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Aquarium Advice Freak
I've seen several people's ratings of individual stores, but thought it might be a good idea to get a complete list of stores together in one spot. It sure would have been helpful to me.
So far, I have visited (I'll update the list as I visit more):
PetSmart @ Hull St and Highway 288
- Not much can be said that is new. Big box store, wide selection of the most common fish. Freshwater only. One negative is that when discussing setting up a new tank, there was no mention of a real cycle - just the standard "wait a few days after setup, then start adding fish". Typical retailer attitude. Otherwise, the staff seem fairly knowledgable and helpful. Tanks are typical big store clean, with few floaters. Plant selection was limited to the basics.
Pet World @ Route 10 (Ironbridge Rd) and Centralia in Chester
- Very small store, friendly staff. Freshwater only. Decent tanks, few floaters. Again, no warning about a performing a full cycle on a new tank, although they were knowledgable about cycling after the fact. Very limited selection of products/feeds/accessories. No plants to speak of (staff says that they are having supplier trouble).
Pet Club @ Robius and Heugenot
- Decent sized store, still had the small store feel. Staff seems knowledgable, but didn't spend much time with them. They sell Bio-Spira. Fresh and saltwater. Decent selection of fish. Had many "specialty" fish, as well as the more common items. Small accessory selection.
Richmond Aquarium @ Speeks, off of Hull near Robius
- Small store, mostly saltwater but a decent freshwater selection. They seem to have more uncommon fish, although they still have the "basics". Best looking tanks and fish I have seen so far. Very small accessory selection on hand, but I didn't ask about stocking levels. Didn't have much contact with the guy at the desk - he was dealing someone else, and my time was limited.
So far, I have visited (I'll update the list as I visit more):
PetSmart @ Hull St and Highway 288
- Not much can be said that is new. Big box store, wide selection of the most common fish. Freshwater only. One negative is that when discussing setting up a new tank, there was no mention of a real cycle - just the standard "wait a few days after setup, then start adding fish". Typical retailer attitude. Otherwise, the staff seem fairly knowledgable and helpful. Tanks are typical big store clean, with few floaters. Plant selection was limited to the basics.
Pet World @ Route 10 (Ironbridge Rd) and Centralia in Chester
- Very small store, friendly staff. Freshwater only. Decent tanks, few floaters. Again, no warning about a performing a full cycle on a new tank, although they were knowledgable about cycling after the fact. Very limited selection of products/feeds/accessories. No plants to speak of (staff says that they are having supplier trouble).
Pet Club @ Robius and Heugenot
- Decent sized store, still had the small store feel. Staff seems knowledgable, but didn't spend much time with them. They sell Bio-Spira. Fresh and saltwater. Decent selection of fish. Had many "specialty" fish, as well as the more common items. Small accessory selection.
Richmond Aquarium @ Speeks, off of Hull near Robius
- Small store, mostly saltwater but a decent freshwater selection. They seem to have more uncommon fish, although they still have the "basics". Best looking tanks and fish I have seen so far. Very small accessory selection on hand, but I didn't ask about stocking levels. Didn't have much contact with the guy at the desk - he was dealing someone else, and my time was limited.