retail Aquarium setup

[Bandit77]

Good morning,
We'll be opening a retail Pet supply store, and will be carrying Saltwater Fish and Coral
I'm looking for feedback to avoid potential overlooking crucial details, or simplifying

The overall Saltwater FISH ONLY system will be 1000-1500+/- gallons
-containing either 75 gallon tanks or 30 with removal dividers every 12" height to be about 18"
-planning on having all FISH aquariums feed into 1 sump or canister filter(s)
-Drains on BACK of tank, 1 drain 1 return - thoughts on back drain over bottom drilled?
-what are you thoughts on sump / canister filter? My thoughts were to have various Algae grow in the FISH sump,
-whats the best way to protect against 'power failures" and having the tanks drain, appropriate sump to allow or 1 way check vales?
-having a UV sterilizer connected
-anything else I missed?
-lightning can be basic as no corals - thoughts on this?

The frag tanks will be isolated to them self with a sump underneath
-going to use Radion XR50 G5 Pro or radion XR50 G5 BLUE LED - thoughts?

appreciate all the feedback, want to make it the best possible

 

[Spare time]

1. Do you plan on running copper in the system?

2. Lighting for the fish doesn't matter for the fish, but try some out to see how well they bring out the fish's colors.

2. I would go with a sump in the back and not a canister.


4. Make sure on the coral tanks that you keep some pest eater in there and that you dip the corals.


5. Radions are gonna be pretty pricey over the corals but it is more your call as to what lights to buy.

 

[W1ngz]

If you run ALL your tanks on the same sump, all it takes is one infected fish to infect the whole inventory. I'd split them.

 

[Spare time]

If you run ALL your tanks on the same sump, all it takes is one infected fish to infect the whole inventory. I'd split them.

If they plumb the return from the tanks to the sump through a powerful UV, it can stop the spread of the disease to the other tanks before the water returns to the display where only a handful are mixed at a time. At my work we do this and run copper power.

 

[Bandit77]

1. Do you plan on running copper in the system?

2. Lighting for the fish doesn't matter for the fish, but try some out to see how well they bring out the fish's colors.

2. I would go with a sump in the back and not a canister.


4. Make sure on the coral tanks that you keep some pest eater in there and that you dip the corals.


5. Radions are gonna be pretty pricey over the corals but it is more your call as to what lights to buy.

I was thinking of running copper, but hesitant in case a customer mixes the water in their tank, by not rinsing good enough

 

[Pntbll687]

Good morning,
We'll be opening a retail Pet supply store, and will be carrying Saltwater Fish and Coral
I'm looking for feedback to avoid potential overlooking crucial details, or simplifying

The overall Saltwater FISH ONLY system will be 1000-1500+/- gallons
-containing either 75 gallon tanks or 30 with removal dividers every 12" height to be about 18"
-planning on having all FISH aquariums feed into 1 sump or canister filter(s)
-Drains on BACK of tank, 1 drain 1 return - thoughts on back drain over bottom drilled?
-what are you thoughts on sump / canister filter? My thoughts were to have various Algae grow in the FISH sump,
-whats the best way to protect against 'power failures" and having the tanks drain, appropriate sump to allow or 1 way check vales?
-having a UV sterilizer connected
-anything else I missed?
-lightning can be basic as no corals - thoughts on this?

The frag tanks will be isolated to them self with a sump underneath
-going to use Radion XR50 G5 Pro or radion XR50 G5 BLUE LED - thoughts?

appreciate all the feedback, want to make it the best possible

Since it says you're a brand new member I have to ask...

How much experience do you have with reef keeping?

 

[Bandit77]

If they plumb the return from the tanks to the sump through a powerful UV, it can stop the spread of the disease to the other tanks before the water returns to the display where only a handful are mixed at a time. At my work we do this and run copper power.

I was worried about this problem as well, hoping the UV Sterilizer will aid in preventive

 

[Bandit77]

Since it says you're a brand new member I have to ask...

How much experience do you have with reef keeping?

I am a new member but I've been in the hobby for 10 years, just never posted in a form

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Definately go with the sumps over canisters. That way you can sell chaeto and other macros that are growing in there.

 

[Spare time]

I was worried about this problem as well, hoping the UV Sterilizer will aid in preventive

Do you plan on having a qt tank?

 

[Pntbll687]

I am a new member but I've been in the hobby for 10 years, just never posted in a form

Awesome

Where are you located?

As far as a fish only system. I'll always love the look of something custom, like what you describe with the moveable dividers. BUT I think ease of maintenance needs to top priority. Look into pre made rack type systems. Even wwc uses them in their store

 

[Bandit77]

Awesome

Where are you located?

As far as a fish only system. I'll always love the look of something custom, like what you describe with the moveable dividers. BUT I think ease of maintenance needs to top priority. Look into pre made rack type systems. Even wwc uses them in their store

thanks I'll look into the pre-made rack system, I absolutely agree about ease of MTCE, hoping to get some great ideas and avoid thinking I know it all

 

[Bandit77]

P.S i'm in Canada

 

[Pntbll687]

P.S i'm in Canada

Too bad.

I'm a sales rep for a pet distributor in the north east US. I don't think we sell to any stores in Canada, but I'll find out.

 

[reefwiser]

I would visit as many other stores as you can before you set up your store.
Might want to watch a video like this from a former store owner. Hope you have 150,000 dollars to start up. I having many friends that are store owners it’s a tough job an you need to realize that it cost’s a ton of money to start a shop.

 

[fish farmer]

Generator for power failures preferably one that automatically switches over and/or oxygen tanks with airstones at the ready.

 

[Pntbll687]

I would visit as many other stores as you can before you set up your store.
Might want to watch a video like this from a former store owner. Hope you have 150,000 dollars to start up. I having many friends that are store owners it’s a tough job an you need to realize that it cost’s a ton of money to start a shop.

Being a distribution sales rep, this video is SPOT ON!!

I can't tell you the number of stores that end up like this. It goes across all categories Pet/aquatics/farm/lawn and garden.

 

[Pntbll687]

P.S i'm in Canada

And PLEASE, carry a good selection of dry goods. I see it all the time where people walk into a aquatics shop, there's 200+ tanks of fish, and zero or minimal dry goods. Customers simply turn around when they hear "no we don't have that" and look for other options.

You don't have to be cheaper than online all the time. Just having it there and allowing people to buy it now is big. You also don't need everything in dry goods. Start with brands you believe in and use then branch out. I would rather hear "we don't carry that exact product, but we have X which is similar", because I'm always open to trying new stuff.

 

[fish farmer]

And PLEASE, carry a good selection of dry goods. I see it all the time where people walk into a aquatics shop, there's 200+ tanks of fish, and zero or minimal dry goods. Customers simply turn around when they hear "no we don't have that" and look for other options.

You don't have to be cheaper than online all the time. Just having it there and allowing people to buy it now is big. You also don't need everything in dry goods. Start with brands you believe in and use then branch out. I would rather hear "we don't carry that exact product, but we have X which is similar", because I'm always open to trying new stuff.

I think a lot of that is from everyone buying online. For example test kits, my LFS has API, not something I would ever use, but maybe fine for a newbie starting out. My other LFS sells mostly Brightwater Aquatics stuff, again not something I use, but he does and probably pushes those products to his customers.

It is so much easier to click on the computer and get exactly the product you want without leaving the house. I do however try to buy dry goods occasionally just for the "support local" aspect.

 

[Pntbll687]

I think a lot of that is from everyone buying online. For example test kits, my LFS has API, not something I would ever use, but maybe fine for a newbie starting out. My other LFS sells mostly Brightwater Aquatics stuff, again not something I use, but he does and probably pushes those products to his customers.

It is so much easier to click on the computer and get exactly the product you want without leaving the house. I do however try to buy dry goods occasionally just for the "support local" aspect.

I sell API though my work and there has been a HUGE decrease in API test kits sold. I see lots of salifert and red Sea taking shelf space over.