Good Fish stores in Chicagoland?

[BrennanX]

I live just south of Chicago, and theres a few FS around here, but i was just wondering if anyone had particularly good experience with any within an hour or two of Chicago?

 

[mp3z24]

I live in Schaumburg (North West Suburbs)... there are a few out around me...

living sea aquairum in park ridge is pretty good.
http://www.livingseaaquarium.com/

i have heard old town aqaurium (in chicago) is good, but i cant back that up.
http://www.oldtownaquarium.com/

i stop in at Advanced Aquatics somtimes, but i havent bought anything from them.
https://ssl.adgrafix.com/users/coralsan/secure/web_store.cgi

another one in my area is Beyond The Reef.
http://www.beyondthereef.org/home.html

One that might be a bit far from you is Exotic Aquatics, in Algonquin.
http://www.exoticaquaticsinc.com/shopping/index.htm?catalog.htm&1

like most LFS, they have high prices.

~mike

 

[jester]

old town is real high priced if am am going to get something alive i get it from livingseas the place is huge good place just to go looking around also tropicana is a good place small but good prices and if u catch the owner they he will give even better prices if u talk to hi for a while he is a real nice guy he sold me these two jumbo fire shrimp for $60 because i said i never heard of jumbo fire shrimp he was telling me he only gets he them once a year because this boat only goes to this place in the middle of no where once a year they where about 2 inches when i got them they are about 4 inches now and growing i love them i never seen them so big well sorry for rambilling

 

[BrennanX]

where did you guys get your LR?

 

[jester]

i got my lr from living seas and was very happy with it

 

[BrennanX]

Yea, i plan to take a trip there on Saturday - Im really excited, it looks like a very high quality store...


just curious, where did you guys get your tanks? were they reef ready?

 

[jester]

i got my tank from living seas but i got ripped payed way to much for it but i was a noob wont make that mistake again but eventhow i said oldtown is very expensive they have great sales on there tanks and sell used tanks as well i wold join there news letter if you are looking for a tank they have some great deals now and then

 

[BrennanX]

Thanks alot jester, I really and truly appreciate it

 

[joe-joe]

Back in the the day with my old tank i would go to old town for the selection,they always have the hard to find stuff but not cheap.iIwent to living sea once,huge selection also.I live in Indiana, altough i haven't been there in awhile there is a Exotic Aquatics in down town Highland, In. (exit 3 south off 94,about a mile)not a huge store but by far the heathiest stock and great coral selection.

 

[Choas]

I am out by Peru in the middle of nowhere. So I have Petco In Oswego and I have Franks Pet in Ottawa or Eddies in Lasalle.

 

[BrennanX]

I stopped in Living Sea today, the store was absolutely amazing. I was very happy with the entire store and enjoyed the hour i spent there very much. My girlfriend and I could have spent the whole day there

I asked the guy in the tank department if they special ordered predrilled reef ready tanks. He said absolutely, printed me out a reciept for it. I was looking at it later, and it was 259.99 for a 75gal rr, and then a 79.99 overflow kit?

The overflow kit is that just the plumbing and ect that comes with it? or does it actually mean the tank will have an overflow space inside the tank? Thats not what i want, I just want holes drilled so i can have a nice looking sump.

I would have called and asked, but they were closed by the time i got home.

 

[jester]

ya i would look into that nice store thow isnt it

 

[BrennanX]

Yea, it really is -- they are hiring too, if i didnt feel like going up 294 everyday i would definatly throw up an app.

I plan to visit old town too, before i start to make any selections.

 

[jester]

ya old town is nice but more $ for livestock and alot smaller but they do have great sales on tanks at times