What’s your Experience with online order corals

[douglasbnyhof]

I want to try online orders but nervous about spending a couple hundred and getting shafted with doa coral or damaged packaging resulting in doa coral.

 

[merkmerk73]

I've had great success.

I like Tidal Gardens a lot.

Not only because Than furthers the hobby by providing excellent videos, but they ship pretty good sized corals.

When I went with a local online coral vendor in the DFW area, I was surprised with how insanely tiny the frags were compared to what I was used to getting from Tidal Gardens.

WWC also has an incredible selection.

Protip - don't be a bonehead and order livestock when your state is having extremely cold or extremely hot weather. You can't expect the shippers to get everything done on time.

 

[Gtinnel]

I’ve only recieved orders from 5 different vendors and I have never had an issue. I have a few vendors that I really like and I usually just buy from them.

 

[hobie61]

I’ve only recieved orders from 5 different vendors and I have never had an issue. I have a few vendors that I really like and I usually just buy from them.

Hi, Just curious of the online coral venders you may recommend? As of late, I've used Pacific East Aquaculture, Queen City Corals, Austin Aqua Farms. All with varying degrees of success or failure. I describe a success when a coral lives more than (3) weeks. Also, when i contact the coral vender and they do not respond back stating the status and asking for a refund if the coral dies in a couple of weeks. Few reply back. I do not go back to their business. Thanks much for your time.

 

[Gtinnel]

Hi, Just curious of the online coral venders you may recommend? As of late, I've used Pacific East Aquaculture, Queen City Corals, Austin Aqua Farms. All with varying degrees of success or failure. I describe a success when a coral lives more than (3) weeks. Also, when i contact the coral vender and they do not respond back stating the status and asking for a refund if the coral dies in a couple of weeks. Few reply back. I do not go back to their business. Thanks much for your time.

I mostly order from BattleCorals for sps and SBB corals for everything else. They’re both great, but SBB is a little different than most vendors because he only offers corals during his sales. If you are willing to participate in his sale threads you can get some phenomenal deals.

I have also received orders from ARC, Riptide Aquaculture, and Jersey Corals and have had nothing but good experiences with them also.

I’m sure there are plenty of good online vendors but these are the ones I have experience with. I’ve honestly never had a bad experience with an online vendor.

ETA- I haven’t ordered from Queen City Corals but they have a retail location and my wife and I travel to Charlotte (where they’re based) occasionally and I am excited to stop and see what they have.

 

[fish farmer]

I do most of my coral orders online. I plan shipping in spring and fall and buy from regional vendors. I don't think I have ever lost a coral in shipping....I even got stuff two day mail from Ohio to Vermont and that hammer opened up within minutes.

I ordered from Pacific East Aquaculture this year and most of those corals are doing well 5 months later. Another local for me is Cultivated Reef. I even got a shipment from Unique Corals that hammer opened up within minutes and is still with me several years later.

 

[JaimeAdams]

Hi, Just curious of the online coral venders you may recommend? As of late, I've used Pacific East Aquaculture, Queen City Corals, Austin Aqua Farms. All with varying degrees of success or failure. I describe a success when a coral lives more than (3) weeks. Also, when i contact the coral vender and they do not respond back stating the status and asking for a refund if the coral dies in a couple of weeks. Few reply back. I do not go back to their business. Thanks much for your time.

Do these places offer a guarantee that a coral will live for a couple of weeks in some else's tank? The great majority of places I see offer only an arrive alive guarantee.

 

[fodsod]

I've done a lot of business with WWC (literally thousands of dollars over the years) with spectacular service. Corals are always well packed, very healthy and their communication and customer service is top notch.

I bought a clam from Austin Aqua Farm and the clam eventually shipped and arrived in good condition. It is doing well so far after 3 weeks or so. Matt seems to be a nice guy but the customer service was terrible, full of endless excuses and his promises to make it right ended up not materializing. I just gave up dealing with him. I will not be buying from them again.

 

[hobie61]

I do most of my coral orders online. I plan shipping in spring and fall and buy from regional vendors. I don't think I have ever lost a coral in shipping....I even got stuff two day mail from Ohio to Vermont and that hammer opened up within minutes.

I ordered from Pacific East Aquaculture this year and most of those corals are doing well 5 months later. Another local for me is Cultivated Reef. I even got a shipment from Unique Corals that hammer opened up within minutes and is still with me several years later.

Thanks much. I've had most success with Pacific East, just pricey. Same for you as spring or fall for purchasing. Added a couple more pieces of rock for caves and want to cover them now. Wish there were places closer to our area. A trip to Boston takes time and gas expense. I did get some pieces from Reefbum (Warren) last summer, but didnt last very long. Think his water chemistry is much "cleaner" than mine. I've been looking for a few more torch, goni, scoly pieces, as well as a few colorful sps pieces. Thanks again for your time and thoughts.

 

[fish farmer]

Thanks much. I've had most success with Pacific East, just pricey. Same for you as spring or fall for purchasing. Added a couple more pieces of rock for caves and want to cover them now. Wish there were places closer to our area. A trip to Boston takes time and gas expense. I did get some pieces from Reefbum (Warren) last summer, but didnt last very long. Think his water chemistry is much "cleaner" than mine. I've been looking for a few more torch, goni, scoly pieces, as well as a few colorful sps pieces. Thanks again for your time and thoughts.

There is a place called the Coral Farm in western Mass. I haven't tried it, they do ship, but I think walk ins are by appointment.

 

[Narideth]

I've actually had pretty good luck with, of all things, Ebay bidding orders. Knowing how much I'm willing to spend and what I'm looking for, I'll peruse places with high ratings and large selections and then make that delivery fee count for multiple bids.

I have been snaked once, but even then it was a couple of healthy corals, just... some camera trickery that really made the pieces look different than they actually were.

 

[zoomonster]

Yes, I do all the time and majority good luck. For my current remodel most have come from AquaSD (lots of sales up to 40%) and a few from Queencity Corals and reef gardener. No issues with the last two just a few with AquaSD but they have always been quick to remedy. In all fairness I have ordered a LOT from them, so the survival stats are very good. I have ordered from Battle Corals and Unique Corals in the past and they get 5 stars too.

And no most places now are arrive alive with a two hour window but in particular ASD has been very good working with that. Some places do better (14 day probably the most) with corals and fish but you will pay more (sometimes a lot more) for that N day guarantee.

We have some well-known places around that I generally don't patronize. They have just gotten carried away with microscopic frags and ludicrous prices. They do of course also sell online and EBAY as does ASD and others. Sometimes that's the best way to get stuff at a reasonable price.