Chicago Area Local Fish Stores
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gig
New member
they are moving, dont know where
gig
New member
+1 and another one in Deerfield...
cubanreef22
New member
I know about that one but just seeing if there were others to see more of a variety...
This is an update of the reviews I posted in October of last year:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19401201&postcount=65
I no longer reside in Oak Park and am now living in the Albany Park area of the north side. I've had the chance to visit many more LFS (starting to stock my new 29g FOWLR) and also wanted to update my last post.
Again, these are just my opinions....
Places I have already reviewed:
Oak Park Natural Pet and Fish
Have stopped in for dry goods several times and everything still looks good. I don't think "Jim", the eastern European guy works there anymore as I've only seen Scott the last few times. Too bad, because I really liked the other guy.
Ocean Design
I recently stopped in and was somewhat disappointed. The selection of SW was very minimal and some of the livestock did not look too good. The staff seemed less helpful and enthusiastic. Doubtful I will be buying any livestock from them.
Coral Reef
Still not at all impressed.
Old Town Aquarium
Still one of the best (if pricey) shops around. Last visit they just did not have anything I was specifically looking for, but would buy from them again.
New Fish
Still my favorite. I wish they had a bigger selection, but the staff is top-notch and they are one of the few that actually quarantine most of their new arrivals. Highly recommend!
Note: I am expecting a few fish to come in on order this week from New Fish. I have never actually special ordered from any LFS store before because they usually just take down your info and ask you to keep checking and it never happens. But James (owner or manager...not sure) is very hands on and when his order comes in this week I am hopeful to be getting a Blue (MacNeill's) Assessor and a Harptail Blenny. I will let you know how this goes!
Places that were not in my last review:
Living Sea, Park Ridge
I've read a lot of reviews, some terrible - some positive, of this place. I would say it falls in the middle. It certainly is a large store and they have a pretty big selection of SW fish (not as much for Nano). Their tanks seem pretty clean and none of them are overcrowded. But their prices are very high. The staff is ok, not great. For such large store they have a very limited selection of dry goods (for SW). A very large slection of corals and inverts also. One of the few I've seen that stocks the Banded Trochus snails, of which I may purchase a few.
Old Orchard Aquarium, Skokie
Same thing here, a lot of mixed reviews. I do like this place more than Living Sea. Most of the staff is very friendly and fairly knowledgable (one guy is a bit too much of a know-it-all for my tastes). The prices are high, but not outrageous. Livestock selection is very good and the tanks always look good. They seem to have great selection of corals. But again they are a bit pricey. I bought some live rock (and base rock) from them at a very reasonable price for my new tank and I am very happy with it. Overall a really nice store. Great selection of tanks and dry goods as well.
Beyond the Reef, Schaumburg
A smallish store that is exclusively SW with a reasonable selection of fish, corals, and inverts. Clean tanks, friendly and non-pushy staff. Decent slection of dry goods. Again, they did not have anything that was on my list but I would probably buy from them if they did. One thing I liked, all the fish in their main display tanks have a "date" which tells you how long they have been there. I think that's very useful information. Their prices are very fair as well.
Advanced Aquatics, Schaumburg
Another small shop that seems to have more of an emphasis on corals (enormous frag table). The fish selection is very limited as are the dry goods. The owner struck me as...a little odd. I might revisit this place if I deceide to get into corals.
Aquarium Adventure (Schaumburg and Bolingbrook)
I've recently been to both locations. These are very large stores (each has an adjacent full-blown pet store).
I have to say I was pretty APPALLED at their saltwater section (the FW seemed MUCH nicer). In both stores they have dirty, crusty display tanks. Many are mislabeled as to what is in them. Some of the tanks are bare bottom and all of them are just not well-maintained in any way. There are dead fish, stressed fish, sick and injured fish (I saw a Possum Wrasse, which I would like to get, but he was all beat up, most likely because they had it an a tank with an aggressive fish...and no place to hide). Others looked malnourished as well. Just a very depressing experience when in it comes to SW livestock. I would never buy from them.
Not that I would give them my business (because of the above) but they do have a huge selection of dry goods. They are also the only stores in the area I have seen that carry Deep Blue Professional aquariums, which I think are a notch better that Aqueon, Top Fin, or Marineland.
But, be warned, this is not a place for any serious hobbyist.
That's it for now. Planning an LFS crawl to the south city and south burbs soon so I will post more soon.
Thanks!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19401201&postcount=65
I no longer reside in Oak Park and am now living in the Albany Park area of the north side. I've had the chance to visit many more LFS (starting to stock my new 29g FOWLR) and also wanted to update my last post.
Again, these are just my opinions....
Places I have already reviewed:
Oak Park Natural Pet and Fish
Have stopped in for dry goods several times and everything still looks good. I don't think "Jim", the eastern European guy works there anymore as I've only seen Scott the last few times. Too bad, because I really liked the other guy.
Ocean Design
I recently stopped in and was somewhat disappointed. The selection of SW was very minimal and some of the livestock did not look too good. The staff seemed less helpful and enthusiastic. Doubtful I will be buying any livestock from them.
Coral Reef
Still not at all impressed.
Old Town Aquarium
Still one of the best (if pricey) shops around. Last visit they just did not have anything I was specifically looking for, but would buy from them again.
New Fish
Still my favorite. I wish they had a bigger selection, but the staff is top-notch and they are one of the few that actually quarantine most of their new arrivals. Highly recommend!
Note: I am expecting a few fish to come in on order this week from New Fish. I have never actually special ordered from any LFS store before because they usually just take down your info and ask you to keep checking and it never happens. But James (owner or manager...not sure) is very hands on and when his order comes in this week I am hopeful to be getting a Blue (MacNeill's) Assessor and a Harptail Blenny. I will let you know how this goes!
Places that were not in my last review:
Living Sea, Park Ridge
I've read a lot of reviews, some terrible - some positive, of this place. I would say it falls in the middle. It certainly is a large store and they have a pretty big selection of SW fish (not as much for Nano). Their tanks seem pretty clean and none of them are overcrowded. But their prices are very high. The staff is ok, not great. For such large store they have a very limited selection of dry goods (for SW). A very large slection of corals and inverts also. One of the few I've seen that stocks the Banded Trochus snails, of which I may purchase a few.
Old Orchard Aquarium, Skokie
Same thing here, a lot of mixed reviews. I do like this place more than Living Sea. Most of the staff is very friendly and fairly knowledgable (one guy is a bit too much of a know-it-all for my tastes). The prices are high, but not outrageous. Livestock selection is very good and the tanks always look good. They seem to have great selection of corals. But again they are a bit pricey. I bought some live rock (and base rock) from them at a very reasonable price for my new tank and I am very happy with it. Overall a really nice store. Great selection of tanks and dry goods as well.
Beyond the Reef, Schaumburg
A smallish store that is exclusively SW with a reasonable selection of fish, corals, and inverts. Clean tanks, friendly and non-pushy staff. Decent slection of dry goods. Again, they did not have anything that was on my list but I would probably buy from them if they did. One thing I liked, all the fish in their main display tanks have a "date" which tells you how long they have been there. I think that's very useful information. Their prices are very fair as well.
Advanced Aquatics, Schaumburg
Another small shop that seems to have more of an emphasis on corals (enormous frag table). The fish selection is very limited as are the dry goods. The owner struck me as...a little odd. I might revisit this place if I deceide to get into corals.
Aquarium Adventure (Schaumburg and Bolingbrook)
I've recently been to both locations. These are very large stores (each has an adjacent full-blown pet store).
I have to say I was pretty APPALLED at their saltwater section (the FW seemed MUCH nicer). In both stores they have dirty, crusty display tanks. Many are mislabeled as to what is in them. Some of the tanks are bare bottom and all of them are just not well-maintained in any way. There are dead fish, stressed fish, sick and injured fish (I saw a Possum Wrasse, which I would like to get, but he was all beat up, most likely because they had it an a tank with an aggressive fish...and no place to hide). Others looked malnourished as well. Just a very depressing experience when in it comes to SW livestock. I would never buy from them.
Not that I would give them my business (because of the above) but they do have a huge selection of dry goods. They are also the only stores in the area I have seen that carry Deep Blue Professional aquariums, which I think are a notch better that Aqueon, Top Fin, or Marineland.
But, be warned, this is not a place for any serious hobbyist.
That's it for now. Planning an LFS crawl to the south city and south burbs soon so I will post more soon.
Thanks!
badgers034
New member
Mind posint some pics of the Tonga? Im looking for some good Live Rock
ChrisL1976
New member
I was just down at Aquatic and Chicago Fish and Coral. Aquatic is a very nice store with very helpful staff (I counted 4-5 staff members). All the fish looked healthy and reasonably priced. They are having a sale on hermits@ $.99 a piece. Also looks like they have some pretty high end palys and such. Prices on the coral were reasonable. Good selection on inverts as well.
Chicago Fish/Coral on the other hand...very limited selection of fish and coral. Prices where lightly high for what I saw. Probably won't go back.
Chicago Fish/Coral on the other hand...very limited selection of fish and coral. Prices where lightly high for what I saw. Probably won't go back.
GoldStandard
New member
I stopped by Reefwise late last week and have to admit this is one best stores I have been to. The selection of corals surpasses any other store I have visited. Can't wait to upgrade my lighting to Aqua Illumination, so I can stock my tank with some corals from Reefwise. Two thumbs up from me!
The Rio Reef
New member
Map is awesome - Thanks for making this!
reeferman1128
New member
New fish store in St Charles just opened. Out of the Blue Aquatics. right off route 64 and Dunham rd. They are new. Great prices on fish. coral selection is still ramping up but he is working on getting variety.
What??
stixx
New member
Yep, apparently they sold last week
steveo9043
New member
And I was going to go there this week!
Just bought 2 percs at Beyond the Reef yesterday. Big note on the register saying "goodbyes" from previous owners. I felt like I bought 2 really healthy fish. I drove from Bolingbrook, passing several LFS including the Aquarium Adventure in town where the fish all look like they are dying. I just feel good about how the fish look at BTReef.
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