extreme_tooth_decay

I use these too. Hm...takes me at least 10 times as long as cleaning glass with a razor blade...

I was at a Viking theme restaurant/bar in Iceland last week, and was impressed to see 2 huge (I think 10' but possibly 8') tanks elevated up over the top of the bar. They had african cichlids in them, looked great. I tried to take some pics, but they all came out junky. This is the best one I got.

Heh.

Happy Holidays again WAMAS.

I have done the same thing at the Petco in Alexandria at Potomac Yards. Petco seems to be doing a good job of harmonizing brick-and-mortar storefronts with online sales. It is nice to see.

Can't go wrong with DDs...

That is a very charitable way of saying what we all know, I have no life!

Post #100 is mine! All mine! Now where did I put that Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator...

Well said sir. Instead of trying to change people's minds or habits or tell them what to think or do (ie, work against them), it may be better to resign oneself to the fact that that is how people "are", and work with their existing habits, wants, and needs, if possible. Surely not easy or free, as you said...things worth doing rarely are.

This thread is an interesting read. Like everyone else, I don't have any answers, just my own observations about my own habits: ->Unless I need something right now, I usually buy online. Even though I can easily afford it, I just can't stomach paying twice as much (or more) and getting a worse guarantee. There are times I need something right now and am willing to pay that extra 100 or 200%, though. The business model of selling pumps people can buy for $90 for $270 does not seem sustainable. ->On the other hand, I do enjoy going to LFS to look around and browse, and I do buy things there, but mostly "on the spur". I drive up to That Fish Place a couple times a year, so I don't think I am lazy or uncommitted, but it is easy (and fun!) to shop at home in my underwear at midnight...I like convenience like anyone else. ->Most of the LFS around here don't have the livestock selection to bring me in. -> I hate to see LFS go out of business. Down the road from me, first Wally's, then Superpetz...but, the sad fact is, especially in this economy... At least now I can take my dirty laundry to the "new" Wally's and enjoy watching the spin cycle. Spin, spin,spin. Last time I was at Wally's had a softball sized chunk of LR with aiptasia and some common corals on it for $200. ->When threatened with cheaper/better/different/satanic (choose your own word) online competition, retailers in other industries have found ways to embrace "online" instead of fight it. Become more complimentary with each other. I am not sure what the best way to do this is for a LFS, and obviously this is the crux here, but I would think this basic mindset/viewpoint is important.

I believe ya...things obviously change, and it has been several years, but that was the normal price "back then". Those fish were almost impossible to find anywhere, and I was happy I could get them from Roozens at a price I was willing to pay. I did do most of my business with Larry, but I distinctly remember buying an Achilles from Jos and having a long discussion about it's care and feeding, and where his supplier is, and when they harvest and ship Achilles when I bought it, and I know it was either $38 or $48. I've never spent more than that on any fish in my life, other than a Sohal I coughed up $99 for at EA. Jos and I even discussed how expensive they were (if you could find them) at other LFS! Jos was definitely the guy who sold me the pair of black clowns for $28, too. He tried really hard to sell me a giant 1 foot anemone at that time, too (think he said it was from Vietnam, which doesn't mean it was), but I didn't want it.

It was maybe 5 years ago, but they were always $38 or $48 (when everyone else had them for over $100...if you could find one)...small or medium sized. I had a couple for years that I bought there at different times from different salespeople (Larry and Jos). To have more than tripled in price seems crazy...my gut tells me if you went in and talked to the right person, they would be much less than that... The problem was availability...they only had them at certain times of the year (when they are being more actively collected for some reason possibly?). Maybe they are cheaper during that time. +1

I use the enkamat from ebay. Something like this (even comes with the ties...at $5 shipped, can't go wrong): LINK

Roozen's has always been my favorite. Better selection than anyone. You'll see things there you will never see anywhere else, and you will see more of most fish there than other places (last time I was there he had at least 200 hippo tangs) Typical prices are "good". Often really good. (I have bought achilles tangs there for $38...pairs of blank tanks for $28 for the pair, etc) Quality for fish as good or better than anyone on a % basis. Wouldn't hesitate to send a newbie there. I went there when I was a newbie. Wouldn't hesitate to go there with no quarantine tank. I've never had one! My fish from there have as good or better survival rate as my fish from anywhere else.

I'll sell you one for $100 right now! Guaranteed yellow.

The tempered glass on the bottoms of our tanks is pretty tough, and most of our reef rock is pretty light. Especially under water, I think it would be very hard if not impossible to break the glass with a rock. I was surprised how hard it was to break it using a hammer. I wouldn't worry about that at all.

Reminds me of the ol' saying, "Keep your friends close...and your enemies closer."

I think the way he was being attacked and the manner in which he was being attacked warranted telling people about the guy's many aliases. The guy's aliases are an important part of the story (to me). I can't even watch the video, he has removed it. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to buy the CR sand based solely on anything in that thread.

I'm looking to buy a new camera and thought I'd ask for any advice here. I have been quite satisfied with my cheapo sony cyber-shot 14-ishMP 4x optical zoom for nature photography. I'd like to get something with much more optical zoom capability (minimum 24x, prefer more). I also need good macro capability. I don't think I want to mess around with a camera with removable lenses (DSLR). I figure this means the camera is going to be big, which defeats the main thing I like about my small cyber-shot. Just as an example, I was looking at this camera, which has 35x optical zoom and 14MP...can anyone recommend something similar? Better? Is this a good camera? LINK: Possibility thanks tim

Something tells me the sound may be interesting.

You could do the mesh wheel mod even if the impeller is damaged, because you remove all the needles anyway. See link here: LINK

laff! Fine point sir!

Crazy stuff... Next people will be dropping bird turds in their tank periodically to "simulate nature"...