The Coral Reef Settling In at Paradise Green

It's been six weeks since an aquarium store called The Coral Reef opened at Paradise Green.

And so far, so good, say the owners.

"We have certain corals, fish go out the door right when they get in," Jonathan Eckart, who co-owns the store with his wife, Donna, told Stratford Patch Tuesday afternoon. "The fish and corals are exceptional."

Eckart, a graduate of Bunnell High School, hopes to make a career out of a lifelong hobby.

"We use everything I would use," says Eckart, whose store, in addition to its roughly 75 species of coral and saltwater fish, carries tanks and products that enable customers to set up operational systems in two days.

"We make it easy," Eckart says. "It's pretty instantaneous."

Customers have been coming from all over New England to check out the store, Eckart says. One visitor to The Coral Reef drove an hour-and-a-half from Massachusetts to check out the place and pick up a coral and some products.

And Eckart is banking on that type of enthusiasm for in-person commerce. He says the biggest challenge his business faces is Internet sites that sell inferior but cheaper versions of the products he sells at Paradise Green.

The Coral Reef is located at 3627 Main St. Business hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.