Saltwaterfish.com Live Rock Order

TETONVALLEYREEF · 01/16/2018, 02:50 PM

What has your experience been with ordering bulk live rock online from saltwaterfish.com?

I spend a fair amount of time searching for posts that showed what one would likely find if they ordered a box a live rock; I was specifically interested in getting some branching rock. Went online, and purchased 20-25 lbs of "ultra Premium Fiji Branching Live Rock" and the order arrived the other day.

I couldn't be more disappointed and offended by what what put in a box and sold to me for $113.... I've made a support request to the company, but haven't heard anything from then yet. This has basically ended up as WAY overpriced sump media.... nothing in it us useful for building a large aquascape...

Think twice before buying rock online.

Shia · 01/16/2018, 02:55 PM

Is all of it useless or more rubble then you expected?

fishdip22 · 01/16/2018, 03:26 PM

Well I think it might have been what they had left as from my understanding you can no longer get any more
https://************.com/2017/12/29/...of-fisheries/#

Cliving1 · 01/16/2018, 04:22 PM

I would not expect live rock to ship very well either. Dry, sure and I have had no issues doing so in the past. Sorry to hear about the issue, hopefully they can compensate.

TETONVALLEYREEF · 01/16/2018, 04:50 PM

there are no pieces in the box that are bigger than the palm of my hand; pretty much all going to get thrown in refugium. Maybe 0.5-1 lb out of 20 lbs that could go into display?

I was afraid that they would cancel the order, or were running low given the current changes in policy in Fiji, but they are still offering it for sale on the website, even several weeks after Fiji announced banning exports...

I suppose that is part of my reason for making this post- if you are hoping to score some sweet branching pieces before the Fiji market closes, I DON'T endorse saltwater.com. They sent me rubble, and dead coral fragments.

Hoping to get resolved, bc they have taken care of me well in the past. +1 for going to your LFS and hand selecting rock instead of the internet giants.

fishdip22 · 01/16/2018, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TETONVALLEYREEF

there are no pieces in the box that are bigger than the palm of my hand; pretty much all going to get thrown in refugium. Maybe 0.5-1 lb out of 20 lbs that could go into display?

I was afraid that they would cancel the order, or were running low given the current changes in policy in Fiji, but they are still offering it for sale on the website, even several weeks after Fiji announced banning exports...

I suppose that is part of my reason for making this post- if you are hoping to score some sweet branching pieces before the Fiji market closes, I DON'T endorse saltwater.com. They sent me rubble, and dead coral fragments.

Hoping to get resolved, bc they have taken care of me well in the past. +1 for going to your LFS and hand selecting rock instead of the internet giants.

Yep its a sad day. I to wish we could still get the awesome live rock we could find just 10 years ago online. Now its all over priced rock that looks like turds.

jda · 01/16/2018, 08:26 PM

That is pretty bad. I would be upset too.

The branch stuff that people want is from Tonga, not Fiji. Fiji is the one that shut down a few weeks ago, although it might take some time to ship it out of Samoa or somewhere else.

TETONVALLEYREEF · 01/17/2018, 01:18 PM

I was just told by saltwaterfish.com support that they reviewed my photos, and "That's what branching live rock is supposed to look like".

Ritten · 01/17/2018, 02:53 PM

Poor customer service in my opinion. I wouldn't order from them.

ant123mon · 01/17/2018, 04:18 PM

Ya id be really upset if I received that. When you said branching live rock I would assume large skeletons like the size of a football. Not a bunch of twigs. sorry to hear that. If I ever go to order some I will definitely think twice.
Anthony

ReefkeeperZ · 01/17/2018, 04:48 PM

I have to say years ago I won a photo contest and 200$ shopping spree on their site, and chose live rock, I asked for a mix of one or two or three show size pieces then a bunch of fist size flatter pieces and the rest rubble style for fragging at the time I was pumping out frags I had a 4 tier frag grow out system and I prefer rock to plugs. It was as I asked the rock was spectacular looking had all kinds of life on it and 3 decent show pieces one really nice large flat a bunch of fist size oblongs and flats and perfect frag rubble. there was the usual abuse damage from being shipped from florida to maine. but that wasnt branch rock. they are probably all out and who knows what their quality is now (not me that was about 10 years ago)

that stuff looks to me like the dregs of a tank and dead corals that had been fragged off a dozen times before losing the mother colony and chunked in the "branch rock" tank to get the last inch of profit off. JMHO I would be ripping mad if I got that.

marinelife · 01/17/2018, 05:23 PM

That is rock rubble not live rock! I would contact your credit card company if you used one since their support does not want to make it right.

fishdip22 · 01/17/2018, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marinelife

that is rock rubble not live rock! I would contact your credit card company if you used one since their support does not want to make it right.

+1

Ritten · 01/17/2018, 05:39 PM

+ 2

Mike Ordner · 01/17/2018, 09:13 PM

Don't buy ANYTHING from this ripoff company. Do a review search and nothing but terrible stuff comes up. Go straight to your credit card company and don't waste anymore time trying to contact "customer service"

twistedfinn967 · 01/18/2018, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marinelife

that is rock rubble not live rock! I would contact your credit card company if you used one since their support does not want to make it right.

this, with a bullet!

nereefpat · 01/18/2018, 08:26 AM

I agree. That is unacceptable.

I got pretty much all my live rock from saltwater fish. It was really nice Fiji, but that was about 12-13 years ago. The stuff you were shipped is worthless.

justletmein · 01/18/2018, 08:39 PM

I've order from them once, never again. Their stuff was packed poorly and looked horrible when it arrived. TINY bags, etc. Lost a bunch of big snails from the order and they have some request form for a refund so I didn't bother and just ate it.

SBV · 01/18/2018, 08:46 PM

Agreed. You got hosed. Unbelievable!!!!!!!

ReefkeeperZ · 01/18/2018, 09:06 PM

spread it all out on a sheet and take a photo
next to a yard stick

my5girls · 01/19/2018, 11:52 AM

No advice, but I had to comment on your username. We used to live in Teton Valley. Do you live there? Man, I miss that place. But, my daughters are still there and we visit often.

01/16/2018, 03:26 PM	#3
fishdip22 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 170	Well I think it might have been what they had left as from my understanding you can no longer get any more https://************.com/2017/12/29/...of-fisheries/# __________________ An aquarium is just a submarine for fish.

01/17/2018, 04:18 PM	#10
ant123mon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 50	live rock Ya id be really upset if I received that. When you said branching live rock I would assume large skeletons like the size of a football. Not a bunch of twigs. sorry to hear that. If I ever go to order some I will definitely think twice. Anthony

01/17/2018, 04:48 PM	#11
ReefkeeperZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 392	I have to say years ago I won a photo contest and 200$ shopping spree on their site, and chose live rock, I asked for a mix of one or two or three show size pieces then a bunch of fist size flatter pieces and the rest rubble style for fragging at the time I was pumping out frags I had a 4 tier frag grow out system and I prefer rock to plugs. It was as I asked the rock was spectacular looking had all kinds of life on it and 3 decent show pieces one really nice large flat a bunch of fist size oblongs and flats and perfect frag rubble. there was the usual abuse damage from being shipped from florida to maine. but that wasnt branch rock. they are probably all out and who knows what their quality is now (not me that was about 10 years ago) that stuff looks to me like the dregs of a tank and dead corals that had been fragged off a dozen times before losing the mother colony and chunked in the "branch rock" tank to get the last inch of profit off. JMHO I would be ripping mad if I got that. __________________ insert witty catchphrase here

01/17/2018, 05:23 PM	#12
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	That is rock rubble not live rock! I would contact your credit card company if you used one since their support does not want to make it right. __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

01/18/2018, 08:26 AM	#17
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	I agree. That is unacceptable. I got pretty much all my live rock from saltwater fish. It was really nice Fiji, but that was about 12-13 years ago. The stuff you were shipped is worthless. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

01/16/2018, 02:55 PM	#2
Shia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 981 Blog Entries: 1	Is all of it useless or more rubble then you expected?

01/16/2018, 04:22 PM	#4
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	I would not expect live rock to ship very well either. Dry, sure and I have had no issues doing so in the past. Sorry to hear about the issue, hopefully they can compensate.

01/16/2018, 04:50 PM	#5
TETONVALLEYREEF Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 8	there are no pieces in the box that are bigger than the palm of my hand; pretty much all going to get thrown in refugium. Maybe 0.5-1 lb out of 20 lbs that could go into display? I was afraid that they would cancel the order, or were running low given the current changes in policy in Fiji, but they are still offering it for sale on the website, even several weeks after Fiji announced banning exports... I suppose that is part of my reason for making this post- if you are hoping to score some sweet branching pieces before the Fiji market closes, I DON'T endorse saltwater.com. They sent me rubble, and dead coral fragments. Hoping to get resolved, bc they have taken care of me well in the past. +1 for going to your LFS and hand selecting rock instead of the internet giants.

01/16/2018, 08:26 PM	#7
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	That is pretty bad. I would be upset too. The branch stuff that people want is from Tonga, not Fiji. Fiji is the one that shut down a few weeks ago, although it might take some time to ship it out of Samoa or somewhere else.

01/17/2018, 01:18 PM	#8
TETONVALLEYREEF Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 8	I was just told by saltwaterfish.com support that they reviewed my photos, and "That's what branching live rock is supposed to look like".

01/17/2018, 02:53 PM	#9
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	Poor customer service in my opinion. I wouldn't order from them.

01/17/2018, 05:39 PM	#14
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	+ 2

01/17/2018, 09:13 PM	#15
Mike Ordner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 415	Don't buy ANYTHING from this ripoff company. Do a review search and nothing but terrible stuff comes up. Go straight to your credit card company and don't waste anymore time trying to contact "customer service"

01/18/2018, 08:39 PM	#18
justletmein Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: TX, San Antonio Posts: 2,188	I've order from them once, never again. Their stuff was packed poorly and looked horrible when it arrived. TINY bags, etc. Lost a bunch of big snails from the order and they have some request form for a refund so I didn't bother and just ate it.

01/18/2018, 08:46 PM	#19
SBV Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 260	Agreed. You got hosed. Unbelievable!!!!!!! __________________ Will race for Christ Current Tank Info: 120 LPS RR, 40 gal. fuge

01/18/2018, 09:06 PM	#20
ReefkeeperZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 392	spread it all out on a sheet and take a photo next to a yard stick __________________ insert witty catchphrase here

01/19/2018, 11:52 AM	#21
my5girls Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Alabama Posts: 43	No advice, but I had to comment on your username. We used to live in Teton Valley. Do you live there? Man, I miss that place. But, my daughters are still there and we visit often.