About
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.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Exceptional aquacultured Acropora and SPS coral selection
- Regular live sales and auctions via ReefNBid and Reef2Reef
- Reliable nationwide shipping with pest-free, clearly labeled packaging
- Responsive customer service with DOA replacement guarantee
- Special viewing lenses available for browsing corals in-store
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Entertaining forum interactions with incredible selection of unique corals”
— Ray Johnson5.05 days ago“Bought a few orders from them. Packaging and service have been top notch!”
— Kin Wong5.05 days ago“Great prices, responsive, great selection”
— brent burton5.05 days ago“POTO is quickly becoming my favorite vendor for a couple reasons: 1) quality is top notch; 2) customer service and guarantee - I had a shipping delay that killed some acros, and POTO replaced; and 3) selection - on top of having stand out pieces, pretty much every live sale showcases some new release corals, which makes the sales always worth checking out.”
— Terry Shoes5.05 days ago“Has been awesome doing live sale. Thoroughly enjoy the staff and auctions . Some of the best corals in business. Very responsive to msgs”
— Dan Hizer5.05 days ago“The coral from POTO is top of the line. I’ve been extremely happy with every piece I’ve received. Shipping is fast and the staff always responds right away to any questions. Highly recommend!”
— Amanda Jacques5.05 days ago“I have got acropora from a few places online and Pieces of the Ocean are far more superior than most. My acropora dominate display is mostly frags from them. Best place for acropora”
— chaz peoples5.05 days ago“Absolutely my favorite place to go , worth the drive and was luckily to be one of the first places I started to buy corals once I got into the hobby. Staff is friendly , honest , and knowledgeable!”
— Zacc Heller5.05 days ago“World class coral vendor. Healthy and beautiful. One of the best int he business.”
— Robert Brewster5.05 days ago“Had an absolute blast for the live sale and the auctions. Their coral is some of the best in the business and really happy with the corals I have received!”
— Rachel Hizer5.05 days ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (917) 722-3519 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Pieces of the Ocean.