A
Anonymous
Guest
I'm in the mood for a road trip- which place is your favorite???
I never been to a great reef store, but the best store I have ever been to was That Fish Place in Lancaster, PA. My wife forces me to go out there a couple of times a year. On my last trip I discovered this store and now I want to make her go out there. It has tons of dry goods at awesome prices. They also have a big fish room, but some of the fish looked unhealthy. It is worth the trip. Plus with all the shopping in the area, the wife will go too.
I have heard about a really good store on rt 46 in Clifton, NJ. Don't remember the name though. I will venture out that way one day though.
Roy
I have heard about a really good store on rt 46 in Clifton, NJ. Don't remember the name though. I will venture out that way one day though.
Roy
matt here's an unbiased opinion. your store rocks! you guys know what you are doing and were never afraid to say no when i used to ask for something stupid. you set me on the right path and my tank looks way better for it. every other place i have been will sell you what you want, or what some book written in the 80s says is the stuff to use. more than just a place to get fish, your whole staff is a source of information and inspiration. you will be personally responsible for my slow turn towards bankrupcy, but damn will i have i nice tank by then. THANK YOU!! SO now that i have kissed your ass in a very public way how bout a sweet deal on that aquaspacelight i've been lusting for :lol: just kidding everyone, this guy and this store are the real deal. if you ever venture to southern NH you have to stop in.
reefsRcool":711k35bf said:
I agree. There have been a few times where I wanted to spend money on something I thought was absolutely essential for my tank only to be thrown out of the store emptyhanded.
(Okay, maybe not completely emptyhanded or thrown out, but you get the picture!) :wink:
There is a good one here in the greater Boston area called Reefgar Coral Farms. It is run by a fellow named Tom Garilli, who is very knowledgeable and he has some great stuff. It used to be out of his basement, but he recently expanded to a large airplane hanger looking thing right next to his house. His display tank is amazing! You won't be dissapointed. It is much more DIY than Inland Reef, but worth a visit. It is located in Westborough, MA near the Mass Pike. His number is 508-898-3516, and he is open usually weekdays after 6 and weekends all day, just call to be sure.
Jeff
Jeff
I second both the Hidden Reef (philiadelphia) and Reef & Fin (stamford)
Call a head for either to see when shippments arrive.
Forget That Fish Place... good for drygoods, decent for fish, but the reef section is just horrible and tiny. On the plus side, plenty of Amish stuff to visit in the area.
Call a head for either to see when shippments arrive.
Forget That Fish Place... good for drygoods, decent for fish, but the reef section is just horrible and tiny. On the plus side, plenty of Amish stuff to visit in the area.
There are a lot of links to the various stores on the links page at:
http://www.bostonreefers.org
Wait, here's a better link to LFS info around here:
http://www.bostonreefers.org/links/#lfs
I actually wrote a big ol' post with some reviews, but decided that ethically it is better that I don't say too much. Damn politics.
http://www.bostonreefers.org
Wait, here's a better link to LFS info around here:
http://www.bostonreefers.org/links/#lfs
I actually wrote a big ol' post with some reviews, but decided that ethically it is better that I don't say too much. Damn politics.
Ill 2nd Inland reef, but Reefgar and the owner Tom Garilli is a complete joke, and his knowledge is rudimentary at best. He has treated alot of folks with disrespect and his livestock is nothing special either. How many folks has he told the "cherrypicking" story to? Or the "floating" price that changes from the phone call to when you actually show up? No thank you. If people want a 2nd choice to Inland reef, then check out Paragonsales in CT. Its run by a classy guy who deserves all the business he gets.
Inland Reef has got my vote. The folks at Inland are very knowledgeable and willing to share that to help others create healthy, successful marine tanks. Back in April, they gave a series of seminars for FREE, which covered just about every subject needed to get a tank up and running.
One of the things I like best about Inland, besides the fact that they are knowledgeable and up to date on the ever changing technology of the hobby, is that they are strong advocates for being responsible hobbiests, and encourage people to make decisions that are in the best intereset of the animals.
Karen
One of the things I like best about Inland, besides the fact that they are knowledgeable and up to date on the ever changing technology of the hobby, is that they are strong advocates for being responsible hobbiests, and encourage people to make decisions that are in the best intereset of the animals.
Karen
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.
ReefsRcool:I dont think you read my post fully, I am also giving Inland 2 thumbs up, but Reefgar Coral farms "owner" Tom Garilli is a complete @$$, he is the one along with his place that gets 2 thumbs down for poor relations(including threats to me and a few other folks in the northern MA area for speaking against his 2 bit operation last summer),products and his "2 tier" pricing that changes hourly literally.
1. Inland Reef Aquaria = great staff, very clean, well stocked store, inspiring display tanks....you WANT to spent money there.
2. Paragon Aquatics = I haven't been to his retail store yet, but saw the quality of corals and rock in his garage. I'd give it a higher rating on coral selection than Inland Reef, but I have only been to Paragon once.
3. Aquadreams in western Mass. Their old store was in dire need of a face lift. They had a decent assortment of corals, fish and critters. I haven't been to their new store yet. I would check it out if I'm in the area but probably wouldn't go out of my way.
4. Reefsplendor south of Albany. I haven't heard a whole lot but it sounds like it would be worth the trip.
Heck you could make it a mini beach/reefing vacation, First Inland Reef Aquaria, then Coral Reef Aquarium in Seekonk, Ma. While you're near the Cape go to the beach and eat crab cakes and lobster. Then on to Paragon Aquatics, Aquadreams and Reefsplendor.
2. Paragon Aquatics = I haven't been to his retail store yet, but saw the quality of corals and rock in his garage. I'd give it a higher rating on coral selection than Inland Reef, but I have only been to Paragon once.
3. Aquadreams in western Mass. Their old store was in dire need of a face lift. They had a decent assortment of corals, fish and critters. I haven't been to their new store yet. I would check it out if I'm in the area but probably wouldn't go out of my way.
4. Reefsplendor south of Albany. I haven't heard a whole lot but it sounds like it would be worth the trip.
Heck you could make it a mini beach/reefing vacation, First Inland Reef Aquaria, then Coral Reef Aquarium in Seekonk, Ma. While you're near the Cape go to the beach and eat crab cakes and lobster. Then on to Paragon Aquatics, Aquadreams and Reefsplendor.
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.
That whole thing with ReefSplendor being the fantastic reef store new york has never had was a total fraud, apparently. Its a mail order hardware place, and what livestock they have is just distributed to LFSs. Big disappointment.
That whole thing with ReefSplendor being the fantastic reef store new york has never had was a total fraud, apparently. Its a mail order hardware place, and what livestock they have is just distributed to LFSs. Big disappointment.
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