I hate to report this..TROPICAL TREASURES has burned down!

[areucrazy]

:sad2: I was just there today around 11:00 am and Don was standing outside his store with all his employee's in a puddle of water. The store looks like a complete loss. It was black on the inside and damage everywhere! I'm so sorry for your loss Don. I wish you the very best.

 

[Garage1217]

Bummer, I just read this a second ago on the news...

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/03/18/20100318tropical-treasures-fire-abrk.html

They made it out to be not so bad / contained quick.

 

[avblanchard]

thats crazy im there every week that store is up the block from my house....are they gonna reopen?

 

[ScrubberOTanky]

I wonder if it was a heater or light fixture? Either way, total bummer

 

[bluelair]

That's sad. We don't know the cause, but I'll say this anyway: Be careful. This is a dangerous hobby. Remember these 3 words:
GFI
GFI
GFI!

Salt spray buildup + Electricity makes even the best built fixture a timebomb. Everything plugged in around your tank needs to be monitored. Just last weekend, my wife smelled smoke (electric arcing). It was a t-5 Coralife fluorescent fixture that had a modest amount of salt buildup. The salt had leached up inside behind the plastic cover, and was shorting at one of the bulb sockets. This was arcing and had burned through the plastic housing. I heard snapping and popping and sparks were flying. Now, this was not on a GFI because I had lazily plugged it into a non-GFI because I was in a hurry one day during maintenance. I learned my lesson.

Be safe.

 

[JMCAquarium]

The way that report made it sound a box of matches was snuffed out or somthing. I work not even mile away from there i'm going to take a peak right now to check it out.

To bad although a dirty little place Don has always been nice thus I kept going back even though i rarely purchased anything (live) from there. Just got my new 75 gallon and $80 worth of crushed coral just a couple of weeks ago I hope he guts it and starts over maybe even take over that puppy place next store and really open that place up some.

 

[areucrazy]

I myself have wanted to take over the puppy store and the greek resturant next to it and my dream is to have a reef/coffee shop! Where we could all hang out and chit chat and buy and sell and eat!! All my favorite stuff to do! I didnt ask Don about any plans to reopen or if any critters made it. He looked very upset and didnt seem to be in the mood to talk. Someone told me his other store in Chandler closed up shop too... Who knows if he will get back in the biz. Maybe i should really think about some serious buisness plans because us on the west side have NOTHIN!!! lol... now all I got is pet safari which does get some nice pices of coral that they know nothing about and put in their 35.00 section!! SSSHHH dont tell them lol.... thats where I got my superman monti piece yesterday....

 

[avblanchard]

The fire got caused by a surge protector on that front display tank there really wasn't much damage after that point but his pond and all the supplies upfront were pretty much trash

 

[crsaz]

that sucks, I hope he rebuilds

I know the piece your talking about, Nice piece but its nothing special, it was just a common M. Undata

 

[Mike in AZ]

Sad to hear that, Don is a good guy. TT used to be the only store I went to when I needed to buy supplies. Got burned on a tang purchase and have since switched to AquaTouch, but Don took good care of me for many years. Hope he gets the damage fixed and reopens.

 

[phox202]

Wow! Wonder how many animals in there died?

 

[Discus_breeder]

Tt

Tt

I spoke to Don yesterday and he told me all the fish in his pond died. I did not go any futher into details but he had reptiles in there also so maybe smoke to have gotten to them.

 

[tcwayne]

Hello. Well I'm trying to get the info. Don is a fantastic guy and this is horrible. My brother is a fire chief for Glendale and was on scene. He said it was in fact an electrical strip that caused it. Still trying to get a hold of my other buddy who is very good friends with Don. Once I do I'll post some more info.

 

[avblanchard]

when i talked to him he said all the reptiles were fine and the one salt tank upfront and the pond was the only livestock he lost so far hopefully this upset will turn into something great and itll be bigger and better then before wishful thinking

 

[tcwayne]

Quote from friend " lots of water damage. koi and feeder goldficsh massive loss. salt tanks ok. is rebuilding. all snakes and lizards ok"

 

[phox202]

He had some GREAT looking Koi too. I was planning on buying that big white one for my grandparents koi pond too.

 

[cabinboy]

I just bought a blue linka there a few days before.

 

[avblanchard]

Anyone hear anything new about this? is he gonna reopen or is it closed for good?

 

[areucrazy]

I just drove by the other day and they had the door open and I assume they were working on the store. I'll have to stop and ask next time I see them there.

 

[mndfreeze]

I'd assume his insurance should be covering most/all of the rebuilding costs and what not. So even though I've never personally been to that store, here's to hoping he reopens!