anyone been to tropical aquarium in brunswick????

ive been to jeffs place "club reef" his prices are a bit high IMO but hes a nice guy and has a awsome tank with a really cool sea apple.. i bought some food from him that was the only good deals all his livestock and corals were high
 
Check out Hectors place, he is personable, well informed ,and has great life stock. His stingray tank is sweet too.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8598583#post8598583 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by newsalt1
Check out Hectors place... His stingray tank is sweet too.

Tank??? That's a small swimming pool!

If you haven't yet visited Hector, you should! I wonder if we could get him to change the name to "Hector's place"? ...j/k


-darren
 
I was there today, I bought two rainford goby, and a decorator goby
in the tank in the front of the store he has a awesome staghorn crab, worth the trip just to look at that
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8601503#post8601503 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MJAnderson
Curious how your rainford's gobys do. Mine isn't eating and I've tried everything.
Did you try an algae rock? They are desired for their ability to keep red and green hair algae in check, but the payback is that if they eat all of it, you need to provide some or they may not prosper on alternate foods even if they eat well. Grow some hair on a rock in a glass jar in a window or ledge near a tank light. Then switch the algae rocks out as needed.
 
I have red hair algae, which is why I bought the goby. Isn't touching it. At SC they were picking at the sand, but mine doesn' even do that. I could try a green algae rock, but I'm not sure I want to introduce green algae in order to feed an animal that isn't eating red algae. Thanks for the suggestion. Always appreciated.
 
rainford

rainford

try some mysin or brine/baby brine shrimp, if its in/on the sand they will eat it, maybe when your not looking. nice fish
 
I went there over the long weekend. Very nice. I will go back. I bought some chaeto, snails, and a goby. Hector is a great guy and will be honest to you.
 
I went there this weekend as well and picked up a couple of fish. This is my second visit and Hector has been more than helpful. He will spot feed any fish in the store to show if its eating or not.

I was looking at a beautiful Achilles Tang and he warned me that it was not eating. I really appreciated that.

He is more than willing to place orders and is trying to get the word out that he is there. Perhaps in the future we can consider a group buy on fish? Just an idea.
 
I checked it out over the weekend but was a little put off by his suggestion that it would be perfectly ok for me to add an Atlantic Blue Tang to my 72g bowfront that already has a Kole Tang. He said he's kept 4 in a 90g before and it's not a problem as the lack of room will keep them small. Goes against everything else I had heard.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8634210#post8634210 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MJAnderson
He said he's kept 4 in a 90g before and it's not a problem as the lack of room will keep them small. Goes against everything else I had heard.


That also goes against everything that I have read online... however, many LFS seem to have this idea. Some of them have been doing it for years without any problem at all. I would imagine that the risk for disease is greater and the overall happiness of the fish would not be the best, but that is all relative.
Remember, you're taking a fish from an ocean to a tank... does it really matter if it's in a 3 foot tank or a 4 foot tank?
I, personally, would not add a tang to anything less than a 120 gallon tank... even then I'm hesitant, as most 120's are only 4 feet long. I would prefer a 6 foot 125 at minimum.

Some of these guys are time tested in their opinions, you can't argue with that.
 
I went yesterday for the first time. Very clean, large store. Seemed very lightly stocked. There were a few sick and dying fish, (I do understand that one can not expect 100 percent success with these sometimes delicate creatures or be held totally responsible for their treatment or conditions through collection and shipping). One of the guys working there told me it was best to come in after Tuesday, which is when they receive orders. That's fine, but it means they are selling fish very fast. For someone like me, without a quarantine tank, I prefer to buy fish that have shown at least a little longevity in the store. I thought the dry goods selection was only fair--limited choices on most things. I did speak with Hector briefly to get some pricing on custom built. He was eager to point out that he could order fish for me, but I didn't need any fish. I spent about forty bucks, admired the store and went on with other errands.

My take is: the store is still very young, but promising. I think I'll continue to favor the SC for salty needs and visit Hector's store in the spring to see how it's doing.
 
I think it is a store with HUGE potential. I can understand his fast turn around with fish as he has just probably put everything he owns into getting the nice store setup and now it would be taxing to buy livestock and keep them for months without income from the purchase. The setup obviously wasn't cheap and looks to me like he will slowly bring stocking levels up to meet demand. I do like the fact that he has special-ordered things for guys already and gets them reasonably fast. Other stores I have been to are less motivated to get the one thing you want unless it is a larger profit item. He will continue to get visits from me every time I am in the area.

As far as the dry goods are concerned, they are more of the overhead invested and just setting on the shelf waiting to be purchased. I would hope that Hector has a long-term vision and puts some of each dollar earned back into stocking new items for the store instead of just replacing what was sold. It is also a game of knowing what will sell so you don't end up with items that haven't sold for years.

I think he is making a great effort to gain loyalty from local aquarists and hope the store stays as friendly and down-to-earth as it was when I first visited.

The advice MJAnderson received is disheartening for sure, but I try to do my own research and head to the store with my own knowledge. I know it is nice to be able to trust in the answers you get from the employees. As some people have stated, it may have worked for him before, but if it has worked in the past it doesn't necessarily mean that it's gospel. I have heard it put this way, people have SURVIVED in tiny little cages for years while being kept prisoner. They weren't THRIVING though. Many large fish can survive in smallish tanks but for them to thrive I think they need the room to swim.

My 2 cents. Sorry for the novel.
-- Kevin
 
i went there over the long weekend also, the BEST livestock prices I've seen period...also all of the fish seemed to be pretty healthy, but then again there really isnt anything to compare it to down here in canton, you know its bad when the local petco has better saltwater livestock then the local marine pet store (FYI that is Wet Pets Plus down here in canton), i strongly urge people not to get anything from there, their prices are extremely outrageous and i can order things online and have them shipped for less then what they charge, once again that is WET PETS PLUS not, i repeat not Tropical Aquarium, I have yet to go to Salty Critter as its about 2 hours away from me but im looking forward to going there in a couple weeks when i will be up at Rockwell Springs trout fishing
 
I will say this, I think Hector's real expertise is in freshwater. However, when chatting with him, he has said that the majority of sales have centered around saltwater so he is learning as he goes. I do agree that his hardgoods are limited. However, hopefully his business is successful and he can expand his product offering.

With regards to disease, at one time or another, I have seen dead or dying fish at virtually every LFS I have ever been to. Lets face it, even the most advanced store is a breeding ground for pathogens. Couple that with a little stress and you have a recipe for disaster.

Personally, I would rather catch them in the bag they came in before they hit the LFS's water. Each water supply they come in contact with represents more potential exposure to pathogens and stress.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8522844#post8522844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by arbee
Thank you Rhodophyta and ohclereefO2.
Great directions. Yes, I have Salty Critter on my "must go" to list also.
I don't know any reefers local here in the Massillon, Canton area so it's off we go on our fact finding mission :)
Thanks again for the help~~
Rita
If you would get into a pinch just PM me as I am only about 20Min from you in canton south off of rt 800.
 
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