AZ Shark Reef Store

[Jayreefer]

Stopped by a new reef shop called AZ Shark Reef in Scottsdale. Cool guys and great stuff. It was even better seeing our one and only Zman7000 managing the store. I do have to say they had some nice stuff. I have not had a big reef in years and now I am getting the bug again after stopping in. If you guys get the chance I would stop in.

They have some cool tanks already setup that have been running for the past six months or so. They have the big bull nose tank that I love from AZ sea bottoms old store.

 

[AntiSatan]

Stopped by there this weekend. Nice store but nothing really new from most of the rest stores to make them stand out that I saw other than a ton of ecotech lights. Some prices seemed good and some seemed high. Good or bad to close of proximity to all the other stores. They may or may not regret having sand in all of their coral display tanks. One thing I did notice with all the money they spent just on lights the didn't do any type of finish on the floor just bare concrete.

 

[xdunaticx]

He has a TON of cherry corals, not to mention the pretty sick displays. Definitely better thought out than most LFS in the area. It's crammed with inventory but still tons of room to move around.

 

[plantastic]

I checked it out yesterday. It is very organized, very clean, and with as much water that is moving in there, it is very quiet...AZ Shark Reef presents well. Although it is not a huge store, they have done a lot with the space that they have.

I consider the fact that they have acquired Brian (zman7000) as ther store manager, one of their greatest assets. He is loaded with knowledge, experience, and customer service skills.

 

[dotcommer]

Stopped by today for the first time and I really like what they have done with the store. You can tell they put some time and some big $$$ into it. It's very clean and their tanks look great.

Definitely a great choice to have Zman as a store manager. I purchased a pair of Pyramid Butterfly fish and a copperband. Fish are in QT, eating and looking very healthy. Definitely very reasonable on their pricing.

I love the fact they put good lighting over their fish tanks. It's nice to see what the fish colors will look like when you bring them home. I really hope they do well as with all the other stores in town. Tough Business.

 

[dream54ing]

Stopped by today for the first time and I really like what they have done with the store. You can tell they put some time and some big $$$ into it. It's very clean and their tanks look great....
Tough Business.

+1 probably just missed you! I was there with Mark. Great store!

 

[azwhippinboy]

Great Store! Great Guys!

Great Store! Great Guys!

I have been to Shark Reef multiple times over the past few weeks and can say it is my favorite LFS. They have an amazing selection of corals at very competitive prices. Their fish and coral selection extends well beyond the "usual suspects" that almost all of the other stores seem to carry. I have frequently visited what I feel to be the most competitive stores: AT, AA, etc. I am also impressed at the different selection of fish and corals that I find on my weekly visits.

The staff are unparalleled in their friendliness and willingness to bend over backwards to help the customer. Brian is a font of knowledge and willing to share it. Dana and Moises are some of the friendliest and most dedicated LFS owners I have come across. Everything that I have purchased [SPS, LPS, Zoas, Fish] has been healthy and happy. They have special ordered several hard to find specimens and manage to get them very quickly and they have all arrived in great condition.

The store layout itself is very well thought out with one of the best display tanks I have ever had the fortune to see in person. I think the ambiance is very nice as well. As far as the floor finishing goes, its concrete. What do you want in a fish store, carpet? Also unlike several other LFS, it doesn't stink like a barn, it isn't humid, and there is not a large amount of water constantly on the floor. If you want to talk ambiance, the exposed wood beam ceiling is pretty nice!

My only complaint is that they didn't open in the NW valley. It is a new store and they are certainly going through a certain acclimation period. The owners are receptive to suggestions and actively seek them out from the customers. They are constantly trying to gauge customer interest in certain products and dry goods.

I strongly suggest checking this place out if you have not already done so. As a side note, I have had the good luck to have them feed their shark tank while I was there and my kids couldn't get enough. Heck, they even brought out chairs for my kids to sit in and play with their toys while my wife and I shopped in a leisurely fashion. Also, it is the only LFS I have been in that plays music, and good music at that. Maybe thats why I can manage to spend 2 hours at a time in there . . .

As a side note: I do not work for the store and have no form of financial interest in its success. I do however feel it is a gem of a LFS and will give it my full support and sing its praises as long as they continue to do the top notch job that they are doing. They are also members of the AMS and offer great monthly discounts as well as non AMS specials on a regular basis.

 

[Reel_Reef]

You guys convinced me, I'm going to check them out

 

[Orionxr78]

I will add my recent comment to this thread as well:

I've been stopping by this store since right after they opened and I keep coming back. Great store and one of the best that I've been to in the valley. Livestock looks healthy...tanks are clean...prices are really good...and they participate in AMS which is a bonus. The owners are helpful and make you feel welcome which is always a plus for me. I have purchased a lot of great pieces from AZ Shark Reef so far. They also have regular sales of 10% to 15% off and I have seen it as high as 30% off which was a great way to get those more expensive pieces. Great selection of corals...Brian (the resident expert) is very knowledgeable about the hobby...and the shark tank is pretty awesome. They have a huge hermit crab in that tank now which is the biggest I've seen in an aquarium before.

If you have an LFS you like to go to give AZ Shark Reef a shot. I am glad I stopped in there.

 

[Orionxr78]

My only complaint is that they didn't open in the NW valley.

AGREED! :beer:

 

[Mael]

there will be a nice lfs opening in the north valley, hopefully in the next month or two, I think their plan is around DV airpark or the 101/I17 area. good news for us west siders, although we do have some good garage reefers in this area.

That said, shark reef is usually on my top 3 list of stores to visit when I go east side area....all in all it is a very nice store, I like the layout a lot, the livestock and frozen food selections are always great as well.

 

[azwhippinboy]

I too have heard of the impending West Side store! The [future] owners told me DV Airpark was the spot and that it would open more towards the end of the year. Less $$ on gas, more on corals? Ah, who am I kidding, still gonna hit Shark Reef up on a regular basis.

 

[Mael]

sounds like they are waiting on some lease info to go through and so forth, but it is looking good. And while it will be a great west side source, like you said, I still plan to visit my fav east side stores at least once a month.

 

[SamMason]

Relative newcomer to the hobby(obsession) and I find this store phenominal

Relative newcomer to the hobby(obsession) and I find this store phenominal

I will start with the friendly no pressure advice I have received each time I stop in. The displays are among the best laid out I have seen in the valley. As a newbie, it would be easy to become intimidated, but not here. Everyone I have come in contact with are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic. I took a risk and brought my wife to the store a few weeks ago. She not only loved the place, she truly felt the staff went out of their way to answer whatever questions she posed. We left the store with a beautiful Yellow Tang (Completely her idea, and "Bubbles:" from Finding Nemo fame, immediately took to my tank, had absolutely no issues with the other fish, and immediately made him(her)self at home and ate immediately. I feel they are far more interested in me becoming a successful reefer, then are are in just selling me stuff, and believe me, I gave them every opportunity to sell me stuff. They profess patience, and are very willing to help in pretty much any direction I want to take my tank. I have become a big fan. I truly have found my LFS.

 

[azjohnny]

I will start with the friendly no pressure advice I have received each time I stop in. The displays are among the best laid out I have seen in the valley. As a newbie, it would be easy to become intimidated, but not here. Everyone I have come in contact with are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic. I took a risk and brought my wife to the store a few weeks ago. She not only loved the place, she truly felt the staff went out of their way to answer whatever questions she posed. We left the store with a beautiful Yellow Tang (Completely her idea, and "Bubbles:" from Finding Nemo fame, immediately took to my tank, had absolutely no issues with the other fish, and immediately made him(her)self at home and ate immediately. I feel they are far more interested in me becoming a successful reefer, then are are in just selling me stuff, and believe me, I gave them every opportunity to sell me stuff. They profess patience, and are very willing to help in pretty much any direction I want to take my tank. I have become a big fan. I truly have found my LFS.

Might have been a mistake taking the wife to the LFS, now she will know everything doesn't cost $20.....:-D