I haven't ordered from Tropicorium - www.tropicorium.com - but they look pretty cool, plus you can add a clam to any package order for ten dollars. I don't know if you're looking for large or small corals, but if you're looking for a variety of smaller corals, then I liked the 5 for $55 coral deal at www.worldwidepetsupply.com . Others disagree, but I everything that I got was really healthy. You do sacrifice selection though - my grandmother placed the order for my birthday, and of the five corals that came, only two were her choices. The rest were substitutes. They did call me to approve the substitutes though and one of the substitutes was made because the man said the pineapple corals that were in didn't look very good. HTH
I am ready for mail order corals... Any suggestions?
- Thread starter Christine
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I personally prefer to see what I'm getting when it comes to livestock. It's too much hassle to go through the process of getting a credit if something does show up dead.
FOX
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FOX
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members.xoom.com/KoryFox/index.htm
I'm a big supporter of mail order in this hobby. Like Fox says, it can be a hassle, but IMO it's usually worth it.
www.coralfarms.com, www.exoticfish.com, www.harboraquatics.com, www.tropicorium.com www.splashoflife.com and www.inlandaquatics.com are all good sources of livestock.
Disclaimer: I've got no on-going financial ties with any of these folks, but I -have- done web work for at least one or two of'em. My opinion remains unbiased, but it's only fair to mention.
www.coralfarms.com, www.exoticfish.com, www.harboraquatics.com, www.tropicorium.com www.splashoflife.com and www.inlandaquatics.com are all good sources of livestock.
Disclaimer: I've got no on-going financial ties with any of these folks, but I -have- done web work for at least one or two of'em. My opinion remains unbiased, but it's only fair to mention.
cj,
I'm not saying it shouldn't be done, in fact I mail order dry goods alot. I just don't like to take the risk that the fish or coral I order is the correct one, size, and most importantly healthy.
FOX
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members.xoom.com/KoryFox/index.htm
I'm not saying it shouldn't be done, in fact I mail order dry goods alot. I just don't like to take the risk that the fish or coral I order is the correct one, size, and most importantly healthy.
FOX
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members.xoom.com/KoryFox/index.htm
I have ordered livestock from www.premiumaquatics.com, www.ffexpress.com and www.aquatic-specialists.com.
I found the quality and service were excellent from all. I had only one casuality from 30-40 items. I calculated true cost of merchandise by pro-rating shipping costs into the price of the item. A short summary: PA - excellent service, competitive prices, healthy livestock. AS - excellent service, refused to sell damaged or sick coral, limited selection listed online, you have to call, a little more expensive. FFE - large selection, best prices (ordered sale items), did not speak to a living person, but everything arrived alive and on time.
TimS
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There's No Place Like Home.
I found the quality and service were excellent from all. I had only one casuality from 30-40 items. I calculated true cost of merchandise by pro-rating shipping costs into the price of the item. A short summary: PA - excellent service, competitive prices, healthy livestock. AS - excellent service, refused to sell damaged or sick coral, limited selection listed online, you have to call, a little more expensive. FFE - large selection, best prices (ordered sale items), did not speak to a living person, but everything arrived alive and on time.
TimS
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There's No Place Like Home.
Fox:
Yeah, the whole 'sight unseen' thing is a big hurdle for a lot of folks. This is one of those areas that seperates the -good- dealers from the not so good ones. Call a good one and you can usually get a solid description of available sizes, shapes, and colors, and specify what you're after. Even FFX will usually do this, although it may require some call backs on their part. If a company doesn't have what you're after offhand, they should still be willing to take your specifications and see if they can't meet them. As far as healthy stock, any dealer that sends unhealthy stock is seriously shooting themselves in the foot, from a financial perspective. Lost business, negative word of mouth....it can add up in a hurry.
Not that I'm trying to twist your arm (buy local, if that's your preference), just pointing out the available service.
Yeah, the whole 'sight unseen' thing is a big hurdle for a lot of folks. This is one of those areas that seperates the -good- dealers from the not so good ones. Call a good one and you can usually get a solid description of available sizes, shapes, and colors, and specify what you're after. Even FFX will usually do this, although it may require some call backs on their part. If a company doesn't have what you're after offhand, they should still be willing to take your specifications and see if they can't meet them. As far as healthy stock, any dealer that sends unhealthy stock is seriously shooting themselves in the foot, from a financial perspective. Lost business, negative word of mouth....it can add up in a hurry.
Not that I'm trying to twist your arm (buy local, if that's your preference), just pointing out the available service.
cj,
I admit I've been tempted because of the prices. Maybe I'll try it in the future. Actually, right now I'm looking for a mated pair of gold banded maroon clowns. I used the see them frequently in the lfs's around here, but not recently. Maybe I'll give a few of these places a call and see what I can find and give it a shot.
FOX
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members.xoom.com/KoryFox/index.htm
I admit I've been tempted because of the prices. Maybe I'll try it in the future. Actually, right now I'm looking for a mated pair of gold banded maroon clowns. I used the see them frequently in the lfs's around here, but not recently. Maybe I'll give a few of these places a call and see what I can find and give it a shot.
FOX
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members.xoom.com/KoryFox/index.htm
reefaddict,
You should have seen my post at aqualink, so I won't repeat it.. http://www.aqualink-too.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/021369.html
FOX,
I was worried about site unseen quality as well. I must admit, Not everything I have purchased on line was a nice as I hoped. But as CJ stated, if the dealer sends you crap, you won't buy from them again (see aqualink post)
There are some very good dealers out there and they make this hobby fun.
I live in the NY Metro area (NJ) and everything is more expensive here and marine animals can top the list, so these on line prices are a blessing.
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cong
http://home.att.net/cong13/
You should have seen my post at aqualink, so I won't repeat it.. http://www.aqualink-too.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/021369.html
FOX,
I was worried about site unseen quality as well. I must admit, Not everything I have purchased on line was a nice as I hoped. But as CJ stated, if the dealer sends you crap, you won't buy from them again (see aqualink post)
There are some very good dealers out there and they make this hobby fun.
I live in the NY Metro area (NJ) and everything is more expensive here and marine animals can top the list, so these on line prices are a blessing.
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cong
http://home.att.net/cong13/
reefaddict
New member
I have a well established tank (3 years) and have only recently gotten "on line", so this is all new to me. I keep mostly SPS, some LPS and softies. I have seen many posts about on line purchases. I have visited lots of sites but I would like to know your "personal" experiences purchasing coral from some of the on line sites.
Any real "coral" experiences would be helpfull.
Thanks
Connor
Any real "coral" experiences would be helpfull.
Thanks
Connor
Sloeber
Active member
i find it amazing how many people will buy corals or fish sight unseen. not me. for example, just last week i visited harbor aquatics. like usual, they had about 100 t max clams on hand. like usual, less than 5% of them had what i like to call "show quality". i purchased the exact ones i wanted. now, had i MO'ed from them, i doubt i would have got any of the clams that i call "show quality". IMO, there is way too much junk out there. take premium aquatics for example. i am great friends with the owner, jason. i purchase almost all of my dry goods through him - and will continue to do so. but his livestock leaves something to be desired - IMO. many people rant and rave about his quality of livestock, but i for one don't purchase livestock from him - especially if i can't see what i'm getting. i have purchased livestock from him, and will again, but not without seeing it first. and this isn't just PA. the same goes for HA, IA, or any of the other marine retail stores out there. there is just too many so-so animals out there that i want nothing to do with. i spend lot's of money in this hobby - just like everybody else. the last thing i want is a so-so looking coral.
more so now than ever, many MO places are able to send pics of the animals in questions in a moments notice. if i was to purchase animals over the net, i'd probably try to do business with those companies that have that ability.
HTH
henry
more so now than ever, many MO places are able to send pics of the animals in questions in a moments notice. if i was to purchase animals over the net, i'd probably try to do business with those companies that have that ability.
HTH
henry
reefaddict
New member
CJ,
Have you actually ordered from all of those sites?
cong,
Thanks, I enjoyed the specifics in your aqualink post.
hcs3,
You are lucky to be able to get to a quality reef LFS. Of the 15 stores in a near radius of me, only one has quality animals and they know it, so the prices are outrageous.
Chritine & Tim, Thanks for your imput..
Have you actually ordered from all of those sites?
cong,
Thanks, I enjoyed the specifics in your aqualink post.
hcs3,
You are lucky to be able to get to a quality reef LFS. Of the 15 stores in a near radius of me, only one has quality animals and they know it, so the prices are outrageous.
Chritine & Tim, Thanks for your imput..
Sloeber
Active member
reef adict
don't think these stores are local - they are not. HA is a 3 hour drive. PA a 2 hour drive. IA a 1 1/2 hour drive. but i make the drive just so i can see what i'm getting. i've driven the 3 hours to HA, looked at well over 200 clams, and 500 stony corals, and didn't purchase a single thing just because i was unhappy with the quality. so i drove the 3 hours home empty handed.
stupid or crazy? you might say so. but i like to think my tank speaks for itself.
henry
don't think these stores are local - they are not. HA is a 3 hour drive. PA a 2 hour drive. IA a 1 1/2 hour drive. but i make the drive just so i can see what i'm getting. i've driven the 3 hours to HA, looked at well over 200 clams, and 500 stony corals, and didn't purchase a single thing just because i was unhappy with the quality. so i drove the 3 hours home empty handed.
stupid or crazy? you might say so. but i like to think my tank speaks for itself. henry
reefaddict:
Just about. The two I have not dealt with are Splash of Life and Tropicorium -- but I feel confident in their inclusion.
John Rice did a solid review of Splash of Life on his site, complete with a photodocumentary. John doesn't endorse companies lightly, so I'd be quite comfortable giving SOL my business.
Tropicorium is, of course, run by Dick Perrin. They deal mostly with packages (which don't interest me), but you'll find a number of sites out there that highlight shipments rec'd from them.
Just about. The two I have not dealt with are Splash of Life and Tropicorium -- but I feel confident in their inclusion.
John Rice did a solid review of Splash of Life on his site, complete with a photodocumentary. John doesn't endorse companies lightly, so I'd be quite comfortable giving SOL my business.
Tropicorium is, of course, run by Dick Perrin. They deal mostly with packages (which don't interest me), but you'll find a number of sites out there that highlight shipments rec'd from them.
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