Default LFS

[McReefer]

If you've been in this hobby for a good amount of time chances are you have a LFS you prefer to go to. I had a good 4 years of reef keeping in Santa Barbara, CA. I was able to pick from 3 LFS and reefodyssey who was located in SB as well. One of the LFS owners would even take me into LA to pick my own stock. So after setting up a new tank my wife and I decided to go on a hunt for a LFS of our own. After spending 3 Sat driving around the Dallas area I was VARY disappointed. Crappy coral stock, dead fish, bad care of larger live fish. Half the time I felt like throwing up after going into them. I would say that the only slice of reef heaven in this area is neptunes cove. I know its out of my way but it's worth the trip. He's closed on mondays by listed store hours but he gets shipments in then and has let me come in. Its the only store I go to now.

Now I know I haven't been to all the other stores but does anyone on here that's been to neptunes cove know of any other stores that measure up to the selection and pricing?

 

[Andrew]

There are a ton of top notch stores in the dfw area, you just have to spend some time exploring... Just a note on reefkeeping in California. There is no way no how that you are going to find a store outside of that area that constantly has as much cherry stuff and pricing.... All of the imports come in through LA that means no shipping costs and they get to cherry pick the wholesalers. I visit all stores in the dfw area and they all have their niche areas of expertise. Some are better for food, some are better for coral, some are better for hardgoods, and some are better for fish, etc etc. I am a big proponent of supporting the local economy and as such enjoy buying local whenever i can. I would suggest starting with our list of sponsors and going from there. I have yet to find a sponsor that has let me down in their niche.

 

[Guest]

No stores here in dfw even Neptune's match up to vivid aquariums my fav store to walk to when I visit my relatives in cali.

Since I am sps junkie I get my fix at fish2morrow as Brandon really knows his stuff.


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[McReefer]

@kuyatwo wrote:

LOL Yeah Vivid is pretty crazy and always stock full. I didn't look at neptunes food or hardware or even fish although I noted they had quite a bit of them. I saw the coral in there and kinda went into a coma. I looked just like this. Side note... Anyone know where to buy rods reef blend?

 

[M@]

@McReefer wrote:

I got my last pack from Neptune's.

 

[Andrew]

I get mine from reef remedies in denton since he is super close and carries all of the different types.

 

[Guest]

Have you been to rift2reef in flower mound yet?


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[fusionvi]

@McReefer wrote:

Mid Cities recently started carring Rods Reef Blend.

 

[shse666]

As you know I'm in the far North Plano area. I have not had a chance to hit any of the west side places or Ft. Worth so I can't comment on them.

I go to Neptune's for the corals obviously. I'm also going to get a green brittle star from Bill when my Pred tank is running as clean as I want. Bill will always take the time to talk about whatever you are interested in at the time. Neptune has Rod's Foods.

I go to Plano Pets (changed owners a few months ago) for their fresh water fish, dry good, frozen food, and picked up my Volitan there. They have a handful of corals, but inventory can be spotty and limited to whats on hand salt wise. They do take good care of their animals. I watched them feed the Volitan for a month before I picked him up.

I go to Aquarium Advantage in Frisco at Stonebiar. The have a limited supply in stock, but Russ has a hotline cell phone. Text him what you want and he picks the best quality available. He will sit on animals for a while to make sure they are healthy if you ask. I have my Niger, fuzzy lion, and my Cortez stingray all from him and they are healthy, happy, and feeding like hogs. No diseases from AA to date. Drop in and ask for his cell if you have special requests or simply want him browsing the wholesale market for you each week.

I hit North Dallas Aquarium for their used section, food, and I cleaned their entire inventory of refugium rubble during their sale for $0.59 a lb. They have a good section for parts and such that really helps when building or fixing systems. I have several fresh water fishes from them including a rope fish that is healthy and feeding on a regular basis, glass cats, etc.

That's my list. You might notice there are a few missing.

I won't go back to a certain place that charged $30.00 for a small pack of silversides, had melting corals, and dead anoms in the tank.

There is a another place not to far that charged me $250.00 for an Eshopps WD-75CS wet dry as part of a "bundle" deal. (Shame on me for not checking it before I handed over my credit card but that was on heck of a rip off.) They also act put out every time I'm there wanting anything "small" under $150.00 They have GREAT customer service for guys who are wealthy, dumb, ignorant, or some combination of the three or folks who watched "Tanked" and want to drop 5K on a "Custom" setup. I won't go back EVER again.

There is also another farther East down the road. I dropped in and browsed pretty much the entire store. Every single item in the entire store was more expensive than any other LFS I have visited. Perhaps somehow their products are so much better, but I doubt it. I just won't afford their prices and I have not been back in months.

@McReefer wrote:

 

[McReefer]

Since I'm about 2 hours away I don't do all of my shopping at LFS. I'm mostly there for live stock and food. I order everything else in Group Buys. But I will add to neptunes that he has been able to get me 2 extreamly rare zoas that I was looking. One I didn't see anywhere online. Just in the photo ID bank called "Corona" and another one that was for sale on line called Black People Eaters. And it was cheaper then I had expected.

 

[SushiGirl]

Not sure where you're located, but ours is Fish Paradise in Fort Worth.

 

[McReefer]

Athens, near Tyler. I have business up in Richardson so any store along the 75 is my hunting ground.

 

[Grant]

@fusionvi wrote:

I saw that when I went in yesterday. It seems like Mid Cities has become my "default" store. Saltwater Paradise is a lot closer to me (really close) and I've gone by there a few times, but it seemed like each time they didn't have what I wanted and I ended up going to Mid Cities. The staff at Saltware Paradise was very nice, no complaints there, they just didn't have a lot of inventory yet. I'll still try to support them, though, especially since it'd be really nice for my "default" store to only be 5 minutes away.

 

[McReefer]

Made a mad dash to neptunes today to sell a member a t5 light fixture and do some buys. I took more time in the store and looked at all the fish as well. I have to say they had quite a few things I could build a new tank for LOL. 3 REALLY colorful and healthy mandarins. 2 blue males and 1 target male. They had sexy shrimp in stock which I'm always a fan of (great cleaners in large numbers). Good stock of angels that were very active. And some fire fish. They had way more but those are the ones I was interested in. I walked out with over 150 polyps of Darth mauls, Fire stars, angry birds and 2 others that I will need ID's on for just over 150.00 I also picked up some rods reef blend (AAAmazing food btw) and some snails for that price. I honestly love stores like this where you can walk in and say "I'm interested in this, this, this and this and want to spend this much." and leave with a better deal then the labeled price. Soooo much better then buying frag at a time. I'm never bummed about my buys this way. Pics to follow.



O and this is what my wife and I looked like in the store. My wife being bill cosby this time. hahahahaha

 

[shse666]

That kid looks restrained compared with what we saw in the store.
WAIT, my kid was running loose too. Ha

 

[Guest]

I really like midcities very clean store compared to others where you have to watch where you walk.

I have been impressed with DNA lately on one occasion I told them they were out 7.00 calibration solution. She said she will have it tomorrow, I was like whatever it will not get ordered. Came back that following weekend and 7.00 calibration fluid slot was filled up


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[melev]

@McReefer wrote:

Please do not handle any type of transactions in front of fish stores. It's disrespectful to the store owner and the club as a whole gets blamed. If you want to meet up with someone, try a different landmark, then head over to your LFS and shop til your wallet's emptied. [smilie=wink.gif]

I once had a guy call me up about a sump while standing in a LFS, in fact in front of the owner. When I discovered what was transpiring, I immediately informed him that this was inappropriate and we ended the call with plans to revisit at a later time. The next day, the store owner thanked me. The guy didn't do this intentionally; it was completely innocent. He just didn't think about what he was doing and how it could be perceived by the LFS.

 

[McReefer]

@Marc wrote:

Please do not handle any type of transactions in front of fish stores. It's disrespectful to the store owner and the club as a whole gets blamed. If you want to meet up with someone, try a different landmark, then head over to your LFS and shop til your wallet's emptied. [smilie=wink.gif]

I once had a guy call me up about a sump while standing in a LFS, in fact in front of the owner. When I discovered what was transpiring, I immediately informed him that this was inappropriate and we ended the call with plans to revisit at a later time. The next day, the store owner thanked me. The guy didn't do this intentionally; it was completely innocent. He just didn't think about what he was doing and how it could be perceived by the LFS."]
I've never really thought about it like that. I do see some very valid points in what you said. And I don't disagree but I would like to show my feelings on the matter. I feel that if I can get a feel member to meet me at an LFS they will be more likely to buy something from that store as well. If there going to buy an item from me it won't do the LFS any advantage if I meet them somewhere else. Any impact on there sales that this transaction might have is going to take place no matter what. I always thought it would be better to do the transaction there. In the future I think I'll ask the owner beforehand and see if he would prefer the meeting to take place there or somewhere else.

 

[Tj51]

if you meet someone through say DFWMAS and agree to meet at a LFS that is one thing (but still way wrong in my book). To MEET someone at a LFS and conduct business say in the parking lot is another and WAY WRONG. I used to own a small hobby store and many times people in my store would solicit my customers and invite them to the parking lot to sell stuff and of course with no overhead; rent, utilities, ADVERTISING as that is what brought the people in the first place, obviously I couldn't compete. Did I own the parking lot? Actually I'd just have my landlord toss them off the property. But you need to remember that when you agree to meet at a LFS and sell near their premises you might possibly draw attention from their customers and of course not intentionally but steal their business. On the same note but a different area, I remember when a guy bought a bunch of zoas and agreed to frag them and sell them. One of the places that he was to meet was Frank's parking lot. Of course not even asking Frank, and one person even called Frank and asked if the idiot selling out of his parking lot could bring the guy's stuff in and that Frank hold it for him [smilie=rofl.gif] . There are SO many places to meet up with people to sell, at a LFS or in their parking lot is IMO wrong. Yes you might say that it is possibly bringing the store a new customer but if you are both close enough to meet at the store, chances are both you and the buyer/seller know of the store, so that's really no excuse.

 

[McReefer]

Yeah but I brought one single item that I "SOLD" on the forums. The transaction was in the parking lot. I didn't bring a box of products. If its already agreed upon before the location is even chosen I don't see how you could be stealing there customers. I really think this is a little over the edge. If someone is that anal I wouldn't shop at there store or meet there anyways. Again this is another reason I like neptunes. Hes laid back, friendly, knowledgeable. I've been in stores that would breath fire down your neck for things like this and to be honest, there stores are well below average anyways and not friendly even if you are there only to buy from them. Unless you spend 500+ and worship the ground they walk on and think the advice they give is the bible.

Anyways this is going off topic. If anyone feels the need to reply to this post I understand but if we could wind it down and refocus that would be good.

So, Whats the best store for used equipment?