Suggestion for Ordering Online

[bryan47caveman]

What’re some some quality online sites to order parts, fish, or inverts from? I only have a couple local fish stores but want a little more variety for my tank. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[EliMelly]

For anything live go with Dr Reef, prices are always great as well as you can’t beat pre QT fish.

 

[VintageReefer]

Saltwateraquarium.com I love to use for parts and inverts. They have a rewards program. Free gifts to choose from on every order too. I’ve got Christmas ornaments, neon acrylic frag stands, coral viewing glasses, food samples, drip acclimation kit, all free

 

[deome]

Following because I still need a new vendor--I ordered a new return pump on the 11th from saltwateraquarium.com, USPS (post office) tracking info says a label was created but they never received product from vendor. Saltwateraquarium.com customer service told me they ship thousands of orders via USPS in a big commercial truck every day (so clearly they don't need my business), and that USPS often skips scans "this time of year." Meanwhile they changed the pump's status to "out of stock", and told me I can't get a refund until the 24th. Really crappy customer service, and they're completely wasting my time, will never order from them again.

If anyone has other recommendations for equipment vendors (not BRS, not Saltwateraquarium.com), I would love to hear them. This part of the hobby is what's most likely to make me leave--equipment failures every few months plus forever-waits for parts.

 

[VintageReefer]

Following because I still need a new vendor--I ordered a new return pump on the 11th from saltwateraquarium.com, USPS (post office) tracking info says a label was created but they never received product from vendor. Saltwateraquarium.com customer service told me they ship thousands of orders via USPS in a big commercial truck every day (so clearly they don't need my business), and that USPS often skips scans "this time of year." Meanwhile they changed the pump's status to "out of stock", and told me I can't get a refund until the 24th. Really crappy customer service, and they're completely wasting my time, will never order from them again.

If anyone has other recommendations for equipment vendors (not BRS, not Saltwateraquarium.com), I would love to hear them. This part of the hobby is what's most likely to make me leave--equipment failures every few months plus forever-waits for parts.

I’m sorry for your experience! I’ve never had that issue before with them

You could check Amazon in future

 

[EliMelly]

Following because I still need a new vendor--I ordered a new return pump on the 11th from saltwateraquarium.com, USPS (post office) tracking info says a label was created but they never received product from vendor. Saltwateraquarium.com customer service told me they ship thousands of orders via USPS in a big commercial truck every day (so clearly they don't need my business), and that USPS often skips scans "this time of year." Meanwhile they changed the pump's status to "out of stock", and told me I can't get a refund until the 24th. Really crappy customer service, and they're completely wasting my time, will never order from them again.

If anyone has other recommendations for equipment vendors (not BRS, not Saltwateraquarium.com), I would love to hear them. This part of the hobby is what's most likely to make me leave--equipment failures every few months plus forever-waits for parts.

Premium aquatics is good

 

[MR294]

Saltwateraquarium.com I love to use for parts and inverts. They have a rewards program. Free gifts to choose from on every order too. I’ve got Christmas ornaments, neon acrylic frag stands, coral viewing glasses, food samples, drip acclimation kit, all free

I've had great luck with SAQ as well for drygoods and inverts. They've become my go to for things I can't find locally.

 

[timmyrules]

I’ll list all the places I’ve ordered from!

Saltwaterfish.com is ok for fish, but quality isn’t top notch,
The good thing is they don’t charge an arm and a leg for shipping.

Foxysaltwatertopicals is pretty good! (I’ve personally only ever ordered fish from them) They do have pretty expensive shipping, but they have amazing customer service!

Saltybottomreefcompany is good, but when I ordered, the shipping cost made me wanna throw up.

For corals, either worldwidecorals.com or sbb corals are both great options!…

for fish, coral, and inverts, checkout Tankstop.com! Tank stop is a little bit pricier, but it is worth it for the quality!

 

[deome]

I’m sorry for your experience! I’ve never had that issue before with them

You could check Amazon in future

I check Amazon as a last resort, and they're really only good for finding a specific product, not browsing what's out there on the market.

 

[deome]

Premium aquatics is good

Thanks! Browsing them now.

 

[VintageReefer]

I check Amazon as a last resort, and they're really only good for finding a specific product, not browsing what's out there on the market.

Very true

Browsing is dangerous lol

 

[deome]

Very true

Browsing is dangerous lol

Not really. I want to see the vast majority of products so that I can filter by budget, not brand, pick a few different products to research further. then comparison shop between different online retailers since apparently they all suck in different ways. I'm mad at BRS for discon'ing all their parent company's competitors' products, since that keeps me from browsing everything on the market. Just cancelled my SAQ order, never dealing with them again because of their shipping and refund policies--I'm sorely convinced that they took my money, realized they were out of stock, then just lied to me about having shipped it (maybe hoping they could get it in stock and ship before I noticed/complained). I'm sure it'll be two weeks or more before I see my money back in hand again.

Just need a dang DC return pump that can do over 1500 gph and will arrive within a week, and costs less than a typical mortgage payment.

 

[scooterh928]

I’ve recently ordered a few times from aquacave and they been really good prices and shipping. I also use saltwater aquarium

 

[VintageReefer]

Not really. I want to see the vast majority of products so that I can filter by budget, not brand, pick a few different products to research further. then comparison shop between different online retailers since apparently they all suck in different ways. I'm mad at BRS for discon'ing all their parent company's competitors' products, since that keeps me from browsing everything on the market. Just cancelled my SAQ order, never dealing with them again because of their shipping and refund policies--I'm sorely convinced that they took my money, realized they were out of stock, then just lied to me about having shipped it (maybe hoping they could get it in stock and ship before I noticed/complained). I'm sure it'll be two weeks or more before I see my money back in hand again.

Just need a dang DC return pump that can do over 1500 gph and will arrive within a week, and costs less than a typical mortgage payment.

Are you going to run 1500+ gph or do you want a max power of 1500 and intend to run around 50%

 

[WvAquatics]

Amazon prime delivery 2 days

 

[deome]

Are you going to run 1500+ gph or do you want a max power of 1500 and intend to run around 50%

Both. I have a large 150g multi-tank system, with maybe 10ft of head pressure, and I'd like to add another 40g tank or two in the future. Everything's plumbed to share one return line from the sump. I'm planning to install a flow meter in the future to fine tune things, and I'd like to run at 50% (or less, if I add a second backup pump). When I install the new pump I'll be starting a build thread since my system is kinda funky (my *only* problem with the hobby is equipment/suppliers, everything else has been very successful and fulfilling. Since I've had nothing but problems with Apex, I'm rebuilding my system right now to run independent of a controller).

 

[deome]

I’ve recently ordered a few times from aquacave and they been really good prices and shipping. I also use saltwater aquarium

I found Aqua Cave after posting yesterday, ended up ordering from them. Product was shipped IMMEDIATELY via FedEx, tracking confirms product was received by FedEx same day I ordered and has a clear delivery date estimate. Think I found my supplier, thanks!