Any good saltwater shops?

[McCrary]

Staying with my parents for the holidays and I wanted to know if there were any good saltwater stores in the san mateo area? I am in Burlingame and would like to stay out of San Francisco (I seem to get lost a lot there, lol). Thanks

[Lordhelmet]

there are a lot of good shops in SF. but if your willing to drive a bit there is atlantis in union city and aquatic gallary in millpitas. both are high end LFS, there is dolphin pet village down in campbell which is my favorite. I'm not to sure about the east bay up in oakland hayward but there are a few good ones there as well. have fun:)

[McCrary]

Thanks for the suggestions, I was kinda hoping for something on the peninsula. I will definitely check out those shops when I am in the east bay, but for now something slightly more local would be great.

[Ti]

u can go to atlantis

[tuberider]

Ultimate Aquarium is not too bad, it's in San Mateo. Lots of ORA stuff right now.

[McCrary]

I will be making a day out of all the shops in the area as they should be pretty spectacular. I went to one in Sunnyvale called Natural Life Aquarium and they were ridiculously overpriced. Had a Acan for $600 that I wouldn't have paid more than $75 for and a Tyree sunset montipora frag for like $1000. I felt like I had entered the twighlight zone.

[Ti]

1k?

[McCrary]

Yea, unfortunately not $100, they seriously wanted a grand for it. When I asked how much it was the guy said " a lot" and I said "what like $200" in a joking manner and he said "try 5x times that". I nearly spit out my coke, I couldn't believe that they could even try and sell something for that price. Completely ridiculous.

[rleechb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8818656#post8818656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TurboSnail8898
Yea, unfortunately not $100, they seriously wanted a grand for it. When I asked how much it was the guy said " a lot" and I said "what like $200" in a joking manner and he said "try 5x times that". I nearly spit out my coke, I couldn't believe that they could even try and sell something for that price. Completely ridiculous.

Oh man, natural life... That coral tank is ridiculous. Algae and coral skeletons everywhere. I saw the sunset as well and asked for the price; the employee told me 800, but he'd cut me a deal and try to get it down to 600 if I was interested.

[UCanDoIt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8815856#post8815856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TurboSnail8898
Staying with my parents for the holidays and I wanted to know if there were any good saltwater stores in the san mateo area? I am in Burlingame and would like to stay out of San Francisco (I seem to get lost a lot there, lol). Thanks
<IMG SRC="http://usera.imagecave.com/winner/welcome.gif">
<big><big><big><i>to the Bay Area</i></big></big></big>

[Elite]

Who did you guy talk to at NLA? Was it a frag or colony?

[rleechb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8818804#post8818804 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elite
Who did you guy talk to at NLA? Was it a frag or colony?

It wasn't the owner. One of the employees. Kind of a heavy-set guy. It was a 1.5 x 1 inch frag ;)

[Elite]

When you go there, talk to the owner. He is great guy. I usually go there to buy fish food :D .. I bought several pieces of coral and got a really good deal.

[McCrary]

Thanks for the greeting UCanDoIt, always appreciated. I have lived in the bay area for many years, but am going to college at the University of Arizona, so I have lived in tucson for the last couple years. I haven't really cheacked out the shops here because my tank is in tucson and the transportation would be brutal. But I am thinking about getting a couple choice pieces and then picking them up when I leave.

There was a very skinny guy there and I talked to him. He kept running back to an asian guy that appeared to be the owner or at least in charge.

Ultimate aquarium sounds like a cool place to shop. I picked up a sweet ORA tricolor before I left for the bay and was really impressed with the color.

[McCrary]

Just visited Ultimate Aquarium in San Mateo, very cool little shop and they had some good ORA frags. Hopefully I will be able to stop in and pick up some stuff right before I leave.

[Elite]

Just make sure it's not part of your carry on. You won't be able to carry them on the airplane. If you drive then it's different. :D

[650-IS350]

I'd go with ultimate.. I got there as well. I don't bother with NLA... Manfreds cool but there prices are on the high side...

Sup Jeremy..

[McCrary]

Are Atlantis and Aquatic Gallery worth the drive?

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

turbosnail, aquatic gallery is the one to go and see, take my word for it. you will be in awe and absolutely amazed at their display sps tanks and for sale tanks also. sorry to say though, they are closed until wednesday...hope this helps.

[McCrary]

Thanks for the heads up, wouldn't want to show up and have them be closed.

[Lordhelmet]

yes aquatic qallary is worth it. atlantis moved in the last few months and still aren't up to where they were but are nice none the less. also how are the LFS in tucson. my bro lives there and he tells me how things are and i laugh at him for the prices he pays.

[McCrary]

The LFS in the area can be very expensive, but some of them really prey on people who have little experience and will pay outrageous prices. Southwest Saltwater has the best prices by far and are actually fairly similiar to Ultimate in San Mateo. Pheonix is theh place to go for cheap corals. I picked up a beautiful bright green favia that was about 6-7" across and I paid $36. My friend snagged a scolymia that is incredible for around $75. So if I feel like getting a lot of new stuff then I simply go to Pheonix, but Southwest is trying to make his prices competitive so the drive seems less worth it.