I have always gone to TFP n Lancaster, just curious if anyone has been to some of the closer stores and if they are any good. I know Delaware stores are either overpriced or dying. Been looking at The Hidden Reef in Philly and have heard of ECA? Is that East Coast Aquatics in Prospect Park, PA? If so is it a quality store? Good selection and healthy corals? Good selection of fish? Any other good stores around within a reasonable distance? 1 hour
Good LFS's within a reasonable distance (1 hr)
- Thread starter BENWILDOG
- Start date
firecrackerbob
New member
Try exotic aquatics outside of baltimore... about 1hr away. I buy all of my dry goods at TFP, but livestock from EA though has looked great both times a was there--good display system too.... these are currently the only two stores I frequent.
russellqueen
New member
ECA is really great with both coral selection and healthy fish. They are generally very helpful too. They are up on the Prospect Park exit, about 30min from christiana at 95. The old Hidden reef had some good stuff, but I have not been to the new facility. Have not been to Exotic Aq in baltimore.
DamnPepShrimp
Moved On
I am looking for new stores other then TPP as well. So Exotic aquatics and East Coast Aquatics have better livestock selections and prices then TPP? How about sales? I will be looking into going there in the near future. TPP never has any more angels, at least affordable anymore. Anyone been to the new hidden reef yet? Heard good things about the old one and good things about the new one as far as dry goods go, but haven't heard if they have livestock yet?
firecrackerbob
New member
I have been impressed with Exotic Aquatics both times I was there. TFP has a much better dry goods selection and price, but EAs selection of SPS, LPS, soft, etc. seemed great to me. As I have mentioned in other posts my only complaint there is that most of their corals dont have prices on the tanks... the person I spoke to said they were tying to get a handle on that problem as well. regardless, the things that I asked about there were fairly priced and looked healthy, but were not at bargain prices. when I was there they had colorful zoo frags (~10-20 polyps) for $30-40, mounted monti cap frags for ~40-60, and colorful mounted SPS colonys for ~60 with buy 1 get one at a discount... I thought it was fair pricing, but I have been buying my stock lately from fellow reefers....
I havent been to the new hidden reef yet- I am waiting untill they get livestock as I cant imagine they will beat TFP on dry...
For numerous reasons I wont detail here I no longer shop at ECA-- but in brief, TFP beats them on dry goods. their livestock looks to be of good quality, but I wont pay their price to find out for sure...
I havent been to the new hidden reef yet- I am waiting untill they get livestock as I cant imagine they will beat TFP on dry...
For numerous reasons I wont detail here I no longer shop at ECA-- but in brief, TFP beats them on dry goods. their livestock looks to be of good quality, but I wont pay their price to find out for sure...
DamnPepShrimp
Moved On
I got some frags from a forum member, and don't really need anymore. I am more focused on my FOWLR tank now. Looking more for large angels (at a juvi or changing stage) but since most people have corals, dont look for these fish. Did you happen to notice if they had any angels there? I went on both stores websites and didn't find a livestock list. TPP has one but it is never up to date. I guess the best thing to do is call ahead, let me fingers do the walking. I would love to find a nice sized emperor angel from a forum member but doubt that will ever show up.
kaptken
New member
The Hidden Reef has reopened in a new location after an adjacent store fire sunk their old store a year back. They are opening in stages. Right now they have opened for dry goods and supplies only. They are still setting up the tank systems. so it will be a few more months before they are fully up and re-opened. should be bigger and better than the old store. Perhaps by summer? you know the old saying, everything takes longer than you think to do.
http://www.thehiddenreef.com/
so you can keep track of progress on their website. it's about an hour drive mostly up 95 to the intersection of 276 in NE Philly. I may be heading up there in the coming weeks to check it out and get some stuff. I'll make a post on how its going..
http://www.thehiddenreef.com/
so you can keep track of progress on their website. it's about an hour drive mostly up 95 to the intersection of 276 in NE Philly. I may be heading up there in the coming weeks to check it out and get some stuff. I'll make a post on how its going..
DamnPepShrimp
Moved On
Definitely keep us posted kaptken!
