Suffolk LFS's... any good corals lately???

[breebauer]

Hello All!

I've been on RC before but just found the LIRA forum, and I'm glad that I did!

I've read your sticky thread about LFS's on LI, but I hope you don't mind a few more questions on our East End LFS's and their recent coral selection:

I live in Hampton Bays, so my LFS's are pretty much limited to Aqua Hut and Country Critters... at least those are the only 2 that I've been to, that I thought were good enough to go back to.

Aqua Hut is my favorite since I'm mostly looking for small, healthy, reasonably priced corals. I was just there on thurs, some good frags, bought some things, but of course, I want more. Do they get all of their shipments in on a certain day, or which is the best day to go?

The last time I was at Country Critters (2 months ago), it looked like they had some kind of tank crash or something to that effect, and their coral frags didn't look so hot, or there were no frags at all. Has anyone been there recently? Is that still the case?

The prices at CC used to seem a little high comapared Aqua Hut, but I was still ready to pay them for quality corals.

Suffolk County Fish & Reef: I've never been there. From the threads here, it sounds like they have a great selection on fish, but can anyone tell me how their coral selection is? Do they sell only big pieces, or do they have frags, too?

I tried to access Bill's Reef's website, but can't. I'm not sure if they sell corals, or just macroalgae, but it would be great if he sold coral too.

Years ago, I went to Pets Warehouse, a 1 1/2 hour drive, and didn't have much in the way of coral frags that I couldn't get at one of the other stores closer to me. (But they had one hell of a fish selection w/ great prices) Has there been any change to the coral dept, or should I stick with the closer guys?

Are there any other places less than an hour drive away that someone could reccommend for corals?

Sorry for the long post and all of the questions!

(I have a 12g nano reef tank, another 20 gal SW soon-to-be-reef, and a 46g bow that I'll be setting up next month as a reef tank. Right now, I can't have anymore fish, only corals. For me to drive to each one of these, to find out who has decent coral selections would take me more than a day, so I appreciate any current info you could share!)

Thanks everyone!

[Spracklcat]

Suffolk Fish and Reef has a good selection of corals pretty much all the time, and mostly large pieces. They are always very healthy--they are fed well and often. Prices are up there, but you get what you pay for. they also have a "frag tank" with small frag-size pieces for $20 or $30.

[rtecanoe]

The last time I was at Suffolk Co. Fish and Reef (about a month ago), they had a much better frag selection than they used to. Some nice zoos, lps and sps. I picked a few up and they're doing very well.

[breebauer]

Great!

I looked at their website, but it was kind of hard to tell if they had any frag tanks. But it sounds like it's worth the trip, I'll go sometime this week to check it out.

Thanks again!

[teen]

i dont know what i can say anymore that wont get me in trouble.

[cb747]

As long as you dont promote the store your ok.

[ralphie]

What type of corals are you looking for?

[wegotcrabs]

I live very close to suffolk fish and reef but I like aqua hut better. I like their selection and their prices cant be beat.

[yeahcheetah]

I know all the places you mentioned. Aqua hut is the only place that I go now. Suffolk Fish and Reef and CC are fairly pricey.

[breebauer]

Well, I took a little field trip today. I happened to be in Bayshore for something, and decided to go to Pets Wharehouse since it wasn't really too much farther.

They have good prices on stuff like LR and fish, but their coral dept was a little disappointing (for such a big store). In their defense, another customer made a comment to me that they usually have a lot more of a selection, so maybe today was an off day.

Then stopped by Suffolk Fish and Reef. Nice place. Clean, and the staff was pretty friendly. They did have a little frag section, but nothing crazy. (I bought something anyway ) Their larger peices were nice (and expensive) and everything looked very healthy (and expensive).

I guess I've been spoiled by Aqua Hut. They really do have the best place around, with the best selection, and prices, and knowledgable staff. You guys were right.

Thanks!

[breebauer]

Originally posted by ralphie
What type of corals are you looking for?

Sorry, I just noticed your post.

I'm not really looking for anything in particular. I usually buy the small stuff, and anything that's not SPS (I don't trust myself with those yet)

I guess I just wanted to see what else was out there....

[md14fish]

I too live in Hampton Bays and I highly recommend Don at Aqua Hut as the only fair priced LFS with a good inventory of fish,inverts and dry goods.

[teen]

what time were you in SCFR today?

[Spracklcat]

Constantine, when are you there? I need to come in for some peppermints if you have them.

[teen]

mon. 4-8
thur. 4-8
fri. 10:00 to 4 (but we dont open until 12 i believe)
sunday 10:30- 5

and yea, we have them. not sure if thats commercial or not?