GobyApparatus
New member
So I mde my decision and I wanted to thank everyone who gave me input. I ended up going with two. I have 2 tanks and decided to convert both.
#1 I was able to purchase a used Reefbreeders light from Pauliewalnuts for a very fair price. It was great to meet him and I hope to see his tank soon.
#2 Despite nobody recommending it, I bought the 22" SeaLife from The Coral Reef LLC. I did this for 2 main reasons. First of all I wantedd to support a LFS. From my past experience I know what a tough business it is. We're lucky to have such knowledgable people to help guide us through this hobby. Yes I could have got another Reefbreeders for $100 less. I'm not an expert but I know the lights are very similar. I didn't pay an extra $100 so I'd have a better light. I paid it to support a local business, I paid it for all the time that they spent answering all my coral questions, I paid it because I know I'll have more questions for them every time I enter their store and I paid it because they just did a really great thing by donating a system to a CT school. So that was my way of chipping in. I don't expect people not to buy things online or from the super stores. I just ask the next time you order that chemical, piece of coral or test kit, if saving a few dollars on your purchase is worth the chance of your local pet store having to close.
This is close to my heart as I've watched my father's pet stores dwindle from 3 to 2 to 1. The only one left is on it's last leg, opened in 1976, and is one of the few full-line mom & pop pet stores left in CT. With a Canadian chain opening a store on Nov. 1st a mile down the street from us I can't imagine the store lasting much past Christmas. The store is old and falling apart. We have about 20% of the fish we had just 6 years ago. The racks have rusted through. In the last 7 years we've seen our business float to Wal-Mart that opened across the street, Petco 2 towns away, Tractor Supply who opened this summer. There hasn't been any money made to put back into the stores. The pet business has been a huge part of my life. I always figured I would have inherited the 3 stores. I hope the last one can overcome, but with PetValu opening I can't see how we could survive even a 5% drop in sales. The age of little Mom and Pop pet stores is coming to an end. Replaced by mostly giants. I am grateful for The Coral Reef, Headie Corals, Exotic Fish & Coral and the others as they are becoming the new Mom and Pop pet shops. They figured out that they can't compete in the general pet supply business and have found a way to keep the mom and pop spirit alive in their specialty stores. Please support them so they can stay for a long time, provide for their families and donate to our schools.
Jeromy
#1 I was able to purchase a used Reefbreeders light from Pauliewalnuts for a very fair price. It was great to meet him and I hope to see his tank soon.
#2 Despite nobody recommending it, I bought the 22" SeaLife from The Coral Reef LLC. I did this for 2 main reasons. First of all I wantedd to support a LFS. From my past experience I know what a tough business it is. We're lucky to have such knowledgable people to help guide us through this hobby. Yes I could have got another Reefbreeders for $100 less. I'm not an expert but I know the lights are very similar. I didn't pay an extra $100 so I'd have a better light. I paid it to support a local business, I paid it for all the time that they spent answering all my coral questions, I paid it because I know I'll have more questions for them every time I enter their store and I paid it because they just did a really great thing by donating a system to a CT school. So that was my way of chipping in. I don't expect people not to buy things online or from the super stores. I just ask the next time you order that chemical, piece of coral or test kit, if saving a few dollars on your purchase is worth the chance of your local pet store having to close.
This is close to my heart as I've watched my father's pet stores dwindle from 3 to 2 to 1. The only one left is on it's last leg, opened in 1976, and is one of the few full-line mom & pop pet stores left in CT. With a Canadian chain opening a store on Nov. 1st a mile down the street from us I can't imagine the store lasting much past Christmas. The store is old and falling apart. We have about 20% of the fish we had just 6 years ago. The racks have rusted through. In the last 7 years we've seen our business float to Wal-Mart that opened across the street, Petco 2 towns away, Tractor Supply who opened this summer. There hasn't been any money made to put back into the stores. The pet business has been a huge part of my life. I always figured I would have inherited the 3 stores. I hope the last one can overcome, but with PetValu opening I can't see how we could survive even a 5% drop in sales. The age of little Mom and Pop pet stores is coming to an end. Replaced by mostly giants. I am grateful for The Coral Reef, Headie Corals, Exotic Fish & Coral and the others as they are becoming the new Mom and Pop pet shops. They figured out that they can't compete in the general pet supply business and have found a way to keep the mom and pop spirit alive in their specialty stores. Please support them so they can stay for a long time, provide for their families and donate to our schools.
Jeromy
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