New Local Fish Store!

Tangwich

2
2020 Philanthropist
Joined
May 20, 2009
Messages
11,950
Likes
1,090
Points
63
Location
Pasadena
#1
Stopped by the new lfs here in Pasadena today. Spoke with the super nice couple that own and run the shop, Art and his wife Jessica. The store is called Art's Underwater Reef (Yelp link below) and they specialize in aquaculture home grown coral. They also had a very nice selection of marine fish and inverts. Their shelves had a decent supply of dry goods and their freezer was fully stocked with a varied selection of frozen foods.

They also have a fridge with complimentary water for the thirsty reefer that loves to talk reef with similar minded reef addicts. I was pleasantly surprised with their prices on livestock as everything seemed to be priced lower than the average prices I have been seeing in shops and online lately.

Lastly, the store is very clean and from speaking with Art, their plans are to bring in more fish, more coral (wild and home grown), more inverts and even start stocking Freshwater livestock and supplies to meet everyone's fishkeeping needs.

So if you're in the area, stop by and show Art and Jessica some SCR support!

PS I was not paid to write this review nor am I associated in any way with this shop. Just my honest thoughts on a new awesome shop and like I told Art. The more successful shops we have in socal, the more knowledge gets distributed to new reefkeepers about responsible reefkeeping practices so its a win-win for all.

PPS thanks Gary @chowberg for letting me know a new shop had opened in my area. It's only 6 blocks away from me which is pretty fortunate 👍

https://www.google.com/search?q=arts+underwater+pasadena&client=ms-android-tmus-us-revc&sxsrf=ALiCzsayapP6bxv-YGZ92aS1tMdvpp4pnw:1661048967153&ei=h5gBY_71CNvYkPIPxfqo4A8&oq=arts+underwater+pasadena&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBQghEKABMgUIIRCgAToHCCMQsAMQJzoHCAAQRxCwAzoECCMQJzoLCC4QgAQQxwEQrwE6BggAEB4QFjoICAAQHhAPEBY6CggAEB4QDxAWEAo6BQgAEIYDSgQIQRgAUKEIWN4VYJAXaAFwAXgAgAG-AYgB1QmSAQMwLjiYAQCgAQHIAQnAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
 
Last edited:

Letsgotothezoo

Premium Member
Supporter
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Messages
2,612
Likes
281
Points
38
Location
ChinoHills/Chino area.
#6
Yeah, I google it and found out. It's on Los Robles area. Gotta check it out next week. I will make sure to call first whether they open or not.

The Reef Lounge Norco has weird hours. I went there during weekday at 4 pm, the store was closed. It was 2-3 weeks ago. May be not enough staffs,

It's on the other side of pasadena, closer to old Town 👍
 

rusted180

Premium Member
Supporter
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Messages
124
Likes
7
Points
8
Location
somewhere in time
#7
Art (owner) is the nicest guy!
Stumbled on his store last week. I need to go back. I was actually eating food across the way and saw that there was a new aquarium store that opened up.

Keep in mind it was 10pm.. I walked over to peep inside. Suddenly Art turns on the store light and he comes out from the back and invited me in! So cool!

Store is hella clean! He didn't flip on the reef lights so I couldn't see what corals he had but looks like he had a decent amount.. he def has wayyyyy more space for more coral. But I get it! It is a new store and it takes time to build it up. From the looks of it.. he does seem to have a decent amount of stuff!

His wife is sweet and welcoming! Their water they sell appears to be excellent!

Biggest takeaway from this store is.... It's very very very clean! Has a ton of space for more fish and coral but has a decent amount to bring you inside!

Has all the essential dry goods!

I highly recommend you guys check it out!

It's really refreshing to see a new store open!

I will take pics on my next trip and share it with ya'll!
 

rusted180

Premium Member
Supporter
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Messages
124
Likes
7
Points
8
Location
somewhere in time
#8
Btw I ain't affiliated with Art's store at all! I'm just excited we have a nice clean store near us! Closest one to me is sps coral store (which absolutely sucks now... Sorry to say... It went down hill) Steve at Pasadena tropical is hella cool and has decent stuff but his store can be a bit messy and his fish are in bad shape....Tropical Imports in Glendale is in real bad shape... A great deal of his salt water tanks are shut down... all the fish have sunken tummys, corals are not in good shape... fresh water stuff seems good but his salt water stuff is not good anymore.
NOT LIKE WHAT IT USED TO BE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO..

Hate to say honest remarks... But I do wish other stores would keep things nice over time.. but I get it... Covid did hurt a lot of stores and the inflation is killing them.. so it's kinda hard to keep things tidy and updated..

I hope Art is successful with his business! It's a big gamble and risk to start a business so I definitely have respect for anyone that takes on that challenge!
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Messages
550
Likes
218
Points
8
#9
Btw I ain't affiliated with Art's store at all! I'm just excited we have a nice clean store near us! Closest one to me is sps coral store (which absolutely sucks now... Sorry to say... It went down hill) Steve at Pasadena tropical is hella cool and has decent stuff but his store can be a bit messy and his fish are in bad shape....Tropical Imports in Glendale is in real bad shape... A great deal of his salt water tanks are shut down... all the fish have sunken tummys, corals are not in good shape... fresh water stuff seems good but his salt water stuff is not good anymore.
NOT LIKE WHAT IT USED TO BE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO..
I'm like an hour away from them, so I'm curious if they have any cool softies or unusual toadstools and the such. Want to see if its worth the drive over for me. If they for a nice selection of softies I'd probably make the drive out
 

rusted180

Premium Member
Supporter
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Messages
124
Likes
7
Points
8
Location
somewhere in time
#10
I think I saw some toadstools but again. The reef lights were out and everything was closed up ..
But I getcha. An hour is far away...
Either way, it's a nice store!
 
Top