Chicago Area Local Fish Stores

[chicagoreefer20]

Stopped by Beyond the Reef today - last time I visited was back in March.

1) Lots of beautiful coral colonies - instead of coral mounted on live rock, they have it arranged on a sloping egg crate. While the prices make my head hurt, you can easily figure out exactly what each coral sells for without needing to ask somene.

2) Two frag-ish/mini colony tanks - one in the front and one in the back. The one in the back is $10 + $19 per item and the one in the front was more per colony.

3) The fish all looked great and healthy

4) The many tanks of all kinds of invertebrates is awesome

I wish more LFS would adopt #1

 

[35galSaltwater]

Xzotic Aquatic World Inc. is missing

Xzotic Aquatic World Inc. is missing

880 Supreme Drive, Bensenville, Illinois
(630) 787-0277

Mon - Wed: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Thu - Fri: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

This used to be or maybe still is a fresh and saltwater fish whole sale that has hours when they sell to the public. They just moved their location a few months ago and are not as big as they used to be but still carry a lot of cool species. However more importantly, they sell for less than any other store I have seen, cheaper then most online stores!:fish2::thumbsup:

 

[Pez68]

This is wrong:

GoFish Aquariums 14412 John Humphrey Dr, Orland Park 60462 708-567-4513

It should be Chicago Fish and Coral, and their number is 403-1810.

GoFish Aquariums isn't a store, they are a custom aquarium company. They don't sell anything but complete systems, installed and maintained.

 

[MrNickyD05]

I just got a 90 gallon tank with a built in overflow. Looking for a good store for my sump and skimmer. Any suggestion

 

[MrNickyD05]

Great store in Glen Ellyn, small but he can get whatever you want and prices are hard to beat.
Aqua Pros
500 Pennsylvania Ave.
Glen Ellyn, Il 60137
630-935-1363

I agree I just got a 90 gallon tank with overflow very nice and cheap

 

[itscreepy]

880 Supreme Drive, Bensenville, Illinois
(630) 787-0277

Mon - Wed: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Thu - Fri: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

This used to be or maybe still is a fresh and saltwater fish whole sale that has hours when they sell to the public. They just moved their location a few months ago and are not as big as they used to be but still carry a lot of cool species. However more importantly, they sell for less than any other store I have seen, cheaper then most online stores!:fish2::thumbsup:

+1 on Xzotic Aquatic World! I just went there today and their prices are fantastic. They also have an app you can download that has a virtual punch card where you get a discount after four purchases AND they give you a raffle ticket for every $25 you spend for a daily drawing. On my drive home, they called to say I won a $25 store credit, so clearly I'll be back!

 

[MrNickyD05]

Alright thanks I'll try that place out its 5mins from where I live so hopefully I can get everything I need or most of it

 

[Tszat]

I liked the warehouse Xzotic Aquatic World use to be in. I feel like they offered A LOT more there than they do in their current location and it's just not worth the drive for us anymore (40mins).

 

[danielp]

Highest props for two stores, Reefwise at Lisle, can't beat their fish selections as well as coral selection. Second is Aquapros at Glen Ellyn, lots of frags with fantastic prices, and both the owner and his employee (forgot their names) two great people to deal with and talk to. Definitely gonna go back to those stores in the future.

 

[JB63]

I used to like reefwise, but lately not too friendly with kids. Last 2-3 times I went there I heard a lot of don't do that, don't do this ... Yet the kids did not do anything. Maybe I'll wait until they're much older but ... I felt not welcome there anymore. Part of this hobby is to tour the stores, check all new items, then go home with a specimen or two ... Lately in that store I often get asked if they can get something for me ... Kinda like buy something or get out ... This might be ok for others, but not sure I'll go back. Good luck to owner though as he's got some outstanding selection.

 

[baconfingers]

i've been to Beyond the Reef in schaumburg several times just looking at their fish. they have an awesome 210 display reef up front with a DSB. fun to look at the stuff move around in it.

they're building 2 more giant displays in the front window (210+ each, reefs) i think. i didn't ask what's in them.

they have a good selection and lots of frags.

in talking to staff there, they told me they are more interested in selling livestock than tanks. i'm looking for a tank atm. they said they could special order one but i'm looking for a bit more assitance than they gave me.

 

[new2r1]

+1 for reef wise, great selection of corals and Mike was very good to talk to as well as helpful

 

[JB63]

The new giant tanks have fake coral inserts in them. They have a lot of cool looking fish stocked in them though.

The reason for the fake corals is so that the tank can be 'medicated' when needed. Many other stores do that. Corals and copper don't go hand-n-hand ...

 

[LedZep fan2]

I used to like reefwise, but lately not too friendly with kids. Last 2-3 times I went there I heard a lot of don't do that, don't do this ... Yet the kids did not do anything. Maybe I'll wait until they're much older but ... I felt not welcome there anymore. Part of this hobby is to tour the stores, check all new items, then go home with a specimen or two ... Lately in that store I often get asked if they can get something for me ... Kinda like buy something or get out ... This might be ok for others, but not sure I'll go back. Good luck to owner though as he's got some outstanding selection.

I can see your frustration, but try to understand it from their perspective. They have wide open tubs full of curing live rock and thousands of dollars worth of livestock. One drop of candy or an unclean hand in the tank could possibly kill hundreds of dollars worth of livestock. I'm sure you would be just as nervous/worried if you were in their shoes. Not saying they should constantly talk down to the kids, but I can understand their worries.

I'm a big fan of reefwise - I go to school just down the street so I'm always stopping by. The one thing that I don't like is that Mike often follows you around trying to point out "good deals" or "things he likes" in attempts to woo customers. Also, he does not know prices too well and constantly has to ask Brian (which gets tedious when Brian is with other customers). Personally, I like to look around by myself.

Other than that, I love the store and his livestock is phenomenal. My jaw drops everytime he gets a different hybrid in or rare fish!

 

[JB63]

I can see your frustration, but try to understand it from their perspective. They have wide open tubs full of curing live rock and thousands of dollars worth of livestock. One drop of candy or an unclean hand in the tank could possibly kill hundreds of dollars worth of livestock. I'm sure you would be just as nervous/worried if you were in their shoes. Not saying they should constantly talk down to the kids, but I can understand their worries.

I fully understand your point ... that is why I said maybe I'll hold up until the kids are grown up, not that my kids are well behaved, but just not to make the owner 'nervous'. Still though, other stores (with enclosed items) tend to be more tolerant of kids. That is why the next time I stop by I'll be there by myself only.

 

[Irshhooligan]

I fully understand your point ... that is why I said maybe I'll hold up until the kids are grown up, not that my kids are well behaved, but just not to make the owner 'nervous'. Still though, other stores (with enclosed items) tend to be more tolerant of kids. That is why the next time I stop by I'll be there by myself only.

I just had a great experience with Reefwise. I brought my three kids (all under the age of 7) and wife to checkout the store for the first time on Sunday. They were more than accommodating, they brought over stools for my kids to stand on and look into the coral tanks. I thought this was beyond what they had to do. I didn't buy anything that day, but I'll go back soon to buy.

 

[JB63]

... One drop of candy or an unclean hand in the tank could possibly kill hundreds of dollars worth of livestock ...QUOTE]

Not sure this is 'absolutely' true ... I visited a fish exhibit in Hanover (Germany) few years back (It's downtown by the train station, within walking distance from the Central Train Station), and they had an open 'channel' with few fish, several inverts and plenty of cleaner fish. The channel was like 2 square feet across by 30 ft long. The idea behind for the exhibit was to have visitors come in, put their hands in the tanks, and let the cleaner shrimp go after them. The shrimp somehow went after my nails (and possibly some dead skin). Everyone was inserting their hands and 'playing' with the cleaners, yet there was no 'wash your hands station' BEFORE the exhibit. Either the exhibit they had very aggressive filtration (or water changes) or somehow the animals are more 'tolerant' than we're led to believe ...

I reckon this is off topic and maybe should start a dedicated thread elsewhere ...

 

[LedZep fan2]

... One drop of candy or an unclean hand in the tank could possibly kill hundreds of dollars worth of livestock ...QUOTE]

Not sure this is 'absolutely' true ... I visited a fish exhibit in Hanover (Germany) few years back (It's downtown by the train station, within walking distance from the Central Train Station), and they had an open 'channel' with few fish, several inverts and plenty of cleaner fish. The channel was like 2 square feet across by 30 ft long. The idea behind for the exhibit was to have visitors come in, put their hands in the tanks, and let the cleaner shrimp go after them. The shrimp somehow went after my nails (and possibly some dead skin). Everyone was inserting their hands and 'playing' with the cleaners, yet there was no 'wash your hands station' BEFORE the exhibit. Either the exhibit they had very aggressive filtration (or water changes) or somehow the animals are more 'tolerant' than we're led to believe ...

I reckon this is off topic and maybe should start a dedicated thread elsewhere ...

This may be true, but I am sure the exhibit did not house thousands of dollars worth of coral (and very sensitive coral at that). Maybe just cleaner shrimp. Also, a system in an exhibit like that would be triple the size of what Brian has - and tons of carbon running at the same time to counteract anything that enters the system. I'm sure they thought about it all prior to building such an exhibit. Reefwise on the other hand didn't. His system isn't meant for customer interaction and handling.

It may not be completely right to say that an entire system can perish from a single dirty hand or some candy, but I don't think Brian at Reefwise wants to take that chance.

 

[GQuinn]

Is there any stores in the Chicago area that have furniture quality stands and canopies on the floor for sale 36"X18" or 48"X18" or do they all have to special order them? I am not from the area (about 2 hours away) or I would check myself.

 

[LedZep fan2]

Is there any stores in the Chicago area that have furniture quality stands and canopies on the floor for sale 36"X18" or 48"X18" or do they all have to special order them? I am not from the area (about 2 hours away) or I would check myself.

Give Matt at Sho Tank a call. He builds quality stands and canopies. I'm sure if you told him what you'd like he'd hook you up. I've seen his work in person and it's incredible