Corals at Petco??

[Rosseau]

Faviaphile,

Very sensible post and advice given there. Particularly Re the training of staff. After all, the average person doesn't know much about the needs of Tangs and the intricacies of nitrate cycles. We all had to learn this.

 

[rsw686]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9628097#post9628097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cybrsufr
I am new to SW and Reefkeeping but, have done enough research over the past 8 months before even setting up my 90 Gallon Bowfront reef to know when something isn't right. I too have looked at PetCo's SW systems and even spoke to the manager of the dept at my local store (which just opened) and was plainly that they did not cycle their SW tanks, they just filled them and threw in Livestock. The manager himself stated he was appalled at this practice as he had two reef tanks of his own, but this is what they instructed him to do at the store startup. Also I have taken the time in the last 5 weeks while my tank is FULLY cycling with LIVE ROCK not critters or fish, and scoped out all of the SW aquarium shops in my area. What I have found is the EVERYONE of the chain/franchise stores (PetCo, PetClub, Perfect Pets, etc) had really sh&^^Y tanks that were full of hair algae, marine ich, dead fish with hermits eating them, lateral line disease on tangs, and so forth. It is a real shame that these companies are allowed to torture this livestock like this. Ultimately I have found that the two private LFS in my area have great looking tanks, with proper water conditions, quarentine tanks for new arrivals, and the one I use exclusively also uses only the top of the line filtration, skimming, pumps, ca reactors, and Kalk Reactors/stirrers (ALL Deltec) They also have a $150,000 700 Gallon Deltec Reef tank that has been running for 15 years and is gorgeous. So in the end I am going to say the same thing that I was taught in scuba diving when I first started that several years ago. In diving you are reminded to support you local dive shop for several reasons, the most important is having someone you can put a face to and trust with you equipment which is you life support when diving. I have found the same to be true in this new passion of mine, Reef Tanks. Find a LFS that maintains great quality livestock, has quality equipment, and practices safe reefkeeping practices (monitors water, fish, corals, etc regularly) and support them with you purchases. Noted that just like dive shops, these LFS's will probably have a higher cost associated with their livestock, however most if not all offer guarentees, and you will get much healthier livestock for your aquarium. Just my 2 cents worth.

WreckDiver
aka: Cybrsufr

Will you mention the names of the LFS's? I live an hour or so away from Richmond and would like to check them out. The stores around here aren't all that great.

 

[cybrsufr]

The absolute best shop in Richmond is Atlantis Aquarium on Patterson ave. Tanks are beautiful, livesock very healty, and the staff is great. Marvin, Larry, Brandon, and the rest of the crew can help you get started or stock up whatever the need might be. They pride themselves on having the best store here.

The address is

Atlantis Aquarium Inc
www.atlantisva.com
10619 Patterson Ave
Richmond, VA 23238
(804) 377-0243

The only other shop here I would even consider out of the 6 that I have visited would be Richmond Aquarium off Hull Street. There tanks or pretty clean, and livestock looks healthy, but the staff, not sure about. They appear to be nice and all but don't think they have half the knowledge of Atlantis's staff.


Richmond Aquarium Inc
www.richmondaquarium.com
3645 Speeks Dr
Midlothian, VA 23112
(804) 276-3474

Other shops in the area are

Perfect Pets - Filthly tanks full of algae and dead livestock being eaten by hermits and othe crusteaceans and fish with white spots around the gills, we all know what that is and a staff that appear to not really give a D%^m about the livestock

Pet Club - Same as perfect pets but even worse looking tanks and another store whose staff appear to not really give a D%^m about the livestock.

PetCo - Ok for a walmart type store and moving livestock as fast as possible with no regard to their health or or stress levels (they had a 5-6 inch Volitan Lion in a 6" x 10" cubicle within a tank, the poor fish could barely turn around.

Petsmart - Some SW supplies but no livestock and another walmart type chain.

That is my advice and opinions on the shops that I am familiar with, if someone has other experiences or knows of other shops in the area, post it and let us know.

Disclaimer - These are only my opinions and other people may have better or worse experience with these shops, for me I will ALWAYS buy from Marvin at Atlantis.

Michael B.



My 90 Gallon Bowfront Reef Tank

My Scuba Diving Pictures

 

[Fishfirst]

This is exactly why we need regulations on fish retailers. Just like getting scuba certified, retailers would have to get "fish certified" that way, the corporations wouldn't be able to sell live fish, and any bad lfs will have to close down.

 

[audioaddiction]

that would be amazing - it should be law to do it right or get shut down.

 

[cybrsufr]

I agree 100%. We all know that if any of these chain stores were abusing the dogs and cats they sell, there would be all kinds of stink brought up. There would be protests from PETA and the SPCA, They would be on every media outlet there is, but since these are just stupid fish and corals, they do not even get any sort of notice. It is just wrong, these are animals just like any other pet but they are so causually though of as dumb fish that get flushed when they die. Being a Scuba Diver and as a member of reef.org, The Shark Conservatory, Save our oceans, and a couple more I cannot remember off the top of my head, I am comitted to saving our coral reefs for the future generations. When I go on dive trips I conduct fish surveys, reef health reports, etc so that we can get the global picture of what is going on with the reefs and I can tell you from first hand experience, they are dying. Whether it be "global warming", Pollution, dynamite fishing in indonesia, and so forth, in the end it will probably be us Reefer's that do the most good at saving the reefs. By us fragging and propagating the corals and fish we love so much, it saves the wild ones from being blown up or poisoned with cyanide to bring them to the dealers. Now that I am off my soapbox, the point I was trying to make is that fish retailers need to be scrutinized just like any other pet sellers and maybe even more since our pets are very delicate and can be harmed very easily.


My 90 Gallon Bowfront Reef Tank
My Scuba Diving Pictures