SoCal LFS worth stopping at

[shaunt]

I am headed down to Laguna from the central valley for a meeting. I am planning on stopping by Vivid Aquariums on the way. Are there are any other stores worth visiting?

Thanks

[LBFish]

Age of Aquariums
2642 Cherry Ave.
Signal Hill, Ca 90755

http://www.ageofaquariums.biz/index.html

Well worth the visit!

[nano427]

amazingaquariumsandreefs.com

[FOSELONE]

amazingaquariumsandreefs.com

x 100

[photobret]

Vivid are great, Tats tropical Illusion is north of there and finally if you are in the OC, Ali @ amazing aquariums and reefs is the bomb and worth the trip. Man I miss this hobby every time I go to his shop :(!

[shaunt]

thanks for the info guys

[shaunt]

Well I made it too Vivid and AOA. Due to time constraints I wasn't able to make to amazing aquariums though.

I did leave AOA with a new SWC 160 though, nice looking skimmer.

[VWHACK]

amazingaquariumsandreefs.com




tried calling a few times today. no answer. Kinda odd

[golfish]

tried calling a few times today. no answer. Kinda odd

Not for Ali.....I don't think he gets out of bed till 11:45am, and the store opens at noon. I've thought about going down there tomorrow.

[VWHACK]

Not for Ali.....I don't think he gets out of bed till 11:45am, and the store opens at noon. I've thought about going down there tomorrow.

did he oversleep? I tried calling 10 minutes ago, a few times

[golfish]

did he oversleep? I tried calling 10 minutes ago, a few times

I don't think he has a store phone but that doesn't make it right. There have been many a reefers that have gone down there to find his store closed. On his defense, he runs the store alone and will return calls when he's not with a customer or buying critters. Its his way of doing business and so far seems to be working for him

Did you get voice mail? Did you leave a little ditty?

I'm thinking about going down there tomorrow around 1pm. I really hate going to the OC. I'd rather go to South LA then down there but sometimes I just have to slumb it.

[VWHACK]

I checked it out. really disappointed. How can a legit retailer not price any corals, or fish in the store. Seemed like only had 2 things to choose from, either a lot of red brains, or acans. Dont get me wrong, they looked nice and healthy, but it was not worth the drive.

[golfish]

I checked it out. really disappointed. How can a legit retailer not price any corals, or fish in the store. Seemed like only had 2 things to choose from, either a lot of red brains, or acans. Dont get me wrong, they looked nice and healthy, but it was not worth the drive.

I guess that's a good ratio for Ali....1 out of a 1000 that didn't like the store.

To be honest, it was expected.

[VWHACK]

so, why was it expected?!?
unfortunantly it seems a lot of the reef geek type shops are kind of like a home from home. Not a typical " retail store" appearance. Piece of the reef was like that, and so is Vivid...
So, no one has aquariums on the floor but Petsmart?
Its kinda disenchanting, long gone are the stores like Tis, and Tanks Alot.

[golfish]

so, why was it expected?!?
unfortunantly it seems a lot of the reef geek type shops are kind of like a home from home. Not a typical " retail store" appearance. Piece of the reef was like that, and so is Vivid...
So, no one has aquariums on the floor but Petsmart?
Its kinda disenchanting, long gone are the stores like Tis, and Tanks Alot.

Piece of the Reef? are you kidding me?

[Reeferland]

LOL here we go again....

come on people.

[golfish]

LOL here we go again....

come on people.

You've been on RC an hour, unless its another screen name that your posting from....Hmmm, got ot look in to this.

[lowbudget]

lol,
that sound like ali. they are priced, in his head. hahahaha
I checked it out. really disappointed. How can a legit retailer not price any corals, or fish in the store. Seemed like only had 2 things to choose from, either a lot of red brains, or acans. Dont get me wrong, they looked nice and healthy, but it was not worth the drive.

[Bmwtechray]

Ali has a great store!

[psykokid]

There are a lot of stores in the area with most corals not being visibly priced in general. The stores where things aren't priced I tend to window shop at. I don't want to have to ask how much is this and how much is that. In general The shops that do get my business have stuff well marked or have at least made an attempt to have things marked.

[JeepSRT]

Alis is a great place to find some nice corals. If your looking for A general fish store, I would say try Ocean Blue on Katella, Decent coral / fish selection. Plus he has allot of dry good for sale. He is always changing his tanks around, so sometime you can find a smoking deal on a used display tank.

[agsansoo]

Ali is great person to deal with. His corals and store lay-out are awesome !

[gofor100]

I have to agree with the "pro-Amazing Reefs" folks... I just came back yesterday from his store amazed as always. Yeah, he doesn't have many SPS, but what he does have (which is mostly acans/brains/scolys) looks amazing. He's more than happy to tell you the price and is more than willing to shoot the breeze with you about his stuff and your set-up if there aren't any other customers.

His prices can be a little high, but since all of his corals are in such good shape, I feel that it is worth the couple of extra dollars I pay to ensure I get a very healthy specimen.

[VWHACK]

ok, but is there a clean well merchandised full line store out there that actually has a good selection of freshwater, and saltwater? I mean if I want to buy cardinal tetras, or discus, or high end saltwater angels, along with a selection of addatives, test kits or different products? `I am not being an ***, I just a little disappointed with stores that look like the wife kicked them out of the garage, and the retail shop looks like someones workshop. And I window shop too, but I refuse to give a store my cash when absolutely no livestock is marked. If I wear my Auto repair shop shirt, will my price be cheaper than if I wear a business suit?!?
Sad thing about most stores they just don't get it, if it looks bad in the store, a new customer may think it has to look that bad in their house. Or if your spouse sees that much of a messy store, they will assume their home will end up the same and will be hard to convince having small or large aquariums.

[rhkingsfan]

Sounds like you want a place like Pasadena Tropical fish. Has a lot of saltwater and freshwater and tons of dry goods. The dry goods are overpriced but a least they have a lot. And a heck of a lot closer to you than Vivid.

[k.tran]

If I wear my Auto repair shop shirt, will my price be cheaper than if I wear a business suit?!?

Yeah normally I go naked to ali's and he gives me everything I want for free.

If you want a store with everything I think Ocean Blue is great. His freshwater is top notch and his saltwater is starting to get better and better. He also has tons of drygoods.

[Bmwtechray]

Have any of u been to fish collection? On yorba Linda and rose?

[Sinful Aquatics]

Yeah normally I go naked to ali's and he gives me everything I want for free.

If you want a store with everything I think Ocean Blue is great. His freshwater is top notch and his saltwater is starting to get better and better. He also has tons of drygoods.

Hahahahaha :lol: :rollface:

[djrice69]

Then you must check out eye candy aquariums I think its in stanton or garden grove not sure exactly. They have a lot of freshwater and saltwater stuff. Very clean store and everything is priced just about. Lots of live stock.

Ocean Blue is pretty nice too good selection of both freshwater and saltwater. Lots of dry good as well + live stock

Ali is a nice store more for the reef geeks store plus one for that store too. Lots of live stock *corals*

[gumbii]

ali rocks... if i owned a LFS it would be EXACTLY how i would have it...


he only carries stuff that he knows works... no jebo or other stuff to clutter up the shop...

he tries to stock nothing but high end and collector worthy stuff...

and he has a coral wench parking section... you know... you can go look at stuff, and your girl could sit on a leather couch and read magazines or watch the pair of mccullach clownfish swim around on a giant blue carpet...




also... his restroom is clean and fresh... lol... when my diabetes kicks in and i have to make a V-line to the ****er...





oh... and the SWC extreme cone skimmer is so FTW!!... way better than my ETSS600 pro...

[Fuegan]

Ive been going to Jims Exotic Fish on Sepulvea in El Segundo recently.

Jims a nice guy, his staff are nice and his aquariums seem to be clean and he has a nice selection.

Its not super reef store with a huge reef selection but he has good frozen food selection, nice LPS and a small frag tank with some nice acans and some decently priced small sps frags.

[ryshark]

ali rocks... if i owned a LFS it would be EXACTLY how i would have it...


he only carries stuff that he knows works... no jebo or other stuff to clutter up the shop...

he tries to stock nothing but high end and collector worthy stuff...

and he has a coral wench parking section... you know... you can go look at stuff, and your girl could sit on a leather couch and read magazines or watch the pair of mccullach clownfish swim around on a giant blue carpet...




also... his restroom is clean and fresh... lol... when my diabetes kicks in and i have to make a V-line to the ****er...





oh... and the SWC extreme cone skimmer is so FTW!!... way better than my ETSS600 pro...


You are right Ali's store is a nice set-up with the couch to chill out and like you said, not a bunch of clutter everywhere. He also makes you feel welcome by remembering first names. Plus he knows a lot about the hobby and gives good advice if you ask for it.

[gumbii]

You are right Ali's store is a nice set-up with the couch to chill out and like you said, not a bunch of clutter everywhere. He also makes you feel welcome by remembering first names. Plus he knows a lot about the hobby and gives good advice if you ask for it.

dude... remembering stuff is his mutant power...


lol...


he remembers everything... i bet he knows what kind of tank i have from dimensions to setup to live stock... srsly... this man has an amazing memory...

[Sinful Aquatics]

dude... remembering stuff is his mutant power...


lol...


he remembers everything... i bet he knows what kind of tank i have from dimensions to setup to live stock... srsly... this man has an amazing memory...

He prob remembers what you wore that day too huh

[Rennsport]

Have any of u been to fish collection? On yorba Linda and rose?

Yep, this is the most local store to me (that I care to shop at) -- was there just last night spending another $90 -- great selection of coral.

[gumbii]

oh yeah... fish collection is good stuff... i was going to buy some of those led fixtures he has on all his tanks, but i ranked out... fail...

[5ft24]

Ive been going to Jims Exotic Fish on Sepulvea in El Segundo recently.

Jims a nice guy, his staff are nice and his aquariums seem to be clean and he has a nice selection.

Its not super reef store with a huge reef selection but he has good frozen food selection, nice LPS and a small frag tank with some nice acans and some decently priced small sps frags.

He also won't sell something that isn't 100% either... Even feeder goldfish he wouldn't bring in because they were sick.
My dad has known Jim for years. Nice family operation Jim, his wife, and daughter Michelle