Sherman, Don, and I just got back home from our excursion to BR. I have to say, considering how much they sold through yesterday, Cy was very prepared. There were lots of corals to choose from and I brought home 5 VERY healthy specimens, an urchin, and some Interceptor tabs. Prices were terrific too.
Bummer we missed Adelaide. The outdoor diplays had some really nice tanks, skimmers etc.
Unfortunately the two items I was most interested were already sold, but you know, if you snooze, you lose!
The store was packed and I liked the fact that they had a take-a-number system, which I think probably made it more fair and easier to manage, and in that light, I would make one suggestion: If a coral is sold, whomever sold it should mark it as sold as a priority issue. Both corals I wanted were not marked sold, so I got a little torqued when I saw they were not yet sold, but when I wanted to buy them, I was told they were.
Regardless of the hectic nature of a super sale, the BR staff was very professional and pleasant. And I want to point out one very important observation that I think really makes BR an excellent place to shop. The staff there carefully inspects all specimens both inbound and outbound. There is a comprehensive shipping and receiving station with all the tools you need to ensure healthy livestock.
Cy personally handled my corals, checking each for any kind of hitch-hiker, algae, etc. and whipped out a toothbrush to clean down the plugs so that I would not arrive home with anything but high quality clean corals.
When I got home to do our dipping regimen, these corals were in super health, no FW, no red bugs, etc. That makes me glad to go back.