Well, K-Dubbs and I gassed up the old MAXX and headed for Chicago for a day of coral gazing and shopping.
We started on the southwest side and headed north, ending in Racine. Here is my report and recommendations.
1. Reef Plus - North Aurora. OK, this place is a LONG way away - about 30 minutes past Ohare, but completely worth the trip. The place is ALL saltwater, the owner was the only employee there. He is a nice guy. He offered us 10% off his already reasonable prices when he heard how far we came. All livestock was healthy, and he had an extensive array of SPS, LPS, and softie frags. And he uses the term "frag" liberally - I bought an SPS tricolor "frag" for 30 bucks- it is about 4" tall with 12 points. I also bought the healthies looking powder blue tang for 60 bucks and a rio 400 power head for 20 bucks. K-Dubb got 2 tiny nean green anemones..... not sure, but the owner said they would stay small.
2. Splash of Life - St. Charles. Well, we got there and the darn place had a sign saying closed for the holiday weekend (should have mentioned this on their website - but we learned to call ahead). The have huge windows, so we could see the whole inside. It is definitely worth a trip back - we could see several huge frag tanks and some display tanks. oh well.
3. Tropi-quatics - Lombard - A nice pet store - with healthy fish, frags, and inverts. If it was in Milwaukee, it would be worth a regular stop. HOWEVER, it is in Lombard, Ill, the prices are steep, and the selection is akin to PEt world. Skip it unless you are really close. They did have good deals on red leg crabs (12 for 10 bucks) and I got a queen conch. I think K-Dubb got a ricordia rock.
4. Beyond the Reef Schaumburg- A beautiful store with STEEP prices. Skip unless you are rich. However, there were a few deals to be had. Got a large Blue tort for 55 bucks - could not pass it up. K-Dubb bought a great looking hammer... I think he paid 70.... Great selection though.
5. Aquatics Unlimited - This store must be imaginary. It does not exist at the listed address. We called and got the answering machine that said they were open. Oh well.
6. Living Sea - Park Ridge - A great store - they were doing the shark feeding when we got there (3 small sharks in a 25 foot pool. Great selection of coral and salt water fish. They are obviously trying to compete with Beyond the reef in the price department... we left empty handed.
7. Sho Tank - Mundelien - One of my favorites. Cheap prices, great coral, cheap live rock. Nice owner. I bought the most beautiful green staghorn with light blue tips. This was NOT a frag - but 4 pieces on a rock - with the largest having three 6" arms. It is fantastic, and had huge polyp extension 10 minutes after it got in my tank. I also bought 6 pounds of what looks like marshal live rock for 3 bucks a pound. It looks more like 20 pounds of the rock you buy around here. This price is only available on his "small" pieces - which are as large as 8-10" across! His large rock is 6 bucks. Then I saw the flower pot. OH MY GOSH... I had to have it. I have nowhere in the tank for it, but it was gorgeus. When he said 35 bucks, I was sold. There was a sad note - the 210 gallon RR with CHERRY stand and hood - the tank of my dreams was on SALE..... 1400 bucks. And he said he would drop it off. This is the top of the line model Mission stand... My wife would have killed me.... now I dream of it at night......Someday.
8. Coral Corner in Racine. The best store in our area (ok, its closer to me than Hoffers and about the same as Aquatics unlimited, so it is local for me). K-Dubb wanted to see it, so we went. Kevin and Ben are the bomb, great guys. The tanks were kind of picked over since the Thursday shipment. HOWEVER, they had about an 8"x4" rock coverd with PINK encrusting montapora, which I love for 55. They also had the coolest yellow chromis with purple stripes for 5 bucks a piece. They school just like green Chromis, but are much better looking. It actually overloads my tank, but oh well... they went in the bag.
So - we made it home about 6 PM after an 8:30 start. Tired, and a lot poorer, but with a stash that looks GREAT in my tank. You can all see them at the May meeting!
Caution - this type of trip is hazardous to your wallet (or your credit card account)....
Ed
We started on the southwest side and headed north, ending in Racine. Here is my report and recommendations.
1. Reef Plus - North Aurora. OK, this place is a LONG way away - about 30 minutes past Ohare, but completely worth the trip. The place is ALL saltwater, the owner was the only employee there. He is a nice guy. He offered us 10% off his already reasonable prices when he heard how far we came. All livestock was healthy, and he had an extensive array of SPS, LPS, and softie frags. And he uses the term "frag" liberally - I bought an SPS tricolor "frag" for 30 bucks- it is about 4" tall with 12 points. I also bought the healthies looking powder blue tang for 60 bucks and a rio 400 power head for 20 bucks. K-Dubb got 2 tiny nean green anemones..... not sure, but the owner said they would stay small.
2. Splash of Life - St. Charles. Well, we got there and the darn place had a sign saying closed for the holiday weekend (should have mentioned this on their website - but we learned to call ahead). The have huge windows, so we could see the whole inside. It is definitely worth a trip back - we could see several huge frag tanks and some display tanks. oh well.
3. Tropi-quatics - Lombard - A nice pet store - with healthy fish, frags, and inverts. If it was in Milwaukee, it would be worth a regular stop. HOWEVER, it is in Lombard, Ill, the prices are steep, and the selection is akin to PEt world. Skip it unless you are really close. They did have good deals on red leg crabs (12 for 10 bucks) and I got a queen conch. I think K-Dubb got a ricordia rock.
4. Beyond the Reef Schaumburg- A beautiful store with STEEP prices. Skip unless you are rich. However, there were a few deals to be had. Got a large Blue tort for 55 bucks - could not pass it up. K-Dubb bought a great looking hammer... I think he paid 70.... Great selection though.
5. Aquatics Unlimited - This store must be imaginary. It does not exist at the listed address. We called and got the answering machine that said they were open. Oh well.
6. Living Sea - Park Ridge - A great store - they were doing the shark feeding when we got there (3 small sharks in a 25 foot pool. Great selection of coral and salt water fish. They are obviously trying to compete with Beyond the reef in the price department... we left empty handed.
7. Sho Tank - Mundelien - One of my favorites. Cheap prices, great coral, cheap live rock. Nice owner. I bought the most beautiful green staghorn with light blue tips. This was NOT a frag - but 4 pieces on a rock - with the largest having three 6" arms. It is fantastic, and had huge polyp extension 10 minutes after it got in my tank. I also bought 6 pounds of what looks like marshal live rock for 3 bucks a pound. It looks more like 20 pounds of the rock you buy around here. This price is only available on his "small" pieces - which are as large as 8-10" across! His large rock is 6 bucks. Then I saw the flower pot. OH MY GOSH... I had to have it. I have nowhere in the tank for it, but it was gorgeus. When he said 35 bucks, I was sold. There was a sad note - the 210 gallon RR with CHERRY stand and hood - the tank of my dreams was on SALE..... 1400 bucks. And he said he would drop it off. This is the top of the line model Mission stand... My wife would have killed me.... now I dream of it at night......Someday.
8. Coral Corner in Racine. The best store in our area (ok, its closer to me than Hoffers and about the same as Aquatics unlimited, so it is local for me). K-Dubb wanted to see it, so we went. Kevin and Ben are the bomb, great guys. The tanks were kind of picked over since the Thursday shipment. HOWEVER, they had about an 8"x4" rock coverd with PINK encrusting montapora, which I love for 55. They also had the coolest yellow chromis with purple stripes for 5 bucks a piece. They school just like green Chromis, but are much better looking. It actually overloads my tank, but oh well... they went in the bag.
So - we made it home about 6 PM after an 8:30 start. Tired, and a lot poorer, but with a stash that looks GREAT in my tank. You can all see them at the May meeting!
Caution - this type of trip is hazardous to your wallet (or your credit card account)....
Ed
. Thanx for the great reviews.
