I have to put my 2c in here.
I just switched from FW to SW in July (what a ride!), and I am disappointed that Wais was a bit pushy with me for livestock..Yeah, I WANTED all the purty things, but I was nervous about my ability to care for the stuff at the same time. I told the guy that my newly acquired tank was going through a "mini" cycle because I screwed up the live rock.. anyway, I felt persuaded to take home favias.. a bunch of corals that required 1-experience and 2- a stable tank.. He also was gung 'ho that I purchase a white (bleached out) anemone and that it would be reef and tank safe.
The tank started to die off.. the anemone kept moving around. Thankfully I sent the anemone back before it would have died, but all the coral except for the toadstool (still recovering died). It was a very discouraging experience as a newbie. I feel responsible for what I acquire and keep, but I do feel, in hindsight, I should have been steered away from such purchases until my tank was ready and my knowledge was increased.
Now... I say Wais has some interesting stuff, but they dont have my trust. I would tell a newbie to stay away. I also find their sales tactics somewhat pressured.
Red Coral though.. I wish they had more stuff. Seems most of what I like is available elsewhere, but I understand that they can bring in specific things if asked.. even better, Kevin was honest with me, directing me away from difficult corals and to START with a simple birdsnest. NOW I know I can keep SPS and in fact my tank has growing SPS.. mostly Acros :-)
Not trashing Wais, but they could do to spend more time with anxious newbies and help them steer away from more difficult corals ..not promote them for newbies to uhm.. kill. I still go to Wais, but as a much more informed consumer (with a heck of a lot more to learn!)
Make that my 3 cents
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