Where do you buy your salt locally?

[iconoclast]

So I'm in brooklyn but im not opposed to picking up in manhattan.

Where do you buy your salt? I'm not too concerned about quality since I do have a ton of buffer. However my preference would be for Oceanic Salt based upon an RC thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1287118

I guess I'm mainly looking for the cheapest salt mix buy, by the 5 gallon bucket.

 

[grundig5]

I think WWoF in Astoria carries or can get Oceanic salt. I always order salt from Fosters and Smith, I dont know how they ship it so cheaply. I paid $11 shipping for 2 buckets.

 

[iconoclast]

yeah, I see, Dr F&S has great prices on shipping, and competitive prices in general. A third bucket is <13$ shipping!

Someone else recommended Reefexotics in Long Island but I can't find the price on their website even.

Perhaps shipping to my door is better than taking it on the bus or train for 30 min.

 

[jay1335]

Dr F&S just switched to some bs shipping where fedex drops it off with usps once it gets close. It's making shipping times horrible. This is only on the ground option though. I cant wait for anything so I usually ship it 2nd day unless its an insane price to do so.

 

[grundig5]

Reefexotics is a great place too, and I think an MR sponsor. its nice to just have it show up at your door though...I am trying the coralife salt now.

What do you mean Jay? I had 2 buckets delivered from them on Tuesday and it came Fedex ground. It took 6 days, but F&S is up in Wisconsin...

 

[bad coffee]

Check with house of fish. Last I knew a bucket was $35 from them.

I've ordered with Drs F&S and last time I ordered 5 buckets it was $151. Which comes out to around $30 a bucket, shipped.

B

 

[jay1335]

Last order I placed started fedex and then switched to usps took an extra 3 days. It was insane. And I saw on nanoreef.com that dr f&s did something funky with fedex and usps. Usually I get my stuff in about 6 days too. Ill tolerate it for a little bit but there is always marinedepot too

 

[iconoclast]

coralife looks good, lots of calcium off the get go.
I'm down to my last bit of crystal sea marinemix, i have to suppliment calcium every time.

I guess no one buys salt locally from their LFS.

 

[iconoclast]

jay, I read that post on nanoreefs. i guess its just a way to save money and pass that saving on to us.
for something heavy like salt, something that can be easily planned for in advance i have no problems waiting twice as long for it.

 

[grundig5]

No car and not lugging 50 lb bucket 15 blocks. Sorry LFS. Weird about the USPS taking over after Fedex?? Thats crazy. My fedex delivery guy even brought them up to my 4th floor apt cause he wanted to see the tank

 

[jhale]

I get coralife at greenwich aquaria, but that won't work if you don't have a car.
salt is the one thing that's good to stock up on if you have the room. you know it won't go bad.

I had a similar shipping experience with fedex, except they handed the package off to the post office which totally screwed me. the address I was shipping to does not get postal service so the box got lost in the USPS system. it was crazy I saw it bouncing all over the country by following the tracking number. I was eventually refunded my money by amazon.

 

[jay1335]

Hey I go to GA too!! What a great store. You live close to there im about 20 min away.

 

[Bob 1000]

Hey go to Tony (Reef Exotics) great deal but you have to pick up...

 

[jhale]

no not very close, I live in nyc. it takes me about 40 minutes to drive up there on a good day. sometimes less, a lot of time more.

 

[iconoclast]

It's not so weird apparently. My girlfriend and I do lots of shopping online and changes from carriers happen often enough. For instance she had something shipped via DHL and it switched to USPS. On the box there was a sticker with instructions for the switch over to USPS. Concessions have to be made to offer low shipping costs, services and flat rate shipping; not to mention the coverage areas and shipping volume within these companies. Things like this happen often when packages cross international borders too.

 

[jay1335]

I wouldnt mind it if it didnt take longer because usps SUCKS! Ive just had nothing but problems with usps stuff people wouldnt believe so I am biased.

 

[Pauper]

I usually drive out to Fish Town in Queens and pick up 4-5 buckets which carries me through a year. I will check out DFS.

 

[nanchil]

I just got my IO salt from Petsmart. Free shipping and 15% off. I ordered on Monday ang it got delivered today. $29.67 + tax / Bucket delivered.

 

[nemo]

Foster and Smith with shipping is still cheaper than buying retail at the aquarium stores. I get the Instant Ocean Reef crystals.

Check out the website and compare to your local fish store.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Fosters and Smith is a very big company and able to sell and ship cheaply.Local stores want like 70.00 for salt.