Lfs in so cal

bblumberg said:
It is not in San Clemente, but Coral Collection in Lake Forest is not that far from you. I have been there a few times recently and picked up some nice frags for fair prices. Matt is a friendly and helpful guy as well.

Bruce
Click to expand...

I checked out Coral Collection today and bought six pieces :frog:

they are really cool guys and awesome on pricing! They used to be in Huntington Beach but moved to Lake Forest within the last year.

Coral Collection
24326 Muirlands Blvd.
Lake Forest, CA 92630
714-925-7333
 
I'm back in Cali from Scottsdale and staying in Dana Pointe. Going to check out OCreef
Any new stores out in this area or any I should definitely see that aren't too far away?
Here till Sunday.
 
Hi All, where are the current favorites in IE? My office is in Redlands but I'm driving all around all the time for work. Any referrals would be great, thanks!
 
bobbychullo said:
I checked out Coral Collection today and bought six pieces :frog:

they are really cool guys and awesome on pricing! They used to be in Huntington Beach but moved to Lake Forest within the last year.

Coral Collection
24326 Muirlands Blvd.
Lake Forest, CA 92630
714-925-7333
Click to expand...

Some good pieces. Prices were a little high. Prices on fish are not competitive - you can go elsewhere and save $10-$20 (or more) per fish.

They need to replace or move their main pump. It was so loud in the store I could barely think. I have no idea what was wrong with the pump but it sounded 10x louder than a 3 HP pump driving a waterfall. They also need to relocate the screeching birds. I love birds, but sorry, if your birds are not quiet you need to find another place for them NOT in a shop.

The guy working the shop needs to mellow out. He seemed really nice, but if I am just chillin' and he comes up and starts asking me about my setup, and I say "you know what, I'm just looking" and he continues to pry... he was starting to annoy me. How can you get annoyed by someone being TOO nice? I feel like a jerk for saying it, but I'm just being honest.

So many LFS started by people who are passionate about the hobby... but with limited business sense. This store felt like a hobby setup. I will still go there, but they can definitely up their game.
 
iluvmyfishes said:
Definitely Oceans Tropical in Mission Viejo. I have a 150 gal for 8 months and everything is healthy. Never had a sick fish including my Moorish Idol and Powder Brown Tang. All eating and healthy from day one. David will tell you how to acclimate everything and although it is different from the "norm" I can't argue with 100% healthy results on some delicate fish that I could never keep before.
Click to expand...

Went to this spot a few months ago and wasn't impressed. Even though they had been there a while already the store was only about half built out. Half the tanks were empty. Construction materials lying around, etc.

Went there yesterday and things are much better, though still not finished. Still some empty tanks, still an unfinished corner of the store, still tools lying around on the floor.

Selection is strictly "ok" but health of inventory was A+. Saw several healthy copperband butterflies and moorish idols, and watched as they fed each tank live macroalgae as part of their maintenance routine. Prices on inverts were ok but prices on some fish were very low - as low as I have ever seen at retail. They need more SPS and specialty inverts like anemones and clams.

With a little time this store may move from "ok" to "good". Right now lack of inventory depth and breadth is holding them back. It's great to have low prices on green chromis... but bring in some nice pygmy angels, basslets and wrasses and we'll be talking. Same with the freshwater selection.
 
Bit the bullet and went to vivid. The drive was a pain especially coming back on the 210 but was worth it. David was great and I bought 5 frags. Prices were fair in my mind for the quality. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
bobbychullo said:
I checked out Coral Collection today and bought six pieces :frog:

they are really cool guys and awesome on pricing! They used to be in Huntington Beach but moved to Lake Forest within the last year.

Coral Collection
24326 Muirlands Blvd.
Lake Forest, CA 92630
714-925-7333
Click to expand...

Boycott, avoid.
The shop that is so poorly ran who knowingly sell sick fish.
Partially my fault for not quarantining first. But they are also too inexperienced to properly illuminate the aquariums to view livestock properly.
I broke my own rule of buying fish from a dealer that houses fish and inverts in the same system.
Epic fail.
 
VWHACK said:
Boycott, avoid.
The shop that is so poorly ran who knowingly sell sick fish.
Partially my fault for not quarantining first. But they are also too inexperienced to properly illuminate the aquariums to view livestock properly.
I broke my own rule of buying fish from a dealer that houses fish and inverts in the same system.
Epic fail.
Click to expand...

What and when did you buy from them?
 
4x blue tangs, a cleaner wrasse and an *** wad of oodinium.
Hanging a flashlight 20' over an aquarium is a terrible way to display livestock.
 
New place in Los Angeles

New place in Los Angeles

I discovered this little shop through Yelp. It's a new small place specializing in frags. The price is really good. I got some exceptional colored corals. Austin is really helpful and knowledgable. They do tank set up and maintenance mostly but open the shop on weekends only to sell frags. It's in a commercial campus in Reseda and a little hard to find but drive around until you find the building.

http://www.caliaquariums.com
 
Strictly Fish in North Long Beach sucks. They arent nice folks.

Dont go there
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Z
looking for lfs in richmond va
Replies
0
Views
196
zappa
Z
kripas
Need Help What type of Yellow Tang is this?
Replies
6
Views
443
OrionN
OrionN
J
Algae id help
Replies
10
Views
759
Dustin07
D
J
Elegance Coral
Replies
11
Views
748
FOX-FACE fanboy….
FOX-FACE fanboy….
Smite
WTB: Gigantea Anemone
Replies
0
Views
214
Smite
Smite
Back
Top