Hello and 'how to stock my 58G'

[clamrade]

Hello.

Last weekend, I was walking past my 58G Oceanic that's been sitting empty for several years now and realized that I should fill it or sell it. So, the story goes, I (re)found this forum.

I've been reefing for a decade now but have been reduced to just a single Eclipse 6 since I moved to NM. The costs of livestock here are simply shocking! You see, I am spoiled with west coast prices.

How do you all manage the costs? Do you regularly exchange frags, split orders, etc? I see that the "reef meetings" thread is active, but it seems like I barely missed the last one.

I do prefer to fill it than sell it. But, is there a smart way to offload my reef equipment in ABQ other than the obvious (craigslist)? I'm wary of selling on craigslist these days...

Thanks.

clam

 

[marfshoe]

I've given up buying anything but fish locally; the only place I know of for corals is SW reef, and they are outside of my budget (with the exception of their $10 and $20 frags). The Petco on the west side has good fish at decent prices. Everything else is mail order.

 

[clamrade]

Thank you for the info. Is the quality of westside Petco noticeably better than eastside (Eubank+I40) Petco?

I've been pretty successful at fragging pulsating Xenia and other softies for swap at local stores in other states, so I look forward to exchanging frags with some of you in the future...

As you all know, this hobby is addictive... very hard to quit, even when you know you can't quite afford it.

 

[seesick]

+1 The Petco on the west side

My nice stuff, (sps, lps) I usually order most online and as Fish and run of the mill Corals are concerned try to buy out of the bag at Clarks (shipments come on Wednesdays in the afternoon) they can get the same stuff as Rob jest half the price work good for me.

 

[clamrade]

Thanks, seesick.

I didn't know Clark's had decent prices. Which one in particular? Clark's Pet Supply (on Menaul) or Clark's Pet Emporium (on Lomas)?

BTW, I just visited Greg that sells on craigslist. Nice guy. Saw some decent stuff at decent prices. Anyone bought from Greg (and care to comment)?

I thought he's MileHighFish, but he said he doesn't post here...

 

[xmenx2dad]

i got a huge red/green wesophyllia brain from him. Got quality corals, good prices.

 

[seesick]

I have no experience with Greg but I am defiantly entrusted to see what he has. I am ordering from Divers Den today.. when I buy in town,

I like to go to the one on Menaul and deal with TOM. He is in charge of the ordering, sometime he will show me the availably list and I just pick from that, and when it comes in Tom calls, and I go pay and pick it up, For me it works out nice. The Clarks on loams is a little more scattered, the women in charge of the SW department does not impress me and I try to avoid her. That said, Clarks is not the cleanest nor the newest but defiantly cheaper then South West REEF, all the fish and coral come from the same place, hell the order for SWRC and Clarks are probably on the same plane most of the time. I would rather spend the money on my tank NOT the tanks at the Fish Store. I do shop at (SWRC) just not as much as I would if his prices where a little more competitive...

 

[Greysoul]

I really like Rob but his coral prices are all over the place. Some times he's got great prices on corals, other times I dunno.... they usually sell so I'm not worried about him His $10 and $20 tanks are full of torch and hammer corals right now, and I got a nice deal on an Alveopora frag a couple weeks ago...

Greg has 3 tanks full of corals, most are a much lower price. He'll frag just about anything. He has a bunch of $2 mushrooms and ricordias last week. Good prices, but Rob has a better variety I think. Greg's a good guy, if you get a chance search abq craigslist for reef and he'll come up with a list of corals he's got.

 

[clamrade]

Thanks, Greysoul. Yeah. Greg seemed like a trustworthy guy. Straight shooting, and none of that salesman stunt. I'll definitely be getting some corals from him. I'd choose fragged corals over wild-caught any day.

 

[corman1313]

I have gotten corals, bulbs and a tank from Greg. He gives a lot of great deals, I would choose him for corals before clarks or SW for prices and he has a lot more corals in his 125 now.i only buy dry goods that I know I can't find at petco or petsmart from SWR. Clarks would be the way to go for fish but their tanks dont look as good as they did before, or of course online. I had good luck with vivdaquariums with fish and corals, SWR is overpriced on fish for sure.

 

[MileHighFish]

Thanks, seesick.

I didn't know Clark's had decent prices. Which one in particular? Clark's Pet Supply (on Menaul) or Clark's Pet Emporium (on Lomas)?

BTW, I just visited Greg that sells on craigslist. Nice guy. Saw some decent stuff at decent prices. Anyone bought from Greg (and care to comment)?

I thought he's MileHighFish, but he said he doesn't post here...

LOL I wish I was this guy at least he is doing what he loves. I would be interested in checking out his stuff. I finally got settled into a home in Rio Rancho, but my tank is still in Los Lunas Ahhhh I love making trips back and forth all week to top off!!

 

[clamrade]

Ha. I am getting settled into a new home myself. I didn't even have my tank filled, and I thought I was having it rough.

My wife and I are still debating whether to fill the tank. The move set us back financially more than we anticipated. Perhaps I'll get a big fat bonus this Christmas...

In the mean time, thank you all for your support. Don't leave me for dead just yet.