>Anyway my Prime was off !! Makes one wonder ....
The whole problem with the aquarium trade is that most manufacturers do not
put a "USE BY" date on their products. This is a real problem for Australia
that imports most of their aquarium products from overseas.
These products are imported in containers, often in large quantities to
fill the container to get cheaper shipping rates. The product is then
stored at the importers warehouse before shipping to retailers where it
might stay for even longer periods before you eventually pick it off the
shelf. Sometimes the importer on-sells to a distributor who also stores the
product for an extended period. By that time a lot of the products have
exceeded their shelf life. If the retailer is a bit sloppy, as many of them
are, the newer stock is often just placed in front of the older stock.
Australia has a very small aquarium market when compared to Europe or the
US, yet ever US manufacturer has an Australian Agent (plus a whole heap of
European manufacturers). However, the quanties that need to be purchased
from the manufacturer to maintain an agency far exceed the available market
here in OZ. While this situation continues there will always be problems
with imported products.
I know of one importer that had fish food that was 5 years old and was
still selling it to unsuspecting retailers who in turn were selling it to
unsuspecting hobbyists - Its buyer beware!
I would expect that Seachem (Hydro Pacific Pty Ltd) here in Oz would also
have to buy large quantities of stock to maintain their agency. I'm not
knocking Seachem products, which I think have some of the best products
available for the hobby! However, every product has a use by date?
So all you Aussies on the list - play safe and BUY AUSTRALIAN whenever
possible.
Adrian.