Where do you buy your torches?

[Reef Jedi]

I’m looking at possibly getting some torches. I want to hear from the community where you buy your Torches and why you choose that vendor?

I’m not picky but I do like feedback from others. Also not trying to break the bank on a torch, seems the more fancy “designer” name it has the more expensive it is. I don’t fully understand the hyperinflation reasoning other than colors.

Thank you!

 

[NanoSteam]

Check out Dustbowlcorals, their prices on torches is fairly competitive compared to anything else I've seen and a lot of multi head torches. There's a "24k" for $75 or a 2 head cotton candy for $110.

Otherwise Saltwateraquarium surprisingly is competitive with their prices in the WYSIWYG section though most of them are large colonies.

EDIT: I also like going to the controversial Petco for deals, picked up a 2 head ORA Micronesian for $30 ... that's some old school pricing. 50% of the time there's no price tags and the workers just slap on the "Assorted coral" tag that's $30.

 

[ritnerkl]

I highly recommend checking out liberty reef! Great prices and honest business! I have always been treated like family and I have never had a bad experienced with them. They have killer deals with their Saturdays FB live steams!

 

[Reef Jedi]

Wow! Dustbowlcorals is a cool site and a great recommendation! Thanks for that, never knew they existed but they have some nice looking stock.

 

[ritnerkl]

Check out Dustbowlcorals, their prices on torches is fairly competitive compared to anything else I've seen and a lot of multi head torches. There's a "24k" for $75 or a 2 head cotton candy for $110.

Otherwise Saltwateraquarium surprisingly is competitive with their prices in the WYSIWYG section though most of them are large colonies.

EDIT: I also like going to the controversial Petco for deals, picked up a 2 head ORA Micronesian for $30 ... that's some old school pricing. 50% of the time there's no price tags and the workers just slap on the "Assorted coral" tag that's $30.

True story with Petco! i have also been guilty at getting select items from them for cheap!

 

[slingfox]

I’m looking at possibly getting some torches. I want to hear from the community where you buy your Torches and why you choose that vendor?

I’m not picky but I do like feedback from others. Also not trying to break the bank on a torch, seems the more fancy “designer” name it has the more expensive it is. I don’t fully understand the hyperinflation reasoning other than colors.

Thank you!

The best deals I have seen on torches are from in-person frag swaps / coral shows or at an LFS. For online vendors the best deals I have landed were from SBB Corals. They have huge sale events where you can land torches for a great price if you are lucky.

 

[Naekuh]

I bought a nice HG colony from a member here who closed his tank down.
Litterally a fire sale on his 6 headed HG because he needed the tank emptyed the next day.

I got my other Frammer from my LFS. It used to be the one u find everywhere, but it seems like most of them have disappeared. I still have a very large colony doing well in my tank.

I have tried a banana torch i got online... wasn't a true banana... or i could not make it yellow no matter how hard i tried. Decided i probably wont do banana anymore unless its local.


My advice is try to source them locally...
Pictures almost NEVER are accurate with these guys, especially the high end ones like a HG or a Banana.
And if u see a Orange torch its FAKE, unless u see it in person at the LFS.

I saw one Orange, but im 100% sure if i took it home, it would morph green.

 

[NanoSteam]

I bought a nice HG colony from a member here who closed his tank down.
Litterally a fire sale on his 6 headed HG because he needed the tank emptyed the next day.

I got my other Frammer from my LFS. It used to be the one u find everywhere, but it seems like most of them have disappeared. I still have a very large colony doing well in my tank.

I have tried a banana torch i got online... wasn't a true banana... or i could not make it yellow no matter how hard i tried. Decided i probably wont do banana anymore unless its local.


My advice is try to source them locally...
Pictures almost NEVER are accurate with these guys, especially the high end ones like a HG or a Banana.
And if u see a Orange torch its FAKE, unless u see it in person at the LFS.

I saw one Orange, but im 100% sure if i took it home, it would morph green.

Some of them heavily edit their photos. I placed an order for 3 different hammers from (wont name names) a site and only 1 of them was remotely close to what the description and photo showed.

 

[Reef Jedi]

I bought a nice HG colony from a member here who closed his tank down.
Litterally a fire sale on his 6 headed HG because he needed the tank emptyed the next day.

I got my other Frammer from my LFS. It used to be the one u find everywhere, but it seems like most of them have disappeared. I still have a very large colony doing well in my tank.

I have tried a banana torch i got online... wasn't a true banana... or i could not make it yellow no matter how hard i tried. Decided i probably wont do banana anymore unless its local.


My advice is try to source them locally...
Pictures almost NEVER are accurate with these guys, especially the high end ones like a HG or a Banana.
And if u see a Orange torch its FAKE, unless u see it in person at the LFS.

I saw one Orange, but im 100% sure if i took it home, it would morph green.

Great advice! My LFS literally one block from my house (yes it’s dangerous) has a bunch of torches. I’m not opposed to buying from them however on their torches specifically they have some extremely high prices. Ones online I see for 150-200 my LFS is asking 650-800. Everything else in the store is reasonable for an LFS. I can’t justify paying that inflation for something I know is 1/4 of the price.

Maybe I’ll also look around more locally. It’s interesting living in Colorado and trying to find salty friends lol

 

[Naekuh]

True story with Petco! i have also been guilty at getting select items from them for cheap!

LOL... one time i think a new person was helping me out.
I told him i want that pigmy angel.
He went OK... and then wrote the Code for a freshwater Angel.

I was wondering why my check out amount was small, because i bought a lot of other stuff for my 4 legged daughter. It was when i saw the recipt it said FW Angel, and not Pigmy Angel.
Which mind you the FW Angel was priced at $7.99

Ones online I see for 150-200 my LFS is asking 650-800.

I will never be able to buy a banana locally then if it was at your lfs... lol.
That is even way too much on the high side.

But i do want member @Coral Kai Banana torches. I have seen enough pictures of them to actually believe they are true banana's, and his torch collection makes people fight over them each time he puts them on sale.

 

[NanoSteam]

LOL... one time i think a new person was helping me out.
I told him i want that pigmy angel.
He went OK... and then wrote the Code for a freshwater Angel.

I was wondering why my check out amount was small, because i bought a lot of other stuff for my 4 legged daughter. It was when i saw the recipt it said FW Angel, and not Pigmy Angel.
Which mind you the FW Angel was priced at $7.99



I will never be able to buy a banana locally then if it was at your lfs... lol.
That is even way too much on the high side.

But i do want member @Coral Kai Banana torches. I have seen enough pictures of them to actually believe they are true banana's, and his torch collection makes people fight over them each time he puts them on sale.

Just noticed you're in LA, which LFS do you go to?

I've been going to the same one that my dad was going to when I was in diapers in the early 90's and unlike the new LFS's haggling on price is always on the menu

 

[Reef Jedi]

LOL... one time i think a new person was helping me out.
I told him i want that pigmy angel.
He went OK... and then wrote the Code for a freshwater Angel.

I was wondering why my check out amount was small, because i bought a lot of other stuff for my 4 legged daughter. It was when i saw the recipt it said FW Angel, and not Pigmy Angel.
Which mind you the FW Angel was priced at $7.99



I will never be able to buy a banana locally then if it was at your lfs... lol.
That is even way too much on the high side.

But i do want member @Coral Kai Banana torches. I have seen enough pictures of them to actually believe they are true banana's, and his torch collection makes people fight over them each time he puts them on sale.

I know lol that’s why I’m looking online even though they are one block down the road.

It amazes me because everything else in the store is a good fair price. I can buy a commercial size 200g bag of of Red Sea blue salt for $80. But a torch… different story. I too can’t buy a torch down the street lol

 

[Naekuh]

I can buy a commercial size 200g bag of of Red Sea blue salt for $80.

200g for $80?

I think you need to head over to the scam thread, because your missing an extra 0 in that weight, or they be lacing it with something REALLY REALLY Good.

Just noticed you're in LA, which LFS do you go to?

I've been going to the same one that my dad was going to when I was in diapers in the early 90's and unlike the new LFS's haggling on price is always on the menu

Not many near us.
They are all mostly located in OC area.
But the only ones like near me, about 1 hour most, and im located mid-city next to the mayors house.

My favorate is Ellis Aquatics.
Its in compton. Don't let the location scare you tho, its pretty chill and peaceful if you go during light hours.
He has great prices, reasonable... you wont see a 800 dollar torch like Jedi's LFS.

Then there is LAX Aquarium.
This is probably the largest near us.
However i noticed its a hit and miss there.
Sometimes they will have REALLY REALLY healthy stuff.
Other times, i could not get it to live past a week.

Ive been to vivid Aquariums in Canoga Park also.
They have a very clean storefront, but i honestly prefer ellis as his prices are somewhat better.
But they are still what i would call clean.

The last place i recommend u try is called Deep Blue Aquarium, located in burbank.
Again, its clean, has ok stuff, but once u try Ellis' you probably wont go anywhere else unless he doesn't have what you are looking for.

 

[kizzy89]

I got my very healthy 4 heads new york knicks from a guy on michiganreefers for about $80, oldmoonboots is his tag. I went over and picked some corals out from him personally but i do believe he ships as well.

 

[HARDY CORALS]

Gemstatecorals.net

He has some amazing torches!! Every euphillia I have gotten from him has huge flesh bands. Fair prices.

 

[Reef Jedi]

200g for $80?

I think you need to head over to the scam thread, because your missing an extra 0 in that weight, or they be lacing it with something REALLY REALLY Good.



Not many near us.
They are all mostly located in OC area.
But the only ones like near me, about 1 hour most, and im located mid-city next to the mayors house.

My favorate is Ellis Aquatics.
Its in compton. Don't let the location scare you tho, its pretty chill and peaceful if you go during light hours.
He has great prices, reasonable... you wont see a 800 dollar torch like Jedi's LFS.

Then there is LAX Aquarium.
This is probably the largest near us.
However i noticed its a hit and miss there.
Sometimes they will have REALLY REALLY healthy stuff.
Other times, i could not get it to live past a week.

Ive been to vivid Aquariums in Canoga Park also.
They have a very clean storefront, but i honestly prefer ellis as his prices are somewhat better.
But they are still what i would call clean.

The last place i recommend u try is called Deep Blue Aquarium, located in burbank.
Again, its clean, has ok stuff, but once u try Ellis' you probably wont go anywhere else unless he doesn't have what you are looking for.

No these are sealed from the factory Red Sea blue commercial bags that make 200 gallons of water. They are legit, I’ve picked them up from the crate when they are being delivered to the store.

I think they take losses on dry goods and make up for it on the torches lol

 

[Naekuh]

No these are sealed from the factory Red Sea blue commercial bags that make 200 gallons of water. They are legit, I’ve picked them up from the crate when they are being delivered to the store.

I think they take losses on dry goods and make up for it on the torches lol

Oh 200 Gal
I was gonna say 200 GRAMS your getting scammed. lol.

 

[scubasubiker]

I’m looking at possibly getting some torches. I want to hear from the community where you buy your Torches and why you choose that vendor?

I’m not picky but I do like feedback from others. Also not trying to break the bank on a torch, seems the more fancy “designer” name it has the more expensive it is. I don’t fully understand the hyperinflation reasoning other than colors.

Thank you!

ORA so far has given me the largest and healthiest frags for my buck.

 

[Reefing102]

Never ordered from them, but always seen great reviews and coral from @Coral Kai

 

[Coral Kai]

Never ordered from them, but always seen great reviews and coral from @Coral Kai

Torches are our favorites :)