Hi from Orange Park

Hey all,
Just joined the forum, I'm brand new to saltwater. Building a 65g. I've been researching for a little over a month, going around to the LFS to get a feel for them and have them answer some questions, and now I think we're ready to get wet this weekend (if all goes well, we had to push back from last week because the pump hasn't been delivered yet). So the stores I've checked out are Jolly's Reef (bought tank, dead rock, live sand from them) ; OP Aquatics (haven't bought anything there yet, but the owner seems really knowledgeable so I've been there a few times pumping him for info, that store is closest to me so I'm sure I'll be going there to get my saltwater for initial fillup and he looks like he has some good corals in there. First time I went he had a good selection of fish, about 2 weeks later I went and he's pretty low right now) and of course took a trip to Coral Logic. It seems that's the go-to place but it's rather far from OP and I didn't see anything too,too great. But I guess if their stuff is healthy it would be worth the drive to pick up fish. Any body know of any other stores worth checking out ?

 

Welcome to the club i live in o.p. also.I use o.p. aquatics cause jason is very helpful and his stock sells out quick so u have to either order it or go in on tuesdays i think thats when he goes and gets new stock.if the thing u are looking at isnt healthy he will tell you and will not sell it at that time.

theres also a store called bio-reef but its over near fscj on beach blvd.

As of lately i have heard nothing but bad things about jollys and their prices are usually a lil higher than o.p. also they are not open on sundays which is usually the day i have time to go to the store.Their water also costs more.

i dont know how you plan to get the new water but i recommend getting the five gallon buckets from firehouse subs the profits go to firemen charities and dont worry bout the pickle juice its just fine and wont hurt a thing.

i hope this helps and dont feel bad to ask any ?s you have.

 

I live on the east side of the bridge and my goto store is Coral Logic. the guys there are cool and they always have new rotating inventory. I have been shopping with them for abot 6 months or so and very pleased so far. They have gone above and beyond for me (once the owner personally drove to a supplier to pick up and item for me)

In terms of selection, nothing beats Bio Reef. They are a decent trek from yo, but they have the largest fish/coral/invert/equipment selection of anywhere here in town. They also do custom tanks, stand, sumps etc. They're prices are reasonable but good luck getting a break on anything. Howver they're coral selection is huge in comparison to CL or OP aquatics and prices tend to be a little lower for same size frags.

I',ve only been to OP Aquatics once, and the dude was nice and knowledgeable. Inventpry was lacking when I went and the only lights i saw he stocked were chinese knock-offs, so I was put off by that.

Jolly's I don't much care for. I have been in there a few times and have bought a coral banded shrimp and a kenya tree (both still doing well) from them but overall not a great store. They're displays are under-par compared to the other stores. Their selection is extremely lacking. They mis-identified a puffer as a freshwater puffer and sold it to a buddy of mine. In fact it was a brackish one and died within a week. And while they say they can "get you anything" I asked them to find me a candy cane coral, gave them my # and still haven't heard back. Plus the owners come off a little weird to me...

There is one other place, Ocean Reef, off atlantic, but I have never been there, So I can't say good or bad...

 

Bad.... its in a small dirty little shop with hardly any coral selections and just a few fish. I only go there for chemicals or equipment, they have a used section where i have picked a few good things, like a power head for 10 bucks. but over all not a very good store.

 

Hey tony you say you only saw chinese lights at o.p. aquatics.Thats odd because all i ever see is the nice coralife fixtures.He has nice bulbs too the zoomeds and the uvl coralife bulbs arent the best but he carries those also.

The best day to catch livestock is mondays i think thats the day he goes and gets stuff.

 

Thanks everyone for the store recommendations, awesome to hear your experiences.

After checking out all the places talked about here, we have been taking weekly trips on the weekends to bioreef and corallogic, those seem to be the unanimous favorites, and have become ours too. I could spend hours in bioreef looking at everything.

Though I will say we took a quick trip to Jollys yesterday just because we haven't been there in forever and walked out with a giant piece of bubble coral and 3 sexy shrimp for about half price (or more off) from where I've seen them elsewhere.

And at OP aquatics, I know the chinese lights you're talking about we talked to him about purchasing leds and he told us he could get us a good deal on some chinese knock off brand. They're the leds he's running over the square tank in the middle.

I only wish some of the places got livestock later in the week, I can't make it out earlier in the week and sometimes I feel like I'm picking from the leftovers on the weekend.

 

Welcome to Jax club..it's been 3 months + I have visited any LFS, quite busy with some personal work. need to shop around for some nice zoas and torch corals..