Reef Crystals $$ Question

[Wolfmann81]

Question for someone/everybody. I apologize if this is under the wrong thread.

Occasionally one of my LFS is somewhat 'out of bounds' on their pricing with different things (creatures, etc), but sometimes reasonably competitive on other things.

He has his Reef Crystals (160G bucket) listed for $60, said that retail is $90. Does this fall in line with what others pay for it, or is he substantially high with that $$ figure?

I know Reef Crystals is absolutely one of the best, but I need to make sure paying $20 more for RC (than some other buckets) makes sense.

 

[campos]

just do some price comparisons with Google. I know Marine Depot does free shipping with salt check what their prices are

 

[Don_v]

I would say 60 is about average for a LFS.. It's less than that online, but once you add shipping(unless you get some kind of free shipping promo) it comes out to about the same. Most of my LFS' sell it for that price. The one I actually buy from sells it to me for 45..


I've never seen reef crystals for $90.00 that's outrageous.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Drewbaby]

Leesburg pet center in leesburg fl. Sells reef crystals For between $49.99 and $59 depending on what they paid for it. If they get it on sale they put it on sale. Currently the 200 gal box set of 4-50 gal bags is also $49.99

I've paid as little as $39 for it shipped online

 

[rtparty]

$60 isn't bad for Reef Crystals. I used a bucket once and will never buy it again. I thought it was a garbage salt. I would rather use Oceanic. I fought parameter issues and cyano bacteria the ENTIRE time I used the Reef Crystals.

I switched over to D&D H2Ocean and my cyano disappeared within a week. My parameters were much better and my corals looked better to my eye.

Now I have switched to ESV B-Ionic Sea Water System and so far I love it. You control everything with it. Alk, Ca, and Mg are all picked by you. The last 2 gallons I made had over 16dkh but I am pretty sure I messed up the mixture. I think I doubled the alk on accident. I am going to make another batch and measure it this time before adding to my tank. My first 7 gallons came out perfect so I am pretty sure the second batch was user error.

 

[kingfisher62]

I just got My 200 gallon box from petsolutions 55 bucks delivered. It is usually a toss up between them and DR fosters. Just depends who has it on sale when I need it!

 

[dlp211]

I get my 200g boxes from AquariumGuys, about 50 bucks ea delivered.

 

[jeff@zina.com]

Locally, prices are similar to the OP's, but dealer's will buy bulk and run a special so it pays to watch which LFS has what on special. They all use email lists and web sites for promotion so it's easy.

Jeff

 

[gh0st]

Two words
Seachem Salinity

It's not cheap, but it makes more SW at higher Specific Gravity, and parameters are VERY consistent, and a much better range than any other salt I've used.

That and all ingredients are moisture free, so all you're paying for is salt, not water content, which can vary by batch and throw parameters out of wack.

 

[Wolfmann81]

Thank you for all of your input. It sounds like my LFS is within range of what it should be - taking the assumption that RC is what I am looking for. I am not really too interested in changing salts. I have tried many different types (RC probably being the most expensive of all of the ones I have tried) but it has given me consistent parameters and have not had any problems with it.

 

[scuzy]

i can get Aquavitro salinity salt 120gallon buckets for $30 here so i say it's expensive for reef crystals.

 

[ljr]

I always keep my eyes open for sales at my LFS, they usually have one where they sell salt very cheaply as a loss leader. And one always sells salt at what they paid (doesn't want salt to cause people to leave the hobby).

When I do find a good sale... I buy a lot!

 

[allsps40]

At my LFS's Reef Crystals runs right at $60 for a bucket. I used it for years then was turn off to it by 3 buckets of the new formula that mixed up really brown and with alk at 14 and ca at over 500. I like a higher ca and alk but that was a bit to high and wow brown water. I now am using D-D H2Ocean and am very pleased with it. I also have liked Tropic Marin Pro Reef and HW Reefer. IMO if you cant afford the cost of regular maintenance on a reef tank then you should not be in this hobby. It would be like having a dog and not being about to afford dog food. IMO $60 for a bucket of salt in nothing in this hobby. I also by the "premo" salts as I feel there is a better quality control, better balanced and consistent.

 

[Wolfmann81]

allsps40 - I think it stands to reason that after having a 180G tank with mixed lps/sps, I am certainly not complaining about the cost of operation (in salt) for my tank. I just think that I can certainly find a high-quality salt for $60. I would just not buy $80-90 salt buckets. it is a bit different buying salt for a 180G tank than it is for a 40G tank. I probably go through salt 3-4x faster than you because of the size of the tank (not to mention the other higher expenditures with electricity, etc). I think most people probably just want a good value with the salt they buy - they expect to pay more (within reason) for a good quality salt.

Just trying to find a reasonable price on a good salt product. it's not like I am buying IO for $35-45 trying to say that it is every bit as the primo salts.

I have heard of the brown water-mixture with the RC's before from another thread. Did it happen to be the buckets or the box? It seemed like from that thread that people were having problems with a number of batches from the RC boxes, not the buckets - no one knew why (very odd). I have never had that experience, but it would certainly turn me off from RC if that became a lingering problem for me.

 

[Scuba Steve]

I buy all my salt from doc foster & smith. $49.00 for a 160 bucket and 8.99 shipping or sometime free shipping. All lfs are over priced.

 

[NYCBOB]

drsfostersmith has free shipping over $49.99. lfs simply cant compete with online vendors on prices since it has overhead to cover.