Larry, it's about supply and demand plus customer service too. Not enough demand, supply will go down. Hence the lesser marine lfs. Happening in the freshwater area too but that area is worst off. I believe pricing is the key in patronage but there are lfs that bucks the trend. Cost of living too play a part, if utilities bill keep rising, the average joe have to maneuver to keep expenses down, hence spending more to buy lower wattage equipment which cost more but then they have little remain to spend on livestock. If this goes on, lesser reefer will exist which in turn support less lfs.
Back to the topic. Hope the forum keep doing the good job it is doing but expect curiosity from the forum member to exist as enquiring minds are good and benefit the forum. Where would a forum be without their members? With the good comes the bad too, like in the real world. So let's start off with getting the question answered and then move on.