1st order review on Dr Reef

[mrpontiac80]

So as promised here is a review of my first order experience with DrReef.

I placed an order with the Christmas in July special. The deals were too good to pass up for a reset tank.
I ordered
powder blue tang
Fox face lo
Copperband
Royal gramma
Flame angel

I decided to order through Dr reef for two reasons. 1. It seems almost any fish is available when looking at the website
2. A lot of the more common fish have a thing saying that they are common and often in stock and ready to go in 2 weeks.

First impression is that the ordering is easy.
I quickly realized that the two week thing means little as I had to wait for about 4 weeks. But honestly that’s OK because I felt that a 2 week qt seemed rushed. Waiting a full month makes me feel like they were in qt and then observation. So that’s ok with me.

I got the delivery today. The box was in perfect shape and labeled clearly for any ups driver to know to please not kick the box around.

The bags were machine sealed with lots of water and oxygen (I’d assume). Then the bags were bagged again with the traditional rubber band method.

The fish were each bagged separately however the royal gramma and flame angel were bagged a second time together if that makes sense. The flame was moving its fins but upside down and the royal gramma seemed ok but maybe weak or lethargic.

I followed the website acclimation suggestions and temp floated the bags for 20 minutes. The email I got said salinity would be 1.021-1.023…. The instructions said to temp acclimate and scoop the fish into the tank. OR. With low salinity (1.018) to dump all fish and water into a bucket for 20 min to let oxygen bring ph up and then scoop fish into tank. I did both.

Upon scooping the fish into the tank, the foxface, copperband and powder blue immediately look awesome . Curious, swimming, and look great. The flame and royal however I’m worried about. In fact the flame I’ll be surprised if it survives overnight. It is upside down and super weak. As in getting stuck to overflow wier and stuff.
The royal gramma went to a corner but after a while looks better.

Shipping fish is just a tough gamble so I’m not blaming anyone but either way, this is what I received. I’ll reach out to Dr reef.

Overall experience is good. The packaging looked great, the shipping bags look great.

 

[Dr. Reef]

Hi
thank you for your support and feedback. I am sorry to see that flame didnt arrive well. Likely shipping stress got to it. We have 3 day stay alive guarantee and because we are already aware of the issue upon arrival, if it doesnt make it, simply email us and we will happily replace it.
Hope it pulls through
Happy reefing.

 

[jimk60]

So as promised here is a review of my first order experience with DrReef.

I placed an order with the Christmas in July special. The deals were too good to pass up for a reset tank.
I ordered
powder blue tang
Fox face lo
Copperband
Royal gramma
Flame angel

I decided to order through Dr reef for two reasons. 1. It seems almost any fish is available when looking at the website
2. A lot of the more common fish have a thing saying that they are common and often in stock and ready to go in 2 weeks.

First impression is that the ordering is easy.
I quickly realized that the two week thing means little as I had to wait for about 4 weeks. But honestly that’s OK because I felt that a 2 week qt seemed rushed. Waiting a full month makes me feel like they were in qt and then observation. So that’s ok with me.

I got the delivery today. The box was in perfect shape and labeled clearly for any ups driver to know to please not kick the box around.

The bags were machine sealed with lots of water and oxygen (I’d assume). Then the bags were bagged again with the traditional rubber band method.

The fish were each bagged separately however the royal gramma and flame angel were bagged a second time together if that makes sense. The flame was moving its fins but upside down and the royal gramma seemed ok but maybe weak or lethargic.

I followed the website acclimation suggestions and temp floated the bags for 20 minutes. The email I got said salinity would be 1.021-1.023…. The instructions said to temp acclimate and scoop the fish into the tank. OR. With low salinity (1.018) to dump all fish and water into a bucket for 20 min to let oxygen bring ph up and then scoop fish into tank. I did both.

Upon scooping the fish into the tank, the foxface, copperband and powder blue immediately look awesome . Curious, swimming, and look great. The flame and royal however I’m worried about. In fact the flame I’ll be surprised if it survives overnight. It is upside down and super weak. As in getting stuck to overflow wier and stuff.
The royal gramma went to a corner but after a while looks better.

Shipping fish is just a tough gamble so I’m not blaming anyone but either way, this is what I received. I’ll reach out to Dr reef.

Overall experience is good. The packaging looked great, the shipping bags look great.

Thanks for doing this review as I am considering an order with this vendor. Can you update this in a week or two to let us know how these fish did.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Thanks for doing this review as I am considering an order with this vendor. Can you update this in a week or two to let us know how these fish did.

Sure! I’ve been using another vendor that I love but selection was not always what I wanted. Dr reef selection seems to be amazing. I went into this order with an open mind based off lots of good reviews. I currently have zero negative feedback, as everything with the order has been smooth.
I’ve been really excited to get these fish and very pleased overall so far. I’ll update for sure.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Hi
thank you for your support and feedback. I am sorry to see that flame didnt arrive well. Likely shipping stress got to it. We have 3 day stay alive guarantee and because we are already aware of the issue upon arrival, if it doesnt make it, simply email us and we will happily replace it.
Hope it pulls through
Happy reefing.

I know fish can be tricky. 20+ hours in a shipping box can not be easy. I feel based off of others experiences that you will take care of everything you can. Thanks for the assistance!

 

[mrpontiac80]

As part of my first order review, I’ll update this post.
Dr Reef is replacing the flame angel on my next order. I was offered store credit or replacement. Obviously any way you go you are going to have another shipping cost, so I chose replacement and went ahead and placed an order for a Midas blenny and a springeri damsel along with the flame angel.

So 3 days in the tank and these guys are getting comfortable. The foxface is out and about and I’ve noticed that it is NOT a foxface lo as I wanted and ordered, but it is instead a one spot foxface. I definitely prefer the Lo as I feel that a one spot is not as pretty a fish. Honestly I just feel as though the “spot” is distracting and ugly. I’m going to roll on though as it’s not worth trying to rectify it in my opinion. Maybe it’ll grow on me. But my mature foxface lo in my other tank is always gonna be the pretty one

Edit——. The website lists a foxface and also a one spot foxface. It does not specify a foxface lo. Maybe that’s where the mess up is?


As for feeding. I feed nori everyday in a Two Little Fishies pouch and today is the first day one of them is trying it. The tang. I also feed frozen mysis and brine…. The royal gramma has ate from day 1, the powder blue is getting better but still tastes it and spits some out, the foxface has been hiding a lot, the copperband is not interested and would rather hunt the rocks. Thankfully I have two large old live rocks in the tank. I think I’m going to get some frozen bloodworms today as that is what my other copperband loved. It now eats like a pig anything I feed, so I’m hoping this new guy will learn the same.

All in all, I’m pleased and happy with this experience . I’ll continue to update. Here are pics of these fish. And the last pic, I’ll throw up is my mature foxface lo for reference for anyone that doesn’t know the difference.

 

[Dr. Reef]

By the way if we do replacement we dont charge shipping.

 

[mrpontiac80]

By the way if we do replacement we dont charge shipping.

Well that’s awesome of you. It did not read that way in my email. I went ahead and placed a new order last night, and got a couple more fish.. so if you do charge me shipping for that I understand it and have no qualms about it. But if you don’t, then you sir are going above and beyond service. Thank you either way!

 

[kevgib67]

I’m planning a significant upgrade this year and Dr. Reef is a vendor I have been considering. Following, as I want to see how this works out. Thanks for sharing, I’ve always heard good things about this vendor.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I’m planning a significant upgrade this year and Dr. Reef is a vendor I have been considering. Following, as I want to see how this works out. Thanks for sharing, I’ve always heard good things about this vendor.

You wouldn’t happen to be Kevin Morgan from Trans Am country back in the day would you?

 

[kevgib67]

You wouldn’t happen to be Kevin Morgan from Trans Am country back in the day would you?

No just a lover of cars! I was in love with the Trans Am since my parents took me to see Smoky and the Bandit in the late seventies. Loved the episode of Fast and Loud where they had a request to make restore a Trans Am like the one in the movie and when it was completed they drove to Burt Reynolds residence and he signed the engine. I hated to see Pontiac go away, they had one of the best lineups at the time and you know that the Trans Am and/or the Firebird would have looked similar to that picture. I remember weeks before Pontiac shut down a local dealership had two Pontiac solstice hardtop coupes on the lot, not many made, I wish I had bought one knowing what I know now. I have never seen one on the road, they are being stored.

 

[Dr. Reef]

Well that’s awesome of you. It did not read that way in my email. I went ahead and placed a new order last night, and got a couple more fish.. so if you do charge me shipping for that I understand it and have no qualms about it. But if you don’t, then you sir are going above and beyond service. Thank you either way!

Send me your order number we will take shipping off of it

 

[dangles]

I had an excellent experience with Dr. Reef as well. I did a review of his green chromis a while back HERE. Any future fish needs I have will come from him. He's a great vendor, and a great dude too. He takes care of his customers and has great quality (and CLEAN!) livestock.

 

[Dr. Reef]

I had an excellent experience with Dr. Reef as well. I did a review of his green chromis a while back HERE. Any future fish needs I have will come from him. He's a great vendor, and a great dude too. He takes care of his customers and has great quality (and CLEAN!) livestock.

Thank you for your kind words.
We try our best to provide clean healthy fish to our customers.
If things go wrong we dont hide behind fine prints/terms and conditions. We own our mistake and do what's best for customers and livestock.
Like Dr Reef always say, we are not in it for money we are in it for the passion we have for the hobby.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Send me your order number we will take shipping off of it

Very generous. Thank you and sent you a pm here on R2R

 

[EliMelly]

Don’t hesitate, I’ve gotten over 15k of fish from @Dr. Reef they are the best by far.

Thanks for doing this review as I am considering an order with this vendor. Can you update this in a week or two to let us know how these fish did.

 

[EliMelly]

I’m planning a significant upgrade this year and Dr. Reef is a vendor I have been considering. Following, as I want to see how this works out. Thanks for sharing, I’ve always heard good things about this vendor.

Don’t hesitate, by far the best vendor in this entire hobby.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Just thought I’d update this a little.

The Experience with DrReef has been great.

As for the fish, I ordered 5 and a flame angel did not survive shipping so DrReef replaced it. I expect it and a Midas blenny along with a springeri damsel to arrive next week. The 4 survivors went into the tank and looked great and everyone had been eating and such. But a few weeks ago, the copperband passed. Then last week the powder blue tang passed. The foxface and royal gramma are still doing well. I never reached out to Dr reef about the copperband or powder blue. I feel like he would have tried to help somehow even if it was a discount on a new order but to be quite honest, I just do not want to try and spend anymore money or time trying to replace them at this time.
I have NO ill will against the Dr. I’m just going to wait and see how the next shipment comes in.

Not sure what happened as there are no other fish in the tank. Everyone was eating and active. Hopefully the new guys show up and thrive.

Also I’m no fish expert by any means but just to clarify, I’m not a newbie either. I have another large display stocked full of fish and sps. So I feel it’s not negligence on my part or Dr reef, but maybe just the fish themselves.

I am looking forward to the new guys though!

 

[Dr. Reef]

Just thought I’d update this a little.

The Experience with DrReef has been great.

As for the fish, I ordered 5 and a flame angel did not survive shipping so DrReef replaced it. I expect it and a Midas blenny along with a springeri damsel to arrive next week. The 4 survivors went into the tank and looked great and everyone had been eating and such. But a few weeks ago, the copperband passed. Then last week the powder blue tang passed. The foxface and royal gramma are still doing well. I never reached out to Dr reef about the copperband or powder blue. I feel like he would have tried to help somehow even if it was a discount on a new order but to be quite honest, I just do not want to try and spend anymore money or time trying to replace them at this time.
I have NO ill will against the Dr. I’m just going to wait and see how the next shipment comes in.

Not sure what happened as there are no other fish in the tank. Everyone was eating and active. Hopefully the new guys show up and thrive.

Also I’m no fish expert by any means but just to clarify, I’m not a newbie either. I have another large display stocked full of fish and sps. So I feel it’s not negligence on my part or Dr reef, but maybe just the fish themselves.

I am looking forward to the new guys though!

Hi
I am really sorry to hear about the copperband and powder blue passing away. Copperband can be 50/50 but powder blue should have been hardy. Sometimes stress of qt plus shipping and acclimation etc can get to some fish even when they are hardy.
Anyhow that's not the outcome we are looking for so please PM me your order# we will replace the 2 dead fish for you at no cost to you.
We wanna see happy customer with healthy fish in your tank.
Please PM me and we will get it taken care of.
Happy Reefing

 

[jimk60]

Hi
I am really sorry to hear about the copperband and powder blue passing away. Copperband can be 50/50 but powder blue should have been hardy. Sometimes stress of qt plus shipping and acclimation etc can get to some fish even when they are hardy.
Anyhow that's not the outcome we are looking for so please PM me your order# we will replace the 2 dead fish for you at no cost to you.
We wanna see happy customer with healthy fish in your tank.
Please PM me and we will get it taken care of.
Happy Reefing

Thanks for the update! Personally I'm leaning towards Fishotel for my next order. Great reviews but unfortunately not a lot of stock.