|
|
Post by Marlin n' Coral on Sept 15, 2012 6:28:54 GMT -5
We like Petco - portland. Thye have a good selection and are willing to special order thing in as well.
Agree with above on Atlantis. The owner usually seems pretty distracted and the live rock tank has lots of Aiptasia anemones.
|
|
|
|
Post by ryansweatt2004 on Sept 16, 2012 16:02:27 GMT -5
Seems like every single saltwater reef store here in Maine has aptasia. Even the most well know reef store here in ME is infested with them. So far, Cultivated Reef is the only place I've been to that doesn't have any visible aptasia anemones that I have been able to see.
|
|
|
|
Post by ryansweatt2004 on Sept 16, 2012 16:12:44 GMT -5
Aptasia anemones are the number 1 reason I won't buy and add rock from any of the LFS's here in ME. The only way I'll ever buy rock from any of the stores around here anymore is if its dry. The last time I bought a piece of Live rock from a saltwater reef store, it was my $100+ tonga branch rock and I still ended up having to let the rock sit outside to dry for a few days to try and kill the couple aptasia's that were on it. No way will I let any of those friggin things get in my tanks! LFS's can keep them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Marlin n' Coral on Sept 22, 2012 6:12:21 GMT -5
Pet Smart in Biddeford has Hikari frozen foods priced very reasonably.
|
|
|
|
Post by oceangirl2009 on Sept 22, 2012 8:41:30 GMT -5
I took the kids on a field trip to the 3 big stores in Salem, NH on Thursday so here are my reviews:
Oceans in Glass: Small, but nice healthy tanks, fish, and coral. Even gave the kids some live rock to get started. They were very knowledgeable and I would go back.
Aqua Addicts: Now, I understand having 6 high school kids invade your store can be intimidating, but they agreed to have us and then they ignored us. One of the kids tried asking questions and the employee was unable to answer them. To top everything off I have never seen tanks so over run with aiptasia, I'm talking 100s in every tank and they were even living in the coral they were trying to sell, and dead fish that have clearly been there for a while. If you make money selling things out of your tank you should be making sure it's clean of these pests and to take dead fish out of the tank. Even the kids picked up on this and we left, and on the way out they saw a dead fish on the ground.
Jay's: HUGE selection of fish and coral, definitely worth a trip on a weekend, they have so much and pretty good prices. The staff was knowledgeable and was very pleasant with the kids and they helped them pick out some coral that I am babysitting in my tank until their's is ready for livestock. I have never seen so much coral in one place! I personally, walked out with a super nice maxima clam.
|
|
|
|
Post by seamonkey84 on Sept 22, 2012 10:18:55 GMT -5
Going to jays again tomorrow after the Manchester reptile show!
|
|
|
|
Post by seamonkey84 on Sept 23, 2012 22:30:10 GMT -5
Went to jays today, he's still remodeling half of he main storefront, so things are a bit scares it seems, livestock and dry goods combines.'none the less I loved the visit, and got what I needed. They just got in some bta that I wanted but like I said, just got there a few hours before I got there so i didn't dare to.
|
|
|
|
Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 3, 2012 15:24:55 GMT -5
I don't get to go to all the stores very often anymore and it seems like I've only been dealing with Deep Sea Creations lately. Just wondering if anyone has seen any good or bad changes at any of the other local fish stores here in Maine. I suppose it could help some of us save a trip and a tank of gas if any of the stores are going downhill. Could also be a great way to spread the word if there really is any store that is truly worth the drive.
|
|
|
|
Post by seamonkey84 on Oct 3, 2012 21:52:43 GMT -5
Just went by Greg's place(operator of cultivated reef for those who don't know yet), as always well worth the two hour drive! So much of what he has in his tanks aren't posted online yet. It's been just over a year since I last made the trip, he's got more tanks, and a bunch of his stuff is now under LEDs. I picked up a beautiful rbta (a few just like it on sale still) and a nice frag of deep colored Acan and orange bam bam zoas. I haven't scraped the glass yet and things aren't open yet, pics to come tomorrow after maintnece!
|
|
|
|
Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 9, 2012 14:24:53 GMT -5
I can't wait to go back up to Greg's place "CultivatedReef.com" Its probably the nicest place to buy quality aquacultured corals and clams in the entire state of Maine. My only regret is not finding out about his aquaculture facility when my wife and I were starting to buy corals. Of coarse doing my research on the forums like this and talking with more local reefers would have saved me tons of money in the beginning as well. Lately I've been reading through lots of other reef forums and at first I couldn't believe just how much negativity there is towards a select few reef stores here in Maine but with some I tend to feel the same.. I think Cultivatedreef.com is the only one I've heard and read nothing but awesome things about! Everyone should check out the corals sales and the new additions he's got going on right now. And by the way, The King Midas zoanthids he has friggin kick but! I bought 2 polyps off him a couple months ago and they are such an intense yellow and growing really good as well!
|
|
|
|
Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 9, 2012 14:31:31 GMT -5
Just wanted to say too that Dennis at Deep Sea Creations is starting to get more livestock and dry goods orders in. I was in there the other day and he was saying that if business keeps picking up that he'd be making more regular livestock orders again. I can't wait to see what he starts getting in!
|
|
|
|
Post by n3v3rg0nnakn0wwh0 on Oct 23, 2012 19:17:04 GMT -5
I am a regular customer at Atlantis and I have nothing bad to say. Pauline is the only one there to do everything and is always on top of helping customers. Every time I have been in she has greeted all the customers, made sure they were all set, bounced around from person to person to check on them and answered all questions no matter HOW long it took. All the tanks are being run on their own systems by filters and a few have air pumps just for the affect of the air pump. The tanks, fish and corals are well maintained and are always healthy and lively. The tanks are kept clean and appealing to look at. There is always a variety of new high quality fish and corals in. I have never once had a problem with the products or aquatic life I have bought there. Pauline has replaced so many products I've purchased at other stores, saved my tank and numerous other peoples as well from issues caused by other stores and online shopping. Atlantis is the only place I know where you can get this kind of service with so much help and a friendly face. I won't shop anywhere else because, I know that I will be 100% taken care of at Atlantis. Pauline takes care of everyones needs and if you want something that's not in the store she's more than happy to custom order what you want. Compared to the other stores around pauline has the best products, that you know are going to be high quality for a good price.
I thoroughly enjoy stopping by to shop and see the new products and fish Atlantis is getting in and to talk about the hobby that we all love.
|
|
|
|
Post by gotareef on Oct 26, 2012 0:21:25 GMT -5
+1 pauline is great and has a very nice store
to bad she added all the freshwater I think her tanks have suffered some because of it. I would shop there more, but with the drive and her prices not being very competitive, I still stop by if im in the area,and usually buy something
|
|
|
|
Post by jstearn on Oct 26, 2012 20:22:40 GMT -5
+1 pauline is great and has a very nice store to bad she added all the freshwater I think her tanks have suffered some because of it. I would shop there more, but with the drive and her prices not being very competitive, I still stop by if im in the area,and usually buy something Still she will sell small frags that broke off or whatever for cheap. I got 3 frags for 7$ one day and now I have a couple huge colony's from them. I like searching for the frag that got away. Also we got a really nice used protein Skimmer too. |
|
|
|
Post by scoobnoob on Oct 29, 2012 19:30:25 GMT -5
My Favia continued to regress despite two dips (I had got this from Cultivated reef about 3 years ago and it's my favorite coral)....I read the next thing to do was to cut off all the dead tissue and refrag it. Not having the equipment I e-mailed Greg at cultivated reef. He gave me his availability and I stopped in. Greg cut off all the nasty stuff and glued it to another plug for me. You can't find customer service like this anymore!! While I was there I picked up a Orange cap...and finally got some Mary Jane Zoas. Cultivated reef really does go above and beyond if you havn't been there yet your really missing Maines hidden gem.
|
|
