Road trip. Where to go

[mtk]

Hey everyone.
I am thinking of doing a road trip tomorrow. I am planing to hit Elos aquastudio and was wondering what other stores you would recommend we check out also. We will be leaving from Montauk (eastern Long Island). So I don't mind driving a hour further then Elos Aquastudio. We will be looking for a little bit of everything from fish to sps's and lps's.
Thanks

 

[under10minutes]

Check out the coral reef in Stratford, ct. Remodeled and totally pimp.

 

[usctom]

Max reef in Yonkers and ablosultly fish in Clifton.

 

[thirty6]

If your in NJ. Abso has great selection, staff can be standoff-ish at times
Acc has a nice thread up with some good sale prices and from what my two buddies tell me well worth the ride too!
Elos is nice, never actually bought anything. At store though... Just leave wanting

 

[Arnaldo24]

Maximum Reefs.

 

[Rob&Gab]

maximum reefs.

+100.

 

[duromega]

maximum reefs.

+200

 

[thirty6]

max is great store, but elos is in NJ about 45 min away from max reefs. Hitting it up on the way back isnt awful idea though. bring a cooler for your purchases...this could be one expensive roadtrip! post what you pick up later on

 

[mtk]

Thanks everyone. So I think my road trip will start on LI with pet warehouse to go see Kevin. Then prob elos then max reef. Might throw in Manhattan aquarium. Anyone been there lately?
Thank everyone.

 

[d5332]

If this is a road trip to see what is out there like some of us do at times then visit all those you have listed and then some.

If you are actually looking to add a thing or two then....my recommendation is that you control your impulses, visit each store determined to only buy one thing from each store and only one thing.

By the time you get to Max Reefs, if you have already purchased else where you may feel less than great.

Large cleaner shrimp $20
large red blood shrimp $20
Metallic green with yellow hammers $50
Elegance corals the size of two adult male fists $45
SPS corals from AU that I have seen for 3 times the amount at other stores, I just can't remember the names of what I got
Nass Snails for $1.50
angels worth over $100 for under $100


No, I am not affiliated or compensated in anyway with Max Reefs and while the owner and wonderful wife have great memory and recall my wife and I they probably dont even remember my name.

Simply typing this up because I have done the road trips as well and have been disappointed for not controlling my impulses.

Its your call, there is a really good reason why many go to Max Reefs end up spending more then anticipated but yet walk out feeling great at the amazing deals.

The only purchase I regret from my last trip is some stupid blastos that were in the wrong pricing section, when I was at the register already bagged and learned the price I almost fell, when I attempted to return it back to the tanks it was given to me at half price and I did not ask for discounts but it if you must talk to Ralph the owner. However, once you see the prices you will not need to talk to Ralph

 

[duromega]

Might throw in Manhattan aquarium. Anyone been there lately?
Thank everyone.

I was there on Thursday and things are really changing specially the prices
I walked out with a few "high-end" zoas and I still can't believe the prices

 

[Arnaldo24]

I agreed 100% with what d5332 said. Max reef is a great store all around from prices employees and the owner and his wife are just great By the way im on my way there as i type.

 

[thirty6]

What did you pu?

 

[mtk]

Thank's everyone.
Well we hit up Elos first then max reef and finally tropical Island on long island. Traffic was pretty bad so we only hit up 3 store but heres what we found.

Elos
When you first walk in the store is beautiful. Staff (think the guy that helped us was named larry) was very helpful. I liked how they had the touch screens to tell you prices of the fish. They had some real nice and rare fish that you don't see everywhere. All the live stock seemed healthy. The coral selection was decent and prices were ok. I do wish they had coral prices on the tank's. I was impressed with the dry good's This was the first store that I have walked in and found them selling bubble magnus dosing pumps and shelves. All in all I liked the store and what I saw was healthy. I walked out with 2 heads of a rainbow acan.

So next stop was Max reef. When I first walked in I found a wide selection of fish. I was impressed with the variety but looking closer I found a hand full of fish that were not the healthiest. As for the corals the selection was not huge but did find a few nice gems at a great price. I walked out with a ultra rainbow ric and a chalice. All in all it was worth the drive. It looks like you will never know what you will find at this place.

My final stop was Tropical Island. Now this was not my first time here and as always I was not disappointed. I found a Nice healthy fish selection. As for the coral selection it was decent. Nothing off the wall amazing but some very nice pieces and he also has a nice clam selection. The best part is his display tank in the front window. I could sit there and watch it for hours. I walked out with a flasher wrasse from africa (can't remember its exact name) a Lyrtail anthies and a elegance.

So all in all it was a good road trip and wouldn't hesitate to go back to any of these shops.

 

[cmantis]

Did you see the gold nugget clownfish at TI? I made the trip out there the other day they had some nice fish. Prices weren't the cheapest but everything looked really good.

 

[mtk]

I heard him mention them just never stopped to look at/for them. Clowns don't do it for me.