Let's see the best LFS's around.

I live in Akron Ohio. Ten minutes from is a green house. They propagate corals with natural sunlight...in Ohio. It's pretty neat.

http://www.tidalgardens.com/

 

Ive seen them on Reefcentral before, they have a pretty neat setup.

 

About Us

As you can see, the store is smaller than the others linked here. The layout is a bit different than it was back then, but it's still the same size.

The allure?

I know when I walk in, it's going to be Will there. Every time. It's not some random guy who I have to explain absolutely everything about my setup to, whose first day is today, who doesn't know why Magnesium is important for a reef tank. I can hop on his computer and show him a picture if I need to - or if I wanna see his opinion on an article or new product. I can walk in, sit down on one of the couches, and hang out for a bit - and so can anyone else. There's a regular group of people who do just that on a consistent basis.

Then, if he doesn't have a product - decently likely due to the small shop - he'll order it. Want a coral that he doesn't have? He'll ask "colony or frag?", not go "oh well". He'll talk to you for a while if you're unsure, and explain everything in detail. He will still sell you the wrong stuff if you absolutely insist, but he'll warn you plenty - which not just any store would do.

That's why I go to what's probably the smallest shop around, and not the big guys. There's a few bigger shops in about the same distance as his shop, but I wouldn't go there, for all the reasons mentioned above.

 

Or don't and respect the copyright of the photographer/owner.

 

Heh, I don't think they'd mind use using a couple pics to promote them, TBH. ;D

 

Using an img tag to a photo hosted on their website does not violate any copyrights. Now if you downloaded the pic and claimed it as your own, that would be a different story. It is no different than linking the website. What I was hoping for was that others would take some cool pics of the LFS's in there area. All I did was snap a few pics with my old iphone and posted them. Nothing wrong with that for those interested in sharing. I guess I wanted peeps to show their LFS. I tough it would be fun. Honestly if the tread is just going to steer traffic away from 3reef, I would much rater it closed. Sorry Matt, it started as a good idea.

 

^That tank looks pretty awesome. Nice selection of corals and color.

I'm gonna go to school for marine bio., but think it would be pretty awesome to own an aquarium store like these mentioned above. A huge main display tank with a lounge area for people to just sit and hang out at, a small library of good technical books/references, as well as a small area with 1 or 2 computers so people can do some research rit(sp?) in the store. Custom ordering is always nice as well.

 

Don't take me wrong, I'm not out to rock the boat, but I do know that there has been consideration taken around here about crediting photos appropriately in the past. I do like the idea of this thread, and there's no reason it shouldn't continue if everyone's in aggreance.

 

Amazing Aquariums & Reefs looks fantastic! too bad there's not any lfs even close to that in okc

 

I've been to almost all the stores in the northwest Oregon area.

Westside Aquariums is my number 1

Westside Aquarium, Saltwater Aquarium Corals for Marine Reef Aquariums


Pics of his current display from his website... He is currently working on a 1000 gallon display I believe:





If anything ill call the LFS tomorrow and ask if it is okay if I use his pictures on this site. If not then ill take them down.