My great trip to Paragon Aquatics - long

[JohnD]

I had been meaning to get up to Paragaon Aquatics in Haddan, Conn for a long time and today was the day. The store is a little small, IMHO, but most of the tanks were SW.

I told the store folks I drove up from New Jersey and I saw many comments about them at reefs.org. Well, that was all they needed to hear! Dan, one of the owners, took me into the back to look at all of the LR they were curing. He appoligized for the lack of selection due to all of the hurricanes in the gulf and storms in the Pacific. Let me tell you, they have LR. Wow!! I have plenty, at least for right now, but I did pick up a small - 3lbs piece. It had lots of purple coralline and some macroalgae. Very, very nice.

We had a great conversation about reefing, diving and shipping of LR. I wish I could have spent more time, but Dan has a business to run and I had 2.5 hours worth of driving to do to get back home.

I also picked up some scarlet hermits, snails, caulperia and some kitten freshener. (They sell mice, turtles and have a good selection of exotic birds - African Greys, Amazons, cocketiels and a Cockatoo).

Dan threw in a couple of goodies, he was more than fair.

I have seen all kinds of LR at the LFS, but let me tell you, this was the best I have ever seen in the NE for sale. They really take the time to cure their LR.

If you are in the NE, take a ride to see their LR. If not, give them a call and see about them shipping you some.

My $.02

 

[fishfarmer]

I had 2.5 hours worth of driving

Only 2.5 hours, I'd be there every weekend :mrgreen: .

So they do their curing in store now. That's good to know. When Mike was curing in his garage, that rock looked super.

 

[Anonymous]

All the rock in my tanks came from paragon. What a great store. When i went to buy rock for my 7 gal, He just showed me the back room and said help yourself - here's a scale and some paper towels.
I really like the fact they let you dig around for what you want, and don't stand over you, trying to sell you something. It really impresses me when a small store does that- gives you credit for knowing what you want.

Myonly problem was that he wouldn't sell me a translucent green mushroom from their grow out tank. It was so nice, and I wanted to take it home...

I will definately go back in the future!

Brett

 

[JohnD]

Bingo, what really got my attension was all of the paper towel holders around the store. I had never seen that at any other LFS. I guess it is for those that want to jump right in!