North/Central AL Reef shops

[ScottB]

I am in Huntsville with a son in school in Tuscaloosa. That being said I will be traveling back and forth often from Huntsville, through Birmingham to Tuscaloosa. As there are basically ZERO shops around me, are there any along my route that I would be worthwhile swinging by on my travels?

 

[jbonez]

Fins and Frags Aquatics tell them jay sent you

 

[ScottB]

Fins and Frags Aquatics tell them jay sent you

Is that in B'ham?

 

[GCamp13]

Fins and Frags is on Smith Lake near Cullman. Jason and Tammy are good folks.

 

[jbonez]

also home grown aquatics ask for mike... tell him jay sent ya

 

[fosin]

There's a new reef store on south parkway. They appear to have just opened. Not much coral yet.

Can't remember the name...but it's in a little shopping center on charlotte.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=7920+...tte+Dr+SW,+Huntsville,+Alabama+35802&t=m&z=16

 

[ScottB]

They may not be new. I seem to remember a store in that area a whil back. I think the guys that run it do a service business mostly. I will research it thanks.

 

[fosin]

They were in the process of setting up more tanks when I was in there. Said they will be making a large coral purchase in 3 weeks or so.

 

[ScottB]

Was just in there Tuesday. Looks promising, but livestock currently limited. I am going back this weekend to look for some blue-green chromis. Thanks.

 

[joejoe1055]

let us know how they are

 

[ScottB]

It is called Paradise Aquatics. So far they seem knowledgable, even participating in some forums on a competing site. Only a few corals so far. Nothing breathtaking. In general, the fish do look healthy though.

 

[euphyllianado]

Haha, I just noticed this thread. I searched google and didn't come up with much. I just moved to the Huntsville area myself.

I checked out your blog... happy birthday btw! I noticed you opted to order some stuff online. Did you not find anything worthwhile up this way?

 

[ScottB]

Haha, I just noticed this thread. I searched google and didn't come up with much. I just moved to the Huntsville area myself.

I checked out your blog... happy birthday btw! I noticed you opted to order some stuff online. Did you not find anything worthwhile up this way?

When I was previously in the hobby ('98-'02) I had a friend who owned an LFS and was great to deal with, but the internet killed him, I guess. Probably some fault of my own. When I got back in the hobby just recently, he recommended a local guy with a great reputation. Sadly, the April tornados took him out, and I guess not to return..

Anyway, other than Paradise Aquatics that just opened, I have not found any local sources to deal with, so far. I know that Aquatic Critter in Nashville was great my last go round, and there are others recommended in this thread that I have not yet dealt with yet. But the more I dig the more I find.

I think there is a good mix of local and online to make fore decent availability. That and a little driving will go a long way.

 

[euphyllianado]

I'm not opposed to driving to Nashville or Atlanta. We have friends we'll be visiting periodically there anyway. We're actually going to Memphis this weekend so I may go ahead and grab another cleaning crew while I'm there.

When I got started in this hobby back in '04, I went all out and practically had a LFS in my basement but then I started traveling for work again and had to get out for a while myself. Now, I just have a little 30g that I'm basically starting over with, but I may upgrade. I've got that bug again. (cha-ching)

 

[ScottB]

I think there is a shop in Memphis called MemFish or Memphish that has been talked about favorably. I don't have any experience with it though.

 

[euphyllianado]

Yeah, Memfish. That's where we just moved here from. I got most of my livestock there. Richard, the owner, is really knowledgeable.

There's another one, Kermit's Reef, which is pretty good too and it was right down the street from my house but it seemed like they were always out of what I wanted so I'd end up driving across town to Memfish anyway.

 

[fosin]

[[[ignore]]]

 

[fosin]

Yeah, CRA in Athens was great. Nice show tanks.

Lately I've just been getting most of my corals from friends and craglist. From now on though, I'll probably buy most of my fish and supplies from Paradise Aquatics...and a few corals.

I'm not opposed to driving to Nashville or Atlanta. We have friends we'll be visiting periodically there anyway.

I drive over to Alpharetta, GA sometimes for work. Creation Reef Aquatics in Woodstock on the way to Atlanta is pretty good. They usually have some inexpensive frags. Pure Reef is nice, it's in Alpharetta. Super nice people at Pure Reef. They had mostly large/huge pieces.

They are both worth stopping by if you are in the area.

 

[Mark_Lide]

If you don't know about it Aquarium Imports is located in Hoover, AL just south of Birmingham. Store has been there for years and have lots of inventory. The owners are very nice and helpful.

 

[rale2001]

Chattagnooga has a nice LFS up there the drive is not that bad from huntsville