200g mix IO salt for 35.99 online

[badu11]

Petwarehouse has IO salt 200 gallon mix for $35.99. Shipping is an additional $8.00. This is still quite a bit cheaper that what I can find @ LFS. If you need any other goodies the shipping doesn't go up much which makes it an even better deal.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=4854

[Lutefisk]

That's a pretty good price. The shipping seems very reasonable too.

For those of us who aren't too far from Apoka, you can take a catalog page or printout of that price and Aquatic EcoSystems will match it.

I also was told by a LFS owner that he doesn't mind missing out on salt sales because he doesn't make much money on it but has to stock it as a service.

I believe in supporting good LFS stores but not being stupid about prices.

[Pikelet]

I've noticed that the last few bags of IO have left more residue than normal in my mixing bucket. Has anyone else noticed a decline in quality of IO lately? I run another of my tanks on BioSea and I haven't had the same problem with that brand.

Its a pity that getting Tropic Marin down to Central Florida is so expensive.

[Navymedic]

does 7 seas price match? i like that shop and would rather support a LFS, since they gives us good deals at times..

[Sir Knight]

Why not give Seven Seas a call to see if George will match the price. You can also try Ocean Blue and see if Vin will. It may be more enticing to the LFS if the club would buy in bulk (by the pallet) instead of just buying one or two buckets. The stores may get a better deal on the salt and may pass the savings on to us.
Just my $.02

Joe W.

[Lutefisk]

We do have some decent LFS' in town and I like to give them a chance.

Vin - at Ocean Blue - has really increased his dry goods and some at very attractive prices. Check out his MH ballasts and pendants if you are in the market. By the time you account for shipping they are very attractive.

Then, you can remember that Aquatic-Eco Systems in Apopka WILL price match internet pricing and, other than the drive, you don't have to pay shipping.

Paul

[Sir Knight]

Paul,
Here is an example of internet vs local

Internet price of a MH hood(MH Reflector/pendants) $97.00+ ups ground @10lbs $12.05 total with shipping = $109.05 .

Local $124.00+ tax @7% = $132.68.

That is a $23.63 + travel expense to the store.

That would be for one.

If you have a 4' tank you would need 2.

If you have a 6' tank you would need 3.

As you can see the savings can add up. I can give the products and sites however I will only do this via email.

I do believe in supporting the LFS but not to this extent

The Internet store that I quoted from is also a LFS just not in FL.

Joe W.

[Lutefisk]

Joe, I agree with you, mail order can often (usually) be cheaper.

And, doing business over the internet (with the consumer paying the shipping) is a lot cheaper than maintaining a storefront and dealing with customers face-to-face.

My personal opinion is that there sometimes is an intangible value to being able to see, touch, (and taste?) something before I buy.

It is up to the LFS to provide service, selection, and expertise to make up for the difference in price. If they fail to provide that extra service, selection or expertise then it is a different story.

We need to shop intelligently and price is a big issue - but not the only issue.

On as many items as possible I actually go cheaper than mail order by purchasing used:cool:

The really great situation is when companies like Aquatic Eco-Systems (local) will match mail order pricing.

Paul

[Sir Knight]

I agree that the local stores need to provide service, selection, and expertise. What they really need to do is stop bringing in fish, corals, etc. that cannot live in captivity and selling them to the new people in the hobby that don't know any better.

I just have a problem with the store you keep bringing up that will match prices with other interent stores. Why don't they just lower their catalog prices to be more in line with the other interent stores. They are also an internet store for dry goods aren't they.

Let's look at the reallity here for a minute. When you go to buy a car do you pay MSRP or do you shop around to get the best possible price. We are not talking about livestock here, we are talking about dry goods. The same manufactor, different retailer. Everybody that is in business is in business to make money. It's just how much volume (product) they can turn around in a set time.
If you can't turn around product quickly, you have to charge higher prices. I don't work so I can spend my money to support a business that doesn't have a good business plan. I'm the type of person that does the research, then finds what I want, and then finds the best possible price for the product. If I find the best price locally, that's great. Iif it's an internet store, so be it.
ALso, the prices I quoted ( lower price) is from a store that has a store front just in in this state

[Lutefisk]

Joe,

I really am with you on everything you are saying.

But, this is a thread about IO Salt - not MH's. Something that most of the locals charge significantly more than mail order and something UPS charges a lot to ship. This low $-to-pound ratio changes the dynamics.

Paul

[Sir Knight]

That's why I posted this in the beginning
Quote:
It may be more enticing to the LFS if the club would buy in bulk (by the pallet) instead of just buying one or two buckets. The stores may get a better deal on the salt and may pass the savings on to us

The MH lighting was just an example of pricing. I could do the same thing with bulk pricing of salt. The only reason I don't is because I use KENT salt and not IO

Have a GREAT Christmas and a happy new year
Joe W.

[Lutefisk]

Thanks Joe,

Happy New year to you too!

Good idea about the club buying some products in bulk!

Why do you like Kent salt?

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by jwall1
The only reason I don't is because I use KENT salt and not IO

Have a GREAT Christmas and a happy new year
Joe W.
Happy Holidays, guys! I couldn't help but notice the price on the bucket of IO saltmix in the thread's title. What a great deal! It gets even better:
Apparently Kent and Instant Ocean are the same mix.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20844&highlight=kent
{This is but one thread where I've heard talk of IO and Kent saltmixes being identical.}
I must admit, I've used both- and found the results to be uniformly excellent.I hope you're enjoying the weather down there- I had to shovel the drive twice today! We got a white Christmas this year!

[Mr Neutron]

It pays to read the ads sometimes. I got a 200g mix of Red Sea for $25.00 plus tax about 2 months ago. That was at a local chain store.

[Sir Knight]

Hi Gary,
I'm moving to TN next year and hopefully I can have a White Christmas. First investment when I move will be a snow blower

Happy Holidays
Joe W.

[Gary Majchrzak]

'Ya know..... I like that snowblower idea, Joe! Good luck on the move.

[Mako]

I am not buying it Gary. Not unless something has changed since Graig Bingham did his salt analysis. As you can see here (http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp) they are not one and the same.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Mako: I certainly respect Craig Bingman and his research. I've seen this analysis before. I wonder if things have changed since this was published. I've heard that IO and Kent saltmixes are leaving the same shipping docks from the same manufacturing facility. I'm still wondering wazzup myself. :confused:

[LVMAS]

Hello All,

Im all for saving money. However, please dont use IO salts in your reefs! I think we will all agree, water quality is important to an aquarium

I know many of you think all salts are the same but they are not. Not from my experiences. If you cant use real ocean water, buy Marine Environment salt mix.

Your animals will thank you. I will thank you.

http://www.aquacraft.net/s9910.html

[Mr Neutron]

That sounds like a commercial. I've never heard of Marine Environment salt. The vast majority of reefers according to RC polls in the past use one of the other major brands with great success so I don't think I'm changing anytime soon. Anyway if IO is so bad we'd all have decaying reefs rather than thriving and fact is the majority of us don't. Second, giving some arbitrary number to trace elements this 'test' thinks reef animals need (they know how much molybdate a coral requires?) and saying the other salts have insufficient amounts is silly. Fact is some scientists feel salt mixes add TOO many elements, and on that scale ME salt would score at the bottom.

I'd like to hear what the experts on RC think about that "S-15 Report".

[Mako]

Gary - Yea, things may have changed. Or maybe perhaps they do what the gas suppliers do. Same base, with little added twists per Kent's needs. Can't say for sure.

LVMAS - Oh great! Here we go again with the S-15 report and Aquacraft. Do a search here on RC about that crap....or any reefing board for that matter and you will see what a load of dung that is.

[LVMAS]

Hey

Im sorry it sounds like a commercial. Its just my opinion I formed it over several years of experamentation. As I indicated, Im fortunate enough to now be able to use real seawater and not have to mix salt anymore.

Just take my statement(s) at face value. Just my opinion made from my experience.

Thank you.

[Gary Majchrzak]

For those that don't perform the search- the S-15 report really is a "load of dung"! Nicely phrased, Mako.

[RicksReefs]

i'll second(or third) that s-15/aquacraft is ka-ka.
25 yrs. using I.O.,IMO i haven't found any reason to
switch & many reasons not to.

[Mr Neutron]

Nothing personal LVMAS but the site you listed is certainly a commercial for that salt. And your dissing of IO without any kind of reason other than what that site says is more commercialism, IMO.

But if it works for you then more power to ya.

[Sir Knight]

Gang,
I have the deal in place. Go to the ORCA web site on the benefits page for the details. look at OceanBlue We will need someone locally to handle the transaction

Joe W.