Best LFS to Visit?

[icedearth15324]

I'm going to be in San Francisco next week on vacation and was wondering if anyone could recommend a really awesome LFS to visit? I'm going to be in the downtown San Francisco area and staying in Pacifica. I will also be heading down to Monterey, San jose, and San Simeon if anyone knows anything there.

I'm looking for some really unique stores that have large selections of nice corals. I really want to see what a good west coast LFS has to offer compared to my Chicago-area stores.


Thanks for the help.

 

[humuhumupukapuka]

My two favorite in the Bay Area are Aquatic Collection and Neptune Aquatics. Not SF, but a short ride over the bridge.

 

[EnderTurtle]

If you want to hit up the best reef stores in the SF Bay Area.

Here's my list.

California Reef Co in Fremont
Neptune Aquatics in San Jose
Aquatic Collection in Hayward
Diablo Corals in Concord

Go to those stores if you're looking for unique/nice corals and fish.

Don't waste your time going to the stores in San Francisco and the Peninsula if you're looking for really unique stores.

 

[650-IS350]

Commute wise from SF, Aquatic Collection just right off the bridge in Hayward or Neptune's in S.San Jose you can take 101S or 280S freeways, both stores I gladly support.
Others I have not gone to as its out of my way so I can't give a opinion on.

 

[NewJack]

Plus 1 on these 3 stores
California Reef Co in Fremont
Neptune Aquatics in San Jose
Aquatic Collection in Hayward

These 3 stores are probably within 30 min. of each other. So you could hit them all in one big swoop. Diablo corals is going in the opposite direction. So if I was limited on time, I would most likely skip them during this visit.
just my .02 cents

 

[icedearth15324]

Thank you very much for the information. I'll definitely be sure to check out Neptune Aquatics in San Jose. Depending on my sight-seeing I may try and stop in at California Reef Co and Aquatic Collection. I know we are primarily staying in the actual San Francisco area so I'm not sure how far out I'll be able to go to see a fish store. My SO loves coral shopping with me, but we do have a tight schedule.

 

[bluecoyote79]

They're not fish stores, but be sure to check out the Steinhart Aquarium at the Academy of Sciences in SF and the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey.

 

[Ssteve]

Hy guys I am from the northbay and just stopped into Diablo today. How do the other shops compare? Size, livestock and dry goods in stock?