Frustrated in Ontario

[rj55021]

In Montreal there are several fish stores, but even though you feel that something is missing from your collection and the local pet store cannot offer.

For the CO2 the best was build one using a CO2 Paintball tank following a thread from this Forum.

But luckily I now a really good fresh water fish store in Montreal called AquariusWeb and they are magnificent when looking for health fishes. Good collection and reasonable prices.

Also, I found that buying from Big Al's Canada and other big on-line stores when not paying shipment is a best practice.

CANADA is AWESOME - ps. I am Brazilian Born

[ibmikmaq]

I find pets and ponds have a really nice selection, decent fair prices and on top of that shipping is free on orders over 200 dollars anywhere in canada, which is awesome especially if you are buying heavy items like gravel or even aquariums!

[exv152]

Wondering if anyone in Ontario's been to AI in Scarborough and what your thoughts are of their prices and selection of ADA products??? Seems to be the only retailer in eastern Canada to sell ADA stuff.

http://www.aquainspiration.com/default.asp

[dspin02]

Hey exv152,

AI is a pretty cool store. bought my 30cm cube from them about a month and a half ago. they were in the process of moving into the new location so it was a bit of a mess. im sure the store looks a lot better now. there was a bit of a language barrier, i dont speak chinese, but they are super nice and the products are top notch. they have a lot of imported products from asia. i got a pretty sweet led clip on light and a hob cannister filter that i havent seen anywhere else.

anyway, if you can get there i would recommend it, a lot of stuff they had wasn't necessarily ADA, but same idea. they do have the ADA products as well. i just wish i lived closer, it was a bit of a mission, i live in the high park area west of downtown.

[GeToChKn]

Originally Posted by exv152

Wondering if anyone in Ontario's been to AI in Scarborough and what your thoughts are of their prices and selection of ADA products??? Seems to be the only retailer in eastern Canada to sell ADA stuff.

http://www.aquainspiration.com/default.asp

Awesome store, I could spend a tonnnnne of money there. lol.

[Fluidmachine]

Originally Posted by GeToChKn

Awesome store, I could spend a tonnnnne of money there. lol.

WAIT. Are those guys open? I REALLY wanted to get a tank from them, and see if they would ship it, but when I got no answer from them, I assumed they were closed...

I tried email and phone calls, no reply back. Perhaps I should go about running an email through Google translate if the language issue is that much of a barrier...

[touch of sky]

Missy4,
Take a look at J L Aquatics website. They are in BC, and have free shipping on orders over $100, and have a couple of co2 outfits. They also sell aluminum co2 canisters.

[chevyguy86]

Originally Posted by Missy4

Hi guys, I feel so frustrated with the fact that everything you need in this hobby has to be ordered in, usually from the states. You can't see the product you are buying, hold it and compare it to other similar products except by photos on line. Even the large aquariam stores have nothing in stock, ever. It takes weeks to get things in, they promise and don't deliver for weeks or months. Then the products being sold, you look at reviews and crap, why does everything have to be DIY, why can't there be a great complete co2 system with tank for example. For the amount of time people have been in this hobby why can no one agree on the best combination of bulbs for planted tanks and reef tanks? Needed to vent.

Green leaf aquariums has an fantastic complete CO2 kit available, they are located in Florida, but they have fast shipping and the products are the best of the best, hand made, and hand tested before shipping, my basic full kit was approx $500 after shipping to Ontario and Canada customs. PM me for details.

[Guppy Woman]

I am also in a frustrating place when it comes to supplies and fish. I am located in NORTHERN ONTARIO..... 4 hours away from any suppliers of fish or equipment. I order my supplies from MOPS and I regularly find people going to the city to get new fish. Its inconvient sometimes but I have found great friends to transport the things I need. You have to become resourceful no matter where u are located in this hobby.

[exv152]

Thought I should post this for others to benefit, and make sure the shop gets enough business to convince them to stick to ADA products in the future. I live near the Québec border and found the only ADA dealer in the province is only 3 hours and 20 min away. They are pricey but if you want the real thing, they carry the entire line of ADA stuff, aquasoil, tanks, lily pipes, stands, solar lights etc.
http://www.centreaquatiquewm.blogspot.com/

[dbosman@msu.edu]

Just a thought.
The problem getting stuff in Canada seems like an opportunity for someone -in- Canada.
Tissue culture and standard hydroponics techniques could produce plants that one couldn't grow well in a fish tank.

There should be some really great buys at an RCMP auction, on hydroponics equipment from pot houses being busted.

Substrate can be gotten in large quantities and re-bagged or ordered by the pallet and shipped out with little extra work.

For Turface you've got two distributors in BC.
Premier Pacific Seeds
Surrey
(604) 881-1323

Evergro Canada
Multiple Locations Serving British Columbia
(800) 663-2552

http://www.frasers.com/product-servi...rchResults.jsf
distributes calcined clay and filter materials.

[bluegoldfish]

There's a seller in Winnipeg (my hometown) who ships throughout the country. GREAT stock of plants. He's here: http://cichlaholic.com/faq.html

[tentacles]

His plants are GORGEOUS, and so are his fish... Just wish it wasn't clear across town!

[mkblitz]

how big can winnipeg be? :P

Haven't had much trouble finding items in Toronto and Markham, but we are usually spoiled for choices. We do pay the premium though, but there are enough of us to trade for livestock/plants. Thats the best way to go

[Dini]

Originally Posted by bluegoldfish

There's a seller in Winnipeg (my hometown) who ships throughout the country. GREAT stock of plants. He's here: http://cichlaholic.com/faq.html

Spence is excellent to deal with....got an order of fish in from him last night....they were beautiful.