Is There A Reason Lfs Don't Sell Mature Media

[Miles_hot]

I love the swap / gift approach to mature media - it must build good karma and a community etc and would not want to undermine this (actually I think that would be pretty much impossible to do) however so far I have been unlucky in obtaining mature media. Given this I have been looking to buy it and so far only found one chap in the US selling it.
This leads me to wonder why don't Fish Shops sell the stuff? They must have the ability to produce it or at least big enough filters to be able to cycle some out without impacting their set up (using the donate 1/3 principle).
Or would people not buy it? Am I the only one who would?
Love to hear your thoughts....
Miles

 

[clay]

its plain and simple, some just do not have the work ethic to do it.

 

[Miles_hot]

yeah, but, no,but, yeah but.... surely one would? Would you buy it (or rather have bought it when you started)?
Miles

 

[Mikaila31]

Did you ask? None of the shops around here advertise or price mature media for sale, but I have gotten some from them on multiple occasions. Some shops won't and give you a good reason for it, such as running mostly UGF and not wanting to sell/give away all their gravel. The shop I have gotten mature media from is pretty nice about it. They will try to talk you into products they sell. Sometimes it takes a little talking to get some. I got some for free the first time around, second time I ended up paying a little for it. Last ditch trick is to give in and say you will buy the 'bottled bacteria' IF and ONLY IF they give you some of that dirty old filter media too . Most the shops I use are ture fish shops that don't really sell much else. Most of their employees understand why you want the old filter media.

 

[james_fish]

I believe businesses may be reluctant as it may affect their trade (as awful as it sounds) but if a tank has mature media then it has more chance of sustaining life of the fish and vice versa. In other words selling mature media will effect how many replacement fish they sell. One thing I know is new fishkeepers tend to stick to one store for fish (despite maybe losing them) as it's what they know, for all they know they are being advised correctly and need not to change stores.

You've got to remember a lot of the time, fish come second behind trade. Just a sad fact in our hobby.

Does anyone agree/disagree with the above?

Or maybe it's just not practical to continue in producing mature media. Definate gap in the market, hard to produce a shelf product that can sustain bacterial life for months.

James.

 

[fishguy2727]

1-They need it for their constantly changing livestock loads.
2-They use different media than most hobbyists (wouldn't be compatible with your filter).
3-It is easier for them to sell you a bottled supplement.

IMO-4-You don't need it. All the bacteria you need for your tank is in the air and you can get it for free, why waste money on what nature provides for free.

When I was running a LFS people asked for gravel and I told them 1-you don't need it, the bacteria is in the air and 2-I will sell you some gravel, just buy a bag of new gravel to replace what you take. No one ever took me up in the offer.

 

[fluttermoth]

My 'local' (it's 25 miles away!) Maidenhead Aquatics (in Plymouth) sells mature media for 1 penny, so it can be done and some places do do it; I wish more did though!

 

[Miles_hot]

Fishguy: interesting point about the stock levels - not one I'd thought of. I take your point about nature providing however what I'm interested on is buying time - ie reducing the cycle time.
James: I can certainly see the economics of the crap filter = more money however I'd hope that isn't the case for all of them, but maybe I'm just too much of an optimist
Miles

 

[Tizer]

I would assume there are some "nasties" in any shops media that might suddenly "bloom" when moved to a new tank where water params are different.

 

[Miles_hot]

OK, so there's some possible reasons for shops not to sell (greed for re-stocking sales, why bother, fluctuating fish load and potential nasties) but is there a market? I would buy - would you?

Miles
PS I'm convineiently ignoring that Fluttermoth's "local" sells it - so far I haven't found a local MA which does but I'm still looking

 

[Zirallan]

Depending on circumstances, I would buy it. It'd certainly be handy right now. I patiently fishless cycled and then someone helped me with my tank and rinsed my filter with tap water.. I'm currently cycling my tank again and my poor fish is suffering for it. It'd be really handy right now to be able to re-seed the tank but don't know anyone who could give me a bit of filter media.

So to start a new tank, no. I'm patient enough to just wait.. To jump start an accidentally uncycled tank, in a heart beat.

 

[Tizer]

I honestly think every new fish keeper should cycle their own tank without mature media, as it forces them to read and research the hobby while they twiddle their thumbs waiting to buy fish At least in that time they develop and understanding of the cycle and will be a little more prepared when things go wrong

 

[Miles_hot]

Tizer - it's having a different effect on us; the initial burst of enthusiastic research etc has died away and the tank is just sitting under a sheet and is ignored. There's no point putting in time to work out what fish etc when it'll be months before we can buy them

 

[Tizer]

Thats good though isnt it? Its like people who buy puppies at christmas only to leave them in bin bag on the side of the road, or a local rehoming shelter because the initial enthusiasm for owning one has left them.

Ok, probably a poor example and i understand where you are coming from. However, that said, i fish in cycle, so i get to enjoy any new fish or new tanks from day one. Its hard work, but, im a freak, i like doing water changes.

 

[Miles_hot]

Possibly a bit harsh there Tizer Just because I'm no longer bothering to dive into fish shops to pick this week's top favourite fish doesn't mean that I'm going to give up on them by Christmas

Any road as you're a firm fish in chap (God that sounds wrong) I guess you'd not be too concerned about the availability of something to speed up cycles (especially as you enjoy water changes); each to their own

Miles