Official SoCal Local Fish Store thread - LFS reviews and photos

[Six2seven]

Hello everyone, I think its time to start a good thread about what you guys think about your LFS. Sponsor or not, lets post everything here. Be honest but please don't bash. I know sponsors like to hear feedback pos/neg, but lets not be mean. i know everyone will not agree completely so lets not derail this too much.

GO.....

 

[Six2seven]

Well I don't mind starting and I'll post as many stores on here as I can with my experiences.

I really like to go into a store as your average nobody and let them judge me as a newbie. Sometimes they try to walk over me and rip me off or ignore me and sometimes they are just so helpful Aaron at SPS coral store was one of the nice ones.

SPS Coral Store - La Canada
The first time i went into this store i was greeted and ended up having a nice discussion with Aaron about some nice SPS he had in his tank. We talked and I ended up walking out empty handed only because i knew i wouldn't be home for many hours. I never felt pressure to buy anything and I liked the selection. I thought the store was very small but the customer service more than made up for it.

 

[Six2seven]

Vivid Aquariums - Canoga Park

I have always loved this store and when I was a newbie i stared at the huge display for at least an hour. This store will always remind me of the good old days when i was new and I didn't buy all the nice spa from here, Occulus and Reef Hot spot. I just didn't know any better. I haven't been in here in a while but their SPS selection always had something I liked

 

[Six2seven]

A Chance of Coral - Cypress

Robert is the reason why I liked Age of Aquariums and he is the reason I recommend A Chance of Coral to so many people. The customer service is exceptional and he knows what the reefers want. From Good quality water to a good dry good selection. This is one nice shop where you can find what you are looking for.

 

[Six2seven]

Tong's - Fountain valley

I really hate this store. I do not like the employees and hate the way they will sell you and tell you anything for a buck. 10g tank? yea 5 tangs is ok... fish died? well thats your fault not ours.. i could go on and on. Bottom like is they always have dying, diseases fish in their tanks and won't do anything about it when you point out that a fish is dead in their tank. They keep their water at 1.019 probably to save money on salt. The only good thing which sadly keeps me shopping at this store is their great selection of plumbing. makes me hate them more that I know when i can get all my plumbing needs.

 

[orbela]

Ellis Aquatic
Compton, CA
Nothing but good things has happen to me here. He is my go to LFS although it's not in a commercial area its still accessible like any other LFS. He always finds a way to deliver products from fish, corals, and dry goods at dirt cheap prices. He has cool Bubble tip Anemone and Clownfish section in which his bubble tip anemone are always bubbled up. This place is the closes it get in term of competing with LFS from the east side. We have a couple of worthy stores but I am hearing there are revamping some stores so hopefully we get more options.

Bob's Aquarium
Monterey Park, CA

I come here to see fishes they have a small frag tank in the back but they always seems to have all the corals reserved or pending pick up. So i stop asking them if they are selling. They are the only places that carry Black worms (Thanks [MENTION=2928]Tangwich[/MENTION]:top and PE Mysid Their freshwater fish are the best love picking up tetras from him. They have the best turtle tank ever love there set up.

Pasadena Tropical Fish
Pasadena, CA

They get bash on a lot by many but I really haven't had a problem with them they price there fish reasonably second cheapest place I seen. They also have sections of reef safe fish, Non- Reef, and Aggressive. They have some cool corals but they are expensive everything other than fish is expensive. They also have a cool selection of freshwater stuff that is dirty cheap seems only there marine stuff is expensive. They have everything you can name from off brand to name brands but you really need to look for them. They have really come in clutch when I couldn't find things anywhere else and I need them that day.

Don't have pictures of these places but I will update as soon as I visit these LFS again.

I don't comment on C.O.C, Reef Lounge, Tongs, Reef Raft, SPS corals etc because I know people are going to give more detailed review on them than I am but these are great places.

 

[Six2seven]

Ellis Aquatics - Compton

Although I was very surprised trying to find the location, Once I arrived inside I was again surprised at all the rows of nice corals. Jason is a real cool dude and his customer service is exceptional. I could talk shop with him for a long time. I was surprised at all the customers he had until i realized how good his deals were.

 

[Six2seven]

Age of Aquariums - Long Beach

This has always been my go to store because its the best store that is closest to me. There is a store i san Pedro where I live but refuse to shop there unless I absolutely have to. I have NEVER lost a fish that i bought at Age and had them all until I sold, gave or traded them away. I also purchased my 90g tank from them years ago and they were great help. JW really knows his SPS and when He's got it going on its a place you can find some good stuff. Dry good room is always a plus although I don't think i have ever bought any dry goods there besides some ARM media for my reactor. Kinda pricey from what i remember but still a good store.

 

[Six2seven]

Carson Tropical fish - Carson

forgive me but I've always liked this store. it seems very run down but they have a nice little coral selection and a very nice tank fully overrun with Rose anenomes that is nice to look at. I like that they have a big used section that you can pick parts from and bargain with them. Fish can be better and dry goods are from the 90's but I still like this store.

 

[Six2seven]

Coral Gazers - Tustin

Chad is a reefer at heart and you can tell just by talking to him. going in there for something quick can turn into an hourlong conversation with never any pressure to buy anything. Store is very clean and his stock of coral and fish is different every time i go in there. Last time I went in, there wasn't much SPS yet but its been a while.

 

[tofucube]

Excellent work man. Very well done.

 

[Six2seven]

Bump feel free to post any experiences everyone


www.LAreefsociety.org

 

[Confuse]

Ocean Marine Sales - Covina, CA

I visited the store the store twice already and have been very satisfied with the service I have received. The store is located in an industrial/commercial area and is housed in a large warehouse/shop sort of facility. It's very roomy and there's even a lounging area where you can sit and stare at the fish. The dry goods selection is very vast, stocking the most common and popular products you'd need. They have a fair selection of medications and plenty of dry and frozen food. They recently created an account with LRS (LRS Fish/Coral Frenzy) and can order LRS food at your request. They also stock the LRS strainers for a good price!

The fish are housed in very comfortable 29 gallon tanks on steel stands the owner fabricates himself. They carefully place compatible fish together to avoid the acrylic tank partition. The nice thing about this is that small and large fish are exposed to each other and can better get accustomed to aquarium life when you put them in your tank. Each of the 29g tanks housing fish is lit by a Kessil A150 and it gives a true representation of fish colors. The tanks are super clean and are maintained daily.On the other side of the store, you have three large frag tanks that house zoas and LPS lit by Kessil A350's. And across from the cash register/counter, you will find a large 300g (?) tank housing tangs and other large fish. There are also a few tanks at the front of the store that house larger fish like sharks and eels. And they have a small seahorse tank.

But best of all is that they have a dedicated quarantine room where they quarantine and treat fish for ten days with a course of Cupramine and food soaked in Metro. These fish are observed for ten days or longer and are trained to eat frozen foods and pellets, then released into their main tanks. This is where I saw my Moorish Idol and saw it eat mysis and pellets. And the even better part is that they don't charge extra for quarantining fish. The fish prices are the standard prices you would get at any reasonably priced store, but without the extra markup for the quarantine procedure!

The store also offers custom tanks and the owner builds metal stands and wooden stands and canopies. All the stands in the shop were welded by the owner and look super sturdy and clean.

I talked to the owners at length and they truly do this for the love of it. This is just a side business for them and they treat their business like a hobbyist would, with much love and dedication to their livestock. These guys aren't burned out from the business or the industry and just like to have fun and dedicate time and effort into their store.

This is where I got my Moorish Idol and was in great shape, now eating!

I can say with full confidence that all their fish are happy and healthy and wouldn't hesitate to make another purchase from them. Although, I've been known to pick some really difficult to keep fish lately, the fish I picked from them were eating and have a better shot in my tank due to that.

 

[Confuse]

Just a side comment, I like the one review per post way Steve did his. Maybe we can keep to this format for easy reading?

 

[Confuse]

Jan's Tropical Fish - Montclair, CA

Jan's was my very fish fish store where I got started with freshwater and saltwater. It always has a great selection of saltwater fish and her tanks are immaculate. I've had good experience with her fish and they're typically healthy if the fish are hardy themselves. The dry goods section is overpriced and outdated mostly catering to freshwater and cheap saltwater equipment. The frozen and dry food selection is good and she has the most popular foods that most LFS stock. She was the only place nearby that had live black worms and PE Mysis. Jan also has a huge selection of medications that no nearby store can beat. Jan's is the type of place you don't shop often unless you have an emergency and can rely on the vast selections of goods they offer. It's my one stop shop when I have an emergency. The staff are ok. Not super friendly, but helpful when you need them. Her fish prices are good and at times, cheaper than other LFS around. Her dry goods however, come with hefty markups. The coral section is small and lacking and super overpriced for common softies and LPS.

All in all, if you need something on a whim, Jan's is a place you should visit.

 

[Coelli]

I know SPS Coral was already covered by Steve but I wanted to post again. SPS is my closest LFS and I hit them up every weekend for water and usually walk out with something else. Aaron and Jesse have been great about holding my hand through all of my newbie questions and mistakes and are always quick to tell me when I don't need something I'm looking at. I've made some big-ish purchass through them (Apex full, 2 Kessils, soon a Gyre 130) because even though I could probably find them cheaper elsewhere I would rather support them and I know they stand by everything they sell. Really great store and people, I'm glad they're my LFS.

 

[SC50964]

Great thread. Will post my reviews on LFS around me when I get some pictures.


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[Six2seven]

this thread is for everyone pics or no pictures. even if a store has been covered, post away

 

[smartchoice]

sorry for the caps everyone.

 

[smartchoice]

My review will be rated with * five being best

chance of coral- ***** (five star) (roberto is an honest person great customer service)