How far have you driven for your tank?

dwair · Sep 3, 2020

So I was at a new local hobbyists house yesterday getting some stuff from the tank he was breaking down and of course we got to shooting the bull.

We got to talking bout trips we've made to see other hobbyists and it got me to thinking, just over the past 4-5 months I've probably drove upwards of 4,000 miles for either coral swaps, equipment swaps, etc.

I'm retired so this makes it easier for me, gas is super cheap right now and its easier than shipping especially with all thats going on in the world right now

So just curious if I'm a "loner" in this regard. I'd rather drive a good distance, make a new friend and relationship than do a 1 and done kind of thing, so I drive ALOT for my tank!

KStatefan · Sep 3, 2020

I have a 1040 mile trip planed for tomorrow to pick up a piece of equipment.

dwair · Sep 3, 2020

KStatefan said:
I have a 1040 mile trip planed for tomorrow to pick up a piece of equipment.

I hope that piece of equipment is at least a new tank! Thats a LONG drive. I've only done about 500 miles in 1 day for anything so far. I've driven about 2,000 miles in 1 trip before, but it wasn't for this hobby!

vetteguy53081 · Sep 3, 2020

2.5 hour round trip
The rest, i use U-ship For longer hauling

dwair · Sep 3, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
2.5 hour round trip
The rest, i use U-ship For longer hauling

Thats about the average for me. In Louisiana most of the reefers are down south near NOLA. So 2.5 hours is kinda my baseline, if its beyond that, I really start thinking if its worth it lol.

KStatefan · Sep 3, 2020

dwair said:
I hope that piece of equipment is at least a new tank! Thats a LONG drive. I've only done about 500 miles in 1 day for anything so far. I've driven about 2,000 miles in 1 trip before, but it wasn't for this hobby!

sump and accessories

Rental vehicle is cheap, gas is reasonable, vacation time to burn since covid has cancelled everything that was planned.

waynel · Sep 3, 2020

About 600miles round trip to get my tank

dwair · Sep 3, 2020

waynel said:
About 600miles round trip to get my tank

Yea I'd do that if the deal was good. Shipping on a tank is very costly even from builders!

waynel · Sep 3, 2020

dwair said:
Yea I'd do that if the deal was good. Shipping on a tank is very costly even from builders!

Was a great trip, took my younger daughter along, who has really taken an interest in the tank (and animals in general).

dwair · Sep 3, 2020

waynel said:
Was a great trip, took my younger daughter along, who has really taken an interest in the tank (and animals in general).

Thats awesome! Start em early!

tony'stank · Sep 4, 2020

When I lived in rural AZ all my local LFS closed. I used to drive 11/2 hours to Las Vegas once or twice a month to visit LFS. Once a year I would drive 4 hours ( one way) to go to a special LFS. Her in MI once or twice a year I will drive11/2 hours to go to a special LFS

dwair · Sep 4, 2020

I first read that as 11 1/2 hours, i was like omg.

alpburakozbay · Sep 4, 2020

I didn't drive but I walked. When I just started saltwater hobby. As a high school student, I walked 4 miles on a summer day for an invented Sanders wooden air stone...;Facepalm

Oiva · Sep 4, 2020

3 day trip to pick up Corals

dwair · Sep 4, 2020

Oiva said:
3 day trip to pick up Corals

Wow, did they survive?

Oiva · Sep 4, 2020

dwair said:
Wow, did they survive?

well it was 1 1/2 day each way. And yes. Corals can survive for a long period of time if packed/shipped right.

we once shipped to a costumer were fish and corals got delayed for 5 days. Everything except a anemone survived.

dwair · Sep 4, 2020

Oiva said:
well it was 1 1/2 day each way. And yes. Corals can survive for a long period of time if packed/shipped right.

we once shipped to a costumer were fish and corals got delayed for 5 days. Everything except a anemone survived.

Yea i don't see any coral surviving for 5 days being shipping to me (Louisiana) in the middle of july/august lol. 100+ heat.

Oiva · Sep 4, 2020

dwair said:
Yea i don't see any coral surviving for 5 days being shipping to me (Louisiana) in the middle of july/august lol. 100+ heat.

I can imagine. Well i live in Norway so we hardly get «warm» weather here. So shipping is a big easier.

terraincognita · Sep 4, 2020

Funny, kind of reversely, I never drive too far for coral but anytime I drive out of Los Angeles (which is huge, it takes about 2 hours just to get from one side of the county to the other)

Before I leave, I always do a quick browse on craigs list, offer up, and market place to see what's being sold.

I'll also visit at least 1-2 LFS's while I'm there.

i.e. I was in Bakersfield last year which is 4-5 hour drive from where I live, and while I was there I checked out a couple LFS