my own store/business...

good luck man! in a couple of years i plan to open a awesome reef shop in my area we have crap for stores here as well

 

matt: for sure!! that was actually a big part of the spot was that there are no windows. a couple doors and some venting and fans. its like a coral cave!! no spiny lobster. that wouldve been cool tho. there is a blotched anthias and a yellow belly hippo tang, that i didnt take pics of yet.

 

I saw a corner of the Hippo tang in one of the pics, it looked really good from what i could see. i was thinking something like this, but more in you face. Having a dark room really shows off all the colors of your merchandise!

 

matt: dang you have good eyes(or too much time)lol. I had to go back and look for where you saw that snippet of the tang.

Ill take some proper pics of all the artwork today when im at the shop. As for now....
Well, off to do the floors. gotta go exchange a faulty sander for a good one. may swing by the competition while im in that part of town. see whats new over there. Hopefully, get a bunch done today so that i can paint/dye and seal this weekend. Then finally get some tanks set up and cleaned! Ordering more parts/supplies today. and really hoping to find some killer retail fixtures(for cheap) in the near future.....just putting it out there.

 

oh yeah..and youre right. the dark walls are really gonna make things pop in there. Thats really part of the whole theme/"vibe". I dont really like "pet shops", theyre bright, smell, big, cluttered, etc.

Im really hoping to have a gallery type shop. where the fish and corals and sleek tanks are the objects. Clean, relaxed, spot where you feel compelled to look at the "art" more. And not just the art on the walls....

no overhead fluorescent lighting, but task lighting and highlight/spotlights for the specific areas. Probably gonna do away with the old school "cans" on the track lighting, and go with smaller LEDs spotlight and maybe some hanging pendants. will be damn bright in there anyway with all the tanks.

 

I think clear crisp lighting will look the best, so recessed light would look good. I noticed the tang when I was looking at one of your seahorses lol.

 

so...floor project necessitates a different machine, to be picked up tomorrow. so the floor will get done this weekend. if it aint one thing its another.. oh well.

but, on another note....Im still trying to find a couple suppliers/distributors for the shop. specifically, live rock, CUC, and maybe dry goods(a better one ) If any of the suppliers/store owners are following along and have some input, go ahead and PM me.

Gresham- If youre still following, Im definitely interested in carrying the reef nutrition line of products and thought of you.

Thanks all for reading and keeping me motivated to post updates on here.

 

alright....well, the floor is almost done. ready for the sealant. was a long crazy weekend(last week) but i got it done. now if only i didnt live in such a BFE area. I might actually be able to find some concrete sealer right at the store. lol

oh well. things are shaping up tho. Once this floor is sealed, tanks are going up/in, and the cleaning and cycling will begin I know this isnt much of an update. but, pics to follow....

 

here is just a thought for you.....have you ever wanted to totally revamp your tank but couldn't because you had no place to put you inhabitants for any length of time. or wanted to go on an extended holiday but couldn't because you have no one capable of looking after your stuff.
there are kennels for cats and dogs but no rent-a-tanks for reef stuff, i've had a few times that i would have used that kind of a situation.....just a bare tank in a back room to store my stuff for a week or so while i move my tank and improve my set up.
just a thought

 

Interesting idea. I like the concept of using it for revamping/upgrading tanks. it is quite a pain when you're upgrading and have multiple totes and buckets and water containers around having to worry about your livestock is always a big concern. but for someone just going on vacation and that's what I have the maintenance business for.