Thinking of buying fish online-question

Cliving1 · 08/21/2018, 04:20 PM

So I have not had luck with my lfs, so I was thinking to buy online. My only concern is how long can the fish stay in the bag, what is usual delivery times etc. My wife works from home, but she wont touch anything regarding the tank as its icky. So let's say they deliver at 8am, can it wait until 5pm? How does everyone do this do you take the day off?? Thoughts on those who have had success online. Thanks

krs1102 · 08/21/2018, 05:01 PM

I have ordered fish online once and coral online once- both through LA. Very happy with both purchases.

I was home both times (I have flexible hours on Fridays, so I try to plan for that). Both times I was given an estimated delivery time (both times it was in the late morning) and the delivery was pretty much right on. I live in Southern California, so I wanted to be home and not leave them out in the heat.

I'll let others weigh in on how long they could stay in bags...

Daddi0 · 08/21/2018, 05:10 PM

If my wife wont acclimate the fish, I get my girlfriend to do it.
Cheers! Mark

LobsterOfJustice · 08/21/2018, 05:40 PM

Certain things would be fine waiting all day, others not so much. If the box can come in from the porch that helps and if she can open and float the bags in the sump that’s better. I’ve done several group buys where I kept other peoples stuff floating in the sump until they came by after work.

I actually just received an order today. It was delivered by 9am. I worked from home the first half of the day and got up every few minutes to acclimate, etc. I was in to work by lunch.

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Daddi0 · 08/21/2018, 05:57 PM

I do think you lose your warranty if you dont open the box right away?

falconut · 08/21/2018, 06:05 PM

I work about 45 minutes to a hour from home, so the times I've ordered online, I did Saturday delivery for like $15 or took off. It seems that Saturday delivery (at least my area) comes later in the day, but is another option for you.

albano · 08/21/2018, 07:54 PM

24 hours in the bag/box should not be a problem, as long as it not left out in 'extreme' heat or cold.

BlueMac92 · 08/21/2018, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddi0

If my wife wont acclimate the fish, I get my girlfriend to do it.
Cheers! Mark

This thread should have stopped here

Cliving1 · 08/22/2018, 04:47 AM

Ok thanks everyone. I think I will either have them brought in and floated, or try for Saturday delivery. Thanks again.

Cancun · 09/01/2018, 09:01 PM

I was following along.....did you place your order?

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Cliving1 · 09/02/2018, 07:19 AM

Sorry not yet. So indecisive. I went to most of the stores here in Tampa, no luck on leopards. Saw a bunch of nice angels, so I posted on my other thread in reef fishes asking about compatability. A swallowtail caught my eye. Still hoping to find something local, but I go back and forth filling and emptying my online cart a few times a week. Since this is my big investment tank, I'm really taking it slow.

Jason9488 · 09/03/2018, 06:11 AM

What stores are you going to? I live in the Tampa area.

Cliving1 · 09/03/2018, 07:22 AM

What's in your tank, marine warehouse, coral coral, drysdale, corals and fins, and creative aquariums are usually the ones I hit on the weekends.

Jason9488 · 09/03/2018, 07:52 AM

I got majority of my stuff from by buddies store in Brandon, The aquarium and fish store

Cliving1 · 09/03/2018, 09:39 AM

Brandon's not too far of a trip. How is the selection? I could try and make it over, is he open for labor day?

Wandering · 09/03/2018, 09:47 AM

If you can't get anything locally, liveaquaria is pretty darn good. They have a 2 week guarantee so you know they're shipping good fish.

Jason9488 · 09/03/2018, 10:06 AM

Not sure if he is open today. Coral selection is a little low at the moment. Hard to get corals when most areas on the world are closed.

Cliving1 · 09/07/2018, 07:40 AM

Does anyone know what the salt level is from live aquaria?

nereefpat · 09/07/2018, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliving1

Does anyone know what the salt level is from live aquaria?

Usually LA is a little low, which is common. Somewhere around 1.018 or so.

dmsprague · 09/07/2018, 09:36 AM

What he said only my wife does it so no girlfriend for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddi0

If my wife wont acclimate the fish, I get my girlfriend to do it.
Cheers! Mark

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Cliving1 · 09/07/2018, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

Usually LA is a little low, which is common. Somewhere around 1.018 or so.

Thanks man. I'm around 1.025 so I will need to go slow

nereefpat · 09/07/2018, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliving1

Thanks man. I'm around 1.025 so I will need to go slow

Also, and you probably know this...

But you can't do a drip acclimation in the bags the fish come in when shipped, due to ammonia build up.

Cliving1 · 09/07/2018, 11:26 AM

What would you reccomend. First time buying online

nereefpat · 09/07/2018, 12:25 PM

Ideally, you would have a qt set up with water at about 1.018.

Then you can float (temp acclimate), check the salinities to make sure they are within a couple points, then scoop them into the qt.

If no qt, then just have a bucket of water ready at 1.018. Add heater and airstone to it. Then you can slowly acclimate over a few hours.

Cancun · 09/08/2018, 10:17 AM

Any updates?

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08/21/2018, 04:20 PM	#1
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Thinking of buying fish online-question So I have not had luck with my lfs, so I was thinking to buy online. My only concern is how long can the fish stay in the bag, what is usual delivery times etc. My wife works from home, but she wont touch anything regarding the tank as its icky. So let's say they deliver at 8am, can it wait until 5pm? How does everyone do this do you take the day off?? Thoughts on those who have had success online. Thanks

08/21/2018, 05:10 PM	#3
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	If my wife wont acclimate the fish, I get my girlfriend to do it. Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

08/21/2018, 05:40 PM	#4
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Certain things would be fine waiting all day, others not so much. If the box can come in from the porch that helps and if she can open and float the bags in the sump that’s better. I’ve done several group buys where I kept other peoples stuff floating in the sump until they came by after work. I actually just received an order today. It was delivered by 9am. I worked from home the first half of the day and got up every few minutes to acclimate, etc. I was in to work by lunch. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

08/21/2018, 05:57 PM	#5
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	I do think you lose your warranty if you dont open the box right away? __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

08/21/2018, 06:05 PM	#6
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I work about 45 minutes to a hour from home, so the times I've ordered online, I did Saturday delivery for like $15 or took off. It seems that Saturday delivery (at least my area) comes later in the day, but is another option for you. __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.

08/21/2018, 05:01 PM	#2
krs1102 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 60	I have ordered fish online once and coral online once- both through LA. Very happy with both purchases. I was home both times (I have flexible hours on Fridays, so I try to plan for that). Both times I was given an estimated delivery time (both times it was in the late morning) and the delivery was pretty much right on. I live in Southern California, so I wanted to be home and not leave them out in the heat. I'll let others weigh in on how long they could stay in bags...

08/21/2018, 07:54 PM	#7
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	24 hours in the bag/box should not be a problem, as long as it not left out in 'extreme' heat or cold. __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

08/22/2018, 04:47 AM	#9
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Ok thanks everyone. I think I will either have them brought in and floated, or try for Saturday delivery. Thanks again.

09/01/2018, 09:01 PM	#10
Cancun Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Saint Louis Missouri Posts: 527	I was following along.....did you place your order? Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk __________________ Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL...I love wrasses....have leopards....several Coris....China Wrasse, Dejardini and purple tang... Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL

09/02/2018, 07:19 AM	#11
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Sorry not yet. So indecisive. I went to most of the stores here in Tampa, no luck on leopards. Saw a bunch of nice angels, so I posted on my other thread in reef fishes asking about compatability. A swallowtail caught my eye. Still hoping to find something local, but I go back and forth filling and emptying my online cart a few times a week. Since this is my big investment tank, I'm really taking it slow.

09/03/2018, 06:11 AM	#12
Jason9488 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 152	What stores are you going to? I live in the Tampa area.

09/03/2018, 07:22 AM	#13
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	What's in your tank, marine warehouse, coral coral, drysdale, corals and fins, and creative aquariums are usually the ones I hit on the weekends.

09/03/2018, 07:52 AM	#14
Jason9488 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 152	I got majority of my stuff from by buddies store in Brandon, The aquarium and fish store

09/03/2018, 09:39 AM	#15
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Brandon's not too far of a trip. How is the selection? I could try and make it over, is he open for labor day?

09/03/2018, 09:47 AM	#16
Wandering Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 54	If you can't get anything locally, liveaquaria is pretty darn good. They have a 2 week guarantee so you know they're shipping good fish.

09/03/2018, 10:06 AM	#17
Jason9488 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 152	Not sure if he is open today. Coral selection is a little low at the moment. Hard to get corals when most areas on the world are closed.

09/07/2018, 07:40 AM	#18
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Does anyone know what the salt level is from live aquaria?

09/07/2018, 11:26 AM	#23
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	What would you reccomend. First time buying online

09/07/2018, 12:25 PM	#24
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Ideally, you would have a qt set up with water at about 1.018. Then you can float (temp acclimate), check the salinities to make sure they are within a couple points, then scoop them into the qt. If no qt, then just have a bucket of water ready at 1.018. Add heater and airstone to it. Then you can slowly acclimate over a few hours. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

09/08/2018, 10:17 AM	#25
Cancun Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Saint Louis Missouri Posts: 527	Any updates? Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk __________________ Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL...I love wrasses....have leopards....several Coris....China Wrasse, Dejardini and purple tang... Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL