Steven Pro
New member
What are the best aquarium stores in your area? I am particularly interested in marine as well as freshwater planted.
Favorite Fish Shops
- Thread starter Steven Pro
- Start date
oldreefer76
New member
FW planted that is tough......hmmm Best in Pets Elyria has a fair selection, Next would be Neptunes Cellar in Amherst (unique store in the Basement of a Ben Franklin Store) has a couple of nice planted tanks and healthy Discus along with a fair selection of SW for it's size
itZme
New member
There are actually several stores within a 40 minute or so drive from Cleveland. The order of importance to see the stores in my opinion would be something like this.
Salty Critter
4809 Liberty Ave.
Vermilion, Ohio 44089
(440)967-1634
www.saltycritter.com
42 minutes from the swap
One of the best local reefing stores in the state. People drive from 2+hrs away to see Dan's store. It is in the process of being doubled in size so there should be better things coming for our area. This is probably the farthest away from the swap but by far the most "must-see" of the LFS. I can't go there without spending an hour and $100 minimum before leaving.
Aquatic Technology
26966 Royalton Rd.
Columbia Station, OH 44028
(440)236-8330
www.aquatictech.com
23 minutes from the swap
Touted as "Ohio's largest saltwater-only store". Greg has a LARGE greenhouse that is supposed to be in the process of being stocked with 6 large 1800g tubs where there will be corals housed and aquacultered. There is one such tub there already but no water added yet. There is a LOT of used equipment, lots of fish (if you know prices you can sometimes find a bargain) and some very nice corals to chose from. Expect to spend 45 mins just browsing and if you get to really digging around it could be hours.
Tropical Aquarium
1480 Pearl Rd. Unit 10
Brunswick, Ohio 44212
(216) 235-7993
24 minutes from the swap
Hector has a nice setup that he has had going for about a year and a half now. The fish stocking levels are kind of low but the prices are too
. Sometimes you find a real steal and sometimes it is just a quick walk through and head out. He has a VERY cool swimming pool with freshwater rays in it that he breeds. There are at least 8-10 of them and some are 16-18" across. There is a kid's area for young ones to play while the adults spend money and sometimes a few SPS along with a couple tanks full of softies and LPS. The stingray tank alone is worth the drive and you are only 20 mins from Aquatic Tech.
There are a couple other quirky stores like Aquatic Adventure that I have never even bothered visiting since all I hear about is the $275 yellow tangs and the $300 frogspawns complete with free flatworms and bubble algae.
A really neat to visit store is the Neptune's Cellar if you have time and want to go back in time. It is right in old-downtown Amherst inside a Ben Franklin store (weird enough to hear that store's name). You go through the store and down some steps to the fish store below. It feels like you have to almost duck to not hit your head and then you see a couple rows of some random fish and corals. If you hit it on the day of delivery you may find something that is cool and priced right but most of the times I have been in there it was the "we will be getting a shipment in just a couple days" story so I must always miss out.
There's also RMS Aquaculture that is a place I have never visited but do hear of some guys getting great deals on new tanks. They usually have some fliers to pass out at our meetings for 30% off livestock so maybe someone else can chime in with an opinion.
Hope that will help you out.
Let us know what you think after you visit. I hear there are even some PMASI members that make the journey to see Dan at Salty Critter from your neck of the woods.
-- Kevin
Salty Critter
4809 Liberty Ave.
Vermilion, Ohio 44089
(440)967-1634
www.saltycritter.com
42 minutes from the swap
One of the best local reefing stores in the state. People drive from 2+hrs away to see Dan's store. It is in the process of being doubled in size so there should be better things coming for our area. This is probably the farthest away from the swap but by far the most "must-see" of the LFS. I can't go there without spending an hour and $100 minimum before leaving.
Aquatic Technology
26966 Royalton Rd.
Columbia Station, OH 44028
(440)236-8330
www.aquatictech.com
23 minutes from the swap
Touted as "Ohio's largest saltwater-only store". Greg has a LARGE greenhouse that is supposed to be in the process of being stocked with 6 large 1800g tubs where there will be corals housed and aquacultered. There is one such tub there already but no water added yet. There is a LOT of used equipment, lots of fish (if you know prices you can sometimes find a bargain) and some very nice corals to chose from. Expect to spend 45 mins just browsing and if you get to really digging around it could be hours.
Tropical Aquarium
1480 Pearl Rd. Unit 10
Brunswick, Ohio 44212
(216) 235-7993
24 minutes from the swap
Hector has a nice setup that he has had going for about a year and a half now. The fish stocking levels are kind of low but the prices are too
. Sometimes you find a real steal and sometimes it is just a quick walk through and head out. He has a VERY cool swimming pool with freshwater rays in it that he breeds. There are at least 8-10 of them and some are 16-18" across. There is a kid's area for young ones to play while the adults spend money and sometimes a few SPS along with a couple tanks full of softies and LPS. The stingray tank alone is worth the drive and you are only 20 mins from Aquatic Tech.There are a couple other quirky stores like Aquatic Adventure that I have never even bothered visiting since all I hear about is the $275 yellow tangs and the $300 frogspawns complete with free flatworms and bubble algae.
A really neat to visit store is the Neptune's Cellar if you have time and want to go back in time. It is right in old-downtown Amherst inside a Ben Franklin store (weird enough to hear that store's name). You go through the store and down some steps to the fish store below. It feels like you have to almost duck to not hit your head and then you see a couple rows of some random fish and corals. If you hit it on the day of delivery you may find something that is cool and priced right but most of the times I have been in there it was the "we will be getting a shipment in just a couple days" story so I must always miss out.
There's also RMS Aquaculture that is a place I have never visited but do hear of some guys getting great deals on new tanks. They usually have some fliers to pass out at our meetings for 30% off livestock so maybe someone else can chime in with an opinion.
Hope that will help you out.
Let us know what you think after you visit. I hear there are even some PMASI members that make the journey to see Dan at Salty Critter from your neck of the woods.
-- Kevin
Last edited:
Steven Pro
New member
I don't think so. I am mostly just getting rid of extra equipment I have laying around.
Somehow I didn't see that the first time!!
DirtyHermit
New member
While I agree with most everything said above, I must point out that Aquarium Adventures has an incredible FW plant section. All grown under MH, but very diverse, & incredibly healthy looking. & expensive.
Also, like mentioned, Petsmart & Petco have decent selections. (East-side, I haven't been to the West ones)
Also, like mentioned, Petsmart & Petco have decent selections. (East-side, I haven't been to the West ones)
Young Joe Gibbs
New member
i agree that salty critter is the place to go!
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