Props to Oasis

[2006]

Hector has really stepped up the last few months. Better coral selection in both quality and quantity then the Phoenix stores IMO.

 

[Sir Romey]

+1

 

[chibopelu13]

2+ imo hector has by far the best selection in town

 

[brbrem]

+3 Customer service, clean store and great stock. Can't beat it.

 

[Fitchguy]

I have been into Oasis a couple of times, and I agree it is a very nice well put together store. But the selection was not great, most of the livestock was the same type of live stock that I could get at PetCo. It was all your bread and butter selection, and if you have had your tank up for a while then you have everything they sell. I would like to see more "elite" stock come in. Something that I can not find at your normal reef store. I know that these stores can order what ever you want but I don't always want to do that, and if I was why not just order it myself online? I want items that would make me have to have it right now and impulse buy.

 

[Fitchguy]

Also, again the store looks great to your normal customer, but I would like to be able to look at the filtration of the tanks and the techniques used to sustain their livestock. Being a true "Reefer" the filtration aspect of the hobby is just as interesting as the display. So I like to be able to open doors and see the filtration, whether they use a calcium reactor, or ozone or anything else like that. Just my opinion!

 

[2006]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14205964#post14205964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fitchguy
I have been into Oasis a couple of times, and I agree it is a very nice well put together store. But the selection was not great, most of the livestock was the same type of live stock that I could get at PetCo.

Fitchguy have you seen the new store and the stock he's had the last few months? Some of the LPS color combos I have not even seen online. Having said that he had a huge sale this past weekend so a lot of the high end stuff might have been sold.

 

[Fitchguy]

The last time I went in there was right before Christmas. Color combos of many corals can be deceiving and it does not change the species of coral. There are many factors that can manipulate colors considering, lighting(Intensity, Kelvin Temperature, photoperiod), feeding.

 

[2006]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14206831#post14206831 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fitchguy
The last time I went in there was right before Christmas.

You can't be serious? There is no way you will find some of the stuff Oasis has at Petco or any other store in this town with the possible exception of Southwest Saltwater.

 

[Fitchguy]

First of all I am not trying to bash anyone or any store so don't turn it that way! I am just giving my opinion from my past visits to the store. I just thought that there were a lot of bread and butter items. There were your typical clowns of all types, firefish, mandarins etc. nothing that struck me as out of the ordinary which I would like to be able to find a couple of things like that when I visit a store, thats all!

 

[2006]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14207225#post14207225 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fitchguy
There were your typical clowns of all types, firefish, mandarins etc.

Yeah, I agree with you about the fish. I was just speaking of the coral selection. Southwest has a bigger selection of fish and in better condition IMO.

 

[chibopelu13]

i've seen his skimmers and i can tell you that the one he uses for his fish is about 9ft tall and 3-4ft round!!!!!! and man does it create alot of foam!!! His coral skimmer is just a little smaller but does the job just as well. I can almost %100 guarantee that no one is southern Arizona has the quality of filtration he has. And at least his livestock has a 14 day guarantee, I don't know of any other LFS that would honor that.

 

[brbrem]

If you are interested in seeing the filtration system, just ask him. I did. He took me in back and showed me everything he had and explained how it works. Nice guy. Tucson is lucky to have a store like this one. I have never been impressed with SW Saltwater. Always dirty. Rarely asked if I needed help. Just my .02

 

[-BlackJack-]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14209381#post14209381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chibopelu13
And at least his livestock has a 14 day guarantee, I don't know of any other LFS that would honor that.

You should get out more often. I've had one or two new livestock leave this world assumedly from transportation shock or new environment stress. I've never had a problem at Southwest Saltwater with exchange or store credit.

 

[Bifferwine]

BlackJack is right, Southwest Saltwater has also replaced a few fish that I have bought that died for some reason. They even replaced a diamond goby that jumped to its death. And then the replacement diamond goby also jumped to its death. (I have since given up on diamond gobies).

 

[chibopelu13]

You should get out more often. I've had one or two new livestock leave this world assumedly from transportation shock or new environment stress. I've never had a problem at Southwest Saltwater with exchange or store credit.

I know he gives credit to his "friends" but when my blue hippo died within 3 days he didn't honor MY credit. So I got a new one from Oasis and its living and eating. I'm not trying to bash any LFS, but just stating my personal experience and this is all I have to say on this subject...

 

[SWSaltwater]

Now I think I might chime in for a sec here as misinfo is being given, fish are not replaced when a a body is not returned, water sample shows poor water quality, fish has obvious signs of being killed by a tank mate, or fish was not acclimated properly. Has nothing to do with friends or not friends. Just for instance last week someone brought back a shark at 10 days, ammonia was off the scale, he was a long time customer but we stick to policy on all trades and warranty items. If your tang met all these criteria and my employees did not follow policy we will replace it, just email me what happened.

 

[-BlackJack-]

Yeah, sorry Rob.....I forgot to mention the part above where I did have to provide water sample and body, per policy.

I'm going to leave it at this:

I can't speak from experience about one store being better than another, since I've never been to the other LFS' around Tucson.
Primarily because I've never had one single reason to go anywhere else.

 

[Tucson Reef]

You forgot to mention "Hector cleans his corals". What does he use, Tide? I was staying out of this but I still call Hector the Pied Piper, he mesmerizes people. I have not been in his place since the famous cryptic first Tucson auction thread, and his famous remarks.

 

[Fitchguy]

Either way, peoples own experiences will lead them to their respective LFS. You know how the saying goes "Opinions are like A-Holes, everyone has one and they all stink!"