New to SW in Portland Area

Illusion · 11-08-2003, 12:45 AM

Ok I have just started my Reef tank a few months ago and have been having a hard time finding good reliable places to buy corals and fish... I would also like to join into the reef club if possible... I dont really have much to offer... Any info would greatly be appreciated..

TIA,
James

wanareef · 11-08-2003, 05:30 AM

Welcome to the TRT

Come on up to the mtg- and as usually newbies bring snacks

- naw just come and meet the people - talk and learn and contribute and being new you might just go home with some coral- in case ther are no shows on some trade.

There are several places here in Portland and Vancouver.
Seahorse
Waves
Soutas

and in Vancouver Coralvision

and a plug for reefcam -aka rainbowcorals Jim I hope you see this

heh heh
and one more patrick at sps frags

sc00by · 11-08-2003, 10:26 AM

I have to second the plug for Jim at Rainbow corals. He is very nice and will send you home with wonderful corals!

Curtis

sc00by · 11-08-2003, 10:32 AM

I have to second the plug for Jim at Rainbow corals. He is very nice and will send you home with wonderful corals!

Curtis

Illusion · 11-08-2003, 12:27 PM

I have checked out soutas and upscales.. I really did not like Upscales do to the attitude going on in that place.. Soutas I liked but so far for unknown reasons most everything has died except the xenia and sps frags.. My derasa died as well as 2 hammer corals... Which might have been due to the lighting change.. Its the only thing I can figure out.. I was running 6x55watt PCS and just recently changed to 2x250watt MH and 2x55watt PCs... But who knows.. Anyways I can rule out that issue... I think Wednesday I am going to check out Waves and Seahorse..

James

wanareef · 11-11-2003, 02:31 AM

I didn't mention Upscales cause I donn't like them

Krux · 11-11-2003, 03:35 PM

i have had great luck with stuff from soutas, at least as far as fish go. i know rick is careful to only bring in good healthy stuff. not sure why you had bad luck there, i find they have some of the nicest stuff frags wise, if you can afford to shop there. maybe i am just biased because it is close to my house....

reefcam · 11-11-2003, 10:51 PM

Thanks Charles and Curtis (and a double post).

cj10488, do come to the next meeting. I'm going to try to make it myself. The only pending factor is my little boy. Otherwise, i'm there. I have some brown frags that used to be of color, but due to some water parameter issues, they turn brown and I also need room. Some do show some slight color. But I'll bring what I can and just pass them out.

Also sorry to hear that you such a bad experience at Upscales. Travis is just way too laid back. I just ignore him when I get there and see if there is anything that interests me.

Seahorse is a nice. Woody is great to chat with. If you stop by late, he may even have work for you.

But do try to make it to the meeting. There are lots of fun people to chat with.

Jim

Illusion · 11-11-2003, 10:58 PM

The meeting is this Saturday correct??? I would have to see if I could find a Babysitter as I have a 1yr old son and my wife works on that day.. Its a bad week for $$$ as my daughters b-day as well is coming up in a week and I have a major Present I plan on getting her... But i will see what I can work and at least try to come and meet the group..

As for Upscales its not Travis that I really have a problem with besides leaving early alot and me driving an half hour there to find out they closed 15mins early.. Its Bob the old guy.. Way too grumpy and doesn't like to share info at all..

James

reefcam · 11-11-2003, 11:11 PM

Sunday. The meeting are 3rd Sunday of each month unless the group votes to change it. $$$ for what? Most of the trading goes on for free. Plus there's not membership fee. Most of us are broke anyways. Just time to chat and catch up and learn new experiences. If you were thinking about the frags that I'm bring, I'm just unloading. Not looking for trade. Unless there's something really cool.

Ahhh, Bob. He doesn't know much about Saltwater. Just the green paper. Travis is the son and runs the store mainly. The dad just helps out.

Illusion · 11-11-2003, 11:22 PM

Ohh yeah that would be Sunday.. Ouch that is a pretty bad day.. I babysit my Sister in-laws kids on that day... I will see what I can come up with and see if her parents could watch them for a few hours... But who knows... BTW thx again for the invite I will for surely try and make it but no promises..

James

powdertoastman · 11-11-2003, 11:27 PM

when i went there for some frags and new lights, the older man was very nice to us, both times we went in, the only problem i had with them is when we got the frags, we got 2, and between 2 frags we had at least 5 aptasiea (sp?) on them, and i saw a ton more in the other frag tanks, and one one of the frags, its now being over grown with macro algea.

Coralbeauty · 11-12-2003, 10:11 PM

I do not want to turn this into a bash Upscale, but I do not shop there anymore.

I really appreciate the customer service I have received from WAVES. They get the majority of my business (they are very close to my house). I do like the quality of the frags at Soutas. I also have to place a vote for Patrick. Nice guy and great stuff!

Connie

Illusion · 11-12-2003, 10:16 PM

Well I went and Checked out Waves today and picked up a Cleaner Shrimp and brought him home and floated the bag for 10-15mins and then drip acclimated him for about an hour and then placed him carefully in the aquarium.. Within 3 hours I was tearing apart the Tank trying to get out a dead Cleaner.. I am hoping that Waves is friendly about this as I know my tank was fine as all my levels are normal and safe.. However 1 good thing I was able to o in this process was get my 15"+ bristle worm not streched out of the tank.. I have attached a pic of this monster

Illusion · 11-12-2003, 10:17 PM

here is another

What should I do with him..

James