Best Reef Store in the Northeast?

[Anonymous]

Yeah- it went something like this:

"First I will let you know exactly what makes this facility so much more than some of the stores we have presently. Image if you will, a show tank that is 96" x 48" x 36". Big Tank comes to mind , second Image if you can, 24 yes 24 180 gallon tanks loaded with corals. Lighting on these tanks are 3 400 watt 10,000k ushio bulbs with vho actinics. Forget about the size of their sump, swimming pool comes to mind. You name it they have, and if they don't they will get it for you. They will stock all top name brand products. Need Live Rock, they have 3,000 lbs curing in their 10 300 gallon vats. You want show size corals, corals bigger than your hand they carry them too. what about you nano reefers. Well they haven't forgotten you either, they have small frag size all the way up to corals the size of a football. They carry SPS, LPS, and softies. They carry Clams as well. Their facility is 7,000 sq ft. of reefer heaven. their corals are healthy and beautiful. "

I just called them to check and they said "wholesale only"

 

[fishfarmer]

I guess I won't bother checking out Reef Splendor.

 

[jdamon]

Hey Ritteri and bubbles, what did Tom do to you last year? I would agree that prices do fluctuate a little, but they are still way cheaper than the LFS. He definitely is a character, and probably not the best person to talk to if you are a novice, but his prices are really cheap and he usually has great stuff. You have to give him a little credit, he is for all intent and purposes just starting out, and to boot it is a side gig. Anyways, I'm very curious to know why you hate him so much.

Jeff

 

[MattM]

tom is just tom. not a bad guy but not who i go their to see. talk with matt or the younger guy whos name i can NEVER remember. good guys both of them. tom owns the joint, but it's the other guys that make it what it is. how many buisnesses have a dink for an owner? if you stayed away from them all you couldn't go anywhere. the guys who WORK at inland are the best you could ask for.

FYI, I am the owner. Tom manages all the day-to-day operations. And "the other guy" is Scott.

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

Well, its starts out with the "phone call" to his place. He states a coral is as large as a soccerball, has x for a color, and is only say $20. Then when you get there,and if interest is shown in the coral, the price doubles(or triples in the case of a fellow reefer on this board), along with the fact that the size and color have been exagerrated.

Also if you seem hesitant to buy on the spot, he gets very impatient and acts like your a waste of time to him. Couple that with knowledge that isnt exactly scholar and the experience isnt all that good.

Also live rock, again 1 price is stated with a description, then come to find out its either not in the quanitity he advertised on the phone, or its not even from the location he claims(Like FIgi being Jarkarta etc), or again the price increases.

Also there was a few complaints that he quotes he has X stuff in stock, and then when you get there you get the "last customer just bought all my livestock, so give me some money and ill order you up what u want" excuse. And the funny thing was that before I made a trip down there with all his claims, I got a phone call the day before from another reefer who said he didnt have anything he stated and got the exact same excuse of someone just came and bought everything. Sorry but there are many other places with prices just as good with superior looking corals, one being Paragonsales, and Little House of Pets in Portsmouth NH, both have great corals. Even Inlandreef's coral quality and selection have been improving over the last year, though I think that with the amount of tanks they have for storage capacity, they could still have a better selection with variety offered, but thats just my observation. One thing, their SPS selection is looking good and healthy, I hope they expand another dedicated tank to SPS.

Also, how about the famous "cherrypicking" comment, about how he has a friend in "Cali" cherrypick for him. A laugh. I dont believe he has any friends at all personally.

But the real kicker is that when myself and another person posted less than praise for his establishment on a few BB's, he actually calls me up and threatens me outright with violence. A few folks who know Greg Hiller have also had an experience similiar to mine. PM me if you want more specifics.

 

[Anonymous]

Matt- you may be confused; or maybe its me. There is a Tom and a Matt at both Inland Reef and Reefgar?

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

Dan, there is both a Tom at(Tom O'Toole) Inland reef, and one at Reefgar(Tom Garilli)Coral Farms. I was critisizing the Tom from Reefgar.

 

[jdamon]

Ritteri and Bubbles, I would agree with most of what you said. You do have to take him (Tom) with a grain of salt for the most part. This is true with most sales people. If you know what you are doing, and how much things cost, then you won't have any problems. Verbally abusing you was definitely over the top, but its pretty funny actually. For me Reefgar is really close, and the other options are Petco and Tropic Isle. Tropic Isle is a really nice store, just outrageously priced, and I would venture to say that they know less than Tom Garilli. Oh well, I will still visit Tom and see what he has to offer, if it is too expensive, I will go somewhere else.

Jeff

 

[SPC]

Posted by J@C:
But the real kicker is that when myself and another person posted less than praise for his establishment on a few BB's, he actually calls me up and threatens me outright with violence.

-Do you happen to know his e mail address John? :wink: :lol:
Steve

 

[Lady Godiva]

Hay (is for horses) DanConnor,

Thanks for the social reference, sounds like a hoot! :roll:

Karen

 

[Anonymous]

I'm with you on the Inland Reef vote and have never seen the others, but Coral Reef Aquarium in Seekonk, MA is a great store. Smaller than Inland Reef, but great prices and Jeremy knows his stuff. He's a new sponsor of the board too - watch the top of the screen.

 

[fishpoo]

Dan, you sure about ReefSplender?
i was there a little time after they opened. they had beautiful LR at great prices, reasonable numbers on the hard goods and a pretty good supply of coral, although a tad expensive, very nice shape.
i haven't been there since, due to the drive, but it's a shame it that's how they went.

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

Reefsplendor is a wholesaler only, although they do let certain retail customers in on occasion from what i have heard.

 

[monkeyboy]

Fish- that sounds like a nice trip. I used to go to Aquadreams on occasion, and met the famous Monkeyboy there. Heven't been to the new store.

So are you ever going to come down and check out the new store? Because, you know, we've only been in the new location a year now, geeze! I think you'd be pleasantly suprised if you came back.

I hear that the famous Monkeyboy may even sign autographs if you come down to see him... :wink:

 

[Marcosreef]

I hear that the famous Monkeyboy may even sign autographs if you come down to see him... :wink:

Sweet! I'm there :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Monk! Do you guys ever get in any more of those cute little rose anemones like you had when I last visited? Everybody seems to be selling the big variety lately...

 

[CaptiveReef]

Country Critters on Medford Ave (Route 112) in Patchogue Long Island has the most mind blowing fish room!!!!!!!!!!!
You want frags they got them, show size pieces, clams, If you go bring your cash or credit card, because you will purchase something.

The person (member) Sci33 on the Reef Central board has a post with pic's from Country Critters. If you are into Reef you have to make a visit to this store. They are always stocked!!!!!!! It is worth the trip
Country Critters 152 Rt. 112 Medford Ave. Patchogue, NY
(631)758-6777

:mrgreen: CaptiveReef

 

[monkeyboy]

Hey Monk! Do you guys ever get in any more of those cute little rose anemones like you had when I last visited? Everybody seems to be selling the big variety lately...

We've had a few tank raised small roses, but they're loooong gone. Mine just divided the other day and i'm tempted to sell it.

 

[Anonymous]

I've been to Country Critters many times- and it is a great place. The people have always been particularly unpleasant when I've visited...maybe I've just had bad luck, but the selection is still astounding...

Monkeyboy- can you wait a few months? I'll take em off your hands then...

 

[reefsRcool]

ok everyone listen up for i am about to correct a mistake that came from nothing but my sheer stupidity and desire to stick up for a store that i whole hartedly believe is the best around. first off i got matt and tom confused at inland. second off i don't really know matt that well(aparently since i thought his name was tom , and when i though somone was talking bad about him i figured ok could be never experianced it first hand but whatever only met him once or twice quick like. so then i wanted to make sure everyone knew tom(who i thought was matt...you see where this is going) was simply the ****. best person i have ever delt with in any lfs. bottom line is i messed up so tom if you read this i am super sorry you are my hero man and i promis i will NEVER forget your name again. and matt if you read this i am sorry i assumed you were ass because I thought somone else said so. sorry for any trouble i caused. lesson learned don't say nothin unless you know exactly what you are saying. once again sorry guys.