Atlantis

[drgmeh]

I was just in Atlantis today. I got talking to her and found out some interesting stuff:

She told me she has donated alot of stuff to SWAM and not even a thank you from anyone!!!! At a very least she should be thanked if not more.

She said that she has offered her store for SWAM to meet in and SWAM has never taken her up on the offer. Looks like a great place to meet for a meeting to me even though I am not able to make it to the meetings.

And last of all, yesterday someone poisoned her big tank! She said she had the top off and someone must of dumped somethign in. I dont remeber what she thought it was but it killed all but one of her fish, made the water cloudy. She did a water change before she closed and still lost all of the fish, it could of been alot worst, so far the corals are ok. The fish in the tank were fish from her home that she had for about 8 years or so.

I dont know what it is with people but cant we all just get along? I hear alot of bickering between stores. All of the stores out there are nice and all are different with different things to offer. There is no need to be so spitefull to poison her tank, I dont care what happened. Who ever in the hobby who did this should get out of the hobby. Reefers don't kill other peoples reefs.

 

[Hedonist]

Mike,

Pauline did indeed donate a nice coral prop basket last year, I personally thanked her very much for it, not sure what else she wants? For some reason she thinks we promote other stores and not hers.. is is not true, at least as a club... what members decide to write, say or feel, is another story and not necessarily endorsed by the club....Very few meets are held at LFS, If she is not getting visits by members, that is an issue tween her and the customer

Some members stopped at Atlantis as we came back from a MACNA event last year, and we also had visited her store in the past, as a mater of fact she had a few items out with a discount for members, I got some salt.

We are open to anyone, private individual or LFS to host us. In the past, we have held meets at PCR, which exists not longer, because they had a lot of space. The frag demo had almost 30 people there

The last meet held at a LFS was put together by a member. Altho I would rather stay away from having meets at LFS, unless it is sponsored by the LFS, I am very grateful that members have taken the initiative to organize the meets.....

Pauline does have a beautiful shop with lots of stock to chose from. She seems to be successful too. I have told her in the past that is why she may be having problems. I am sure she will get the culprit(s), last time I saw her she said she was installing cameras


Denise

 

[drgmeh]

Denise,

Everything I wrote is what she told me today. Apparently there is some riff between the group and her. I'm not involved enoughf to know what is really going on. I just know that when she told me someone poisoned her tank, it really upset me.

 

[Dan_L]

Pauline is a good person at heart but also a drama queen

 

[spotfin]

Is she sure someone poisoned her tank? Could something have died or spawned in there and caused the crash? If she thinks someone did poison it, does she think someone from SWAM did it?
I don't think having club meets at a store is a good idea. It leads to bickering.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[thefishbowl2006]

My wife and I just opened up a small pet/reptile/fish store. There seem to be tons of saltwater shops opening up everywhere I turn.

Pauline got me started with my first saltwater tank about a year ago, it really upsets me that someone would do this. I hope to god it wasn't any other store. She has been one of the most pleasant shopkeepers i've met in the southern area. Matter of fact I was in there two weeks ago talking with her about how my tanks that we had set up for salt went to s$@T since when we first started we overstocked and nothing was selling and up went the nitrates, etc... I've almost given up on anymore salt for sale. She convinced me to hang in there, like others who have given me advice like the Black Shark in lEwiston, and the golden lamb.

I'm still debating on whether to start up more SW tanks or just keep my own personal. sticking with the hardier and less costly freshwater . Personally I think it was just some dumb idiot maybe who lost a fish they bought from there? I hope it was'nt a person that did this and maybe just some fluke in her system.

To think other stores would do this is very disturbing, I've seen her show tank and it is a beautiful thing. i'm truly sorry this happened to her. Without her I wouldn't have got my first pair of clowns, tommy and terry the tomato clowns.

Pauline if you read this I hope you can bounce back, but losing fish you've had for so long to me is like losing a dog or cat. I get attached to everything that comes in our store. My condolences.

A little off track but anyone interested in reptile give us a shout out here in casco, we got some wicked friendly blue tounge skinks and bearded dragon babies.

Salt is too depressing when something like this happens, I mean her tank must have thousands invested, hopefully it isn't as bad as "drgmeh" posted. I'm gonna have to go by and see tommorrow after my real job. Since i aint making enough selling fish yet?

 

[bunsenburner]

I agree that Pauline is a good person and I like her store. She does like drama and seems to be a glass half full sort of person. I was just in there last a few weeks ago and thanked her in person for the stuff she had donated. I've done a decent job keeping her posted of this previously going in and telling her that the nice fragging basket was saved for the Anthony Calfo talk, but again she like drama. She did make a good point though that we should do better providing written thank you letters.

I will also note that she denied my request to post a frag auction flyer and stated that she only looks into our web actions on this page when somebody says something negative has been posted. Surely that taints her perception of how we feel about her nice store.

Bummer about the tank. What type of toxin would wipe out fish but not corals? I though corals were more sensitive to zenobiotics.

 

[ME2003]

Here are a couple of things that can kill all your fish and the coral are fine. You have a very healthy tank and and you do a water change.
This triggers a spawning event in a coral,clam or (anemones?)
My theory is this lowers the oxygen in the tank enough to kill
the fish. It may also introduce toxins.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=798823l
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=813039

A bacteria bloom can do the same.

Less likely but possible calcium precipitating out
of the water. (calcium snow storm)

Ich, viruses and other fish diseases do the same.

 

[Dan_L]

A little framed thank you would work nice. For two reason one it's an official thank you and a little advertising of swam with its forum address

 

[bunsenburner]

Interesting possibility about the spawn Mike. It seem likely that a skimmer would rapidly remove the spawnate. I wonder if it would simultaneously provide enough oxygen into the water to sustain fish. Long live skimmers!

 

[smtarr]

I recently had my 120g 'crash'. I had it set up and thought it had finished cycling.I waited 3 wks so started to add fish. I had added a six-banded Angel, a beautiful Red Sea purple tang, a Red Sea sailfin tang, a dog-faced puffer, 2 small porcupine puffers, a Moorish Idol, a small yellow tang, a bursa trigger and a Niger trigger and a cute small snowflake eel over the span of a month or more, more like 6 wks. The tank had always been cloudy and I made the mistake of thinking it was sand cloudy. I started to lose fish. They developed ich from the stress of cycling I think. I lost EVERY fish except 'Snowy' the eel. After a week or so the tank cleared and tested negative for all except a little nitrate so I've started to stock the tank again, but am taking it REAL slow. I have the most BEAUTIFUL queen angel I've ever seen. This experience was very disturbing, losing such beautiful, personable fish that all had great personalities. Not to mention the $$$$! No one did ANYTHING to my tank. I think the problem was a bacterial bloom that resolved with the complete cycling of the tankand the addition of some Melafix. In addition I think I stocked too much too quick even though I waited at least a week between additions. Learned my lesson though. My point, sometimes s--t happens. Sue

 

[4MB]

I was there the other day and saw the empty tank, she has been nothing but nice and helpful to me getting me started. Hope it was just a fluke thing.

 

[Hedonist]

From what I have heard I do not think it is a fluke thing, like I mentioned before, she was going to have a security camera installed... Someone supposedly had poisoned her tanks before, she has had tires slashed, harassing phone calls and a crown of thorns star fish dropped in her tank.. this is what I have heard of personally.....

It is possible is is something like what mike said, esp if she has her cameras up and they did not see anything... she does not use skimmers as far as I know......

I like Pauline, she has great taste, and has a great shop going..... I will continue to shop there as often as I get down that way......

As far as the framed thank you note.... it has to be hung before anyone sees it...IMO SWAM should stay away from LFS, it has been a big head ache and a bunch of bickering

Personally, I do not send out any cards except to my grand kids.. I feel a personal call or conversation means much more... cards are immaterial....and money in the pocket of Hallmark JMO

Denise

 

[Ewan]

This is rediculous.

A crown of thorns starfish huh? I've had to jump through hoops (and put up $75 for the paperwork) to import a sarcophyton elegans in to this country. I think CITES might have an issue with importing a crown of thorns starfish.

I've seen the officers of SWAM make a very big effort to keep all the shop keepers happy, and people still get in a snit. I was in a LFS 2 weeks ago where 2 people were bashing RC, I quietly removed myself from the store, and I'm not going back. Just because there's a club doesn't mean people need to swear allegiance to a particular store.

Let me make it simple for any shop keepers that may be actually reading this thread because it's take a turn toward the negative:

if you want me to spend a lot of money in your store, here's a recipe:

1. Keep clean tanks with healthy livestock. No inappropriate specimens please.

2. Don't tell me that I'm doing things all wrong.

3. Don't say anything negative about other stores.

4. don't say anything negative about SWAM.

If it weren't for this group, many reefkeepers in Maine would have no idea that your particular store exists. Furthermore, this club has excelled a lot of saltwater reefkeepers into full-blown, cash-burning reefkeepers. Be thankful that so many people give so much time to create your clientele. Especially our founder, who is immersed in the politic BS father than I can imagine.

This is general, and not aimed at any particular store. Although, I'm sure it'll be construed otherwise.

 

[smtarr]

Well said

 

[BriMc]

I agree with the Drama queen comment as when I would go into the store it seemed like she felt that everybody was out to get her. I stopped visiting the store about six months ago for reasons I would rather not post on this board. But the last time I was in the store (6 months ago) pauline was telling me about someone poisoning her tank a few months after she opened. So this is Poisoning #2??

 

[smtarr]

'nough said. This forum isn't meant to be a LFS pro or con site. We all have our individual experiences. I personally like ALL the LFS stores I've visited in Maine. I've frequented (and bought livestock and/or supplies) from, in no special order of preference, Coastal Aquatics, Port City Reef, Aquatic Concepts, Aqua Corals, Golden Lamb, PETCO, Kennel Shop, Atlantis, I hope I haven't missed anyone, but being blonde, I'm sure I have. They ALL have strengths AND weaknesses. As WE all do. Lets put this thread to rest. I DO prefer to discuss these things in person at meetings rather than 'air dirty laundry' in forum such as this, just a personal preference, no ill will meant to anyone. This is just my opinion, you're all entitled to yours. Sue

 

[Hedonist]

Rob is right, 100%.... and I like your recipe.. it sounds soooo good!

On a side note, I went to school to study environmental technology.... decided after the fact that it was too politcal, little did I know

Topic is closed, as Sue implied... there is another thread out there for those who are interested in this crapola....

Regardless, Atlantis is still a nice shop done with great taste, I will still visit when in the area

Denise

 

[spotfin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7282136#post7282136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ewan
This is rediculous.

A crown of thorns starfish huh? I've had to jump through hoops (and put up $75 for the paperwork) to import a sarcophyton elegans in to this country. I think CITES might have an issue with importing a crown of thorns starfish.

I've seen the officers of SWAM make a very big effort to keep all the shop keepers happy, and people still get in a snit. I was in a LFS 2 weeks ago where 2 people were bashing RC, I quietly removed myself from the store, and I'm not going back. Just because there's a club doesn't mean people need to swear allegiance to a particular store.

Let me make it simple for any shop keepers that may be actually reading this thread because it's take a turn toward the negative:

if you want me to spend a lot of money in your store, here's a recipe:

1. Keep clean tanks with healthy livestock. No inappropriate specimens please.

2. Don't tell me that I'm doing things all wrong.

3. Don't say anything negative about other stores.

4. don't say anything negative about SWAM.

If it weren't for this group, many reefkeepers in Maine would have no idea that your particular store exists. Furthermore, this club has excelled a lot of saltwater reefkeepers into full-blown, cash-burning reefkeepers. Be thankful that so many people give so much time to create your clientele. Especially our founder, who is immersed in the politic BS father than I can imagine.

This is general, and not aimed at any particular store. Although, I'm sure it'll be construed otherwise.

Rob,
Well said!

 

[scunan]

I was actually in the store when Pauline found the crown of thorns star fish and I believe she still has it frozen in her freezer.