Wow, B&B horror show

[Neuticle]

I was at B&B today, and the whole coral wall looked like ass. I wonder what business plan they use to afford letting their entire coral inventory die. I was tempted to start cleaning myself just so nobody else had to see that. It's like a junkyard, I go in there looking for something to salvage, not a new centerpiece for my tank.

How hard is it to run filter socks, and maybe some GFO? When your diatoms are so bad they kill your bryopsis infestation...

[Neuticle]

Sorry guys, had to purge the negativity. I can't help but notice their prices would be more competitive if they could move more corals before they died.

[Scott]

Really, it's always been like that. I rarely go in there because of the prices and the quality of the corals. I have purchased a fish from there before. It's pretty sad really. They do have the potential, I just think that it is the ownership (that is what I have heard at least, I am not stating this as a fact).

[SushiCollector]

I believe they spend more time focusing on the fresh water fish. I was there yesterday and was not impressed with there show tank.

[AuroraDrvr]

Their coral tanks are suffering... Bad...

[Neuticle]

I saw an older guy in there buying a few big zoa rocks, it was hard not to tell him to pass because they're infested with a few things that will ruin a nice tank.

[Beau_Tater]

Is there a better alternative in or around Mobile? Progressive? Not to sound sour grapes, but let me just come right out and say that most shops around here don't really know how to set up displays that maintain quality as well as aesthetics. In the first place the tanks should all be bare bottom. Keeping a good sand bed in a home tank is how it should be, but in a shop it's a nightmare. What's next? Aptasia sp. Apparently people around here aren't bothered to see it in a store. I've seen it in every store I've visited in the South East. It's not hard to control and it shouldn't be there, period. Algae. It isn't hard to control that either.

Bottom line is this: B&B are doing what they know how to do, and they are fairly successful at it. Could they be better? Sure. Every shop has room for improvement but let me tell you that the folks who work in the salt water department seem like good folks.

[Fishfood]

I don't really see the hobby growing in this area. Mobile and Baldwin county lost 3 stores in the last 6 or so years.

[Beau_Tater]

The hobby is growing, I see it every day. People will learn, and stores will get better or die off.

[Fishfood]

I guess I don't get out enough becuase I don't see the interest here in Mobile like I have in other places. Heck these boards died big time since they started up.

[Amphiprion]

There's been a bit of a decline here lately, mostly due to financial reasons and simply other concerns. I've noticed the same on other websites/boards--activity and interest is waning. That's just the nature of how hobbies work. We'll likely see a resurgence after a while, but for now, I would expect things to remain like they are. What is changing, however, is how informed people are now and how much "easier" it is to set a tank up. There's a wealth of information out there and it is a better time than ever to pick up the hobby, so I do expect to see more folks on board eventually.

[29nanomob]

i would hope that the hobby would grow larger b&b is not helping at 29.00 for a crappy frag and, agreed ther aptacia infestation is horrible the live rock may as well be conciderd dead rock in water.i only like 2 people there thats the young guy and the long hair guy the bald guy thinks his s^it Don't stink and the older lady is prudent. not sure what the clear gel was on the rock but it took over my tank. ive been driving from mobile to pcola for supplies progressive has it goin on with the frags but as he said they make more money in mant than in the shop maybe a relocation to somewhere where people could just walk in and check out how beautiful the tanks are,i had no clue they existed untill i acctualy satrted looking for salt stuff.

[ladyofthedeep]

I live in Daphne and drive to Progressive Marine. The product is always 100%, and so is the free advice and knowledge that they offer. I go to P'cola, prices overrated for the items, and since you are out of town, there is no "local Businessman" connection. If something dies...it's on you. I would really love to see someone set up either a large, well maintained saltwater/ fresh shop....or have someone start buying and selling out of their house. The economy sucks for everyone, but once you get the "salt" bug, you can't cure it!

[Beau_Tater]

I was in progressive the other day looking for something and an older guy (maybe in his late 60's) came in and was talking to the owner about the price on something and remarked that it was a bit cheaper at b&b and the owner told him to leave. wtf? The old guy wasn't being rude or anything, he would've bought what he had, but people still want to save a little here and there. The old guy was talking about his reef tank, so I knew he knew his stuff. Progressive lost two customers that day. I'll never go back in.

[fragglerocker]

people cant we all get along? lol