View Full Version : Brooklyn Aquarium Society Club Meet 2/13
February 13th BKAS is holding their monthly club meet. If you are in the NYC area and are thinking of attending please post here.
http://www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org/main.htm
http://i41.tinypic.com/2je5yjk.jpg
Mgamer20o0
02-02-2009, 1:22 PM
you going this time bk?
ill try my best to make it. Will see if Inka4040 and Mellow want to come. Maybe make some connections there...
At your club meet, when you bring your plants do you sell them there for yourself or does the $ go to the club??
Mgamer20o0
02-02-2009, 1:44 PM
both... you will have to ask.... ours you have to be a member and 20% goes to the club just depends everyone is different.
mellowvision
02-02-2009, 3:43 PM
I have a root canal and crown installation scheduled for 3pm that day... but if the gas hasn't worn off, I'm down to go!
great! so far have 4 people including myself who "might" be going
Inka4040
02-03-2009, 7:55 PM
I'm going as long as one other person goes wif. Don't wanna roll up solo, but definitely wanna check it out.
For sure Rick. If you guys want any plants that i got let me know and ill bring them to the club
Btw i found out that when you get their membership you can get 20% discount from one of their supporters who sells fish/plants. The fish list is pretty sweet :)
Inka4040
02-04-2009, 9:49 PM
How sweet? Where do I get to take a peek?
Bk718
02-04-2009, 11:03 PM
http://www.waterlifeimports.com/
http://www.brooklynaquariumsociety.org/deals_discounts.htm
Inka4040
02-04-2009, 11:50 PM
Sweet indeed. Can't wait to see what kind of stuff they got going at auction...
I wonder if they will let the newcomers participate in the auction.. I mean we need to pay the $5 entrance fee anyways so i guess might as well do the $20?!
shawnhu
02-05-2009, 1:19 AM
I've seen this at my local Petland, was thinking of going if nothing else comes up. If I am going, I'll be bringing one or 2 people with me.
I'll probably know more when we get closer to the date. Would be nice to meet some people with common interests.
mellowvision
02-05-2009, 8:56 AM
I went to one once and everyone could buy, but only members could sell. it was years ago. I bought my first tank there for 15 bucks.
How was it mellow? Alot of members? old folks or some young ones? I remember a manager from petland discount giving me a flyer to come to come to the meeting and said if you mention his name then you dont have to pay entrance fee. Might stop by his store again ask him some questions..
mellowvision
02-05-2009, 5:47 PM
it was ok. It wasn't at the aquarium. it was at the pool at floyd bennett field. they were having some talks that I didn't stay for... An older guy there told me about aquaria central...
I think it will be cooler at the aquarium.
Inka4040
02-05-2009, 6:46 PM
Hopefully the fact that it's at the aquarium means that there's relatively good attendance.
shawnhu
02-05-2009, 11:29 PM
Oh, I'd love free entrance!
Bk718
02-05-2009, 11:33 PM
^^ free is good but the $5 entrance fee can be put towards the $20 membership fee. I got no problem becoming a member, I just want to see if its really worth it
vampie
02-06-2009, 12:12 AM
Let me know how it goes. I'm thinking about going to next month's meeting.
DavidZ
02-06-2009, 12:08 PM
Any of the stores that have ads, should be able to give you free invites, lets start calling.
Wow, wish we had such an organized group in So Az (we have nothing down here).
Wow, wish we had such an organized group in So Az (we have nothing down here).
Actually AZ has one :headshake2:
Actually AZ has one :headshake2:
Yea, and its in the hell that is Lake Maricopa (aka Phoenix) :D
I think we have a koi group though.
BK is it $20 annually? I might be able to make it to a meeting if they do one in the summer months. Let us know what they have. I'm into FHs, SA/CA cichlids and oddballs mainly...
Bk718
02-06-2009, 11:05 PM
yup $20 annually. Ill bring a cam there try and snap a few shots. I just hope its not all cichlids and salties :lipssealedsmilie:
Last bump..
So far people going are:
Inka4040
Bk828
mellowvision
02-13-2009, 11:53 AM
I'm not going to be able to make it this time... dentist got bumped later. but like I told Inka, if you see any freshwater vampire crabs, I'd love 2 or 3!
have fun. I'll join next time.
Bk718
02-13-2009, 12:37 PM
That sucks..
About the vampire crabs.. we will keep a look out. But you should also shoot an email to Franksaquarium.com , I think he had them before. And if not see if he can order them for you. Best part about him is that you can do local pickup :)
I might get some dwarf puffers from him since he said he might get them for cheap. :huh:
mellowvision
02-15-2009, 2:29 PM
how was it?
vampie
02-15-2009, 3:17 PM
I'd like to know how it went as well. What was auctioned, how the lecture was, what most attendees were like, etc..
Inka4040
02-15-2009, 3:32 PM
The speaker was a local angelfish breeder, who brought some of his very nice fish to auction. His presentation, though a bit on the long side, was entertaining and relatively informative. As for the variety of fish available for purchase, it was in a word, dismal. I have literally, never been so let down by a fish related event in my life. Though I did manage to come home with a male betta channoides, and an unsexed pair of laetacara curviceps, they were basically the only two items of interest on the block. The rest of the lots were inexplicably comprised of the most basic types of pet store fish, bags upon bags of female mollies, lots of (wtf) single tetras (we saw a bag with a lone male endler in it), and a spath plant that some rube chose to pay 9 bucks for. I was really expecting the auction lots to be mainly harder to find but easily bred fish that hobbyists would be working with like killies, dwarf cichs, and wild type livebearers but no such luck. I will be giving the society a few more chances over the next few months, but if the auction I saw was in any way indicative of the general auction quality then I'll be sticking with AC as the only aquarium society I need.
lol not sure if i should share this.. but here it goes..
The meeting consisted of about 40-50 people. Most were elderly folks.
The auction.. Someone in chat said the saying "the club is as good as its members" and i think this applies here. 80% of the stuff in the auction were mollies/sword tails/guppies, then the other 10% were angels, 5% were plants like duckweed/nanjas/watersprite/emersed ludwigia/single crypt/mislabeled sword. And last 5% were decent fish. This time they had a nice BN pleco/some hard to find bettas and nice dwarf cichlids.
The funniest thing was the prices that these things were flying at.. mislabeled sword (argentenian marked as amazon)= $10.. Single crypt= $10.. Angels $10-12 (quarter size) I mean yes its nice for the club to raise some $ to keep itself running but i personally wouldnt drop that much $ on a fish/plant when i can get the same thing for 1/4 of the price.
The speaker was pretty good. Couldve went a bit more into detail on some points but other than that it was "okay"
vampie
02-15-2009, 3:47 PM
Sounds rather disappointing.
They've been around for like 80 years, haven't they? Maybe they just don't keep up with the times that well.
mellowvision
02-15-2009, 4:09 PM
I think it's partially location... it's way out where less people will go on a friday night... and the other part is definitely the people... if more people like you guys join, it will get better. maybe it just needs a changing of the guard...
Inka4040
02-15-2009, 4:23 PM
Before more young people join, there's gotta be more incentive for them to show up. Unfortunately, 20 lots of female mollies up for auction isn't much of a driving factor for repeat visits.
vampie
02-15-2009, 4:25 PM
Have any of you thought about just starting your own club, rather than trying to change something that has stood for so long? It seems like that would be easier.
Have any of you thought about just starting your own club, rather than trying to change something that has stood for so long? It seems like that would be easier.
Main thing would be location. But heck im sure we can get plenty of ppl together to share ideas/ plants/fish.
vampie
02-15-2009, 4:44 PM
I don't think a constant location would be necessary. I've been with the NYC Aquarium Keepers for some time now, and they go somewhere different each time, which I've always preferred to meeting at the same place every time. I do pretty much suffer from wanderlust though, so you're not really getting a neutral opinion from me.
bderen
05-04-2009, 2:52 PM
I gotta tell you guys, you can't judge the meetings by a single event. I go every months and it's like a completely different meeting every time I go. The bags that are on table are so different from month to month you (nor the organizers) know what's coming.
You should come a few times to see the difference, I've seen some of the rarest fish in my life for sale there, I'v even seen sting rays go for $3.00 only because nobody (in the crowd that evening) knew how to keep one. It all depends on the people that come that evening and the stuff that gets donated for auctions.
This Friday (May 8th, 2009) is the Giant Auction, no speaker, JUST auction, you should definitely come and check it out, you won't be dissapointed. If you need to get in for free to check it out ask for Bernard.
mellowvision
05-04-2009, 4:43 PM
big auction you say?
hm.
Inka4040
05-04-2009, 5:07 PM
I'll most likely make it to the auction, but honestly, last time I went even the auctioneers seemed a bit "basic". One of them openly mocked the mini pellia I DONATED for their auction, (he obviously had no clue what it was) and auctioned it off as "some kind of plant, if you could even call it that." Real big talk for someone rattling off 50 bags of mollies and guppies. If this "huge auction" turns out to be a bust too, then the BKAS to me, has no redeeming qualities. No exaggeration, I've seen petcos with better selections than their February auction had.
mellowvision
05-04-2009, 6:06 PM
tell us what you really think!
vampie
05-04-2009, 6:35 PM
You're awful Inka. It's just so easy for you to knock on Petco, isn't it? "Oh, ha ha, they're a corporate chain store, they're so bad!". So maybe they don't have the best selection around, but you know what, they still beat like 80% of the other stores in NYC.
If we can get in this "big auction" for free, I may go. If it turns out to be as disappointing as others have made it out to be though, that's pretty much the nail in the coffin for me.
mellowvision
05-04-2009, 6:59 PM
I'll swing the hammer, if you hold the nail!
I'll probably go. gotta see what comes up over the week though.
Inka4040
05-05-2009, 6:09 PM
Last time I went, it was 5 bucks to enter, and 20 bucks to join. Didn't see anything worth 20 bucks a year in Feb, except for maybe the ability to sell spath plants for 10 bucks... Still willing to revise my feelings, just don't hold out much hope for improvement.
vampie
05-05-2009, 7:19 PM
I'm not sure if I'll make it, so if any of you go, do report back with how it went.
Kinda a downer that the BAS is one of only two aquarium clubs in the entire city. You'd think there'd be more.
hmmm ill have to see if i can make it..
and rick the dude said for sale.. a plant.. "a poor excuse for a plant"..... lol
Inka4040
05-06-2009, 3:37 PM
must have been a poor excuse for an auctioneer.
jptjpt
05-07-2009, 11:37 AM
Have any of you folks been to the Petco in Manhattan? That's their flagship store in the US. They do sales in 1 day what most FS do in 1 month. My friend is the night manager there. He tells me that they've hired several highly knowledgeable fish "geeks" lately and allowing them to run their sub departments to their liking. My friend's more into salt water though, but he says there's a guy there who's like the "rain man" of FW plants. I really want to go up there to see it, but work schedule won't allow me to do it. Also I don't know if I would buy anything at Manhattan prices; it'll probably be a "look n see" trip.
Bk718
05-07-2009, 12:54 PM
Have any of you folks been to the Petco in Manhattan? That's their flagship store in the US. They do sales in 1 day what most FS do in 1 month. My friend is the night manager there. He tells me that they've hired several highly knowledgeable fish "geeks" lately and allowing them to run their sub departments to their liking. My friend's more into salt water though, but he says there's a guy there who's like the "rain man" of FW plants. I really want to go up there to see it, but work schedule won't allow me to do it. Also I don't know if I would buy anything at Manhattan prices; it'll probably be a "look n see" trip.
Ive been to one in the city and its nothing that special, yes they have plants/fish but the variety is the same as in other stores. They all share the same wholesaler so how much different can each store really be?
Either way about this fridays meeting.. What time is it going to start??
vampie
05-07-2009, 2:46 PM
Which Petco are we talking about? There's like three.
I'm heard 7:30 for tomorrow, Bk. I'll double-check it.
Which Petco are we talking about? There's like three.
I'm heard 7:30 for tomorrow, Bk. I'll double-check it.
bleh i only end work at like 8
vampie
05-07-2009, 3:15 PM
Also heard it runs until midnight... which would be fine if there were good auctions, but could you imagine if it were 4 hours of "poor excuse of a plant" and Mollies?
Inka4040
05-07-2009, 5:50 PM
I don't have to imagine that, I've seen it... The petco on 14th street is the best of the 3 in Manhattan, but honestly none of them have any sort of plant selection though... I wonder which he's talking about.
mellowvision
05-07-2009, 6:11 PM
petco union square has tons of plants, they just all suck
vampie
05-07-2009, 6:22 PM
They're okay, definitely not what they used to be with the $2 Moss, Ferns and Marimos, but I see some nice Hygros and Vals every now and then.
Inka, the time you went, it lasted four hours as well?
Inka4040
05-07-2009, 6:27 PM
Probably not, but you could have fooled me.
Inka4040
05-07-2009, 11:24 PM
So anyone actually going to this thing?
vampie
05-07-2009, 11:42 PM
Still a big maybe for me.
Not really sure if I want to spend 4+ hours and a subway ride to attend something that seems to have a bigger chance of being a disappointment than a success... not to mention I'd have to pay just to get into this hit-or-miss.
mellowvision
05-08-2009, 11:38 PM
anyone live blogging the event?
:) lol
vampie
05-08-2009, 11:45 PM
...are you?
I'm curious how it turned out. I didn't attend.
mellowvision
05-09-2009, 3:16 AM
I don't think any of us went. lol.
Bk718
05-09-2009, 11:11 AM
i went last night and woooow i got 2 breeding pairs of bad arse apistos for only $5, bunch of nice java ferns and anubias for $10. And someone had a used eheim 2217 filter for sale for only $20 u know that was MINEEE..... shouldve been there guys.. it was
it was... 2 good 2 be true.. probably because it didnt really happen.. lol
None of us went...
vampie
05-09-2009, 11:42 AM
Bk, you cruel *******.
Inka4040
05-09-2009, 1:23 PM
Figured in the odd chance they might have something I wanted, I wouldn't have a place to put it anyway, so no auction for me.
vampie
05-09-2009, 1:46 PM
Ultimately, that was the decision I came to too.
awww rick poor excuse.. everyone has room for a single endler..
Inka4040
05-09-2009, 2:16 PM
not for 6 bucks i don't...
vampie
05-09-2009, 2:23 PM
Oh, that's funny.. and probably true..?
shawnhu
06-16-2009, 2:48 AM
Nice to see there's some New Yorkers with some humor, read all the posts, didn't attend any of these meets, glad I didn't waste my time, sorry that some of you folks did.
I'm definately for the idea of starting a NYC Club of our own instead of attending these... useless ones.
vampie
06-16-2009, 1:34 PM
Someone should start one..
On a related note, has anyone attended any of Greater City's meetings? Seems like that's the only other fish club in NYC at this point.
lateinningmagic
06-24-2009, 1:00 PM
I just finished reading all the posts. Sounds like the Club is a disappointment. :(
Earlier in the thread you guys were talking about Petco. I just went to the one at Union Square yesterday to take a look and was disappointment. Yes they have a larger selection than any of the LFS here in Queens, but the prices are not worth it. It's not like they take such great care of their fish that the extra money is worth it. they do have a lot of plants, but they seem to be a lot of the same kinds. I asked about low light plants like Java Fern and the girl there said they were out and only showed me an onion plant. No thanks.
Their Bettas are quite overpriced. I'm no expert, so maybe the $14.99 is worth it. But my LFS sells three different types of Betta and they cost between $3.99 and $5.99. Plus they are sold when they are a bit older and not as small as the Petco's Betta.
Pros of Petco?
- Female Bettas are available
- Female and Male Guppies are kept seperated.
If you live in Queens I recommend Paradise Aquarium in Ridgewood or Wonderful World of Fish in Astoria. They are on Summer schedule, so call ahead to see if they are open. Also, as the owner himself told me, he hadn't ordered any freshwater fish in a month. The guy is super nice btw. I went on a Monday when its always closed, but the curtain was half opened. He saw me and my cousin and I told him we were just looking and I mentioned that I lived in Ridgewood and had try to go there before, but each time I was in Astoria it was a Monday and therfore closed. He let us in and talked to us for like 25 minutes. Gave me a 10% which you normally need to be a member to get for being my first time and being closed when I'd try to come before. Check it out. Especially if you interested in Saltwater.
Inka4040
06-24-2009, 4:37 PM
Aren't there scads of good aquarium stores in flushing? I can't remember the name of the one on Northern Boulevard, but when I stopped in a few years ago, it was the best LFS I'd ever seen in New York.
vampie
06-24-2009, 4:44 PM
Could you tell me cross-streets to Wonderful World of Fish? I'm trying to map out all the LFS in NYC, but I'm having the hardest time with some stores in Queens.. Google Maps gives me three locations, and I can't find it on any of them with Street View.
lateinningmagic
06-24-2009, 8:54 PM
Aren't there scads of good aquarium stores in flushing? I can't remember the name of the one on Northern Boulevard, but when I stopped in a few years ago, it was the best LFS I'd ever seen in New York.
Is it this one: http://www.northernaquariumpets.com/?
or Fishtown USA?
I haven't gotten a chance to check either of them out, but I believe Fishtown is the best. There used to be one on Main Street in Flushing that I liked, but I went a month ago and it was gone. Some new electronic store is there now =/
Could you tell me cross-streets to Wonderful World of Fish? I'm trying to map out all the LFS in NYC, but I'm having the hardest time with some stores in Queens.. Google Maps gives me three locations, and I can't find it on any of them with Street View.
I *think* its 28th street. The Petland Discounts is on 30th, and Wonderful world of fish is about 2 blocks away. I had the same problem with google maps and when I called no one picked up. But they are on summer schedule so they are only opened Thursday-Sunday.
Inka4040
06-24-2009, 9:39 PM
I've been to northern. Nothing special... Fishtown sounds familiar... It was really huge, square, and had a giant grouper right when you walked in.
vampie
06-24-2009, 11:28 PM
I *think* its 28th street. The Petland Discounts is on 30th, and Wonderful world of fish is about 2 blocks away. I had the same problem with google maps and when I called no one picked up. But they are on summer schedule so they are only opened Thursday-Sunday.
Thanks, I found it.
Well, this tells you how messed up Google Maps is sometimes - of the three listings, two of them had the exact same address (using 25-71 Steinway), but had different locations on the map. One has 10 user reviews, the other was added by the store themselves, and neither of these were as close as the third one, which used 2571 Steinway without the dash.