How often do you order coral?

HM3105 · Mar 16, 2015

I started thinking about how much I spend on coral and started wondering if I was "average" or....something else...when it came to how often I order coral. I'd say I order like once every other month or so and usually shoot for the free shipping threshold ($150-$199).

So I was just wondering how often does everyone else order coral and roughly how much do you spend?

marz · Mar 17, 2015

For me and the wife anywhere from 20-50 a week on average.

Wiz · Mar 17, 2015

I buy local more. But order about $50 a monrh. Locally more like $30 a week.

marz · Mar 17, 2015

All local as well no online for me yet thankfully my lfs has a ton of frags cheap.

Buddhatank · Mar 17, 2015

I always have to order enough to compensate for the shipping cost. Sometimes i just can't find what I'm looking for locally. Thankgoodness for the fellow reefers and these forums.

gidenski · Mar 17, 2015

I would say _now_ I am spending about 50 dollars a month all from the local LFS here in Bulgaria. In the beginning, I was about 100 dollars a week, but the instability I caused with constant additions and my inexperience led to a multitude of issues (parameter balance and coral chemical turf wars). 6 months after a crash and tons of research later, I'm now taking my time and only ordering select pieces from my LFS based on a long term plan I have created for my tank. This slower and planned approach has had a dramatic affect on the overall specimen health and growth in my tank. Plus it prevents my tank from looking like a LFS with frags littered everywhere (i'll save that for my future frag tank).

With online ordering, it costs an arm and a leg to get anything shipped overnight to Bulgaria. I'm considering an Acan order, but not really sure I'm prepared to drop 300 euro to make the shiping cost of 80 euro worth the hassle. My biggest hesitation is acans here aren't anywhere as good looking or diverse as what is available back home in the USA. I've seen some nice items from Local EU shippers, but the pricing is just silly.

bneufelder · Mar 17, 2015

When stocking, I ordered a lot very quickly and have had bad results. Starting to slow down a bit and try to order once a month with another person to get free shipping and spend around $150. I also like ordering through the LFS so I can get things before they hit their water. My highest month was over 1k, will never do that again as I lost 80%.

NanaReefer · Mar 17, 2015

Never. I wait for our yearly frag swap and if I got the room or see something I really like I go for it. By then I usually have trades available so I actually spend very little. This years swap I brought home 1 T. Maxima and 9 frags. Total cost $65

SeahorseKeeper · Mar 17, 2015

I just order corals when I see or want something. This month I placed two orders and a third might be in the horizon. I will go several months without placing an order, but I keep my eyes open for something to add.

Pete polyp · Mar 17, 2015

A visit to the lfs is an event for me because of the distance. I would have to drive at least 300 miles round trip. I do hit several different stores on the way and way back. After gas and feeding the kids McDonald's it costs more than the shipping for a box of corals. I have bought more corals online than I have in lfs because of this. The downfall to ordering online is that you don't get the full experience. I don't get to have conversation with fellow hobbyists and store employees. There's just something about talking tank with others and whipping out the cell phone to share pictures and see others. I usually do hit the free shipping threshold because that extra $35-$50 is better spent towards a frag or colony in my opinion.

LetItReef · Mar 17, 2015

Between $40-75.00 a month on LFS only, can't stand the shipping cost plus I am nearby to Shipwreck's Cove, Reefer's Garage and AquaSD.

Waters · Mar 17, 2015

Locally roughly 50-100 per week. I have never ordered coral online.

miamiangler · Mar 17, 2015

I have 7 good shops locally and Reef Gardner is only 1/2 hour from my home .Have a few frag swaps coming up like Sunday there`s one in Palm Beach ,then Orlando in April .so I spend about 40 -200 bucks depending what I like . Have 4 tanks to stock .