[SeaGoddess]

If your in the ares there re a couple of stores to check out. Solomon Seas(Grandville) BEAUTIFUL corals with good prices. ChowHound (28th & Eastern) They are just starting out with a few tanks. The fish seem to be healthy. The Live Rock is fantastic !!!!!!!!!! You need to be there close to shipments as it sells fast. Check with Scott (mgr) he's very helpfull. I purch my BlueSpot Jawfish and Occ. Clown. Both are doing great.

 

[Guest]

I would love to see some pics of that blue spot. I have been trying to get one myself. What did it cost?

NEO

 

[SeaGoddess]

I just bought a digital camera and not very good at it.... I got a good deal on the BlueSpot. He was $80.00. Only because he was there for a few weeks. He's beautiful [D]

 

[musashi666]

SeaGoddess, I respectfully disagree w/ you regarding the live rock at Chow Hound. I'm in there all the time and I think their rock is god awful. Heavy slabs of rock w/ no life or coraline on 'em. Just my opinion.

Try VI Pets on Plainfield for a better LFS.

 

[wreckscuba]

Have been looking for a good place for Corals since we moved to wyoming last fall.Just found it today Solomon seas .They have The best Corals I have seen around here.They have more then all the other LFS combined in the Grandrapids area.Ed

 

[krusk]

I have a doubt about the store owner knowledge.

I have stoped by and talked to the owner.

He does NOT trust Southdown for DSB (he never used it and never see SD sand before.)

Me Do you know anything about T5?
Owner I do not trust T5HO lighting.
Me Have you see them in action?
Owner No
Me Have you ever see them before?
Owner No

????


That is the first time I stop at and also be the last time I visit his shop.

 

[phishlet]

Hi everyone!

I've been reefkeeping in the W. MI area for 8 years and just recently heard about this forum. Pretty cool.

There are seveal stores in the Grand Rapids area (including Ecco-Reef in Holland and VI Pets)which have different things to offer. I really like Solomon Seas in Grandville. The owner, Bob, is a cool guy and has a direct connection to the Solomon Islands which means he has some very unique stuff. His livestock is always healthy and in great condition.

 

[Vistabald]

I have heard great things about chow hound and solomon seas but along the same line i know dont buy any fish from vI pets because they treat thier tanks with copper [-banghead]so buyer beware

 

[sean]

I dont really see that much of problem with treating tanks w/ copper. I see it done at stores all the time in fish only tanks. But if this store does it for their invert tanks and coral tanks that a different story....

 

[lger]

I'm just a beginner at this but I went to the Ecco-Reef store in Zeeland last week and was very impressed. Not only does the owner seem like a very nice person but he seems to really know his stuff. He was willing to take time with me and answer all of my questions. I can't buy yet because I'm setting up a new tank but when it's ready I will be back to see him. Leon - Wyoming

 

[lger]

musashi666 - How does the VI Pets on Plainfield compare to the one in Cuttlerville? Is it worth driving the extra miles? Thanks!

 

[hawaii50]

The VI on Plainfield is much better than cutlerville. Check it out.

 

[ofblong]

The one on plainfield, at least when i went there, had a bunch of idiots working there. Of course this was about 4 months ago hehe. plainfield is an hourdrive whereas cutlerville is about 35. I must agree though that the plainfield place is bigger. Plainfield also sells cured lr. aparently the one in holland just moved and is bigger yet. ahve not been to it yet. Soloman seas does not compare to The Reef Shop in Portage though. I still think chowhound has poor lr and unknowledgable staff. like i said on rc chowhound is good for cat and dog type stuff.

 

[hawaii50]

What is the name of the reef shop in portage ofblong? Thanks !!!

 

[HIGHontheHOG]

In my opinion, Solomon Seas is the best store west of tropicorium in MI, and I'm in Lansing; Pruess territory.

 

[hd_nagel]

The prices are a little different from the VI Pets on Plainfiled to Cuttlerville. On the same day I went to both. Cuttlerville had a blood shrimp for $40 and Plainfiled had them for $33. Go figure?????

Sean

 

[greenb]

Hawaii50 the name of the reef shop in Portage is "The Reef Shop" lol.. Here's link to their website http//www.thereefshop.com/. Cool little place,,, Owners very knowledgable.

 

[hawaii50]

Cool I might check it out this week. Thanks

 

[goldenJ]

My associate and I make the rounds to the shops around the GR area. In my opinion the best place to find rare stock is at Soloman Seas. For what he has, Bobs prices are reasonable. I am pretty sure he can name just about any coral and its care off the top of his head. The best place for noobies is Ecco-reef. Chris has an incredible patience explaining things. The best place to get a deal is usually the VI's around.(Corey at VI North is especially cool). Chow Hound has decent prices and I picked up an especially rare sps the other day but I have not been there often enough to get a good opinion.

 

[Rook]

quote

Originally posted by krusk

I have a doubt about the store owner knowledge.

I have stoped by and talked to the owner.

He does NOT trust Southdown for DSB (he never used it and never see SD sand before.)

Me Do you know anything about T5?
Owner I do not trust T5HO lighting.
Me Have you see them in action?
Owner No
Me Have you ever see them before?
Owner No

????

That is the first time I stop at and also be the last time I visit his shop.

</blockquote id="quote">

I understand the sentiment, but this is not uncommon, and IMO not necessarily a sign of a bad or uneducated store or owner. Many of the "trends" in the hobby fly through so fast that some wait until they are more widely accepted before using them. Also, Southdown is one of those products that many are/were skeptically of. Some bags have been known to be unsifted and no one was really to sure until rather recently. I know Preuss uses deep crushed coral for their tanks and refuses to use anything else. T-5s are basically brand new yet and quite un-proven.

No defending him, but I don't think that is necessarily fair. Also, not everyone uses the internet the way we do.