In Person or In Package: How are you stocking your tank?

[Mr Fishface]

I'm lucky to finally have a really nice lfs nearby. Before that we had a Petco that didn't really upkeep anything so I ordered online. I like being able to look at the fish or coral before buying!

 

[randomfishdude]

My lfs. 45 min drive but worth it. I know the sceduals of who works there. I went today when the owner js there, I know her, and we talked. She even gave me 80$ worth of free dragons breath and a free emerald crab.

 

[Huntersreef]

I’m lucky. I have some amazing lfs near me!

 

[Reeferbadness]

I "got a guy". My friend is a freelance tank maintenance guy and also a great person to call when you are in some serious trouble (like a tank leak/failure). He also buys fish in bulk, QT's them for as long as you desire, makes sure they are well fed and healthy and then delivers the fish to customers. He takes custom orders so it's great to send him what i need and about 6 weeks later have it dropped off - for LESS than the LFS and with much more confidence that they will survive and thrive. My most recent purchase - this Gem Tang - and if you know this fish they aren't cheap. He's now my the king of the tank something i would have never purchased from and LFS

 

[Cheezle]

I prefer to shop in person to try and support local/small business but sometimes I like to support the smaller online stores as well. Too many times has a small mom and pop shop offered something too good to pass up that leads me to spending an extra 100-200 bucks on their site.

 

[reefsaver]

I buy everything from the initial store I bought my aquarium. When I started the hobby I had nothing really.
Then after a year I got a Job in a Coral retailer and i've never looked back haha. Best job in the world.

 

[DIYreefer]

I've acquired about 95% of my corals from the classifieds here on r2r. I'm not knocking vendors by any means, but I've found that when buying from other hobbyists, the frags tend to be cleaner and are typically far less expensive.

 

[Solo McReefer]

It's 2024, and our community is constantly changing and innovating. With that change and innovation come various ways to get your hands on some beautiful specimens. No matter how you acquire your new wet pets, there are pros and cons. What do you prefer?

How are you stocking your tank? What are the pros and cons of doing it that way?

Photo credit: dani5

Vast majority is online

LFS near me are depressing

 

[sky414]

Online - they allow 14 day guarantee. The LFS is no refunds. I have purchased fish that have died the next day and there is no recourse. I do try to get everything to support the fish from the LFS. Shoutout out to Reef Beauties for having such a great guarantee!

 

[fish farmer]

My tank is a mix, fish from LFS, snails from LFS and online, corals mostly from online.

"Local stores" In quotes because one of my stores is 4 hours away.

Pros = You can see what you are buying, prefer to buy fish this way. I have clowns that are 17 years old from a store that is still in business and large enough to have a good selection even after they downgraded.

Cons = My true local stores don't have much of a selection or the cost is high. They did have trochus snails the last time I was there....$9 a snail.

Online

Pros = I bundle when I can, corals and CUC. WYSIWYG is a good thing if you understand photo manipulation and trust the vendor. I have a select few vendors I shop from. I rarely hit the threshold for free shipping, but I can usually get corals to average out at what I see locally. My online shopping experience has generally been a good one regarding things arriving alive. I can shop from the comfort of my home and not take long overstimulating trips to fish stores.

Cons = Overnight shipping can be a nail biter. I only try and order things in the spring and early fall and I watch the weather, I don't expect the vendor to do so, although mine generally do. I try and limit my online spending to regional vendors that are a couple of states away from. That does limit my shopping options. Shipping costs are spendy, if I don't bundle. My tank is filling up, not worth buying a big box of corals and snails currently.

Local Folks = They are around but are generally the same distance or further than my fish stores. Affordable prices, but limited selection of what I want.

 

[TheLegendaryBarlowe072]

I would love to support a local LFS, but they arent anywhere I live. The closest fish store is the next town over but its 90% fresh water, and the selection of fish is very small, and I dont see any space for QT. They have a frag tank, but it wa very sad and full of corals that looked unhealthy and overpriced. I checked online for the next closest shop. Online said they had saltwater, the sign on the building had saltwater, After a 45 minute drive, I get inside a the owner says they havent sold saltwater in 6 or 7 years and its a dying hobby.

I found a decent lfs a little over an hour away. And I may go back just to try and support thier business.

However everything I've bought so far for my new build has had to be online. I wish it wasnt so...

 

[Solo McReefer]

100% online

Later today getting a bunch of frags from cornbred

And a Homewrecker from Kastonskorals

I was going to go to the Coral Farmers Market show on Sunday. But then remembered virtually all of my AEFW and Monti Nudis came from shows and frag swaps like that in the past. So stayed home