[Meric]

Yesterday I went to my LFS to purchase some snails for my fish tank to help eat some green algae that has just recently started growning in the tank. There is not a lot of algae but there is some algae growing in spots on the rocks and glass.

So I talk to one of the employees, an older gentleman. I told him that I had some algae growing in my tank and would like to purchase some snails. His first response to me was 'How many powerheads due you have in your tank?' No other questions other than that. I responded that I had (2) MaxiJet 1200's. He immediately replied that I didn't have enough powerheads in my tank, and I needed more. He never once asked what size tank I have or if I have anything else in the tank like my Mag 18 return. He then told me that snails do not eat algae, that only hermit crabs and Lettuce Nudibranches eat algae, that I also had a nutrient problem in my tank and that I had to get that under control before I could get rid of the algae. He ask me what my PH, Alk, Phos, SIlicates, Nitrates were and I responded my PH was 8.0, my Alk was 10Dkh, Phos = 0, Silicates = 0, Nitrates = 15. He told me that my ph was more like 7.7, that all tests except his brand of digital ph test were always wrong. He told me this without testing my water. He also said that with my Alk being so low that there is no way I could add any fish or snails to my tank until I got it to 15 dkh, so I needed to purchase Kalk right away. He also said that there are phosphates in my tank that my test can't read and that I need to put Phosgard in my tank right away. After all of that he then told me that I needed to buy Tang or Rabbitfish today in order to control the algae. I told him that I was not planning on putting either of those fish in my tank and he told me I was making a big mistake and was doomed to fail without adding at least one of those fish in my tank. He also told me that my Prizm Pro skimmer sucks, actually he used the term piece of crap, and I need to buy (2) Remora's for my 125 Tank.

All in all this guy told me everything I was doing was wrong and I needed to immediately purchase over $700.00 in fish and equipment. I left without buying a thing. I'm still confused on why he wouldn't sell me any snails, he had a whole tank full of them.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by Meric

I'm still confused on why he wouldn't sell me any snails, he had a whole tank full of them.

Wow... I wonder how often that kind of strong-arm tactic has worked on some poor inexperienced hobbyist

Lucky you didn't go in looking for something bigger than snails huh?

On the snails.... Maybe he just felt comfortable with them, you know, slimy things like slimy things, so maybe he just didn't want to lose his buddies.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Meric

I told him that I had some algae growing in my tank and would like to purchase some snails. His first response to me was 'How many powerheads due you have in your tank?' No other questions other than that. I responded that I had (2) MaxiJet 1200's. He immediately replied that I didn't have enough powerheads in my tank, and I needed more.

He probably sells a lot of powerheads that way.

He then told me that snails do not eat algae...

Maybe he was thinking of Nassarius vibex snails? On second thought, probably not because his store probably doesn't even carry those. Could be that he is only thinking of Bryopsis when he makes that statement? Some LFS employees think snails only eat the green film on the glass and they're not sure if that counts as algae or not.

...that only hermit crabs and Lettuce Nudibranches eat algae...

I hope you explained to him that Elysia crispata is not a nudibranch? I really hate it when LFS people insist on telling their customers that nudibranchs eat algae. There are NO algae eating nudibranchs! None!

...my Alk was 10Dkh... He also said that with my Alk being so low that there is no way I could add any fish or snails to my tank until I got it to 15 dkh, so I needed to purchase Kalk right away.

He's just trying to sell you some expensive Kalk. I'm sure he would have said the same thing no matter what number you gave him for your alkalinity. There is nothing wrong with 10 dKH alkalinity. That's a very good number. It happens to be about 50% HIGHER than NSW but this is one of the parameters that most people prefer keeping at levels higher than NSW for the added safety factor. I'm surprised that he is recommending 15 dKH as a good number for alkalinity. IMO that is a bit on the high side and anything above that could make balancing your alk and calcium more difficult. IMO most people would be better off staying below 12 dKH or at least below 14 dKH. Delbeek & Sprung (1994) recommend a range of 7-10 dKH for reef tanks but many people prefer a range a little bit higher than that. Any LFS employee who tells you that 10 dKH is too low is just trying to sell you something.

He also said that there are phosphates in my tank that my test can't read and that I need to put Phosgard in my tank right away.

There are phosphates in EVERY tank! Hopefully they are very low but they are there. They are necessary to all life forms. I use a Salifert phosphate test kit, which I consider to be a reasonably good test kit, and I have never gotten a reading on phosphates but that doesn't mean that I don't have any. Next time you see him, tell him to stop recommending PhosGuard because it is nothing but pure alumina (Al2O3) and it leaches toxic aluminum in saltwater. Most manufacturers have switched away from alumina pellets to iron based products -- ferric oxide hydroxide. SeaChem hasn't switched yet because their president wasn't even aware of the possibility of alumina dissolving in saltwater until about a year ago when he was informed of that fact in a thread on Reef Central. He promised to "look into it" but that's the last we heard from him on that.

After all of that he then told me that I needed to buy Tang or Rabbitfish today in order to control the algae. I told him that I was not planning on putting either of those fish in my tank and he told me I was making a big mistake and was doomed to fail without adding at least one of those fish in my tank.

I have a Foxface Rabbitfish in my 120-gal tank. In fact, it was the very first fish I added to my tank, which is why I named him Primus (Latin for first). He does an excellent job but I often worry that my tank is too small for him. I do not have a tang, at least not yet. I really think my tank is too small for a tang and so far I have resisted the temptation to add one. If I ever did add one to my 120-gal tank, I would confine my choices to something from the genus Zebrasoma due to size considerations. IMO tanks less than 6-ft in length are really too small for tangs although I would not want to criticize someone for keeping one yellow tang or one purple tang in a 75-gal or larger tank. I would love to have a purple tang someday but I hope I can continue to resist the temptation until I get a larger tank.

If you have a typical 6' long 125-gal tank, I think a Foxface Rabbitfish (either Siganus vulpinus or S. unimaculatus) would be an excellent addition. You could also consider adding one of the smaller species of surgeonfishes when you are ready, if you want to. The Rabbitfish does have venomous spines but they are very shy, docile fish and this has not presented any problems for me. My Rabbitfish eats out of my hand, as does one of my Scott's Fairy Wrasses.

He also told me that my Prizm Pro skimmer sucks, actually he used the term piece of crap, and I need to buy (2) Remora's for my 125 Tank.

Your Prizm Pro is probably not the best choice for a 125-gal tank but if and when you decide to upgrade, don't buy two skimmers, buy one good one. Why are we talking about hang-on skimmers? Do you have a sump? If you don't have a sump, consider one of the better hang-on skimmers such as a Lifereef. Again, the LFS guy is just trying to sell you stuff.

All in all this guy told me everything I was doing was wrong and I needed to immediately purchase over $700.00 in fish and equipment. I left without buying a thing. I'm still confused on why he wouldn't sell me any snails, he had a whole tank full of them.

I think he was just trying to convince you that your problems required the purchase of expensive mechanical equipment. His job is to sell stuff. He is not going to say anything that would talk you out of buying whatever it is that he is trying to sell you.

[Poseidon]

Hey Meric... Sounds like you need to find a new LFS!! In my area there is only one LFS that even stocks a good selection of snails and other cleaners, but he is SO expensive. The other 2 stores in my area are small and cater strctly to newbies I think...

[Meric]

Originally Posted by Ninong

Your Prizm Pro is probably not the best choice for a 125-gal tank but if and when you decide to upgrade, don't buy two skimmers, buy one good one. Why are we talking about hang-on skimmers? Do you have a sump? If you don't have a sump, consider one of the better hang-on skimmers such as a Lifereef. Again, the LFS guy is just trying to sell you stuff.

I know the Prizm Pro in not the greatest, but it's not like I said I have a Skilter 400 or a VisiJet . It's a heck of a lot better than the Prizm, and I do get enough dry foam and nasty skimate that I have to empty a 40Oz cup ever couple of days.

I do have a sump, but I am limited on space inside the sump since I can only fit a 24" sump under my tank (I built my doors on my stand too small). SO I opted for the Prizm Pro hang on skimmer for now, it hangs on the sump . I am working on building my own skimmer that will sit outside the sump.