Thread of Alabama Storefronts

SeeCrabRun

New member
In my area LFSs are now extinct. I'd love to create a list of stores in Alabama for us to use as a quick reference and reviews.


Here are the ones I know about:
Statewide Petco locations- their live rock is usually the aquacultured and so is made of cement. They are now doing a 0 day return/guarantee on live marine stock.
The staff at the Gadsden and Hoover locations were very friendly to me so far.

Lang's Tropical Fish
606 Chastain Blvd W, Glencoe, AL 35905
M-F 10-5 Sat til 6
Friendly so far and their live rock is nice at $6/lb but sometimes he will cut you a deal. The store isn't what it used to be though and I fear the loss of the only semi local store to me.

Aquarium Imports
1941 Hoover Ln, Birmingham, AL 35226
M-S 10-6 Sun 1-5(maybe?)
Only driven by them. They are hidden way in the back of a shopping complex.
 
Reef Life Aquariums (my lfs choice)

5511 Highway 280 Ste 310
Birmingham, AL 35242
Tel (205) 874-9526

Located in the Greystone Park Shopping Center,
behind Hometown Mortgage and Move Daddy.

Hours:
Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Monday 10:00am - 7:00pm
Tuesday 10:00am - 7:00pm
Wednesday 10:00am - 7:00pm
Thursday 10:00am - 7:00pm
Friday 10:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday 10:00am - 6:00pm
 
Hey SeeCrabRun.

I second Reef Revolutions and Reef Life Aquariums, I stopped by both a few days ago.

Ben at reef life said they were starting to set up a 100gallon or so system dedicated for SPS corals... something I am particularly interested in.
 
Montgomery, Al

Wet Pets on McGhee Road. Good folks. Stock can be a little sparse at times. Fairly basic corals, and inverts. Equipment/Dry goods are a bit pricey but they do have deals from time to time. Gordon who runs the place has been at it a long time (at least 15yrs) and seems to know his stuff.

Aquarium Fantasies. A lot of live stock. The staff seem to be nice. Has a bit of a private club feel to it (and not in a good way). The owner used to be dogmatic in how to run a tank. Wouldn't even discuss it with me when he found I ran a DSB. (This was several years ago.) Current staff seem nice and helpful. All are reef hobbyist themselves. Overall a decent store. Live stock has some variety and prices aren't too bad.

And then there is Petco. Quarantine everything and check everything. Every coral I looked at had at least1 Appy hiding out. Fish look stressed and sick. One or 2 staff know their stuff. Good prices on some equipment.
 
I hate aquarium fantasies! The owner Jim is a jerk! I've been a couple of times and bought a few things from the manager there. But a few weeks ago I went in and saw a flower nem I liked. I asked how much and the lady said $25. The tank sign said flower nems $25. And she asked the manager and she said $25! Well I passed it but later called and asked them to hold it. So a week later I make the hour drive back after calling and making sure they had it still. When my wife and I pulled up we saw the owners car there. I said "watch, the price will go up". We go in and the employee recognizes me. So she goes to bag the nem. We ask her again how much and she points the sign on tank and says $25. We go the counter and she gives the bag to the ***** jim and says $25. Well I see him look at the bag and he starts thinking . Says no this is $50! The employee says no when all the rock nems came in they were priced $25. And I tell him I was quoted $25 and his sign says $25! Now this ***** wasn't going to argue prices with his employee or me. And says its $50 but I can have it for $35! Now his whole attitude is arrogant and rude the whole time. I walked out and will not be back. And I no a lot of guys who have had bad dealings with him as well. He lost his other store in bham for the same crap and couldn't keep help so I heard. Since this I've contacted better business bureo and have the complaint forms mail back. Now he's not registered but they still contact him. And if he doesn't respond fine. I can post my complaint online in reviews. As of now you can't on his website. But you can after you go through bob. And it's funny today a guy I never met but knows a friend of mine contacted me. He collects flower nems and offered to sell me a few for a awesome price. Said the employee told him what the owner did and she felt it was wrong also. He knows her and my buddy.
 
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A new store just opened up I. Daleville near ft Rucker gate its call Backyard Reef. She open it after her husband was transferred here. She used to have one up north somewhere. Pretty cool lady and has awesome prices. Has more corals than fish tho but every time she gets a new shipment of fish they are gone pretty quick. Nothing to fancy as of yet but it's growing
Look her up on facebook. Backyard reed and her store site backyardreef.com she'll ship it to you
 
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