"Dirty Chaeto"

[MikeYasin]

I recently purchased some chaeto from a well known coral vendor and it came loaded with aiptasia. Luckily I had it in a bucket of tank water while I was cleaning the sump, and later dumped the whole thing.

I emailed a pic of the chaeto (attached) and asked for a refund. It's been four days and two emails with no response. I really wanted to support an in-state business, but unless the cheato says specifically "clean", was it unreasonable of me to expect it to come pest free?

I guess the question is, what would you do? I don't want to flame them publicly, but I don't want to just eat the $50 either.

 

[Deschutes541]

Four business or calendar days? I would give them until the end of the week to make things right regardless.

Ive never understood why people won't "name names". I'm sure there are people here who would appreciate knowing which business not buy chaeto at. Especially if it's loaded with a pest that many people have ended up quiting the hobby over.

 

[MikeYasin]

Four business or calendar days? I would give them until the end of the week to make things right regardless.

Ive never understood why people won't "name names". I'm sure there are people here who would appreciate knowing which business not buy chaeto at. Especially if it's loaded with a pest that many people have ended up quiting the hobby over.

Four business days. But I get your point- I'll give them a few more days to make it right.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I recently purchased some chaeto from a well known coral vendor and it came loaded with aiptasia. Luckily I had it in a bucket of tank water while I was cleaning the sump, and later dumped the whole thing.

I emailed a pic of the chaeto (attached) and asked for a refund. It's been four days and two emails with no response. I really wanted to support an in-state business, but unless the cheato says specifically "clean", was it unreasonable of me to expect it to come pest free?

I guess the question is, what would you do? I don't want to flame them publicly, but I don't want to just eat the $50 either.

Paying $50 for chaeto was the mistake. I give it away by the bucketful. I am big on quarantining, but only for fish disease. I personally find it impossible to avoid a lot of the invertebrates out there. I believe I see a hard shell from a vermatid in your name brand chaeto. I don’t know any tank that has been up for years that is void of them.

 

[Deezill]

@MikeYasin I am glad you posted this because I just put up a post to purchase some clean chaeto. AlgaeBarn's site says they are out so I was going to go with Reef Cleaners. Did you happen to get it from them? I will not push the submit button on the page until you respond. I only need a softball size. I gotta stop dosing NoPox. Let me know. Thanks.

 

[35ppt]

Paying $50 for chaeto was the mistake. I give it away by the bucketful. I am big on quarantining, but only for fish disease. I personally find it impossible to avoid a lot of the invertebrates out there. I believe I see a hard shell from a vermatid in your name brand chaeto. I don’t know any tank that has been up for years that is void of them.

Is three years enough? I QT everything wet and I don't even have bristleworms in my current DT, dorvilleidae yes, some tiny tiny algae eating snails I could never ID, copepods, isopods and amphipods but never had aptasia or bubble algae or vermiteds make it past QT. I think having a tank devoid of pests it totally possible. More work and waiting and maybe it's not feasible for a lot of people but it is doable IMO. Maybe I'll have changed my tune in another three years. But I kind of doubt it.

/As for the subject of the thread, I think unless you paid for "clean chaeto" I would expect some amount of pests and be planning to QT it.

 

[JustAnt]

How does one ”clean” cheato? I’ve always been scared about people giving me cheato for fear that it had pests. If I got aptasia bc of taking free cheato I’d lose my mind.

 

[35ppt]

How does one ”clean” cheato? I’ve always been scared about people giving me cheato for fear that it had pests. If I got aptasia bc of taking free cheato I’d lose my mind.

Put it in QT and address the pests as they show up.

 

[tehmadreefer]

The bigger issue here is that the OP actually paid $50 for cheato....

 

[35ppt]

The bigger issue here is that the OP actually paid $50 for cheato....

True, true.
/Probably includes shipping I would assume.

 

[Deezill]

The bigger issue here is that the OP actually paid $50 for cheato....

@tehmadreefer you have a point lol.

 

[tehmadreefer]

True, true.
/Probably includes shipping I would assume.

Still. People on here sell it for like $15-20, most lfs sell for like $5 and a lot of people including myself throw it in the trash.

I just cannot fathom ever paying that kind of money for something that is sooo cheap.

 

[MichaelReefer]

The bigger issue here is that the OP actually paid $50 for cheato....

Yeah I was kinda shocked at that too.

 

[35ppt]

Still. People on here sell it for like $15-20, most lfs sell for like $5 and a lot of people including myself throw it in the trash.

I just cannot fathom ever paying that kind of money for something that is sooo cheap.

No doubt. Maybe there is not many options in his area.

 

[Copingwithpods]

True, true.
/Probably includes shipping I would assume.

I sure hope shipping was included at $50 for what is essentially a future ball of trash.

For $50 I think I would expect a basketball size chunk, absolutely pest free guaranteed, loaded with copepods, isopods and phytoplankton with an iron supplement to boot.