Vancouver recommendations?

[Elle2]

Can anyone recommend their favourite stores in Vancouver? This weekend I went to my LFS to get the stuff I needed for my start up and I asked them a few questions about fishless cycling and they wouldn't even entertain this. They told me to get tetras and do a fish cycle. They seemed very knowledgeable about everything else so now I am quite confused as everything I have read and heard on this forum seems o suggest that fishless cycling is the way to go. If cycling with fsh is really stressful for the fish then I really do want to avoid this. They seemed quite convinced that the hearty fish would be fine.

Help?

Thanks,

Elle

[/code]

 

[Serge]

My favourite store in BC is actually in Burnaby:

http://www.jlaquatics.com/

They also ship which would probably much more cheaper for you than me. Great service, courteous and professionals. I got my LR and a few other things from them. Well worth your time and money.

HTH



EDIT: After looking at the map, you can actually walk/drive there. Well worth it!!

8)

 

[Fish Breath]

A fishless cycle is the way to go in my opinion. Not sure where you went for your LFS but there are several LFS through out the lower mainland perhaps you could give me an idea what part of the city you are in and I could refer your to some local ones although I find with all the stores, it depends on who you get serving you. I also find that alot of them there more more people in these stores that donot know much about the fishless cycle. As for J&L Aquatics they do carry fresh water Equipment but they donot have any fresh water fish. Thier specialty is salt water.

 

[Toirtis]

King Ed Pet Centre and Aquariums West....and, of course, you must visit the Vancouver Aquarium whilst you are there.

 

[Elle2]

I am in Grandview, basically the commercial drive area. There is one small aquarium place called Multiplex near me but I haven't checked it out yet. I was at Rainforest pets yesterday as my cycle finished and I wanted to get my first few fish... but they wouldn't believe me that I had cycled my aquarium without fish and really wanted me to buy danios. I expected that from the large chain I had been at first that tried to push me on the tetras, but I thought this smaller place would be more familiar.

So I went to Big Al's and got two platies and two cories, but they aren't very close to me so I wouldn't mind finding something a little closer to home (unless it is very cool ie. King Ed's?).

Thanks,
elle
p.s. Toritis, where in Calgary do you shop?

 

[Toirtis]

p.s. Toritis, where in Calgary do you shop?

Riverfront Aquariums, Gold Aquariums, Franco's Aquariums, and occasionally, Pisces Pets and Tanks Alot....really nowhere else worth shopping at, although we do have another 5-6 independant shops, 7 PetLands, 2 PetsMarts, etc.

 

[AngelaOlsenFan]

Big Al's for sure! That place is amazing!

 

[AngelaOlsenFan]

King Ed Pet Centre and Aquariums West.....

Do you know if either of those stores have websites?

 

[Serge]

Big Al's for sure! That place is amazing!

Well, from my dealings with BA and J&L Aquatics, I can tell you this:

BA charges way too much for what they sell. Just compare the prices, for identical items, between the US and CDA sites. The price markup is astronomical. Most BA's staff are week-end workers at minimum wages. Not that it is their fault, why would they want to be marine aquaria specialists at minimum wage. Sometimes, you do run into a smart individual that actually cares about his job and does his best to provide factual information to the customers.

On the other hand, J & L Aquatics, is way ahead of any other fish store I have dealt with. Professional and courteous service! Quick to replace defective parts, when it actually happens, etc... I live in Ontario and I have spent a few thousand $$ purchasing stuff from them, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to listen to me.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Toirtis]

King Ed Pet Centre and Aquariums West.....

Do you know if either of those stores have websites?

I do not believe so, no.

 

[Toirtis]

On the other hand, J & L Aquatics, is way ahead of any other fish store I have dealt with. Professional and courteous service! Quick to replace defective parts, when it actually happens, etc... I live in Ontario and I have spent a few thousand $$ purchasing stuff from them, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to listen to me.

Just my 2 cents...

J & L have been very notoriously out of stock on many, many things for the past 6 months now....there is talk that they have been cut off from many suppliers because they are selling product at too small a mark up. So make sure anything you order is in stock before paying for it.

 

[AngelaOlsenFan]

Big Al's for sure! That place is amazing!

Well, from my dealings with BA and J&L Aquatics, I can tell you this:

BA charges way too much for what they sell. Just compare the prices, for identical items, between the US and CDA sites. The price markup is astronomical. Most BA's staff are week-end workers at minimum wages. Not that it is their fault, why would they want to be marine aquaria specialists at minimum wage. Sometimes, you do run into a smart individual that actually cares about his job and does his best to provide factual information to the customers.

On the other hand, J & L Aquatics, is way ahead of any other fish store I have dealt with. Professional and courteous service! Quick to replace defective parts, when it actually happens, etc... I live in Ontario and I have spent a few thousand $$ purchasing stuff from them, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to listen to me.

Just my 2 cents...

You are so right!

I was going to purchase an Eclipse hood from BigAls (online price said $189.99) but after reading your post I thought I should check with J&L's first. As it turned out, J&L's was selling the exact same hood for $134.99!! That's a hugggge difference!

 

[Fish Breath]

OK King Ed's does not have a web site but once a month they usually advertise in the Buy and Sell As for Aquariums West I'm not sure but I don't think they do either . Now when it comes to prices I agree with every one that Big Als is overpriced However the smart shopper will use Big Als to your advantage as they will beat any online (Canadian) price by 5% if you are in the store in person just tell them the site you saw it at , they will check it with their instore computer then beat it by %5 so just tell them the J&L price and they will beat it , same is true for Bigalsonline. As per LFS in your area here is a link to a list of most of the LFS in Vancouver
http://www.fishopolis.com/vahc/community_stores.cfm
Kig Eds' is another good one for dry goods. I agree to that J&L is out of a lot of stock alot of times. I had a friend use his credit card and made a purchase on a 40 sterilizer and didn't get it for 3 or so months but they put the credit charges through right away. and again dry goods only for fresh water No Freshwater Live stock but if you ask them they will tell you they are getting it in two months . they have been telling me and people I know, that line for the past two years