Long Island Reef Association

Pizza… but make it reef. 🍕🌊 Join us at Island Fish & Scale for our next Long Island Reef Association monthly meet, a laid-back night of reef talk, good people, and a slice of pizza. We’re bringing the community together to hang, swap ideas, ask questions and just enjoy the hobby we all love.

Whether you’re new to reefing or deep in the reefing game, you’re welcome here.

🗓 Friday | April 10, 2026
⏰ 8–10PM
📍 Island Fish & Scale | 231A Commack Road, Commack NY 11725

This is an exciting one! For the first time ever, join us for a candid, community-driven roundtable from the perspective of local fish store owners - on how local fish stores shape hobby success. We’re excited to welcome Jonathan Hale (Country Critters) and Ryan Francess (Island Fish & Scale), moderated by the Long Island Reef Association, for a conversation about hobby retention, early guidance, shared challenges, and what truly helps reefers thrive.

Bring your questions. Bring your experiences. Bring your love for the hobby. 💙

📅 Friday, Feb 13, 2026 | 7:30PM
📍 231A Commack Road, Commack, NY 11725

✨Holiday Party Under the Sea! ✨

Celebrate the magic of the season amongst the reefs 🪸 and your fellow hobbyists! Join us Jan 10 at the for a night of food, fun, and festivity 🎄🐠

🎫 Early bird pricing ends Dec. 15, grab your tickets now!

LIRA Monthly Members Meeting | Speaker Spotlight: Taras Pleskun

We’re thrilled to welcome Taras Pleskun, aquaculturist at and head of the new Calypso Aquaculture Laboratory in Orlando, Florida, joining us for this month’s LIRA members meeting hosted at

Originally from Mystic, CT, Taras holds an MSc in Aquaculture from the University of Rhode Island and the University of Florida, specializing in the cultivation and application of microalgae. His current work includes breeding berghia nudibranchs, phytoplankton, copepods, macro-algae, and other marine invertebrates.

Taras believes that by learning to breed and appreciate all aquatic life, “Humanity will be made smarter, stronger, and kinder.” 🪸

📅 Friday, November 7, 2025 @ 8 PM
📍 Island Fish & Scale – 231A Commack Road, Commack NY 11725
🎟️ Free for LIRA members

Many thanks to Andrew Sandler and the team at Polo Reef for their support of LIRA. Polo Reef isn’t your typical reef tank setup or business. It’s a passion project turned mission-driven organization, built on philanthropy and operating much like a nonprofit. Founded by Andrew Sandler, whose love for reef aquariums began in childhood, Polo Reef is rooted in a lifelong connection to the hobby.

Tomorrow is the swap!


Reef by Andrew Sandler