SaltWaterAquarium.com for inverts?

chiefifd

Member
Hi All...
Has anyone used SaltWaterAquarium.com for inverts? I'm not seeing much about their track record. Last invert purchase was from ReefTopia a few years ago.......At the time I was very happy with ReefTopia's order, just looking for a confirmation as we all know times change.
Thanks
 
I've used them for supplies and hardware without a problem, I've never used them for livestock. I did recently , 2 weeks ago, get an order from reefcleaners.com. Everything came in good shape and on time.
 
jjmg,
Did you use USPS or upgrade to UPS???? Curious
Reefcleaners was good, but USPS has been a let down for me in NE PA. I haven't heard anything negative about SWA's livestock, but my experiences with their dry goods have been great. I'd try them for livestock without hesitation. I've also purchased from Reeftopia within the year and they were great as well. Pricing everywhere in general has been wild, so I'd do some comparison shopping before completing your order.
 
Hi Breadman.....
Exactly why I'm checking..............I'm in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, not exactly a main route of commerce either.
I think I'll give SWA a try, looks like their facility is in Chicago where they ship inverts from.
I'll place the order this coming Monday, & let ya know how it goes.......
Take care.... & Thanks
 
I used USPS but I live in Mobile, Al so close to their Florida location. Being in the UP, you are probably right with going with someone closer.
 
Definitely let us know how it goes. I was initially confusing them with saltwaterfish.com. Never knew saltwater aquarium sold live goods.
 
I hadn't bought replacement inverts for a few years. While looking around for the best prices on Red Sea salt I stumbled across the inverts @ SaltWaterAquarium.com
Prices are higher for sure than 2 years ago, especially when shipping is added. But it's all part of the hobby
 
Well........
Tuesday I ordered 10 Blue legged Hermits, 10 Red legged Hermits, 10 Cerith snails & 5 Mexican Turbos from SaltwaterAquarium.com The Trochus snails were out of stock I wanted, oh well.....
Received good communications (e-mails) about them receiving the order, and when shipped (from the Chicago Area). The order was shipped out late afternoon on Wednesday by FED-X overnight. I received the package here in Upper Michigan at 5:30pm Thursday (not ideal, but ok).
All inverts packaged well, with a heat pack, all bags fully inflated, no water loss. No apparent losses during shipping, I'm sure two or three of something probably won't make it.
Overall a positive experience for my first time invert order from them.......
 
That’s good to hear. They have a lot of ORA classics that I may try when weather is better
 
I use Saltwateraquarium.com and they are good, never had issues with the fish/corals/cleanup crews. I'm in chicago, my only real beef with them would be when we get cold, they just don't ship, which is fine, but they won't communicate it, you just wait and then one day you'll get a 'your order shipped' email and it will be there next day.
Saltwaterfish.com <----very bad in my opinion, I ordered a Tuxedo Urchin, arrived DOA, 3 pajama cardinals, one died in less then 3 hours, the other 2 had ich, and I understand that this happens, but you won't get anything out of them. They might give you a credit on the base price of the fish, so say a cardinal was $29.99 tax and shipping is extra, so you have to repay the tax and shipping, and the credit is only good for 3 months.
And to be clear, they have higher limits for free shipping, and if you want overnight (where the package should show up by 10:30am) its extra, if you don't pay that it comes via UPS whenever they get it there, could be as late as 8pm, if its after it won't be until the next day.
So yes you might get a credit, but it will probably cost you close to $70 to replace that one fish/coral/invert, and if your not really ready in the time to place a decent size order you will lose the credit.

Live aquaria, saltwateraquarium seem like solid options that really are concerned with getting you your order alive so you can acclimate and quarentine as we normally do. Saltwaterfish seems more concerned with just moving product in my opinion.
 
I use Saltwateraquarium.com and they are good, never had issues with the fish/corals/cleanup crews. I'm in chicago, my only real beef with them would be when we get cold, they just don't ship, which is fine, but they won't communicate it, you just wait and then one day you'll get a 'your order shipped' email and it will be there next day.
Saltwaterfish.com <----very bad in my opinion, I ordered a Tuxedo Urchin, arrived DOA, 3 pajama cardinals, one died in less then 3 hours, the other 2 had ich, and I understand that this happens, but you won't get anything out of them. They might give you a credit on the base price of the fish, so say a cardinal was $29.99 tax and shipping is extra, so you have to repay the tax and shipping, and the credit is only good for 3 months.
And to be clear, they have higher limits for free shipping, and if you want overnight (where the package should show up by 10:30am) its extra, if you don't pay that it comes via UPS whenever they get it there, could be as late as 8pm, if its after it won't be until the next day.
So yes you might get a credit, but it will probably cost you close to $70 to replace that one fish/coral/invert, and if your not really ready in the time to place a decent size order you will lose the credit.

Live aquaria, saltwateraquarium seem like solid options that really are concerned with getting you your order alive so you can acclimate and quarentine as we normally do. Saltwaterfish seems more concerned with just moving product in my opinion.
Live Aquaria IMO/IME has really gone downhill. I had a less than stellar experience with them even ordering from Diver's Den.
 
David, I've heard the same. I'm very tempted by the Stuber Acro, I always wanted one but never got one.
That is a classic. what that was the first acro in the hobby ever written about?

Live Aquaria IMO/IME has really gone downhill. I had a less than stellar experience with them even ordering from Diver's Den.


Yea not the same company Since Petco bought and sold them. Got way worse after Kevin left.
Fact is they were never really good and were drop shippers all of the time except for the WI facility and divers den.
They just had a good warranty. Wi facility was good and that was because of Kevin.
I used to go up and hang out there all the time with Kevin and a few others. They always were doing thing for locals too.
I used to go up there and trade corals too really early on for their farm.

Yea sad but now they are one of the worst.
 
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I use Saltwateraquarium.com and they are good, never had issues with the fish/corals/cleanup crews. I'm in chicago, my only real beef with them would be when we get cold, they just don't ship, which is fine, but they won't communicate it, you just wait and then one day you'll get a 'your order shipped' email and it will be there next day.
Saltwaterfish.com <----very bad in my opinion, I ordered a Tuxedo Urchin, arrived DOA, 3 pajama cardinals, one died in less then 3 hours, the other 2 had ich, and I understand that this happens, but you won't get anything out of them. They might give you a credit on the base price of the fish, so say a cardinal was $29.99 tax and shipping is extra, so you have to repay the tax and shipping, and the credit is only good for 3 months.
And to be clear, they have higher limits for free shipping, and if you want overnight (where the package should show up by 10:30am) its extra, if you don't pay that it comes via UPS whenever they get it there, could be as late as 8pm, if its after it won't be until the next day.
So yes you might get a credit, but it will probably cost you close to $70 to replace that one fish/coral/invert, and if your not really ready in the time to place a decent size order you will lose the credit.

Live aquaria, saltwateraquarium seem like solid options that really are concerned with getting you your order alive so you can acclimate and quarentine as we normally do. Saltwaterfish seems more concerned with just moving product in my opinion.
I ordered a Carpenter Flasher Wrasse from from SaltWaterAquarium a couple of weeks ago because I am in Chicago and I was able to pick it up. They refunded the shipping fee as soon as I picked it up. This Wrasse was eating everything from day one and is doing great. The next time I want to get a new fish I will be checking them first
 
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