Here are all the convos so far...
4 Pets, Outlet Garden Centre, 324 Hull Road Woodmansy HU17 ORU
PHONED..
Told i was new to the hobby...
asked: Could you please help me as ive just setup a new tank and was wondering when can i add fish.
Told: How long as it been setup
answer: 2 days.
told: well, you would be best to wait until the weekend, pop in and get some danios, about 5, leave them in the tank for about 1 week, then you can start adding more other fish that you would like.
asked: why is that, what will they do?
told: they will help your filter to mature, your tank will have to be cycled and the danios will help this happen as iff thier waste, the cycle can start.
asked: i see, so i guess that is what people refer to as a fishless cycle?
told: yes
asked: i read that doing that can harm the fish as it burns thier gills etc.
told: its the best way to do it though, well thats how i would do it.
asked: is there another way of doing it without fish?
told: yes but its not recomended.
asked: why?
told: because a fishless cycle is not the way forward.
asked: why do they selll products then? is it something to do with most of them dont work?
told: most of them are all the same, they all work, but it can take too long and not always effective as using danios.
asked: i read a article on the internet that says you can cycle using ammonia, a lot says that you can get it from homebase.
told: thats not true, that will harm your fish and make the water very bad, chemicals is not a way to go.
asked: but im not adding fish so it wont harm them will it? cant i use it just to cycle without no fish in.
told: Not really, ammonia is dangerous and should not be out in to a tank, your best bet is to come in and speak to someone in the fish department but i can assure you they will tell you the same.
Me: ok, thanks for our help, i will come in and see them...
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pets paradise.
One guy runs the shop,
Asked, i have just setup my fish tank, how long before i can add fish, its tropical.
reply: when you add the water to the tank, you need to leave it standing for 2 weeks for the filter to mature, after that you can add fish.
asked: ok, is there anything else i need to do? like add anything to help the tank cycle?
reply: no, just let the water stand for 2 weeks with the filter running, after that, it should be fine.
asked: ok thanks, what fish do you recomend i get.
reply: well i would go for danios at first.
asked: why?
reply: they are very hardy fish and they will help the tank to mature faster.
asked: wont my tank be matured enough after the two weeks?
reply: yes but the danios will help it to mature more
asked: ok thanks, when can i get some guppies and platys?
reply: about 1 week after the danios.
me: ok thanks for your help.
Think i will send him a print off of the cycle thread on here.
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Hull pets and gardens.
beverly road.
Me: hi, could i speak to a experienced person on the fish department please.
Shop: that would be me, how can i help you.
Me: I have just set up a new tank and was wondering when i could add fish
shop: is it tropical?
Me: yes, i added the water today.
shop: you will need to leave it standing for 2 weeks so the filter can mature, after that bring in your sample of tank water, we can then test it and if all is ok, you can buy some fish, best to get hardy ones.
Me: So will the tank just cycle on its own in the 2 weeks? dont i need to add anything?
shop, yes it will cycle, the filter will build up with the beneficial bacteria to brak down the waste your new fish will produce.
Me: i read that the nitrogen cant start unless i add ammonia or summat.
Shop: the nitrogen cycle will take its course through the 2 weeks of the tank being left, after this if your test show up good, we have a product called stress zyme, this will help boost the filter when you add the fish also.
Me: I see, im just not sure how the cycle will start though as there is nothing in the tank that will start the cycle off, i seem to understand that the way it works is fish waste has ammonia that bacteria breaks down to nitrite and then the nitrite to nitrate, is this correct or am i reading in to it to much?
Shop: The tank will cycle without fish, thats why you have to leave it standing for 2 weeks, like i say, if you get some stress zyme as well, this will boost the filter and help it rapidly, the nirtogen cycle does exist in the tank without fish so dont worry.
Me: ok thanks, i trust your word seems as you are very experienced, thanks for your time.
Shop: thanks for calling and good luck.
Me: thankyou, your leaflets on how to cycle a tank is in the post, please pass this on to your customers so they dont make the mistake going by the advice you have given me.
Shop: Excuse me?
Me: Your advice is very poor for a experinced fish keeper, you seem to have no idea on what your saying. I suggest you read up on fishless cycling as the advice your giving new customers to keeping fish is just sending fish to either death or harming them and the person you give this advice to is spending money on fish and will end up sitting there wondering why there fish are dying and ill.
Shop: Well if your so experienced why phone for info you alreasdy know
Me: to stop and try to help people like you from doing this more, like i say, your leaflet will be on its way to you, i suggest you take it seriously and read it, i will be looking further in to your future information and hope it improves, or i will be forced to take some action.
Shop: Well i have learnt what i know through info given by pet shops over the years, im just passing on what ive been told, but i will take the time to read it.
Me: Thanks i hope you do, thats the problem now a days, all these lfs giving out wrong info and that spreads like the plague and this is why so many people have problems with thier tanks, please do read it and also pass it on, i know its sounds stupid but maybe a few leaflets you give out will help to get the correct info passed around.
Shop: ok i will do and thanks for enlightening me on this.
Me: your welcome and have a good day.
Shop: You too (background noise - put the phone down on the tw@t)
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Sandhills
Went in and asked, hi, im after some community fish.
Shop: right this way i will show you
Me: ok so could i have 5 platys? 4 male and 1 female if possible and 4 swordtails any sex please, i just set up and new tank today and want to breed some as i think they are lovely.
Shop: so you just set it up today?
Me; yes
Shop: This your first tank then?
Me: yes, been looking on the internet and some people seem to breed these easy, so i got a 18" tank and want to give it try.
Shop: Sounds lovely, let me just bag these up and you can check them to see if they are ok.
Me: great, could i have some of those as well (pointed at corys)
Shop: sure, any particular ones?
Me: any will do, 8 will be ok for now.
Shop ok no prblem...
5 mins later..
Me: then again you know, i think this may be too many for a 18" tank, looks like a lot of fish there, i think i will leave the corys.
Shop: ok thats not a problem.
Me: Are you a fish keeper yourself then?
Shop: no never had fish of this type, just goldfish.
Me: anyone else in here who has experience with these?
Shop: yes a copule of them
Me: can i speak to them please, dont mean to be rude but i just a few questions thats all
Shop: yes of course be right back.
Shop (new): hi how can i help..
Me: HI, i have 4 swordtails here, what looks to me like 3 female and 1 male... also 5 platys, 4 male and female.. im off to put these in a tank i just setup as i want to breed them, the tank is 18" with a undergravel filter, are these fish going to be ok in the tank?
Shop: i dont see why not, they are community fish so they should be fine.
Me: Ok well i just want to say this is the worste store i have visited yet, i have repeatidly told you both the tank is newly setup, yet to fail to tell me about cycling it or anything.
Also, your letting me take a ratio of 1 female to 4 male on the platys and 3 male to 1 female on the swords.. and was also going to let me take the corys, so not only is my tank overstocked, they are going to go through a cycle in the tank with high ammonia and nitrite spikes that if not kill them, will harm them.
Shop: Can i take a look at the fish? (takes bags off me)
Shop: now can you please leave the store
Me: yes ok, your leafets with all the correct info you need will be in the post asap, i will also be taking further action on this store.
Shop: just get out and dont come back
Me: Trust me, il be back (in a arnie voice sarcasticly)
who did me or him ?? or you?? and what is it with the word granny today 
