any experiance with Chili soft coral??

[jacksonsmom25]

If I hadn't gotten the Cpr bak pac, I would have probably gotten a Aqua c remora. Both are great skimmers...so ive been told...

Im definatly going to go with some mushrooms and try my hand at some xenia too. Don't worry I will definatly come here if I need help...or just to keep yall posted...
Thanks a bunch

megan

 

[smtarr]

Rob, Thanks for the correction. When I read it to myself I wondered if I had gotten the right 'brand name'. Oh well, I tend to be sooo blonde! Megan, I will have some mushrooms that will need a new home soon as well as red ricordea and MAYBE some xenia. Keep us posted. Sue

 

[jacksonsmom25]

Well, I got that new 50\50 bulb. Fish look amazing under it as do my little patch of green star poylps.
How will I know when my tank is ready for some Low light corals?
I don't want to overload to fast and I really don't want anything to die..I could use some advise on this subject.
thanks
megan

 

[smtarr]

Megan, As soon as your tank has 'cycled' that it, the ammonia and nitrite have both spiked and returned to zero you can begin to add fish and corals. Just go slow, don't overcrowd corals they 'fight' with each other if too close. How many you can 'fit' depends on many factors, size of tank, other livestock, skimming, water changes, etc. If your star polyps are doing well you should be able to add other low light corals like mushrooms, some ricordeas, maybe xenias, etc. Happy reefing. sounds like your off to a good start, keep up the good work, Sue

 

[Driftwood]

Thanks for your opinion concerning the shop in Fairfield, I would rather read it here then drive all the way there and find out for myself. I had heard the place was great and have been meaning to get up there for well over a month now. Anyone else have any experiences they want to share? We should start a LFS thread.

 

[jacksonsmom25]

Well, Im past the cycle part, thank god...I hate waiting...
I have 4 little fish right now. a Yellowtail damsel and 2 green chromis. I have a few featherdusters and a couple of small mushrooms growing on there own. Things look like theres doing great.
There was a little pet shop in auburn called Finned and feathers friends or something like that. I got awesome pieces of rock there, and he had lots to choose from, I didnt really notice his fish selection because at the time I wasn't looking to buy fish...just rock, but I would definatly check that guys shop out again.
In regards to Pennys shop. I just wanted to say, that she has nice stuff, beautiful fish that look in great health and nice corals. So, if you can convince her that you know what your doing and that your tanks are set up just like hers...then maybe she will let you buy something...but don't shug her off completely by what happened to me when I went to purchase fish, just BEWARE!

 

[RLMainers]

Can we drop the Penny incident? Please?
Can't people form their own opinions? I don't think this is the right place to be hashing over what stores are better or worse than others, or what stores lack, etc. If people want to share opinions of fish stores, whether good or bad, I believe it should be done through PM'ing, or bring up your thoughts to the actual LFS. There are several LFS owners who are registered here, and I don't think it's right to start a competitive thread about LFS's. The only reason I posted in the first place was to try to explain her reasoning and thinking. Not to start WWIII with whose fish store is better than whose, or who does this right or wrong.

This is the last thing I'm going to say about this (I know, thank god), so please don't waste your energy picking my post apart or arguing. I enjoy the commentary and people here, as well as the advice and recommendations. Have a nice day!

 

[jacksonsmom25]

If you didn't want someone to pick your tread apart you shouldn't have posted it, why are you being so crabby about this.
A forum is where people can say what they think about things...and how things are done and not done...ect...
:Lord forbid we tell other about the experiances with LFS, and if they don't like the fact that we didn't like something about there store, then maybe they should fix it and get a few more customers, plus the last time I knew Penny wastn' supporter of SWAM.

 

[Driftwood]

I understand that several of the SWAM members have fish shops. They shouldn't have anything to fear... lol. Just some consumers discussing our experiences. That does happen you know. With the Internet we can discuss things with people we would have not otherwise meet or had the time to visit with. Technology is amazing.

Please don't feel like I am picking apart you post or anything, but stiffiling free speech isn't something I'm very fond of. Nor is closing my mouth when I have an opinion on something. I definately appreciate hearing Megans experience. It doesn't mean that I won't shop there, but I won't be getting a baby sitter and making a day out of it either...

If we have the president to not discuss our or any LFS on here, then that really takes away our power as a group of consumers and a bunch of the value of being in a club like this.

A sure fire way to start an argument is to tell someone they can't or shouldn't do something... lol.

 

[cabin]

As I believe Denise has mentioned on another thread, we most definitely should NOT start a thread on LFS. Just because one person has a good, or bad, experience does not mean others will. Club members are fortunate to have so many excellent stores in Maine, and members are encouraged to visit them all and form opinions, but any attempts to share such opinions publicly tend to degerate rapidly and we'd prefer to maintain a neutral stance on local stores. Most stores ARE a long drive in one direction or another, but most are worth the trip, just in different ways, depending on YOU and YOUR needs, not someone else's. Once you visit, you'll get a feel for what that store can offer. I hope you'll explore; I suspect your knowledge of the hobby will benefit.

 

[yeame]

any way has any one else had problems like that certain stores take credit for things they has no part of or when u bring her a frag for 5 bucks then u see it there 2 days later being sold for 59.99 because "she had to pay alot for it because it it so rare" or after 3 e-mails and 2 phone calls she tells u to bring a very expensive fish to her to trade then when u drive 1 1/2 hours there with him in a 5g bucket then of corse she thinks u are stuck there with the fish and she will only take it if u give it to her (lmao) sorry anyone who does buisness with u is a fool !! (by the way it was a 7 1/2" sohal tang that i was going to trade her for 50 bucks store credit (rofl) )dont take my word for it go see her or talk to anyone who has bought any over priced coral from her !!
maine has a few new shops that have awsome prices there a new store in auburn i dont kmow the name of it buthere is directions after new auburn bridge take left at blinking light on hill soulth main street about 1 1/2 miles on the left cant miss it best prices in maine or on net whole sale prices on every thing i bought there and what i am ordering well worth any distance drive and there was no BS

NOTE: this is not my opinion and these things did actully happen to me and a few of the people i know bad people skills if u ask me

(screw me once shame on me screw me twice shame on you you wont get me again)

 

[Hedonist]

OHHHHH MY!

I had no idea all this was going on... I noticed it appeared that someone had posted about the chili coral again and wanted to check it out... I too had tried one with no luck

Charles Delbeck did a talk once about corals such as these, non-photosynthetic..... linear flow patterns to bring food to it basically was his concept... believe it is on one of the MACNA CD's from 2004 ... I think someone in the club has it....

The LFS conversation somewhat started by someone expressing a valid opinion in a tone I would not say was offensive ( as opposed to someone degrading a person or shop)

AquaCorals is very set in their ways of running a saltwater system, very knowledgable but not really what I would call open minded...... "Proof is in the pudding" is what she used to say, not sure she still does... but know there are alot of brands of pudding out there, most are good except the sugar free crap IMO


When I first started and ran into problems and there were no LFS to speak of, -the only one around quit selling marine just after I got started I found her and she got me through it... over time as we conversed I found our philopsphy was a bit different.... I esp found it odd that someone who is so adament about how to run an expensive marine system will add an additve that does not list it contents and there is not way to test for it, JMO though, I continued to shop there but an issue over posting club flyers was the last straw for me, I do not frequent the shop... rather frustrating as it is very close to me...


We are very lucky to have lots of shops to visit, converse with and learn from..... it probably would have been best if the LFS repsonded to the original comment, otherwise it turns into a big and sometimes ugly opinion thing...

which everyone has to understand, opinions are like noses, everyone has one

Denise

 

[bunsenburner]

I too like Penny, love her store, and think the DSB method is one of the good one. I don't really use it though and feel overall surface area of the sand is more important than depth. Just my 2 cents. I have a hard time getting non-photosynthtics to thrive.

Matt

 

[Driftwood]

Thanks for the info yeame, how do you get to the new auburn bridge from 95? I'm not very familiar with that area.

I noticed that the Boston Reef Society had a LFS thread stickied to the top of their forum. They vote for the top three in each area every month. I think it sounds like a cool idea. What a way for a little known shop to get some attention!

 

[yeame]

take lewiston exit to lisbon street take left at lewiston pawn shop (big yellow building cont miss signs

 

[londonloco]

Back to the subject of this coral. I can give you my experience. My friend bought one from our LFS. I thought, oo, said to be hard to keep. She's had hers over 6 months and it's grown 3x the size. Somehow, a VERY SMALL, 1/2" piece was rolling around her tank. She brought it to me. I superglued it to a piece of rubble, put in in a very shady place in my tank under a rock, with medium flow. We both feed our tanks BioPlankton, night feedings, 3-4 times a week. My little frag has been in my tank less than a month, and has grown to over an inch. It shows it's feeding polyps nightly. I have a very very small fuge, she does not. JME..........

 

[jacksonsmom25]

Basically, I was asking about the chilli coral because I was looking for some coral that would thrive in my low lighting, and the chilli coral caught my eye. I may try it in the future, but right now I am very new at corals and rather try some that I know will survive. Ewan has hooked me up with some (lowlight corals)...they are great and so far...are doing well.
thanks for everyone replies

 

[JackRent]

The LFS bashing is very common IMO. Not necessarily on this forum but out in the community. I too think people should make up there mind for themselves. Each store is worth a visit just for the experience. Personally I think LFS should give credit for items of excellent quality whether they are corals or fish. If you want cash you should be willing to take a lot less than store credit. Keep in mind, the mark-ups on live goods are quite large so stores naturally will not give you more than they can pay from their wholesaler. Size with fish should not necesssarily mean more money. Fish cannot be fragged and a large fish means a large expensive system which many people , dare I say most don't have. Just my two cents as a concerned hobbyist. Anyone for zenia frags at $60.00 a piece. They are a very hearty strain. LOL

 

[JackRent]

That's XENIA with an X ! And THERE should be THEIR. How is everyone's "live" rock coming along ?? The Germans seem very into ceramics right now which usually seems to be what the US does next.

 

[yeame]

i bought a red chilli from atlantis in south portland a month or so ago its goin great its growing like crazy does anyone know if i can cut it it is growing out of the water sometimes it goes about 3/4" out the top of water and blooms