Pies

PetPlanet - Magnesium. I used to use magnesium from APS chemicals in Auckland, about $100.00 for 5kg of mg bi-carb or similar, 99.9999% pure lab grade. Mix this with water and add to tank to raise magnesium, I used this for over 15 months without issue. Its like a salt. Also epson salts add mg, check Randys forum on RC for instructions, but my reccomendation is bellow: I started using some magnesium 'chips'. I brought them from ZeovitNZ and have been using them for over 12 months. Since I started using them my mg has remained fairly stable at 1300ppm. They are little chips you add to your CA-Reactor at about 10% of the total volume of media in the reactor. I will continue to use them as they have worked very well for me over the past year. I purchased $40.00 worth, I still have half un-unused in a bag + whatever is left in the CA reactor, much better value than the stuff I was buying from APS as above. Talk with ZeovitNZ I am sure he can explain more about them and sell them to you if required. You also mentioned iodine. I am not a chemist, Layton is better to explain it than I can but it boils down to the fact that there is lots of diffent types of iodine, and its hard to know which to add or which are tested with the kits. General concencious is don't bother, iodine will be replaced with water changes any way. Some say that Xenia needs it, my tank and JetSkiSteves tanks are evidence thats not true. I just gave all my Salifert Iodine away (a brand new large bottle) as I know i'll never use it. I had added it in the past as per the instruction on the bottle never noticed a difference, didn't notice a difference when I stoped used it. Randy Holmes Farley on RC has done several good articles on Iodine and Strontium, bottom line "best left out". Hope that helps. Pie

Hummingbird - Cees is just trying to keep the peace, I suspect your post was removed as part of a 'wholesale clearance'. I doubt it was targeted at you directly. As for you experance with Jansens, from what I saw of Dogmatix post, he seemed quite interested in hearing what you had to say, and I assume to ensure it doesn't happen again (he is in a position to do something about it). Hopefully the mods on the board recognise the value in you and others sharing the experances with stores/products/people. This thread did get a little ugly (not you) and they went into damage control mode, I am sure they removed the posts for the greater good not to punish you or anyone else directly. I encourage you to share your experances, good or bad, I intend to do the same. Its part of the leaning process and the reason why we come to this site. Cheers Pieman

BK - I don't think your right about the importation stopping. When will happen over seas (Hawaii for example) is more govenment regulation will make it hard, this more expensive. All this talk about renewable resource etc. And in all fairness, while Asia and the pacific islands still have fish and coral, they will continue to sell them. The people in these countries are poor and taking a non-edable fish off the reef to put food on there table will always make sure thats the case. I hope that more breeding/propigation farms/ventures do become more common place. Pies

Dan - care to share? I'd love to hear what he had to say. Pie

Perky - Who? Its unlikley to be a viable option. I agree with the sentiment, but the comerical reality may stop it. What about the importation of captive bred/propogated live stock? Maybee this will be a more realistic option for us? Pie

Dan - Interesting, be good to see if someone does go ahead with it, hope they do. I know its a good hobbie business overseas. I would rather purchase a coral that is know to survive in captivity, hence the reason I like to buy/swap frags over purchasing wild caught colonies. But in the end as someone else said earlier on, often frags are more expensive that whole wild colonies which makes it hard to justify. Your right not everyone will think like you. Pie

Your just baiting me! I have to respond. The subject of frags and their price is the first time it poped up, thats whay I ment when I said "why do you think I feel strongly about it". I thought you were talking about selling frags. I am confused now, are we talking about different things? As for arguing, if you read it I was agreeing with you, cept for the point about how I thought the frags should be cheaper, which I do, not because comercialy they should be cheaper, because it would be better for the reefs, and I know it probably won't ever be like that. I think we are both on the same page, maybee just a differnt book Pie

Wasp - geez man! What gives you any indication I feel strongly about it? Read what I wrote. I said aquacultured corals should be cheaper to reduce the impact on the reefs. Yes this is a 'perfect world' outlook, and yes I understand the comercial reality that makes this impossible. Just to make sure you hear me lound and clear: it is a shame they are not cheaper the wile caught coral because it would be better for the reefs, i know that this isn't and probably won't be the case. I think what you and people like you are doing is great, selling frags. Why don't I do it? It would be a complete waste of my time, there is only scraps of money in it and I value my time far more highly than a few dollars. I have/do sell frags from time to time though. In all honesty I would rather swap of even give them away, however I don't. The only reason I sell them is so the person recieving them places some value on them, I gave some stuff away once to someone who didn't appreciate it because it cost him nothing. So now I charge so I know they are more likley to be treated with respect. Pie

Wasp - Yes its been said before, but so has the other side, its a ballanced disucssion (i hope?). Who am I arguing with? If the trademe person was willing to offer some form of 'garantee' of sorts that would go a long way towards good faith. Also trademe offers public feedback, you would soon learn whos doing a good job and whos not. Interesting you think that aquacultured corals should be more expensive. I know they are more expensive, and I would rather buy frags than wild caught colonies (for my own ethical reasons, save the planet). However it would be better if the aquacultured corals were cheaper, then people would be more likley to buy these than wild captured colonies. As we have seen, cheaper will often win the sale. Pieman

Heya Wasp, I don't think I am arguing here, just putting foward my opnion and thoughts. I havn't imlied huge profits, just high margins. See above when talking about clipping the ticket. For exactly the same reason they keep the marine section in 3 Kings. Or exactly the same reason Hollywoods opened a store on the north shore. If there is money in it they do it, if there is not they don't. No problem with it, business is business. Does't Rolph Jansen drive a Rolls Royce? I agree though, many of these people are making a living, not a killing. And I want to support them, but to a point that is disadvantages me. Pieman

I have 4 T5s on my tank without coverglass. There is little doubt that you will get better penetration from the lights without the use of coverglass. No coverglass will mean more evaporation though, but this helps with heat and allows the addition of more Kalkwasser which is all good Pie

Reef - Trademe is a really good example. Trademe provides the 'retail' front end for the 'wholesaler'. There are bargins to be had, and it must be hurting the traditional retail segment. Not just with fish keeping industry but in many other types of business. The internet (not just trademe) provides great options for savigns on equipment. We have already seen many people on this forum going to the internet overseas for equipment that can be landed for a significiently cheaper cost than the NZ retail. The IWAKI pumps etc. Goldfish Pagoda I think is on to a good thing. Clip the ticket on the way through, make a small handeling fee, keep their customers happy and be very cost competitive. Thats awesome. It would be cool if the other shops did this, got out a list of stuff thats comming in (they have pre purchased from the wholesaler) and have rules. That is say the stuff arrives at 10am Tuesday, everyone that turns up at this time to collect their goods before they have to add them to their tanks gets say a 40% discount. This would appease the hardcore (myself and others here), the wholesaler only has to deal with the retailer, and the retailer retains and protects is customers. Seems unfair for the store to charge there 100%+ profit for no value. My opnion anyway. What Reef said about working capital etc is all true, but to me the consumer not really something I care about, I care about fair prices and value, and the cheaper it gets the more likley we are to buy it. Piemania

JoeBlog - I don't think I would be too conerned you have reciently moved tanks so things are probably just out of kilter, sure all will return to normal soon. Heat a problem at the momeny or under control? Q. Have any of you Christchurch peeps met up, been swapping corals? The reason I ask is maybee we should organise a combined trade, 2 of each for 2 of each sort of thing? As both Layton & JowBlog are big on SPS and I too have SPS I am sure we can work something out? I have 10ish SPS I can frag, can probably find another 5 from other sources. If your interested let me know, possible best to do it before the temp gets too cold. Pies

PetPlanet - Thats exactly my point! I am happy to pay once, but not twice. Thats how I setup my own tank, most of my stock and equipment came from Reef. Retail it would have cost me twice and for very little value. I felt good about my purchases and good as good a deal as could be found. I hope your marine section goes well. I am sure that because you have a real interest in the hobby it will be a success. It is nice to know there will be LFS out there that 'know there stuff'. Good luck Pie

Kim - I am not trying to put you down, or local fish stores in general. But let me explain what I am saying. The business model of wholesale->retail is flawed. Now I understand that you and shops like yours have overheads, and I don't think it would be easy, in fact quite the oposite. Put yourself in the consumers shoes (or at least my shoes). To me, on many purchases all thats important is price. I use resources like this website to make my decision 'going to buy 1 can of tetrabits fish food'. Now the issue is that its twice as expensive from you as it is from the wholesaler. Don't be confused many of us can buy directly (and often indirectly) from these wholesalers. The shops are going to have a hard time competing in this. I would encourge the shops to import there own equipmet, insted of buying a heater for $20 from the wholesaler import it yourself for $10, sell it to me for $25, I win you win. However if you think I (and as you have noticed many others) are going to allow you to make doubble the wholesale value in profit each time I buy a can of food or a heater then you are mistaking. I would rather have the money in my pocket than know it went in yours. No easy answer, but while wholesalers are prepared to sell to the retail public you will struggle to win business from people like me. This is my opnion, and its a genralisation but from my perspecticve its true. Pies

Not sure, but get a quote for the new tank. Then get a price for Peter at Port Nicholson Glass to make it in Wellington and deliver it. He delivers tanks all over the country, I think you will be plesently surprised at how reasonable his prices are and how helpful he can be. Tell him Mark in Wellington put you onto him and I am sure he will help if he can. Pies (Mark)

PetPlanet. Good luck with the setup and with the business, I hope it does well. I am a consumer, that is I am the kind of person that is likley to shop at your store, I buy stuff and love spending money on my tank. Since I started my marine tank I have spent over $20,000.00, so I am a pretty good customer to many people. Here is a question for you, because you talk about having both eyes open: Why should/would a buy stock from you, that is 100% more expensive than I can buy it directly from the supplier? That is my 'deliema', I like the concept of supporting a local shop, casual purchases are good fun (if not a little dangerous!), but why buy from you when the wholesaler is selling directly and I can purchase for 1/2 the retail price. Now that can be the difference between spending $50 and $100 per item. This is the problem many of us face at the moment. You comments about US prices are also quite true about prices. But you must understand that the $3US heater costs $10 NZ when it gets here. The wholesaler adds 100% (which you say is fair) so it becomes $20.00. You sell it to me (for 100%) and it costs $40. In the business I work in we call it 'clipping the ticket'. That is a sales model the adds no value just cost. Pieman

IRA - Not sure the powerhead on the front glass gives the right 'look' While I remeber, you mentioned somewhere that you Hynophora isn't doing too well. Feel free to bring it back here, and I can hold onto it for a month or 2 until it recovers then you can just grab it back and try again. No drama for me. Nice to see some pics, looks like the cyno has all be gone? Pie

Having never recieved a warning I don't think I have anything to fear. I am the member of many different forums, same me without problems. Infact I am the member of many forums with the same members as those on this site and they have no problem. I have no idea were this came from, I certainly didn't write it and its not in my post. I expect to see this topic discussed at the next FNZAS exec meeting and would appreciate recieving minutes from this meeting. The way that your dealing with this is poor. Mark

That is wrong and unfair and biast towards commercial interest. Its OK to promote a shop on this web site via advertising. Its OK to say a place is good, but its not OK to say a shop/store/product is bad? So you are saying this site is not an information platform its a sales platfrom. I don't belive that is in the spirit of what the FNZAS is about. I am a paid member of the FNZAS and am offened by this rule. This is supposed to be an organisation about supporting the hobby, not the business's that make money from it. I do not belive that this is in the members of the FNZAS best interest, which is not the same as saying its not in the FNZAS best interest, I guess your advertisers and sponsers will be happy. Mark

Dogmatix - Thats a shame but understandable, to refer them here would not nessessarly be good for business. Pie

awesome! Steve, you need the img tag at the start, and the /img tag at the end, in square brackets. More pics!

? I brought a bag of garlic cloves (maybee 10-12) last week in the groceries from countdown, $1.79, hardly worth shopping around. Note - for my cooking not for my reef

Obviously I havn't been keeping marines long enough to remember the bad old days, but since I got invloved in the hobby its gone from good, to great to outstanding. There is more stock around and its cheaper than ever, thus I can afford to and am willing to buy more. So insted of a shop getting $50 profit from one coral, they are getting $25 for 2 corals (not sure if my math is on the money but you get what I am saying?). All I see is a 'hole' in the market identified and being filled. I still don't see a problem. Its all good from where I am sitting. I think the shops are making a TIDY profit. If there was no money in it they wouldn't do it. They would rip out the tanks and replace them with dog biscuts or something. The fact is these are businesses and they are in it for a profit, and business is good. If its not, then let them close shop, they will just create another hole for someone else to fill. Pie

1st off wasn't trying to chastise you! I don't see it, all I see is me asking a question, and responding to the comments made. No drama so far? Pie