[King Nine]

I think I've found a good dealer in my area and have ordered a 75 gallon reef tank set up from him. I think he seems to know what he is doing by what I'm reading and what I see him doing and suggesting. Is there a thread on here talking about local dealers and who is good???

I'm using "Fishy Business" in Beaumont, TX. His store could use a little retail finess but he really seems to know his saltwater.

[crazygator]

trust..... thats what it boils down to. there are six saltwater dealers in st.louis but i have found that only two of them actually employ knowlegable people. even then they sometimes wing it when a question is asked that they don't know. if his prices are reasonable and most of what he says rings true( always research on your own also) then there is no reason not to go. good luck with the adventure.

[volitan_fa]

As long as he doesn't try to rip you off I would call him dependable. And as long as you use sites like this and do your research your stuff before ANY purchase, you'll be ok.

[D_Bo]

I know someone that frequents a store where there are really good prices, but the owner holds back information. He doesn't really give proper advice intentionally.

I only went there once, and will not return.

I'd rather pay a little more for someplace local (not online where I can't talk face to face) that is more than willing to share any and all information I am willing to listen to. They want everything to go right from the start. They understand if everything goes well, it's bettter for business than to keep selling things that are going to die because of bad conditions, hoping to get return business to replace lost stock.

If you feel you can trust them and they aren't trying to talk you into the "best" and "top of the line" (ie most expensive) equipment. I say go with them.
Learn as much as you can from books and online. With a little info you can figure out who is trying to bluff you.

[King Nine]

While it will take me as a newbie a long time before I truly will know if he is telling the truth, I believe him now. He has gone to into some good explanations of what he thinks is "bunk" and what he knows works. He has his own sump/refuge design that seems to work quite well.

He told me if people keep killing their stock he will quit selling to them. He also want let you buy a fish at first until the live rock has cycled some (which he is a FIRM believer in 1.5 lbs per gallon of water).

Here is what he is selling me:
(This is turnkey - he sets it all up)
75 Gallon All-Glass brand aquarium
Cherry oak stand
20 gallon sump (with bio filter, coal filter and protien skimmer)
mag 1200 pump
40 lbs Crushed Coral
115 lbs of Live Rock