Liveaquaria.com

psilentchild · 05/28/2008, 01:18 PM

Has anybody order anything from them?Do they have good quality fish?Are there coral packages any good?

buck50bmg · 05/28/2008, 01:20 PM

Yes Yes and Yes

lowincwrx · 05/28/2008, 01:23 PM

i said i would never order livestock online. but after waiting weeks for a fish to arrive at my lfs i finally gave in and ordered from them. i ordered a starry blenny 2sexy shrimp and some snails everything arrived great. great customer service and shipping and the items were very good quality.

you can even communicate with them here on rc they'll answer any questions you have down in the vendor forums

HABS#1 · 05/28/2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by buck50bmg
Yes Yes and Yes

Sorry to hijack this thread but how about thiose Pens could this be the year we see a team go through the cup final without scoring a goal.

Robb in Austin · 05/28/2008, 01:31 PM

Check out the NHL post season thread in the lounge. Go Wings!

To answer the OP: as others have said, +1 on LA. Very healthy specimens.

rjsilvers · 05/28/2008, 01:46 PM

I like everything I've ordered from them except their Live Rock.

abulgin · 05/28/2008, 01:48 PM

It would kill me to pay more in shipping than the fish is worth.

jamest0o0 · 05/28/2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HABS#1
Sorry to hijack this thread but how about thiose Pens could this be the year we see a team go through the cup final without scoring a goal.

More of a football fan here although I do enjoy watching pens games. I hope that doesn't happen though!

Brandon M · 05/28/2008, 01:53 PM

I have never heard anything bad about liveaquaria.com. They come highly recommended.

jamest0o0 · 05/28/2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by abulgin
It would kill me to pay more in shipping than the fish is worth.

My LFS prices are more than a fish and shipping combined. Liveaquaria is awsome by the way

nsinger · 05/28/2008, 01:56 PM

I have ordered numerous livestock from LiveAquaria.com and have been very happy with the quality and prices. Unfortunately, I did have a rather expensive fish die within 4 days and they refunded my total amount (including shipping) without hesitation. Their customer service people could not be more pleasant or helpful.

abulgin · 05/28/2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamest0o0
My LFS prices are more than a fish and shipping combined. Liveaquaria is awsome by the way

Not mine. My LFS runs a special every weekend--25% off all marine fish. This weekend, I intend to purchase a Kole Tang priced at $39--so $29.75 plus 6% sales tax, or $31.54. The same fish on liveaquaria is $34.99 plus $34.99 shipping.

Now, that said, liveaquaria probably has many fish that you don't normally find at your LFS, so if you're looking for that "special" fish, the extra shipping you have to pay to get that fish is probably worth it.

Jakesaw · 05/28/2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rjsilvers
I like everything I've ordered from them except their Live Rock.

What was wrong with their Live Rock. They're on my short list of online retailers when it comes time to stock a 50 gallon tank from scratch. If there's a reason not to purchase Rock from tthem I'd like to know.

Also - which of their Live Rock selection did you purchase?

jamest0o0 · 05/28/2008, 02:33 PM

I've heard their LR is pretty dry and dead.

scrmbld33 · 05/28/2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamest0o0
I've heard their LR is pretty dry and dead.

ive seen alot of their rock, none has been "dead or dry", been very happy with their livestock and drygoods

matthewscars · 05/28/2008, 02:41 PM

What time of the day does FEDEX drop the shipment off normally for 'Next Day'?

I doubt after 6pm M-F? $10-$15 more for Saturday shipping kinda blows.

lowincwrx · 05/28/2008, 02:48 PM

it depends on the courrier for your area. next day shipping is expensive anywhere especially staurday deliveries. 35 isn't bad imo

rjsilvers · 05/28/2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jakesaw
What was wrong with their Live Rock. They're on my short list of online retailers when it comes time to stock a 50 gallon tank from scratch. If there's a reason not to purchase Rock from tthem I'd like to know.

Also - which of their Live Rock selection did you purchase?

Well... I'll be glad to tell you..

I ordered a box of their "Select" Nano rock and a box of their Standard Fiji Rock. So 61lbs total.

First, the nano rock isn't "Select" at all... The pics on the site are totally misleading. You won't get anything like what you see in the pics. Instead you get pieces of rubble that they probably just broke off their Standard Fiji batch. Their pics lead you to believe you'll get a lot of branching rock and you'll make awesome aquascapes out of it... No, that wasn't my experience. I got no branching rock at all... I got mostly round rocks... I think one rock had a hole all the way through it. That was about as unique as it got. Remember, these are rocks that were "chosen specifically for their interesting shapes." Right.... And out of all the nano rocks I received not one was bigger than 5". I would almost consider it rubble.

Secondly, they shipped it in 1/8" styrofoam box. Now that -may- work for fish/inverts (although Dr. Mac's Corals shipped even those in 1" foam)... But not rock. When it arrived at my door ALL the styrofoam panels were broken very badly. The box was SOAKED, but the rock wasn't. The newspaper the rock was wrapped in was dry and smelled really bad. If it was Live before they shipped it, it wasn't live when I received it.

Thirdly... When I buy LR at a fish store I expect it to have some... Life. Like maybe some amphipods, tube worms, fan worms, even aiptasia would have been acceptable in this case... There was absolutely nothing on these rocks. Not even any coralline. Nothing. I would seriously consider them 'base' rocks had I not paid like $150 + shipping for them...

So... That's my experience.

abulgin · 05/28/2008, 03:14 PM

Did you call them to complain and/or ask for a credit? I sure would have.

nsinger · 05/28/2008, 03:27 PM

I had the same experience when I ordered 40 lb LR. The styrofoam was smashed and soaked, and the plastic bag was open and the LR barely wet. I called to complain and they gave me a complete refund. I now have the rock in my DT and it seems to be doing OK.

rjsilvers · 05/28/2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by abulgin
Did you call them to complain and/or ask for a credit? I sure would have.

I'm kind of sorry/embarrassed to say that I didn't. It was my first SW tank and I really didn't know any better at the time. I knew the packing job was terrible, but I didn't know how much I got ripped off on the rock until later.

The rock is still in my 30g 6 months later and just now within the last month its starting to pick up coralline and fill with pods (that were introduced by chaeto I bought from Dr. Mac), but the rock isn't impressive to say the least...

abulgin · 05/28/2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nsinger
I had the same experience when I ordered 40 lb LR. The styrofoam was smashed and soaked, and the plastic bag was open and the LR barely wet. I called to complain and they gave me a complete refund. I now have the rock in my DT and it seems to be doing OK.

And then they collected the insurance money on the shipment, left you with crappy rock, and moved on to sell some other hobbyist poorly packed rock. Lol.

rjsilvers · 05/28/2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nsinger
I had the same experience when I ordered 40 lb LR. The styrofoam was smashed and soaked, and the plastic bag was open and the LR barely wet. I called to complain and they gave me a complete refund. I now have the rock in my DT and it seems to be doing OK.

Sounds like that's what I should have done..

You're right about the bag, I didn't mention that... Mine was open too. No water in it at all, though.

soccerman77 · 05/28/2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

My LFS runs a special every weekend--25% off all marine fish. This weekend, I intend to purchase a Kole Tang priced at $39--so $29.75 plus 6% sales tax, or $31.54. The same fish on liveaquaria is $34.99 plus $34.99 shipping.

That's only if you buy 1 thing. The online shipping is still only 34.99 no matter how big the order. Buy more stuff.

I live in Montana so almost all of my live creatures are from the internet. I've ordered from live aquaria and marine depot. Personally i've had no problems with live aquaria in terms of LR, inverts, fish or corals. I recently had one shipping problem with marine depot but otherwise they are ok.

soccerman77 · 05/28/2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

What time of the day does FEDEX drop the shipment off normally for 'Next Day'?

Fed ex usually delivers to my house around 10:00 am consistently. I think a lot of it has to do with the routes however.

05/28/2008, 01:53 PM	#9
Brandon M Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,116	I have never heard anything bad about liveaquaria.com. They come highly recommended. __________________ Brandon Current Tank Info: 315g 84"x24"x36" FOWLR

05/28/2008, 02:33 PM	#14
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	I've heard their LR is pretty dry and dead. __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

05/28/2008, 02:41 PM	#16
matthewscars Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 657	What time of the day does FEDEX drop the shipment off normally for 'Next Day'? I doubt after 6pm M-F? $10-$15 more for Saturday shipping kinda blows. __________________ A plane passed silently overhead, the streetlights, and the buds on the trees and the night, were still. Current Tank Info: 90g Reef/35g Sump with Foam Rock Wall. 10g Propagation Reef. 55g Goldfish Tank.

05/28/2008, 01:18 PM	#1
psilentchild Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Horn Lake Posts: 1,665	Liveaquaria.com Has anybody order anything from them?Do they have good quality fish?Are there coral packages any good?

05/28/2008, 01:20 PM	#2
buck50bmg Moved On Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 792	Yes Yes and Yes

05/28/2008, 01:23 PM	#3
lowincwrx Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 287	i said i would never order livestock online. but after waiting weeks for a fish to arrive at my lfs i finally gave in and ordered from them. i ordered a starry blenny 2sexy shrimp and some snails everything arrived great. great customer service and shipping and the items were very good quality. you can even communicate with them here on rc they'll answer any questions you have down in the vendor forums

05/28/2008, 01:31 PM	#5
Robb in Austin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Georgetown, Tx Posts: 1,016	Check out the NHL post season thread in the lounge. Go Wings! To answer the OP: as others have said, +1 on LA. Very healthy specimens.

05/28/2008, 01:46 PM	#6
rjsilvers Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 537	I like everything I've ordered from them except their Live Rock.

05/28/2008, 01:48 PM	#7
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	It would kill me to pay more in shipping than the fish is worth.

05/28/2008, 01:56 PM	#11
nsinger Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Arizona High Desert Posts: 188	I have ordered numerous livestock from LiveAquaria.com and have been very happy with the quality and prices. Unfortunately, I did have a rather expensive fish die within 4 days and they refunded my total amount (including shipping) without hesitation. Their customer service people could not be more pleasant or helpful.

05/28/2008, 02:48 PM	#17
lowincwrx Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 287	it depends on the courrier for your area. next day shipping is expensive anywhere especially staurday deliveries. 35 isn't bad imo

05/28/2008, 03:14 PM	#19
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	Did you call them to complain and/or ask for a credit? I sure would have.

05/28/2008, 03:27 PM	#20
nsinger Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Arizona High Desert Posts: 188	I had the same experience when I ordered 40 lb LR. The styrofoam was smashed and soaked, and the plastic bag was open and the LR barely wet. I called to complain and they gave me a complete refund. I now have the rock in my DT and it seems to be doing OK.