Don't go to auctions unless

[Fluff]

skydvr,
Check with your [acronym:0ecd3e6d54="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:0ecd3e6d54]'s to find local aquarium clubs. Or do a search for PA Aquarium Societies/Clubs. They are the ones who normally host the auctions.

Congrats Madasafish and QTOFFER!!

There will be more Jc. Sorry it didn't work out for you this time. But, to walk away with two BrianNY bnp's. How awesome is that? [acronym:0ecd3e6d54="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:0ecd3e6d54] Congrats on those.

[Jchillin]

*Phew - Glad no one hinted that maybe AA members "rigged" the bidding*

It was a little tough to see the Angels and that wood pass by but, since they are in the hands of AA members, there is comfort there.

Billsgate: The angels were juvies, no luck in obtaining any QTOFFER spawn for the forseeable future (couple of weeks tops).

Fluff - You're absolutely right about that. And the BNP's could not have come at a better time since I plan to move Mr. Cliff Gibbiceps into the 75 and really needed pleco's to replace him. [acronym:a1b35af0e3="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:a1b35af0e3], they are 4 months old by BrianNY's estimate.

[Fluff]

Lucky dog.

[BrianNY]

This silent auction is held once a year at the GCAS. I managed to snag (2) blue diamond discus about the size of a nickel for $9 each, and a pair of bettas for $6. Usually the selection of things are very good. Last year I was buying 20g tanks for $2 each.

At all other GCAS monthly meetings the auction is held in following fashion. The auctioneer will hold up the item to be bid on. He'll start the bidding at a particular place, say.... Amazon sword at $3. Anyone wanting the item will then hold up their hand. More than one bidder and the auctioneer starts increasing the price until only person is left with their hand held up.

I would encourage anyone living near NYC to attend a meeting of the GCAS. It's informative, social, and you might just go home with a bargain or two.

[Jchillin]

Just for anyone interested, see the attached link regarding prices on Koi and other similiar species:

http://www.angelsplus.com/pairs.htm

Wow!

[Big C]

I want to move to NY!!!!! Any Canadians in the forum who've heard of auctions in the GTA region??????

:P

[madasafish]

Blush....

Yes, I snagged the driftwood. I feel bad that I did, but at least I now know that you wouldn't really have been able to carry it home, Bill. Oh, and perhaps more importantly, it wouldn't have fit in your 75 (apparently)...

...When I claimed the driftwood ($28 final bid), a guy came up to me and said, "how much did you end up paying for it?" I said "$28", and he said "That's not bad, considering I bought it for $49". Apparently, he was the one who had put it in the auction. He had a 75-gallon tank, and the piece did not fit in it! It is a big, big piece. So, Bill, you would have had to saw away at it to get it to fit your 75. Oh, and there are at least 1 or 2 Koi angel lots for auction *every* month at GCAS. Don't worry. You'll get them soon!

[acronym:a79bd475aa="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:a79bd475aa], this guy put that piece of driftwood up for auction with a 50/50 profit on the tag. I.e. he gets to keep $14, while GCAS gets the other $14 as a donation. So, the poor guy lost $35 on this piece of driftwood.

So, yes, the deals were quite good at the auction. My girlfriend picked up a diatom filter with 3 extra replacement bases for $35. Nice. Those go for $69 on bigals, and for $120 or so in LFSs. I got a container of New Life Spectrum Cichlid pellets for $8 (usually go for $19 in my [acronym:a79bd475aa="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:a79bd475aa]).

Overall, the auction was a blast. Great to see BrianNY (and Tara), JCHILLIN, and QTOFFER from AA, and to see all the crazy fish guys from Queens and Brooklyn. I look forward to next month!

[QTOFFER]

Jchillin, you wouldn't have been the first person to carry a big chunk of driftwood home by bus and subway! That was a huge piece of wood, though - it was about the size of a 20 [acronym:6adb6251d0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6adb6251d0] tank!

I am delighted with the pair of juvie Koi angels I purchased for 3 dollars! That's right, 3 dollars - I can't believe that nobody else bid on this particular lot - they were among several other lots of various angelfish, and must have been overlooked. The angels that Jchillin mentioned were a trio of adults - that lot received alot of attention, and the bidding went above $20, I believe. Right now, the angels are in a heavily planted 15 [acronym:6adb6251d0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6adb6251d0] while I decide what to do with them long term. I'm thinking of putting them in my 58 [acronym:6adb6251d0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6adb6251d0], but I would probably have to transfer the tiger barbs to the 15 [acronym:6adb6251d0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6adb6251d0]. I may also get a new 30 [acronym:6adb6251d0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6adb6251d0] tank for them - I'm sure that wouldn't be the first time a $3 bargain won at auction resulted in a $100 + investment in new equipment!

I won a 2.5 [acronym:6adb6251d0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6adb6251d0] tank with glass lid for $7. I'm going to get another crayfish!! Inside the tank, there was a 7.5 W heater, a NICE tetra deep water air pump with check valve and tubing, a small internal power filter, and an internal corner filter.

I also got a dual port air pump for $7.

On the selling side, I unloaded a 7 [acronym:6adb6251d0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6adb6251d0] bowfront tank/lid/light, some sandstone, 10 lbs of black sand, 5 lbs of gravel, some resin ornaments, some plastic plants, and a decorative wooden clock. Someone bought my 5 inch firemouth - a beautiful fish, but somewhat of a problem child. He hides all the time, coming out only to terrorize whatever fish coinhabit the tank. The only lot of mine that didn't sell was a beautiful red jewel cichlid - that fish is beautiful, but vicious - he killed two blue jewels and two blue acaras.

BrianNY, I didn't see your bettas, but those blue diamond discus are beautiful.
Madasafish got that big chunk of driftwood for his new 125 [acronym:6adb6251d0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6adb6251d0] and a diatom filter.
Jchillin, enjoy your BrianNY (TM) ancistrus. If my koi angels are a pair and spawn, you will be the first person to get some fry!

[webmoose]

BrianNY ancistrus !!!WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWOWOWOWOWOWOW OWO

You will love them CHILLLLLIN!

Congrats everyone on the auction!!!

[Jchillin]

I didn't mention that the ancistrus are smaller than a fingernail...I'm having a tough time finding them in the tank...lemme get my magnifying glass..oh, there they are...mouths stuck on the glass at the rear of the tank...[acronym:bbff87eda6="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:bbff87eda6].

My wife tells me that the angels seemed VERY interested in them earlier today. I've watched them for awhile and it looks like the interest has faded.