readings were as follows-ammonia-5-nitrate40-nitrite10-so that was that one.Then the biggy the cycled tank lol amonia-0-nitrate-5-nitrite-0 [their readings were ]to not add fish as ammonia was way to high -so please anyone new get your own kit -API-and they used strips and would not let me see them.Hoping this along with Dozey's post helps some people. bella

Amanda

Wow....
Such honest people at LFS.

Lucy

Bella

Dozey

Thanks for adding your experience. Despite the controversy that my thread encountered my point was PEOPLE NEED TO TEST THEIR OWN WATER.

Perhaps I was out of line bringing tap water in for testing but you didn’t. You took aquarium water in and got the same results as I did.

I would far rather spend my time helping FishLore members then making fools of LFSes (it’s far too easy) but the very point is… FOLKS YOU NEED TO TEST YOUR OWN WATER!

Amanda

I think you made a good point, and the LFS needs to see that there ARE knowledgable people out there. Good for you.

Iron waffle

I don't test my water at all, all i've seen at LFS are strip tests. My theory is that since liquid tests are more expensive, the LFSes use strips to save money as they think that a liquid test is not worth the extra to use.

shih-tzu mom

Yes, the really amzing i part- i was honest and told them which was which-and the morrow of 'what they said]- i 'don't know what happened'-doh -i do bella

shih-tzu mom

Dozey- my next excursion-will be toliet water lol and as i have been told[don't know how true]that it is like tap water-so that will be an interesting test lol coming soon. bella

shih-tzu mom

Lucy; lol

Dozey

Let’s look at the reality of LFS employees. We have jobs to pay our bills. LFS employees need to pay their bills too. You don’t get awarded employee of the month by telling customers their aquariums aren’t cycled and sending them home. Like the rest of us we get that 25¢ raise because we perform at our jobs.

I work in the automotive industry. I’ve yet to hear a sales person tell a potential customer that they shouldn’t purchase a new vehicle because… whatever.

Do these jeans make me look fat? Of course they don’t to the jeans sales person. There’s no commission, no promotions, no slap on the back by being honest and telling me, “Yes those jeans make you look fat”.

It’s not really just LFSes that steer us wrong. My advice is… don’t take advice from people who rely on selling you something to pay their bills.

So here I sit in my jeans that make me look fat wondering why my fish died in tap water.

The moral of this rant… TEST YOUR OWN WATER!!!

Mike19

Yeah, couldn't agree more, I once went to a LFS tested my water had .25 ammonia, the employee told me to come back next week after performing a water change and pH reduction, i have been to that store many times since although have not this that employee on the other hand at the same store (different employee) i would have sworn that he only added bottle one for testing ammonia hmm. (i don't test it at the LFS regularly, i test it myself and if i happened to be at a LFS i get them to test it to see if we are similar in results).

lew2000

I went to an LFS a few years ago and spoke to the owner about some Discus he had, he actually told me that he wasn't selling them because he thought they had parasites and he was going to treat them. This LFS also would write on thier tanks the date the fish were brought in, wouldn't sell any new fish brought in for two weeks until they saw how they acclimated and ate, etc. They actaully made recomendations for gear that weren't he most expensive. Sadly they went out of business.

Dozey

I can certainly appreciate wanting a second opinion. But after being told that my tap water was completely safe for fish I’m reluctant to rely on the LFS even for a second opinion.

Mike19

Dose your LFS do it in front of you? mine dose and they use the liquid test kit which is a plus, they perform it on a bench in the middle of the store i guess most people would rather walk around looking at the fish. except me i stare at those test kits like a hawk staring down on its prey haha but from what i heard about your LFS its better to just test it yourself.

josephdurnal

Well, before I owned my own test kits, I would have a friend come over with his test kits and give me a hand. Then, you have someone to talk to about fish, someone who can see your tank with a fish keepers eye. If nothing else, you can control short term costs by splitting the cost of the test kits with a friend, that is what I ended up doing.

To keep fish requires knowledge, and while the internet is great, personal relationships between mentor and newbe offers more than just something to read.

Joe

Dozey

An honest business owner… you were very lucky to have their services while you did. Unfortunately they likely went out of business because of the large franchises that sell dirt cheap and give useless advice.

And I can so relate to this. I did have a computer sales division in my business at one point. But as a small business owner I was quickly shut down by Future Shop, Staples, Best Buy etc.

IMO my customers had a choice to come to me for good advice or buy cheap from the big names. They choose cheap.

On the upside I do make a good living fixing their cheap computers.

Dozey

OK… sounds like fun… I’m going to take my toilet water to a different LFS tomorrow and see how that tests out. I’ll be buying an aquarium stand at the same time so I’m sure my water sample will be spot on.

Hmmm… I wonder what would happen if I took my aquarium water in place of my urine sample to my doctor’s office? I’ll let you know.

Dozey

They did test my water in front of me. An all-in-one test strip that looked used. Since the employee did not compare the readings on the test strip to any chart the colour bands meant nothing to me. I do remember that the center test area was grey. Apparently grey is good.

Langy

haha this thread is funny. i agree basically the lfs will tell you want you want to hear in order to make a quick buck. lucky for me i have a really good local fish store, they do the liquid water tests in front of you, and show you the readings against the chart. the guy actually told me not to buy fish until the next week. guess im just lucky! keep us informed on those toilet water tests. im sure that will make for a good laugh!
cheers

shih-tzu mom

Dozey; i have the API-test strips-i bought them out of curiosity[sp] to compare against the API liquid and on the strips the directions say -dip stick into aquarium and swirl 2-time do not shake-remove with pads face up,compare to colour chart and immediately read GH-kh-wait 30 seconds and read ph. no-2, NO3-nowhere does it mention ammonia. great news hey.Sorry it says on the box ammonia but nowhere on the strips unless i have missed something-check it out when you go- i was under the impression you could test for ammonia as well as the box say's 5-in-1 test. bella

Dozey

So if I understand this correctly… Simone says put your right foot in and shack it all about and what is ammonia anyways? Personally I think ammonia is over rated, I prefer beef.

shih-tzu mom

Dozey; on the colours the first is-a very light yellow2-the same-3-orange4-deep yellow the 5-aqua-green5-little thingy's and no ammonia lol. bella

Dozey

Wow... thanks for clearing that up. I was a little concerned about the deep yellow. Although you didn’t mention grey! According to the LFS grey is good. You may want to return all your fish to the LFS until you have grey. I’m not 100% sure why you want grey but I do know that grey tap water is safe for fish.

Dozey

OMG some newbie is going to read this and return all their fish until they get grey.

NOTE TO NEWBIES... this is only a joke. Any colour at the LFS is safe.

shih-tzu mom

Dozey- i was thinking the exact same thing -there is no grey on strips-just a joke among us all . bella

shih-tzu mom

And the colours on the srips are diff; wrong lol bella

shih-tzu mom

Dozey; Don't forget to test your toilet water before going to your lfs lol that will make for interesting to compare your's and their's lol and ask them why your fish can't swim since purchase and water test lol. i would love to hear the anwser. bella

shih-tzu mom

Dozey-i forgot to mention -before you buy your stand- i bought both of mine at the second hand store and paid less the $20.00 for the both-and both are wood and very solid and i have 2-40-gallons 1-on each and not too bad looking lol it might save you a buck or 2-and buy more fishie's. Fishlips will like that lol bella