Aquaria trek - route 22

[tazcrash69]

Well, I finally made it out.
Sunday morning Packed up the family, and took a ride down route 22.

The first stop was: Shark Aquarium. I was the most impressed with this store on the day’s journey. It is a dedicated Aquaria only store, and does happen to be the closest to my house out of the 3 I went to. They have a super huge tank room with lots of different fish available. Fish and plants were clearly labeled. The tanks were clean; the plants didn’t have any algae growing on them, and the plant tank had adequate lighting. Even though we got there right at opening, they had already “stiffed” the tanks (removed the dead fish). I saw stingray pleco here which I had never seen before. Unfortunately I just read that they are really fast flow cool water loaches, and they don’t do well in tropical planted tanks. I almost bought a bunch of them. The 1 thing I didn’t like about this store is that I was sold a Brazil sword which turns out to be not a true aquatic plant, and will end up dying on me.

The next stop was Pet Shanty.
I think I might have been a little too psyched up for this store before I got there, or I caught them on an off day, or the fact that my wife found an adorable female long haired dashund in the back. The tanks are spread out in a couple rooms (It reminded me of going through Ikea) so you really have to look around. There were some dead fish in a couple of the tanks, the plants were scattered throughout the fish tanks (with very low lighting), and some looked to be in pretty poor condition. I will say that they had the most impressive carpet anemone that I have ever seen live or on the discovery channel, and some really nice coral frags. I’ll be giving pet-shanty another shot.

Next I pulled the U-turn, and went to Ocean Gallery 2. They had some really nice saltwater stuff, and hardware, but I was largely unimpressed with the FW selection. I don’t even think I saw any plants in there. Although they had some monster iridescent sharks that I love (too bad I have a 55 and not a 200 gallon tank).

So I went back to Shark Aquarium. There I ended up picking up I ended up picking up:

1 bag of Java Moss,
3 pots Water Sprite,
6 pots of Microsword,
3 bunches Anacharis,
3 bunches Water Primrose,
3 bunches Rotala rotundifolia
3 sailfin Mollies,
9 tiny tigerbarbs (I had 1 at home that was a party favor from a “Nemo” themed 2nd birthday party, so I had to get himsome friends).

[kamla]

nice... Pet shanty is nice place ur right about the off day..
they are in the process of get 2 90gal tanks setup only for plants...

Alos where is Ocean Gallery ... and address would be nice..

Thanks

[tazcrash69]

Sorry I don't have the address for Ocean Gallery II. from Pet Shanty it's probably about a 10 to 15 minute drive further south, and on the north bound side.
I'll be going back to PS fiarly soon to check it out again. i keep hearing good things, and actually want to see it.

[Momotaro]

Let me know when you want to head down there again. Perhaps we can get a group together and meet them there.

Mike

[tazcrash69]

That sounds like a plan. I have to check with the Mrs, but I was hoping to make a tun this upcoming (post Thanksgiving) Sunday.

[ronin]

Ocean Gallery 2
908 Route 22
North Plainfield, NJ 07060
908-226-1100