Where did your money go?

[NY_Caveman]

The holiday sales frenzy is over! I have seen lots of threads about sales and about what people splurged on. I am curious where people shopped. Please share and include any online, LFS and other brick & mortar sources of your purchases. Marine aquarium related spending only, supplies and livestock. Break it down by percentage or, if rough estimating, by order from most to least. What you bought is optional as are any comments on your orders.

Me:
40% SaltwaterAquarium.com
20% SBReefLights.com
20% BulkReefSupply.com
18% MarineDepot.com
2% Home Depot (store)

I bought an aquarium and stand from SaltwaterAquarium.com which was my largest purchase.

 

[Crabs McJones]

The holiday sales frenzy is over! I have seen lots of threads about sales and about what people splurged on. I am curious where people shopped. Please share and include any online, LFS and other brick & mortar sources of your purchases. Marine aquarium related spending only, supplies and livestock. Break it down by percentage or, if rough estimating, by order from most to least. What you bought is optional as are any comments on your orders.

Me:
40% SaltwaterAquarium.com
20% SBReefLights.com
20% BulkReefSupply.com
18% MarineDepot.com
2% Home Depot (store)

I bought an aquarium and stand from SaltwaterAquarium.com which was my largest purchase.

I exclusively buy from BRS, anything they can't get I try Dr. Foster and Smith since they are both relatively close to me and can get it to me next day in most cases.

 

[NY_Caveman]

@Bulk Reef Supply is excellent. Had great experiences with them. I love how they interacted in the forums with users in their sales thread. Some may say they were only trying to drive sales, but I think that had as much fun as we did. We were going to spend that money anyway, so why not join in, right?

 

[eenoo]

25% BRS
25% trigger systems
25% PVCfittingsonline
20% LFS
2.5% HD
2.5% amazon

BRS: return pump, RODI, salt, and like 1000 other smaller things

trigger: custom made triton sump

PVCfittingsonline: all my drain/return plumbing

LFS: 75g + rock + sand

HD: everything i forgot to buy online

amazon: gate valve, float valve, pvc cement, shims

 

[Syoung]

50% Bulk Reef Supply
50% LFS (Aqua SD)

BRS is incredible with their selection, deals, and shipping, so I always like ordering from there.

Aqua SD is a local store for me, and they have a decent selection of fish, inverts, and dry goods to go along with the horrible selection of corals. And by horrible, I mean I am out of money. Thanks black Friday deals!

I could get a little cheaper elsewhere, but the guys locally are fun and knowledgeable. Plus no livestock shipping fees.

 

[NY_Caveman]

In fairness, I had great experiences with @MarineDepot and @SaltwaterAq as well. SaltwaterAquarium.com was new for me, but they had the aquarium I wanted in stock at a great price. They quickly responded to my questions and were very helpful. The tank I bought from them arrives tomorrow and I can then confirm the complete experience I had with them.

 

[ihavecrabs]

100% BRS.. they are amazing to work with.

 

[Radman73]

70% BRS
20% DFS
7% Amazon
3% LFS

I haven't been in the area long enough to get a feel for or trust the LFS'.

 

[olecaptainj]

99% wwc
1% brs

 

[jbow50]

100% BRS

 

[elisa h]

40% Marine Depot (jbj auto top of and pump $79)
30% amazon (jebao pump $60)
20% BRS (backup heater, test kits ~$45)
10% LFS (gsp frag, Hollywood stunner chalice, disbar anthia, bangai cardinal, and portion of live blackworms all for $30)

 

[andyg1960]

90% BRS

10% dry goods forum on reef2reef. Might've bought more on the forum but all the good stuff got snapped up before I could get to it.

 

[charlesk]

I only buy from brs. Their customer service is second to none. Excellent prices and the staff are honest and helpful, never trying to push a sale.

 

[KMench]

In fairness, I had great experiences with @MarineDepot and @SaltwaterAq as well. SaltwaterAquarium.com was new for me, but they had the aquarium I wanted in stock at a great price. They quickly responded to my questions and were very helpful. The tank I bought from them arrives tomorrow and I can then confirm the complete experience I had with them.

Saltwater aquarium has been great every time I've used them! (many times) Always very quick with replies for questions/changing order etc...

 

[Deaf clown]

100% sbreeflights. Got two sbar actinic lights to accent my mh and T5 fixture.