visiting from Chicago area-good lfs's to visit?

[desjardiniidj]

Hi everybody. I have a friend that is moving to Sho Low. We'll be getting there on Friday the 16th. We will also be going to Sun City(west), to visit his Dad. I was hoping there would be a lfs somewhere that I could visit and possibly bring something home. I'm mostly into sps, but like alot of corals, inverts, fish, etc... I've worked in lfs's for a little while now, so I'm used to getting deals. I don't need a place thats dirt cheap, I'm just wanna stay away from those high $ places.. Thank you for the help!

 

[Rayman380]

I suggest looking at the LFS Post (2nd from the top in this Forum) it has most of the LFS in the area, phone numbers, comments.

 

[Zoa~Goddess]

ATR is really good. There stuff looks very nice and healthy.

 

[Philwd]

If you are going to be in Sun City Aquatouch is probably the closest big store. Not a big SPS store though. About the Reef is a little further but my recommendation for corals.

Crystal Lake eh?? I'm from Dundee. I hear Dundee has a LFS now. Is it any good?

 

[desjardiniidj]

Thanks for the recommendations. I do like sps, so I'll look into About the Reef.

Philwd- Yeah. Dundee, Lake in the Hills and Algonquin have lfs'.

Dundee-Aquatic Reef- A smaller store. Usually some good sps. Not too many fish. Some $'s can be good, others...... Has had some good employees IMO.

L.I.T.H.-Ocean's Floor-Bigger store. Good amount of sps and other corals. Frags are $ed o.k. Not too many fish. Fish $s, not good. I went to get my girlfriend (at the time) a juv. emperator angel. Aquatic Reef didn't have one. Exotic Aquatic wanted $125 and Ocean's Floor wanted $135! I got one from somewhere else and paid $65, before the discount he gave me! The owner is nice, but he has only had 1 smart employee. The rest ..............

Algonquin-Exotic Aquatic-Bigger store.Usually a good amount of fish, some coral. $s............. Staff..........................

 

[tropoasis]

I will be in the Chcago Area in June for IMAC, any suggestions on LFS's or peoples real nice Reef tanks that I should visit??

 

[desjardiniidj]

Stores to look at or stores to purchase from or both?

 

[tropoasis]

Both, if I find something nice, I can always ship it back to myself

Thanks!
Frank

 

[desjardiniidj]

Don't know the ones in the city the greatest, but I do know the suburbs' shops.......
I'm goi' to work right now, but I'll respond when I get home.(around 9p.m.) Later !

 

[tropoasis]

Thanks!

 

[desjardiniidj]

Got home too late....

Living Sea Aquariums, Park Ridge.
Old Orchard, Skokie.
Advanced Aquatics and Beyond the Reef, Schaumburg
Aquatic Reef, West Dundee
Aquatica, Tinley Park
Deep Reef Aquatics, Downers Grove
Oceans Floor, Lake in the Hills
Exotic Aquatics,Algonquin
Rods Reef, Dekalb
Sea Schor, Buffalo Grove?
Sharkys Reef, Libertyvile?
Shotank Aquariums- Mundelien

This is a list of the stores I know of. I have had good and bad experiences at these stores. I did not want to cut any of them because someone might have a better experience there than me.
Any ?'s, feel free to PM me. Hope this helps. If I think of any others, I'll post 'em. Happy reefing!

 

[tropoasis]

Thanks for the info.

If you could drop me an email (no PM)...I could pick your brain a little further..

Frank

 

[tropoasis]

And now back to your question....

your best bet is ATR - About the Reef in Tempe.

They have the best selection of SPS around the Phoenix area.

I can probably be convinced to bring you out some frags when I am there for IMAC in June