LFS in the area? I'm new

[nanotank]

Hi guys, my name is Brian and I am the owner of www.nanotank.com. I just wanted to say hello to everyone and see if I could get some advice. I'm headed up to Manhattan (never been before) for the holidays for about 6 days and wanted to check out some local shops. Just wanted to look at various corals, etc. nothing in particular. I've so far found New World Aquarium and Pets Warehouse as two shops that I might want to go to. Anyone else have any recommendations? Thanks.

[ January 14, 2005, 12:58 AM: Message edited by: nanotank ]

 

[Justin_NY]

try fishtown but carefull with the livestock. i like the price, so i usually gamble with the livestock

 

[jackson6745]

Hey Brian,

Welcome To Manhattan Reefs. My suggestion to you is not to go to the pet stores you listed....they suck!

If you want to see some really nice stuff try House of Fins or Ny Aquaria.

Here's a list of NY/NJ stores
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/cgi-bin/rnradv/rnradv.cgi?category=Manhattan

take care,
Roch

[ December 10, 2004, 09:31 PM: Message edited by: jackson6745 ]

 

[Melt]

Country Critters is one of the best stores.....to me. it's about an hour from the city..other than that everything else get a 1 out of 10..(new world get a -4)

 

[pecan2phat]

Rich,
You need to spell your name correctly, unless you decided to change it! LOL

 

[Sean]

Welcome to N.Y.C.

Hi my name is Sean I own Aquatic Creations in Brooklyn. I'm 5 min. from Manhattan And I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by my shop. come and check it out online if you wish.

http://www.aquaticcreationsinc.com

The store is 3500 sq. ft. with over 7000 gallons of aquariums

oh yeah we have 2 gallon nano cube tanks on display

 

[Josh]

Country Critters is worth the trip if you are just looking. Amazing selection.

 

[jackson6745]

Sean out of that 7000Gals your SPS is limited to only 50gals of it.....c'mon you can do better than that!

 

[Sean]

jackson you haven't been around
I added another 70 gals.

and I'm about to add a 350 gal tank as well as another system all devoted to SPS

The shop is constantly changing you just gotta keep us with our growth. Sorry if you just aint hip to it

 

[jackson6745]

Sean, last time I was at your shop (about 2 months ago) I saw a 50gal tank with a backpack skimmer on it and a powerhead or two. I would hardly call that SPS tank. I hope the extra 70gals is in better health.

 

[DRZL]

(SMACCKKKK!!!)
sounds like feedback to me!

Where is country critters?

 

[nanotank]

Wow, less than 3 days and 10 posts! Thanks for the advice guys. I will try to check out the places mentioned above. Main problem is that I'm staying with some friends with no car so I guess we're sorta limited.

I checked out the LFS list and read most of the reviews. About how long will it take me to get to Country Critters from Central Manhattan? Not being from NY, I don't really know how far things are, etc. I like fact that they have a frag tank though. Frags are all I pretty much buy nowdays. Thanks.

Brian
www.nanotank.com

[ December 13, 2004, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: nanotank ]

 

[Pseudo]

Ooohhhhhh. LOL.... Thats just plain funny... Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

 

[Sean]

jackson

I have some pictures on my website of my SPS tanks in the shop

I set up the 70 about 2 months ago If you want a list of current SPS's that I have in stock just call or ask I'll list it.

I also have over 20 zoo rocks in stock as wel as 10 ricoria's 2 different spiecies of Blastomussa's and 4 spiecies of Clams. Maybee you came on a sold out day but even when I had only that 50 gal it got nothing but compliments.

 

[jackson6745]

Sean, I hear ya. IMO for a store which should be specialists for corals, your setup and equipment seemed minimal for SPS, especially since I have seen your 8ft skimmer for your F/O systems. I have also seen quite a few brown colonies in that tank.
Sean, I am not trying to insult you, take it as constructive criticism These days brown colonies are common and cheap. Hobbyists are becoming more advanced in their ability to keep healthy, COLORFUL, SPS and should expect no less from a LFS. Slapped together setups like that 50gal will not allow you to keep the water requirements to keep acros very colorful. I'm sure you have received compliments about your setup but probably not by more experienced SPS reefers. I have seen the pics on your web site and I am not impressed. If you visit stores like NY Aquaria and Absolutely Fish, you will see very good SPS setups. I apologize if I offended you in anyway. I just think your shop has loads of potential and I would like to see you extend your know-how into a better SPS system.......that way we don't have to travel so far for SPS

-Rich

[ December 14, 2004, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: jackson6745 ]

 

[Sean]

Rich

Just so you know on that 50 gal reef I have
400 watt M.H. 20k
6 powerheads
canister filter
chiller
and a backpack skimmer

I'm only listing it so you understand It's not some crappy system like you make it sound
Yes suppliers keep throwing brown SPS's at me saying they're purple or they'll color up in a month I just get stuck with them. One of the problem with some distributers. So like 3 out of 10 are brown. The 7 sell and I get stuck with the 3.

All I'm trying to say is we are expanding our SPS section with a 600 gallon system including a 350 gallon tank 6 x 4 x 2. We're Big now with 7000 gallons and within a year we should be at close to 10,000 gallons

Hope to see you in the near future

thanks
Sean

 

[marrone]

Sean

I hate to jump in here on this little agruement but there isn't anything, picture wise, on your website that would make me come vist your place. I think you need to place some picture of what you current have in your tanks on your web site.

That just my 2cents

Michael

 

[Sean]

Hey mike every once in a while I try listing things or putting up pictures but I get no response

no one new calls up or comes in from it

I put up specials for Manhattan reefer but no one from here comes in

I apreciate your comments and wish you all here would give me more it's very helpful. I feel anyone who's been in my shop knows it's not a traditional looking shop and we are trying to keep that feel here. Any comments you guys have are helpful

P.S. I check the NYC store reviews at least once a week and no one has added to it in weeks.

 

[marrone]

Sean

What I think you need to do is put up pictures of what you currently have and list prices for each corals.

A lot of people on MR go to the on-line places all the time and look at what they have and make orders if they see something that they want. I even look at Fish Town web site to see what fish they have and if they have something I want I go there.

I know when I look at your web site I can't figure out what you have and I'm not sure if it's worth my time to vist your place.

As for your store setup I don't think anyone really care what you place looks like as long as you have good thing. Case in point look at Island Reef and Fin, they where running it out of a Rick house for a while.

I think with the situtation of a limited # of stores in the area you should be able to do very well but you need to make your web site something that people want to go to and see what you have. I think most people would rather pick something up locally then mailing away for it.


Michael

 

[Sean]

Michael

Thank you so much for the advice. I shot some pictures yesterday and posted them with prices today. I think it maybe a little confusing and I think I?ll try numbering them next time.

Anyway thank you again please let me know what you think.

Sean