Drs. Foster and Smith

[jermpool]

It has been a while since this happened but thought I would throw it out threr anyway. I have placed 2 orders with them, they were received in a timely manner. I ordered a Titanium heater from them that the site said it was safe for saltwater. When I got it and opened it there was a piece of paper that said it was not saltwater safe. I called them and they said that I could send it back and order a different one. Later that evening I received an e-mail saying that they had spoke with the manufacturer and it was ok to put in saltwater. So I did. It lasted about 6 months and just stopped working. I'm pretty sure it was the salt because it looked a little rusted close to the end. It may have just been a defected item but we will never know. I will use them in the future for purchases but not product information.

 

[yote]

Thanks for the posting that on the titanium heater jerm. Thats what I was thinking of useing in my 55,guess i'll get one of those thats got the plastic instead. Dont want to use a glass one after I seen what a broken heater can do. Bermuda had a glass heater break a couple of weeks ago, fried a couple of jawfish with 110 volts.

 

[AndyB4784]

finnex makes a decent titanium heater and controller

 

[JellyMan]

Thanks for the posting that on the titanium heater jerm. Thats what I was thinking of useing in my 55,guess i'll get one of those thats got the plastic instead. Dont want to use a glass one after I seen what a broken heater can do. Bermuda had a glass heater break a couple of weeks ago, fried a couple of jawfish with 110 volts.

Thats so not good.

 

[LConte17]

ive had issues with them over some product info a few times within the past 2 weeks. i agree with what u said, ill be ordering from there when i need several items but i wont ever suggest getting info from then over products.

 

[reeffreak]

Your so right.All the large online aquarium supply retailer have bad customer service when it comes to product info.(2Doc's,ThatPetPlace,Big Al's)
I found out smaller online stores like Marine Depot has more knowledgeable reps.

 

[matthew1048]

Since the topic is Drs. Foster and Smith, I figured I'd share something that I found odd on there site. I was browsing around through the fish section and noticed a "Learn More" tab at the top of the page. I clicked on it and found several articles.

While looking through one, which was about stocking a saltwater aquarium, they gave what I found to be a really odd stocking rate..."stock no more than ½ an inch of fully grown fish per gallon of water in your aquarium." I thought the recommended rate was 1 inch of fish per 5 gallons of water. What's the deal, banana peal???

Here's a link: Stocking Your Saltwater Aquarium

 

[matthew1048]

UPDATE!!!
Ok, so the stocking rate that I found on the site bothered me enough I emailed customer service, and of course it was to no avail. I was told that my concern was fowarded on to "management" and that I would receive an explanation from them. It's been about 4 days now and no response.

So....what did my pestering redneck self do? I called them. I explained what my concern was, and what the stocking rate was that I was familair with (1 inch per 5 gallons), and the lady said she had NEVER heard of that, and that a 75 gallon tank would perfectly fine with 35 inches of fish!

 

[sasscuba]

It has been a while since this happened but thought I would throw it out threr anyway. I have placed 2 orders with them, they were received in a timely manner. I ordered a Titanium heater from them that the site said it was safe for saltwater. When I got it and opened it there was a piece of paper that said it was not saltwater safe. I called them and they said that I could send it back and order a different one. Later that evening I received an e-mail saying that they had spoke with the manufacturer and it was ok to put in saltwater. So I did. It lasted about 6 months and just stopped working. I'm pretty sure it was the salt because it looked a little rusted close to the end. It may have just been a defected item but we will never know. I will use them in the future for purchases but not product information.

What heater? Link?

 

[Biertrinker]

Anyone have experience with livestock from Drs. Foster and Smith?

 

[Bifferwine]

Yep I have ordered from Live Aquaria and E-Tropicals. Half my order from E-Tropicals came dead once, but other than that have not had any problems.

 

[Biertrinker]

How did they handle the dead half of your order? refund?

 

[Bifferwine]

Nope. They have a guarantee on all their animals, but I didn't call them, I just decided not to order animals from them ever again.

 

[Ironman]

foster and smith has great customer service if something live doesnt make it through shipping or for the first 14 days. they will replace the item no questions asked

 

[EagleEyes]

I am agreeing on bad info here. I dont know about liveaquaria. Some of the things that they post about lighting and protein skimmers. Im sure i spent quite a while looking to see if their advice for skimmers was relevant.