LFS - Who is Good???

[fastandsneaky]

I don't know which one to recommend to go to but I can recommend one to stay from or be weary of. So I went to Club Reef on Thurs to check it out and get some water since Im relatively new to the area. First of all the employee was on his phone making a personal call and just sat behind the counter and for me thats better than following me around and pressuring me to buy things. However, when it was time to pay for my water was when things turned sour. So it was only 2 dollars but as a business money is money. He continued to talk on his phone and I gave him a 5 dollar bill and expected 3 dollars in change. However, he gave me 22 dollars, two 1 dollar bills and one twenty dollar bill. I gestured to him the twenty and he took it back and continued to talk on his phone and just said "thanks." At this point, when I gave him the twenty back, I was expecting a dollar back but he continued to walk back his chair and talk on his phone. Granted it is only a dollar but that is terrible service. I know it seems petty to rant over a dollar but in Chicago there are great stores that offer much more and better service and was expecting the same when I went to Club Reef.

 

[Mael]

Not sure who was working there that day but your right they should have ended the call if possible to give their customer attention, normally it is a great shop, Jorrell gets some really nice coral in and cool and different fish as well.

 

[toblkflys]

I like Kona Reef. I'm really close to Aqua Touch, but over the summer, their frag tanks were pretty rough (lots of algae and looked neglected) , but on a more recent visit, they seemed to have cleaned it up (never mind that one of the employees told a customer that a damsel would be okay in a tank with seahorses :debi: )

Kona Reef is my preference, but I'm itching to check out Saltwater Junkies and maybe make a day out of those East side stores

I've yet to make it to Kona Reef...kinda tapped out on my budget for this month, lol. You should really check out SWJ. They have the best reef stew I've ever seen. Great people, healthy livestock, decent prices.

Anyone on the NW side have any extra live rock, rubble, seed sand and/or macro algae they are willing to part with?

 

[TangingOut]

I've yet to make it to Kona Reef...kinda tapped out on my budget for this month, lol. You should really check out SWJ. They have the best reef stew I've ever seen. Great people, healthy livestock, decent prices.

Anyone on the NW side have any extra live rock, rubble, seed sand and/or macro algae they are willing to part with?

Lol, I thought reef stew was supplied by the same person to all the LFS.

 

[johanasu]

It is supplied by Reef Stew (Bob) but some stores store it with air bubbling, some don't, some only buy a little and you get the scraps at the end of the container. However, it is the same great stuff to begin with.

 

[Dre59]

I don't know which one to recommend to go to but I can recommend one to stay from or be weary of. So I went to Club Reef on Thurs to check it out and get some water since Im relatively new to the area. First of all the employee was on his phone making a personal call and just sat behind the counter and for me thats better than following me around and pressuring me to buy things. However, when it was time to pay for my water was when things turned sour. So it was only 2 dollars but as a business money is money. He continued to talk on his phone and I gave him a 5 dollar bill and expected 3 dollars in change. However, he gave me 22 dollars, two 1 dollar bills and one twenty dollar bill. I gestured to him the twenty and he took it back and continued to talk on his phone and just said "thanks." At this point, when I gave him the twenty back, I was expecting a dollar back but he continued to walk back his chair and talk on his phone. Granted it is only a dollar but that is terrible service. I know it seems petty to rant over a dollar but in Chicago there are great stores that offer much more and better service and was expecting the same when I went to Club Reef.

You going to see many things here are going to be different! I'm from Chicago as well

 

[fastandsneaky]

You going to see many things here are going to be different! I'm from Chicago as well

reefwise and aquapros will surely be missed lol. but oh well.

 

[dream54ing]

Tom,
you should give them another chance or talk to the owner. I wouldn't give up on that store cause they has excellent livestock!
I know most of these lfs, IME, the only things to worry about these lfs are livestock availability and price, usually customer service is never a problem.

toblkflys,
since you hooked me up in the past, I have a few cup of live sand and a little macro for you. I'm in near the 51 and 101 fwy.
pm me for contact.

 

[reefstew]

Lol, I thought reef stew was supplied by the same person to all the LFS.

It is made by the same person & it is the same when it is delivered to all the stores.

 

[toblkflys]

So, I went to a little place called The Wildside in Mesa. Very limited selection of fish only but WOW!!! Very healthy fish and phenomenal prices! Going back today to pickup the best looking firefish I've seen for $10 and a beautiful six-line for $12! Owner is very nice...anyone looking for a mated pair of clownfish hurry over there! He's got a pair, $24 each, that are showing signs of getting ready to breed...male is trying his hardest to find a place for the female to spawn. 1042 N Higley Rd Mesa.

 

[toblkflys]

What about east side stores? I live by Kona, and have always visited Aquarium Arts and reef culture, but is there anything newer near the 101 on the east side now this is worth checking out?

Haven't made it over there, but Reef Monters looks promising 4460 E Main St Mesa.

BTW - Kona Reef is amazing. I love their method of pricing livestock...all on tablet or an app you can download on your phone. Takes the guess work out of wondering which "large/extra large zoa rock" they are talking about, lol. Hate when I see a frag that I want and trying to decipher the stickers/writing on the sides of the tank to find a price/coral name, esp. when I am unfamiliar with the species!!:headwally:

 

[LILBLUFISH]

I'm new to the hobby out here in Az. I went Lfs hoping today. Salt Water Junkies had some of the nicest livestock that I saw. I relocated from LA/OC CA. where anything I wanted was at my finger tips. I have to say I wasn't impressed by the other stores I went to. Salt water Junkies had the nicest healthiest corals.

 

[sixpackgarage]

I just picked up this acro at saltwaterjunkies last night