San Francisco Bay Area Fish Stores

[D-Nak]

Seems like there are a lot of reefers from the Bay Area so I thought I'd start a thread to discuss the local fish stores. Comments, good or bad are welcomed.

I'll start...

1. So, when is Aquarium Concepts slated to move?
2. Heard about the fire at Amazon Aquatics in Alameda? (the cool lookin' black tip shark seems fine)
3. Catch Rick (the guy at Seascapes) in a good mood lately? Talk to him about house music and he'll be a lot nicer to you. ;-)
4. Someone used to bring in frags into Alameda Aquatics -- still doing that with the new owner? (I haven't been there in a while)
5. Anyone heard of Tropical Paradise in Oakland?

Thanks everyone!

D-Nak

[ January 16, 2002: Message edited by: D-Nak ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

AC is supposed to move the beginning of Feb., but knowing how moves go I am not holding my breath.

The fire at Amazon was sad, even though they didn't loose really any animals. They might have to sell all the livestock to repair the store. They have some live stuff there and are willing to "Firesale" most of it, and some smoke damaged tanks.

Haven't made it to seascapes yet.

Tropical Paradise? Where? Who?

The new owner of Alameda Aquatics is horrid. Remember the show tank with all the great pink/purple rock. It is pretty dead now. He doesn't run the lights unless someone comes in to look. I talked to him about it, but he seems uninterested. Sad, I got good frags there, but now I won't buy anyting there - not that they have anything really.

I went to Nippon and 6th Ave in SF a couple weeks ago, and was still unimpressed.

The Aquarium in Concord is still overpriced, and sometimes has a good selection. I get a weird vibe from that place.

Connies in Castro Valley. Don't like this one. Weird vibe again perhaps. Fish have always look gaunt when I have been there.

Another place in Concord is Superpet Wharehouse - though they will be changing their name soon. Nice people, good selection, good prices. They tend to also stock some odd stuff, so I like going there when I can.

RR

 

[sillingw]

I was in AC last week, the setting up of the new store is taking a lot longer than they thought (they are building a cool display tank) so the latest word is Feb.

Seascapes - he's not worth the effort, never take my business there again - which is kinda dumb of him as the word is spreading and reefers spend a lot of money - am i telling you something you don't know?

Ultimate aquarium on el camino in san mateo sometimes has some interesting stuff - Joe - one of the co-owners is pretty reasonable - especially on live rock - I always give them the chance to quote against on-line prices and sometimes they surprise me - they are also willing to go out of their way to try and find things that I ask for that they do not have in stock - watch out for some of the advice from others though - not all of them are that knowledgable.

tropical paradise - where, who?

most of the corals that i have aquired in the last few months have come from the reefers who got together at each others house, we should do this again - the acropora frags that I got are doing great - and I have some corals ready for fragging.

 

[tubs]

Hi Steve,

How are ya doing? I was at the last meeting which was at your house. One of our friends (Bob Warrick) who helped organize this informal group and in fact hosted the first meeting
has setup shop from his garage.

Just was there a few days ago and he had a very nice setup with a 300 gallon tank containing numerous and nice SPS colonies and some frags for sale.

Check him out at http://www.gotreef.com

 

[Red Leader]

Tropical Paradise
295 139th Avenue, Suite B
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 614-1011

Good place and they're having a BARE meeting there on Thursday at 7 PM.

Alameda Aquatics - one word - CRAP! Ever since the former owner, Ken, sold the store it's gone completely downhill. The new owner has NO idea what he's doing. He's in there for the profit and nothing else. His favorite line that he uses for the 2 times I've been in the store - "So you have a tank too?" Duh!! That's why I'm in there.

I run a website that reviews LFS in the Bay Area. Check it out at http://www.geocities.com/LFSinSFO/Lfs.html Unfortunately my submission page doesn't work and if someone wants to do a review they'll have to e-mail it to me. I'll try to get this fixed as soon as possible.

 

[MandarinFish]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>1. So, when is Aquarium Concepts slated to move?
2. Heard about the fire at Amazon Aquatics in Alameda? (the cool lookin' black tip shark seems fine)
3. Catch Rick (the guy at Seascapes) in a good mood lately? Talk to him about house music and he'll be a lot nicer to you. ;-)
4. Someone used to bring in frags into Alameda Aquatics -- still doing that with the new owner? (I haven't been there in a while)
5. Anyone heard of Tropical Paradise in Oakland?<hr></blockquote>

1) Who cares? I begged them multiple times to move the ray to a *decent* sized tank. Know what they did in response? They added another ray to the tiny tank!!!. Bastards. And yes, I left a voicemail for the owner. WAY UNCOOL. Screw AC. Oh, and they have at least 1/2 dozen fish with ich that I could see, probably countless more.

2) Didn't hear about the fire. Hope the animals are ok.

3) Haven't been to Seascapes

4) Is Alameda Aquatics the place with the Korean guy who doesn't bother to comb his hair or get dressed (change out of pajamas)? His live sand looks good, but animals seem on the decline.

5) Tropical Paradise is the best store in the East Bay it seems. Ernie runs a hospital tank where you can bring your fish in. He has countless large tanks. His fish are ALL healthy. I spent hours watching them, and none of them look sick in the least. He knows his stuff. He gave me calcareous macroalgae for free, *not* because it is banned. Because I asked.

 

[derek_drennan]

I just moved from the North Bay into the San Bruno area. I posted a similar topic last week and got no responses. I am happy to hear that there are actually reefers in the bay!!
So I have been on the search for a new LFS to call my own for about 2 months. I have seen a few of the ones that you guys have posted in this thread, but besides these stores, do you guys have any recommendations? I am willing to drive, if the livestock is worth it and the people are cool. Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Derek

Oh, and by the way, if any of you are up in Fairfield, stop by Sea Splendor. I have been going there for about 2 years now, and Evan (the owner) knows everything. The place is small, but the livestock and coral are the best I have seen consistently in the North Bay.

 

[MandarinFish]

Lots of reefers in the Bay Area. I've met quite a few, and every single one of them has been cool to me.

I highly recommend Tropical Paradise in Oakland. It's worth the drive. Not a sick, ich, or dead fish in the place.

And the guy has tons of livestock. The people I know who have gone there have been very happy and the owner is the nicest guy I've met at an LFS. He's proud of his store and is super friendly.

I really can't say enough good things about him.

Bob at gotreef.com rocks too. Extremely cool. SOuth San Jose, though, so I don't see him much. But he is extraordinarily helpful and sells cheap from his garage. He got me Southdown. He takes orders then goes to LA.

You should go to the BARE meeting at Tropical Paradise Thursday the 17th at 7pm. Lots of cool people, and a great store.

 

[tubs]

A little off topic but SEABay is also having their bimonthly meeting this Saturday at 7PM.

No speaker this time but we've had lots of fun with the team quiz in the past.

Raffles also produce lots of SPS frags.

Open to the public so please come on by. You'll typically find 15-25 reefers and aquarists their.

Get directions from http://www.seabay.org

 

[D-Nak]

Thanks for all of the info. -- looks like the Bay Area is running out of "quality" fish stores, especially when it comes to reef systems.

I know there are still a few around, but it seems like the reefers have nicer tanks than any of the stores -- what happened to the LFS's "show" tanks?

Anyone ever make the drive down south to the LA area? I might take a trip down to pick up live rock for my new 120 gallon tank -- is it worth it?

D-Nak

 

[Yam]

Another plug here for Bob at GotReef. I got a lot of live rock, southdown sand, as well as a few sps. Quality Stuff.

danny

 

[opihiman]

newtothegame and others:
have you checked out Underwater World & Exotics on san mateo avenue? they're right in san bruno. they are very helpful, and their livestock is always healthy. i've also been to nippon, ultimate, AC, and 6th. i trust their livestock the most.

jeff

 

[plankton123]

Yup, don't waste your time with 'Seascapes' since you often times have to talk with the owner. I'm kinda surprised the place is still in business.

Penninsula Tropicals in San Carlos used to be rather good for corals, but after new mgmt took over now it is just OK. e.g. They used to give you 75% of whatever your cultured inverts sold at.

Now, they rarely even take cultured inverts or know what to do with them.

If you ever get up to Santa Rosa there is a nice place called Caesars on Piner Road. Actually, I think is the only nice (maybe only) aquarium store in Santa Rosa.

As far as SPS frags are concerned you best bet is to trade locally at SEABay/BEAR or with some of the local folks who actively sale/trade frags: jan/alex, etc.

Good thread.

Scott

 

[samurai9]

Hey everyone another Bay Area reefer here. I think I may be the only one in Los Altos.

Anyway, I posted on that "ray in tiny tank" thread but I want to bring the info here. Has NOBODY gone to Aquatic Variations? Really, from what I'm hearing of the other stores, this one is pretty good. If you're kinda far, don't make the drive, just call and ask for Matt and talk with him for a while; you will get a good vibe.
Website: www.aquaticvariations.com
-go here for directions, phone number and for a 15% off all fish coupon

One thing- Be sure to let him know that you are knowledgable about the hobby. Almost all his customers are newbies so he is bound to treat you like one if he doesn't know. But once he knows you he is great.

 

[sillingw]

Hi Tubs - doin good, I enjoyed the get togethers we did, we should probably do another - if there are any volunteers, I think I still have the mailing list - if not then I think I may do another - can't make seabay - I'm skiing this weekend - anyone else interested in a frag swap meet, get together some weekend?

 

[Red Leader]

Just a small nit-pick.

MandarinFish, Tropical Paradise is in San Leandro and not Oakland and the guy's name is Eddie, not Ernie. I know cuz I'm on his mailing list.

 

[MandarinFish]

SeaBAY looks cool - thanks for the info. I love the site. I'm helping with the BARE site, and will be certain to include a link to SeaBAY.

The show tanks at Tropical Paradise will blow you away. Ernie makes most of his money installing and maintaining large tanks for wealthy people.

Seriously - Tropical Paradise is an amazing store. Once he gets dry goods, he will be the best store in the Bay Area. His livestock and aquarium sections are amazing.

Bob at gotreef rules. I need to get snails from him.

 

[MandarinFish]

True Red Leader. I kept thinking it was either Ernie or Eddie. Now I'll remember.

And it's technically San Leandro, but pretty far North anyway. Nearly Oaktown.

 

[derek_drennan]

A couple of questions and comments for all of you Bay area reefers.

#1 What is BARE? And how can I join?

#2 Where does all of this frag trading happen? And if is open to the public (ie ME), how can I get involved?

#3 As far as SoCal stores are concerned, I have a name to throw into the group. The store is called Aquatic Adventures and it is located in San Luis Obispo. This was my Home store all through college, and it is still probably the best store I have ever been to. Everything is clean, all the fish are healthy, and they have a couple of good show tanks (one of which is unbelievable). Its only a 2.5 hour drive from San Jose and I would recommend it. Plus SLO is a great place to hang out.

Anyways, that is my two cents. Any info on the above questions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Regards,
Derek

 

[jussmeac]

I would like to find out how to join BARE too.

I talked to Eddie on saturday and said all members will receive 30% all purchases from his store and that he would keep me updated to when the next meeting was. Membership is only $30 a year and knowing how much we all spend in this hobby I am sure the 30 will be made up in no time.

interesting how I found this thread and was going to post something similar..