JeffDubya
New Member
Anyone familiar with http://vividaquariums.com/ Vivid Aquariums? From their website and a call I made today, these folks seem to have it together. I was impressed...
Vivid Aquariums POSITIVE Experience
- Thread starter JeffDubya
- Start date
JeffDubya
New Member
OK, so I was impressed enough after making my first post (after which I spent a bunch of time on their website and speaking to the staff) that I decided to make my first big purchase online and through Vivid Aquariums.
Everything was packaged amazingly. I was chatting with SkipM on the phone as I was acclimating stuff, and asked him what bad shipping was... he said "a box of water." I definitely did not have that with vivid. Most of the specimens were double bagged, and then inflated so nothing could flop around inside the box. It was tight in there, and I was really impressed. The polyp rocks that I purchased also were loosely wrapped in a plastic bag before being double bagged, I am assuming this is to stop the rock from puncturing the bag. It worked.
This was a big order for me. My biggest ever, and a big deal because I have been waiting and planning a long time for this.
Here's what I ordered:
2 Colored Dwarf Feather Duster
2 Percula Clownfish
4 Sexy Shrimp
1 Blue Banded Coral Shrimp
Flame Polyps
Fiji Polyps
Yellow Polyps
Fluorescent Green Star Polyps
... and I requested some extra shells for my Hermits.
There is good and bad news on this order. However, before I say one negative thing I want to stress that I am really pleased with the service I received from Vivid, and WILL order from them again.
The good news, of course, is that the order arrived on time, and everything was alive. Everything was acclimated and as of right now things are looking good. Also, the Percula Clowns are really nice specimens. I am VERY happy with them.
OK, now... bad news.
First, the size of the Blue Banded Coral Shrimp left me wanting much more. The standard Banded Coral Shrimp I had 10 years ago was had a carapace nearly 1.25 - 1.5 inches. According to the website, this is a "medium" specimen, meaning .75 - 1 inches. For a nano this is probably a great pick. But if this little guy is .75 inches, would be shocked. I guess it depends on how you measure it. It was VERY small... I was a bit disappointed. Especially for the money.
So, not so bad so far. That can be chalked up to lack of communication on both our parts and my inexperience as a marine aquarist.
The biggie for me was on the polyps. I bought their starter package that includes 3 colonies, 3-4" each, for $69.99 and then added on the Fluorescent Green Star Polyps for approximately $30 extra. Unfortunately, they instead sent the plain ol' green polyps, which were not what I wanted. However, one phone call and it was cleared up. My card was refunded the extra cash, and I get to keep the green polyps, too. So, although I am disappointed in not recieving the flourescent green stars... it worked out ok.
As of right now, approximately 3 hours after initial acclimation, everything looks good. The clowns are kinda keeping to themselves off to the side right now, all of the polyps opened up, as did the feather duster worms, and the sexy shrimp - although small and expensive - are quite hypnotizing! They are awesome! The only thing I cannot find is the Blue Banded Coral Shrimp, and I am assuming that he is simply in hiding at the moment.
Oh, and they forgot the extra shells for my hermits. Dammit! Oh well, I will keep asking.
So a couple little problems, but overwhelmingly I am satisfied and will order again!
Everything was packaged amazingly. I was chatting with SkipM on the phone as I was acclimating stuff, and asked him what bad shipping was... he said "a box of water." I definitely did not have that with vivid. Most of the specimens were double bagged, and then inflated so nothing could flop around inside the box. It was tight in there, and I was really impressed. The polyp rocks that I purchased also were loosely wrapped in a plastic bag before being double bagged, I am assuming this is to stop the rock from puncturing the bag. It worked.
This was a big order for me. My biggest ever, and a big deal because I have been waiting and planning a long time for this.
Here's what I ordered:
2 Colored Dwarf Feather Duster
2 Percula Clownfish
4 Sexy Shrimp
1 Blue Banded Coral Shrimp
Flame Polyps
Fiji Polyps
Yellow Polyps
Fluorescent Green Star Polyps
... and I requested some extra shells for my Hermits.
There is good and bad news on this order. However, before I say one negative thing I want to stress that I am really pleased with the service I received from Vivid, and WILL order from them again.
The good news, of course, is that the order arrived on time, and everything was alive. Everything was acclimated and as of right now things are looking good. Also, the Percula Clowns are really nice specimens. I am VERY happy with them.
OK, now... bad news.
First, the size of the Blue Banded Coral Shrimp left me wanting much more. The standard Banded Coral Shrimp I had 10 years ago was had a carapace nearly 1.25 - 1.5 inches. According to the website, this is a "medium" specimen, meaning .75 - 1 inches. For a nano this is probably a great pick. But if this little guy is .75 inches, would be shocked. I guess it depends on how you measure it. It was VERY small... I was a bit disappointed. Especially for the money.
So, not so bad so far. That can be chalked up to lack of communication on both our parts and my inexperience as a marine aquarist.
The biggie for me was on the polyps. I bought their starter package that includes 3 colonies, 3-4" each, for $69.99 and then added on the Fluorescent Green Star Polyps for approximately $30 extra. Unfortunately, they instead sent the plain ol' green polyps, which were not what I wanted. However, one phone call and it was cleared up. My card was refunded the extra cash, and I get to keep the green polyps, too. So, although I am disappointed in not recieving the flourescent green stars... it worked out ok.
As of right now, approximately 3 hours after initial acclimation, everything looks good. The clowns are kinda keeping to themselves off to the side right now, all of the polyps opened up, as did the feather duster worms, and the sexy shrimp - although small and expensive - are quite hypnotizing! They are awesome! The only thing I cannot find is the Blue Banded Coral Shrimp, and I am assuming that he is simply in hiding at the moment.
Oh, and they forgot the extra shells for my hermits. Dammit! Oh well, I will keep asking.
So a couple little problems, but overwhelmingly I am satisfied and will order again!
