Pieces of the Ocean

Tucked away on Staten Island, Pieces of the Ocean — or POTO, as the reef community knows it — has built a national reputation as one of the premier coral vendors in the hobby. This is a specialty shop laser-focused on what it does best: SPS and Acropora. Walk in and you'll find tank after tank of aquacultured acros in vivid, true-to-photo coloration, with special viewing lenses available to browse the coral under optimal lighting.

The facility may be compact, but the quality per square foot is staggering. POTO's reach extends far beyond New York. Their online operation, anchored by their own platform ReefNBid and regular live auctions on Reef2Reef, has cultivated a devoted following of reef keepers from Philadelphia to overseas.

Reviewers consistently praise the packaging — each bag clearly labeled, corals arriving healthy and pest-free — and the guarantee that backs every shipment. When shipping delays have caused DOAs, the team, including staff members Jessica, William, Kenny, and Chris, has replaced pieces without hassle. What sets POTO apart from the crowded field of online coral vendors is the combination of selection and accessibility.

Their Friday auctions and live sales routinely feature new-release corals alongside sought-after pieces that collectors have been hunting for months. Prices draw mixed opinions — some find them exceptionally reasonable for the quality, while others note a premium on certain named pieces — but the consensus is that the corals themselves are consistently healthy, vibrant, and among the best in the business. The shop also maintains some freshwater shrimp, though corals are the undeniable focus.

Dry goods are limited, so come for the livestock. One German visitor detoured on the way to JFK just to see the operation, and hobbyists regularly drive an hour or more each way for the in-person experience. For reef enthusiasts in the NY-NJ corridor or anyone willing to order online, POTO delivers a curated, coral-obsessed experience that earns the loyalty it clearly enjoys.