Victoria Area Roll Call
 

Just looking to compile a list of reefers in and around Victoria.

I couldn't resist the pull of Victoria (It actually had more to do with more money at a clinic I like than anything to do with Victoria, but who's counting?) so I'm going to be moving back to Victoria some time in mid January. My girlfriend will be staying in Vancouver at our apartment until August while she finishes her Masters so I'm going to be able do some back and forth shopping at J&L and OA when I come back on the weekends to be with her (that means I can pick things up for people on occasion).

My biggest concern though is that when I was in Victoria last week I poked my head into most of the LFSs that have salt water livestock and supplies and the only remotely decent one still lacked any reasonable stock (quality, price and variety on drygoods and livestock). Are most of you guys just buying stuff from the mainland/online? I was kind of hoping that things would have improved since the days when I was working part time in several of the LFSs about 9 years ago but that looks to be a no-go.

Anyway, get your SPS frags ready because my SPS tank has cycled! :D

there seams to be no one stop shopping here, something is there something is here and so on. yes mail order is a big part of it also, but there is a new place that is showing some promise even though they are just opening up, but they are not going to be doing live stock from what I know, but rather higher end equipment at reasonable prices.

I am even finding J&L to be expensive compared to other on-line places and there staple equipment lines outdated. it hard now to stay with one place with different established companies moving into the fish world offering a better product for a better price.

Steve

Steve,

What new place is opening up? Where is it located? What is it called? And who is the owner? :)

A good dry goods place in Victoria would be awesome. I'm fairly comfortable buying frags from hobbyists so I'd really like to see a place I can run to when I need some Rowaphos or an Elos test kit or something like that. With respect to SPS I think mainlanders are lucky to have Wendell at OA. I've been shopping with J&L since it opened and things certainly have changed there . . .

Hey Andrew, I frag a bunch myself and am originally from Abbotsford. I shop mainland most of the time due to better prices and service than the LFS. $10/lb for LR is ridiculous. $100 for a SPS frag or small colony, that's brown. New place is in Colwood on Island Highway near Colwood corners. There is a local aquarist forum www.tgvas.com but they will not allow you to post anything negative about their sponsors or say anything about any non sponsor store, things are pretty tight there. PM me if you have any questions.

Things are much more expensive here. I don't like the fact that stores charge double, or even three times as much as stores on the mainland. Granted everything is more expensive here. Even fellow reefers like to price things high.

Remember the guy selling

3 zoo's for $35.00 ?

How about the GSP for $20/ frag.


OHHHH.... and my personal favorite..$20.00 for a 2" Kenya Tree Frag

creatures has been bringing in coral very decent prices ... i picked up some very nice pieces ... for 1/4 the price of any other store in victoria :)
and pet smarts chemicals/additives and equipment prices are very good

If I'm not mistaken, you can't do that on this site either, so it's not like TGVAS is alone on this.

Edit: BTW Not saying anything about non sponsor stores on TGVAS is not entirely true.

I thought it was $40.......each frag!

Ok, let's not get extreme here :) We can certainly mention the name of any new store opening up that will benefit the local hobbyists.
My understanding is that this is primarily a hydroponics shop that will be bringing some aquarium supplies. If one of you knows the name of it, please do post..

As for local shopping Andrew, the market is mostly the way you left it. Prices are negotiable to a point, but some stuff just can't be bought here meaning OA & J&L still get lots of Victoria business.

vic
 

Hi Andrew,
There is always the 'lets make a quick trip to the mainland' tour with fellow reefers to cut costs. I buy very little in Victoria because of the prices and selection, but most of the staff are very nice to deal with, and I think they know why most of us experienced reefers have to buy online. With that said, welcome back to the 'rock'.
Cheers,
Phil

Progressive growth, but they only have a few things in right now as they are getting there tank up and running. They will bring in stuff that they are going to carry and the prices looked awesome on skimmers, pumps, lighting ect..

Steve

Progressive growth is an awesome store... Those guys will go totally out of their way to help you out.. Great people, Great products, and very reasonable prices. I wouldn't have any problem at all recommending these guys.



Oh, and Mark. I'm not sure if it was $35 or $40. What I am sure of is that he lost quite a few sales because a fellow reefer gave frags free of charge to many of his potential customers. Maybe if more people gave away frags, we could put an end to this kind of thing. If a person truly is a enthusiast then giving away frags wouldn't be a big deal. Plus it feels kinda good to help someone out, and cost him a sale at the same time.

I know anyone who comes by my place gets extra goodies for sure. I even gave someone a maxijet power head. Free is always good.

I take back what I said before about you can't mention any other store other than a sponsor store. You can't advertise for them in any part, if one of our local stores doesn't carry something then you can't mention where you got it from sort of thing, as a light example. Best to check the Society rules first.

Even when you factor in the shipping costs its still cheaper to order from Vancouver then buy in Victoria. Even some of the reefers can be expensive, saw some frags for sale in Victoria this week...$100 each, non negoiatable.

At least $100 each non-neg.

And most Vancouver stores offer an arrive-alive guarantee.

FREE mushrooms - just bring me a timmy ho's or starbucks card for the trouble of catchin the lil buggars
shane

I also have Ric mushrooms, Kenya trees, GSP, and i bunch more I can't remember. Most are small. but the price is right.

Cameron, regarding your PM about the Ric's.

I have Green, Purple, Bright Orange, Kinda Blueish, and a mixture of others.

No, I do not have pictures. I kinda figgured if someone wants free Ric's, they won't be picky about color.

They are free to people that are just starting out or benefit the hobby,people that will help contribute to our hobby, and give away frags if/when they have).

For those people that frag for profit and charge $15.00/polyp for zoo's, they are $100.00


I also have 200 - 300 frag plugs available free for those who need them.

Lets trade some frags then, what time works for you? Heck'd even pay you for some ric's, and plugs, if you accept donations.

Cameron,

I'm quite irritated with the fact that you charge $15.00 per zoo polyp. Could you imagine how ****ed off I would be when I see you selling $75.00 Ric frags that I gave/traded you ?

Thanks, but no Thanks. I would rather give them to someone that appreciates them, and will hopefully continue on with what i'm trying to start.

Buying in Victoria vs online and mainland
 

I tend to buy online for equipment, as prices in Victoria just can't compete unfortunately. There are examples that drive me insane -- such as maxijets at one third the price online as opposed to retail in Victoria. This is one example among many. I try to buy from Canadian online retailers, but sometimes resort to US suppliers when the price differences are worth the risk of customs hassles.

People refer to a mainland store called OA. I'm not familiar with this store. Please PM me with the name, or post it online (can't see the harm in this, frankly).

All of the above noted, it's still important to support local retailers or we won't have any. I buy much of my livestock here, along with odds and ends where the prices are fair. The front line staff in local shops here are well-intentioned and excellent, in my opinion.

All the best, and welcome back to Victoria!

OA = Ocean Aquatics

http://oceanaquatics.com/store/

Sorry but I don't sell anything for $15 per polyp. I don't know why you are out to get me. Frag Factory and Frag a lot sell for much more. OA charges $25-40 for a ric frag.

Are you irritated at the local stores that ask $50-60 for ricordea? Or $90 for a 3' colony of SPS, or $90 for a torch or frogspawn?...or just me because I sell it for cheaper than the stores here in town?

The ones that I do sell for $7 per polyp cost me $55 from frag factory and when I got it, it only had 5 polyps on it. So in fact I am selling them at a discount than what I paid and what anyone else would buy them for. So I am giving back to the community locally. I give away mushrooms when people come over, they get more kenya tree than they ask for.

Ive seen two of you post now that you have seen frags in Victoria at the LFS for $100?? I havent been out and about the LFS's here for a few weeks, but I have to say I have never seen frags being sold for 100$! Now maybe Im missing out on some very special Limited Edition frags.. or your seeing small aussie acan colonys and calling them frags,,, or someones exagerating a tad bit???
I will be the first to admit I am pretty picky about what I buy, but Ive gotten some pretty nice COLONYS from each of the LFS's here for 40-100$. And if I think they are too pricy.. I just dont buy them.

Im actually getting pretty tired of seeing people whining about prices here on the Island.. jeeeze guys you have THE POWER to buy online, or to walk out of the LFS if you think they are asking too much:wink: No one is twisting your wrist making you fork over $$.

Prices, online retailers, etc.
 

Hi, all. Thanks for the Ocean Aquatics link! Not sure I've ever been to their store; I'll definately check them out. If they're in Delta (Richmond), this makes livestock purchases simpler, too.

Back to the retailer issue: retailers traditionally mark up 100% from wholesale, at least this was the way of the world back in the days when I managed a retail operation.

I've moved past my youthful resentment of standard markups. Retailers have got bills and staff to pay, their inventory and ordering and cash flow balances are tricky and often risky -- and they've got to make a profit, in the end. There's nothing wrong with making profits. :)

So (personally speaking) I pick my battles.

Buy locally when you can, and when the retailers' prices are on par with the market. Buy online or whereever you can when the price differences start to make you twitch. Your local retailers will get the message when overpriced items don't move off the shelves. But another suggestion is to let them know--graciously--when you're not buying something from them because their price is too high compared with others. This gives them the chance to adjust more quickly to competition (or not, I suppose), which helps all of us.

Cheers, everyone -- and happy new year!

Erik

Thanks Guys! For the mention of the Company and your positive comments.
I PM'ed the moderator of this site and there is nothing wrong with mentioning the company name in the threads as long as its not direct advertising For example
widgets 5$
gadgets 25% Off
Or direct Company promotions.
if it comes up in conversations no problems
Can reef has also welcomed me having my Company web address in my Signature as lots of other users also have theirs.
My main motivation for being on the forums is to gain information about the industry and the hobby.I also was completely green when it comes to Reefing So I very much value all the free advise I have been given, keep it coming! There are some really good people in this hobby, I'm am so excited every day I go to work that I'm going to meet another. its so fun once again I get to learn something new every day.

Check out my tank build thread on this Forum.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=37682

Cheers!

Joel.

Hey I am new to Victoria, and I have just set up a 20 gallon reef. Its my first and still cycling so I am a ways away from adding things but if there is anyone out there who would be selling frags at a decent price (I am a starving student, with a limited budget), I would be glad to pick up a few things. PM me and let me know if you will have anything that I could buy. I am through my ammonia spike portion and into the nitrites so Its still a few weeks yet.
Thanks everyone!

I have some Kenya tree and anthelia you can have for FREEEEEE