lived in the ict for awhile and that's where i started with saltwater. why is shipping killing you? you should go to sea dreams or the aquarium at old town. also there use to be a fins and feathers out on west st. i think, don't know if it's still there. usually they didn't have a good selection, but every now and then you could find a really good deal on some corals. i don't know the guy's name at sea dreams, but he looks like an old hippie, knows his stuff about plumbing, pick his brain. also there was another place on hillside before you get to harry i think or was it gwb. kinda iffy, but worth going to check out.