Reef Culture

[brian cummings]

I just drove by there at 6:30 and they were already closed today.

Does anyone know what they're going to do with all their display tanks?

The displays are not for sale. The employees are selling the livestock and dry goods off, then closing the doors. Down the road they'll probably come up for sale, but not as of yet as a part of this process. That's all that can be said.

 

[dc]

He's not a new member, just not man enough to use his real account.

Or competition. Let's just ignore that post and move on so we don't lock this thread.

 

[DgenR8]

I see no need to edit posts here, you guys have figured out what's up here.

 

[Mael]

so pretty well cleaned out fo coral at this point? Just trying to justify the drive again.

 

[Down]

so pretty well cleaned out fo coral at this point? Just trying to justify the drive again.

Not sure on corals but the dry goods and fish were almost completely gone at 2 yesterday. Still a couple interesting things. An Assassi trigger for $90 was tempting.

 

[Mael]

ok, I think Ill skip it and spend my money at the PROP auction.

 

[wizardofyaz]

Hate to change the momentum, but this place was wildly overpriced and the employees were not very helpful. It is not surprising that this place is sinking. Reef monsters and Club Reef is more than eager to help with information and give you a great deal.

I second this, some of the guys that worked there were really nice, Kyle and Will especially, but the tanks had major aiptasia infestations. The really nice corals were in the show tanks and they were pricey compared to other stores in the valley.

 

[Henchman24]

I was tempted to walk there on my lunch break during work Friday to see what deals were to be had but it sounds like most everything is picked over & I honestly don't really need anything even if there is a good deal. I am bummed out as I only live a mile away from there. I agree about the aiptasia on the corals. The only coral I bought there had aiptasia & bubble algae on it. I never had an issues with the fish, inverts, or dry goods I purchased from them.

 

[Frizz]

That really sucks. I love that place and the great Guys that work there too.
Frizz

 

[Frizz]

I couldn't afford most of the stuff but that's because I am poor. I never thought that their prices were unfair, especially considering the outstanding customer service and very healthy, well displayed livestock. This is the second time that a nice store in that location went away. Maybe the building is cursed.
Frizz

 

[Frizz]

Does As gone know if they are still going to be open at all this week or not? If so I would like to go down but I haven't been around at a reasonable time of day to even call to ask yet.
Frizz

 

[dotcommer]

I stopped in there on Friday and they were all very nice and the great thing was they still honored my $250 store credit I had with them. That showed some real class. The store was only 15 minutes from my house and I loved to stop by and see their display tanks.

The one thing I feel the store was lacking was a good display of their corals. The lighting above the coral thank did nothing for the corals. The tank was a bit too tall and difficult to view the corals. I feel they would have sold a lot more corals with a better display set up.

Their main display tank was incredible and was the tank that got me hooked on reefing.

Their 10' display tank to the right as you walked in the door should have been another amazing reef tank, but it was never set up that way.

Either way, I am sad to see them leave and I hope the store becomes another reef shop in the very near future.

 

[NaClH20NMYVEIN]

Not trying to sound like a jerk but my assumption is that some of the people that are complaining about the prices at RC have never QT'ed their fish or corals and dont understand the cost involved in doing this. RC QT'ed all their incoming fish, coral, and inverts (this may have changed at the end, I did not keep tabs). How many other "cheaper" stores do this? It is my understanding that AT is the only other store that does any QT'ing ( I could be missing another store, a lot of new ones have popped up recently). The cost of doing this is pretty large as I learned first hand. That has to be passed on to the customer or the store wont survive, there is just not enough mark up on this stuff to be able to write off that much.
I like all the stores in town for different reasons. I'm just trying to say that you get what you pay for and many FRAG members have gotten pests from "cheaper" stores (I'm sure pests have come from RC as well but I doubt as many).
You also have to factor that RC was getting their fish from Quality Marine (at least for most of their time) which have much better fish than most other wholesalers and are more expensive.
And I wont get into the diplay tanks and overall high end professionalism the store was set up with that most stores cant touch (nor should they from the look of it).

They valley has spoke and said that they dont support the high end LFS who QT's and has lots of upfront money into its store. We would rather get things cheaper and roll the dice. Sad but that is what I see.

 

[defchild84]

I hear what you're saying, Ryan, but with all due respect, Aquatouch has still remained on the map, even with the priciest tags. Perhaps my own experience, but unless you were a frequent shopper there, or maybe a friend of the employees, they never really seemed to care to assist, or even at times watched me throughout my entire browsing cycle while the employees would eat their lunch at the counter discussing non-reef matter. Don't get me wrong, I could care less about where lunch is eaten- but customer service is always a priority... even if you aren't 'friends' or acquaintances with them. Your point on the cost of quarantine is valid, although you can never be too sure- but you can be sure that you get what you pay for, which is why I continue to shop where I do. It was a shame when I went in and saw the chilli pepper monti in the reef display bleached a week and a half ago. Again at that time, there they were eating sandwiches at the counter, and I was able to walk around and shop, without a single " Hi, can I help you find anything" or a " If you have any questions.." Too bad

 

[Frizz]

Personally it drives me nuts to have people in stores do that. If I want help, I will ask. They were never too busy to help while staying out of your face. It was a beautiful store too & always had a huge variety of stuff. I have been going to AT for years. I trust them & would prefer to pay their prices on what I know is going to be healthy livestock over cheaper stores but what they have is usually slim pickings & their corals in the for sale tanks are hard to see. The colors are never displayed well at all.
RC always had lighting that really showed the true potential of whatever is for sale.
I can only rarely afford to buy livestock but when I do, I truly appreciate the high end places with beautiful displays & healthy livestock. I enjoy supporting local buisinesses with what little money that I have to spend when they are so well run. I'm really gonna miss this store & it's true, our community tends to go for cheap. That's why so many have failed in this area.
Frizz

 

[evolved]

Not trying to sound like a jerk but my assumption is that some of the people that are complaining about the prices at RC have never QT'ed their fish or corals and dont understand the cost involved in doing this. RC QT'ed all their incoming fish, coral, and inverts (this may have changed at the end, I did not keep tabs). How many other "cheaper" stores do this? It is my understanding that AT is the only other store that does any QT'ing ( I could be missing another store, a lot of new ones have popped up recently). The cost of doing this is pretty large as I learned first hand. That has to be passed on to the customer or the store wont survive, there is just not enough mark up on this stuff to be able to write off that much.
I like all the stores in town for different reasons. I'm just trying to say that you get what you pay for and many FRAG members have gotten pests from "cheaper" stores (I'm sure pests have come from RC as well but I doubt as many).
You also have to factor that RC was getting their fish from Quality Marine (at least for most of their time) which have much better fish than most other wholesalers and are more expensive.
And I wont get into the diplay tanks and overall high end professionalism the store was set up with that most stores cant touch (nor should they from the look of it).

+100
Quality does come with a price. Not that quality has to be priced outrageously, but I certainly expect to pay a bit more for it.
And sure, QT doesn't mean everything you could purchase there would be absolutely pest free, but it certainly improves the odds.
Lastly, on that note, I know someone who contracted AEFW from a different, cheaper local store many of you love. Presumably, some wouldn't even believe the story, and the owner(s) would certainly deny the possibility. But enough about that; I won't say anything more.

They valley has spoke and said that they dont support the high end LFS who QT's and has lots of upfront money into its store. We would rather get things cheaper and roll the dice. Sad but that is what I see.

I don't think I agree here. Not to speak out of turn, but from what I know Mark's comment about owner abandonment only scratches the surface. Things were a MESS at the ownership level, and I don't think the store's closure is a reflection on anything beyond.

It was a shame when I went in and saw the chilli pepper monti in the reef display bleached a week and a half ago. Again at that time, there they were eating sandwiches at the counter, and I was able to walk around and shop, without a single " Hi, can I help you find anything" or a " If you have any questions.." Too bad

Not to defend them or imply this is acceptable, but I look at this as analogous to someone who's about to retire. They tend to slack off and put in less effort. The employees of the store knew this was coming for months.

 

[Mael]

I agree, always expected to pay a bit more when shopping at a store that provides a very nice larger layout and displays, plus where they get their livestock from and what they do with it(QT or not)

Some times I honestly couldnt justify the price difference, say 6 vs 15 for a peppermint shrimp, but 10-20 more for a fish that I am already spending good money on that I know the source and that the store did at least a short QT period is very much worth while.

Always sad to see any business that supports our maddening hobby go away.

 

[vincent92]

Who built and maintained that nice DT at RC in the beginning??

 

[tcamos]

I don't really think it was any one thing lead to it closing. Probably lots of things combined . We would really need to know a lot more than we do to really figure it out.

That's really why I haven't tried all that hard to think about the why.

 

[ortie001]

Rich kid gets bored.