AmericanAquariumProducts.com

[JonV]

Hi everyone. As I'm sure some know, I come from several different forums and groups. I want to share with you all a site that I get any medications I need, as well as tank suppliments for water chemistry. Local to me, is Petland Discounts and Morris/Sussex Pet Supply, which isn't the best of choices.

I have known Carl S. the owner of this business for a few years now. Carl has almost 30 years experience in the fish hobby as well as have had a fish/tank maintenance business in LA. I consult with him on various afflictions, and he's constantly conducting new research on effectivness on medications, treatment options, and other studies conducted in Universities. Not sure anyone that might be aware of this, I sure wasn't at the time, but recent studies are showing that even cories, other catfish and loaches actually need a certain level of salt and salt has been used in controlled studies in treating these types of fish, with very promising results. Just one of the few things I've learned from Carl, and I've incorporated successfully cories, botias and loaches into my African tanks for as long as I've had them up.

Just wanted to give a little background on Carl. Carl, myself and a few others help run a forum off the AmericanAquariumProducts site, called Everything Aquatic. Very small group, about 50 members of various skills.

I have been using Carl's Wonder Shells in my tank. They slow dissolve Calcium, Magnesium and other great minerals the Africans benefit from. He's also got these shells in slow dissolve medicated ones. I used to use Buffer Max and African Mineral Salts by API to keep my tanks in proper conditions, but once I started using Rift Lake Salts he sells, at a very affordable price on top of it, my Africans have really brought their color out well, and spawning has picked up as well.

Carl really stresses UV sterlizers, and from seeing the significantly reduced pathogens in the other members tanks, I can't find anything negative about using one myself, and he's got some very detailed information about proper use of one. You can also get Prime at a very good rate compared to locally sold stores, and this is one product, I'm totally in love with. It de-chlorinates at such a large volume, 1 cap to 50 gallons per, and is a super product to use should you ever encounter bio filtration issues.

One of the problems I have is local stores, don't carry the medications that I've needed to use over the time I've had my fish. I made a mistake not too long ago not isolating a new fish I had obtained, and I got an outbreak of Columnaris. After many shots of what was going on in the tank, and looking over what meds Carl offered, we decided that a treatment of Kanamyacin and Furan II would work, and it sure did. I can't pick up a great anitbiotic like Kanaplex locally. Carl offers his meds at very good prices.

I'm sure there are other places out there, just that I can't say how happy I am with the use of what Carl has, his service and advice, experience, and flexibility. Shipping on time, has never been a problem for me at all.

If any of you get a chance to speak with Carl, it's worth your time. I converse with him a few times a week either from email or phone. He's a very friendly guy to work with.

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/

[AlishanAS]

Jon - where do you live now? I used to be a Morris County resident in Randolph.

[Afreakin]

Doesn't Vinman work with you and this company? Or am I confusing the two?

[JonV]

I'm over off Route 10 in the Getway Apt's.

I don't have a business no. I'm just a collecter breeder, only a few years into this. I am an administrator off the EA forum, the business itself is Carl's business. I often use Carl's products to keep my water chemistry as close to Rift Lake Conditions as I can.

Vin I bought fish from over in the bronx last week. I think Vin's a super super guy, very customer friendly and accomdating, knows his stuff forwards and backwards too. I'm not into any personal business at this time, but I am considering it.

[JonV]

I also don't want to infringe on any rules, with regards to Alishan. I do find it worth saying this much about the local area. The private owned store down in Denville, LilCritters, they went out of business last summer, or I'd definetly buy stock from there. That guy was a super guy and knew his stuff too.

This area where I am kind of sucks to be honest in terms of stores. The Petland over in the Kmart Plaza, corporate, won't but crap for fish. I met the regional manager not to long ago, mentioned I had a decent group of Africans breeding and I'd actually like to sell to them and I was told to talk to the warehouse manager.

Morris/Sussex Pet Supply is also in the area, and I rarely will ever shop there for several reasons. One is they are overpriced. Most of their aquarium equipment they offer I can get much cheaper if I went to Kmart. Two is even though they have a much higher quantity of Africans and South Americans then Petland, they too often have the fish mislabelled and I often tell them what fish they have.
Third is they won't buy either, even if you breed the fish they sell, so I say to hell with these people.

Might be worth another tread to say it, but since asking about where I'm at, I figured it's worth mentioning why I buy mostly online. Don't like to negative review someone, but Petland and Morris/Sussex made their own bed.

[fischfan13]

Jon, you will find that no matter where you live good retailers are few and far between. I live in Ocean County...NO ONE is here.
This is just me...
I only buy from private sellers or select breeders/facilities.
Even on forums you will find there are people to deal with, and to DEFINITELY NOT deal with.
Many of us are willing to give you advice on these people...just ask.

[JonV]

Good point Fisch. I can see in this group there is a bounty of info out there to be had. Glad you sent me an invite.

[AlishanAS]

Jon - try Adam's Pet Safari in Chester. He ALWAYS has a good supply of Africans and SA/CA cichlids.
Randall Kohn, an acquaintance of PVL and Anton Lamboj works there a couple of nights a week and ensures a good supply of Westies are on hand. He mainly brings them in from Toyin(Rehoboth Aquatics).

[JonV]

Good deal Aishan, thanks! Someone recently went out of business over by Sucasunna I think. I saw a listing on craigslist last year when I grabbed up that 100, someone was doing close out sale on a bunch of 75 gallon tanks. I hope it wasn't that person.

I got my first 2 female Pytcho's actually from Jeff Rapps. If he'd only carry more Africans! Good to have contacts, now I got a few more from you. Thanks!!

[AlishanAS]

I just emailed Lou Rovner and John Luckshire, both of whom have bred P.menarambo and polleni. Both are also members of ECC.
Adam would like to get some for his store.

If you are interested in African and can find the time, sign up for the trip to Atlantis tropical

www.cichlids.net

on Feb 28.

[Bev N]

Jon,

None of the megamart type pets stores will buy from private breeders. Places like Petco and Petsmart have large warehouses and they distribute their fish from there, or so I'm told. They buy is such bulk that way that their cost is pretty low. I doubt they would pay a decent price for good fish anyway.

We don't have a lot in the way of shops in our area either. We usually end up traveling around to Baltimore to hit the good shops. With both of the big box stores in our area the little guys have all gone by the wayside. We do have the fish place which is a great place to buy supplies. I buy my meds in bulk online though as it's even cheaper.

I think the best place to market your fish will be on forums like this if your willing to ship. Shipping isn't really hard at all.