grimlock3000
Aquarium Advice Addict
I scope out messageboards a whole bunch, and also spend a good deal of time hanging around in various fish stores in my area. At this point, I really think that people get much better information online than going to an average LFS. At a LFS, most of the ones I have been to give out the same information and methods to pretty much everyone. They each have a certain way of doing things that works for them and their tanks. For example, I see the same LFS reccomending the same snails to people in totally different situations because those are the snails they keep stocked and use in their tanks. Maybe not every need a tank full of Turbo Snails?
Keep in mind that a LFS can get away with a lot we might not be able to, because they spend all week with the tanks. There is often not a frequent exchange of information, just the LFS giving advice to customers, then the customer can do what they want with the advice. I have tried having discussions with LFS about new concepts and products, and usually get smacked down. I asked about Oceanic Salt last week, and Instant Ocean came up because I use some of that. I was informed point blank that, "Instant Ocean salt causes algae, buy Tropic Marin". Sure it does, just ask thousand of people that use IO without and issue...
Also, a lot of LFS owners and employees are simply not always searching for more informaiton regarding what they are doing. They know enough to get by and be consistent, but it can take a while to get them on new ideas. There is one LFS up here where the owner is great, and will listen to anything a customer has to say and consider it. That is a minority.
Now, online forums like this one get a huge variety of people from different areas, with different tanks, and different methods of keeping those tanks. There is a free exchange of information between posters, the information gets retained for later searching, and people online are generally open minded. Also, no one posting online has a financial stake on what you do. The LFS stays around because they make money off people like you and me. Posters online will give their opinion without a financial consideration in their head. You will find that most people online DO agree on most basic concepts and conform to a "right way" of doing things. If someone does give out really bad advice, there will quickly be people to counter it and explain why. Literally hundreds of people and thousands of post can take place before an messageboard settles down on a "right way" for that group of people. Also when dealing with complicated systems like reefs, it is critical to exchange ideas with others who have tried and failed, and tried and succeeded. Everyone learns from everyone else, and can report back right away after trying new things. Without this messageboard, my tank would very likely have had a lot more problems than if I listened to one particular LFS.
If you want into four different fish shops and ask the same question, you are usually going to get for different answers. Ask that question online, and you will typically get a collection of answers that are all quite similar because they all worked together to discuss the hobby.
Now, I know there are LFS owners and employees that are just as commited to learning as people here, and I applaud those people and their efforts.
Then it comes down to who do you trust. A LFS owner trying to make money off you, or the combined thoughts and ideas of hundreds of tank owners?
//Update: I should also add that I have gotten a lot of good info locally and do find them to be a valuable resource. However when a situation arises and the local places do not agree or give me question information, I go straight to the net.
Keep in mind that a LFS can get away with a lot we might not be able to, because they spend all week with the tanks. There is often not a frequent exchange of information, just the LFS giving advice to customers, then the customer can do what they want with the advice. I have tried having discussions with LFS about new concepts and products, and usually get smacked down. I asked about Oceanic Salt last week, and Instant Ocean came up because I use some of that. I was informed point blank that, "Instant Ocean salt causes algae, buy Tropic Marin". Sure it does, just ask thousand of people that use IO without and issue...
Also, a lot of LFS owners and employees are simply not always searching for more informaiton regarding what they are doing. They know enough to get by and be consistent, but it can take a while to get them on new ideas. There is one LFS up here where the owner is great, and will listen to anything a customer has to say and consider it. That is a minority.
Now, online forums like this one get a huge variety of people from different areas, with different tanks, and different methods of keeping those tanks. There is a free exchange of information between posters, the information gets retained for later searching, and people online are generally open minded. Also, no one posting online has a financial stake on what you do. The LFS stays around because they make money off people like you and me. Posters online will give their opinion without a financial consideration in their head. You will find that most people online DO agree on most basic concepts and conform to a "right way" of doing things. If someone does give out really bad advice, there will quickly be people to counter it and explain why. Literally hundreds of people and thousands of post can take place before an messageboard settles down on a "right way" for that group of people. Also when dealing with complicated systems like reefs, it is critical to exchange ideas with others who have tried and failed, and tried and succeeded. Everyone learns from everyone else, and can report back right away after trying new things. Without this messageboard, my tank would very likely have had a lot more problems than if I listened to one particular LFS.
If you want into four different fish shops and ask the same question, you are usually going to get for different answers. Ask that question online, and you will typically get a collection of answers that are all quite similar because they all worked together to discuss the hobby.
Now, I know there are LFS owners and employees that are just as commited to learning as people here, and I applaud those people and their efforts.
Then it comes down to who do you trust. A LFS owner trying to make money off you, or the combined thoughts and ideas of hundreds of tank owners?
//Update: I should also add that I have gotten a lot of good info locally and do find them to be a valuable resource. However when a situation arises and the local places do not agree or give me question information, I go straight to the net.
