New to Chicago and Salt Water

[samme]

I am so excited to have found this place! I look forward to learning a lot and hopefully joining along a few trips since I have no idea where I need to go for my new interest that has been blooming for years.

I work and live in Downtown Chicago....looking forward to my first summer here. I am originally from California.

I know one thing.....I need to visit the Shedd and I have a list of shops to go to soon.

Best Regards,

Samantha

 

[reefman77]

Welcome to reef central!!!

if your looking for some shops to try, go to oceans floor in lake in the hills or rods reef in dekalb. both have lots of cool stuff and owners are very knowledgeable

 

[BlakDuc]

Welcome, By January you will be ready to go back to California. I just moved here last January. It sucks. There are quite a few good Fish Stores to visit though. There is always someone on here with an answer to whatever question you may have, although they might not be the right anwser, or even on the same topic that you posted. Enjoy the summer though and good luck with the tank.

 

[dohc97]

welcome to chicago winter is still far away so dont worry about that yet!
Let us know what your planning and how you want to go about it, quite a few of us like to be helpful when asked. Im in the city and so are a whole lot of others so if you ever need help with anything dont hesitate. This is by far one of the best boards out there and people on here are truly looking to help each other out.
oh yeah, beware of the ot crew! they might hijack your threads sometimes but they mean well

 

[Harry Caray]

From what I remember, California sucks. I would much rather be here, than in California when it's like 115 degrees.

 

[jski711]

welcome to chicago, and reef central!! don't let those people fool ya about chicago winters. they aren't THAT bad....... there are plenty of nice lfs around. i would check out dark lord coral, thats one of my favorite places. they have a website but they are changing service providers and its not really up to date. they are right off of 290 and 17th ave. again welcome and let us know when you get that tank up and running, i would be more than happy to donate some free frags when you get it setup.

jake

 

[supersantay]

Welcome to Chicago....

Dont let anyone tell you Chicago sucks due to the weather! If all goes according to Al Gore we will be 90 degrees all year round!

Enjoy yourself and check out all the fish stores in the area! Be sure to post pics of what you setup!

 

[Larry Waughon]

[welcome]

 

[aiko670]

Welcome to chi town!

 

[DaveBien]

Wait till Aug.... 90 degrees and 95% humidity..... and no ocean breeze. Of course no wildfires, no landslides and just the occasional tremor.

Oh, no Paris Hilton either. Just a regular Hilton or 2. They said Paris needed a wakeup call. Looks like she'll get one.... about 6:30am everyday !!!!! Yes !!!!!!

 

[-=Efrain=-]

No such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes..

Welcome!

-=Efrain=-

 

[BlakDuc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9919256#post9919256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jski711
don't let those people fool ya about chicago winters. they aren't THAT bad.......
jake

They are that bad when you have lived in California all your life.

 

[samme]

Thank you for all the wecolmes! I am used to diving the kelp forest...now i need to get used to Lake Michigan. Luckily...i missed this past winter.

I am checking out some shops this weekend...very excited, my tank is coming next week!

 

[jmick]

Welcome to Chicago! I think you'll love it here, people are friendly, we have amazing restaurants, lots of fun things to do and as long as your dress the right way the weather is manageable.

What shops are you planning to visit?

 

[dohc97]

Last winter was pretty mild except for a couple of weeks were it got a bit chilly, if you stay long enough you can become a local and walk around in a sweater when its 20 degrees outside
Please share your setup with us, within the city i would suggest visiting old town aquarium and ocean design, close by you can visit dark lord coral.

 

[BenjieC]

I second DLC! Very cool stuff and great people too!

 

[fijiblue]

Thank you for all the wecolmes! I am used to diving the kelp forest...now i need to get used to Lake Michigan.

Don't dive lake Michigan. You will grow a third arm from all the bacterial outbreaks j/k

I'd check out all the stores that you can, and then form your own opinion to which one suits your individual needs.

 

[samme]

I fell in love at Old Town today! I am now officially over excited for my tank to arrive!!! I haven't even finished unpacking my suit cases, but on to the important things in life....WHAT I WANT!!!!!!!! lol

I will share all specs soon...still working on the specifics. I went with a 90 gal.....thought it was the perfect size for my space. I didn't want to turn back and say..why didn't I do the 90!

 

[Pufferpunk]

As far as local diving, there's Pearl Lake in S Beloit & Haigh Quarry near Kankakee. Both are stocked with fish (Haigh is supposed to have Paddlefish) & sunken boats, submarines schoolbus, etc. You can camp at aperl Lake & they have a resturaunt w/great food there.

 

[DaveBien]

Submarines ????