LFS near Philly...

glibgoat

glibgoat

Member
I am looking for local reviews of the stores near Philly.
I had a horrible experience on Friday at Water Pets in South Hampton PA and am looking to take my buisness elsewhere. They have sold me two dying/dead corals then the customer service has gone terribly downhill in the last two months. I need a new store, any ideas?
Anyone have experience with Fish Factory, Hidden Reef, Pets Plus or others I'm unaware of? I'm specifically looking for coral information.
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Water Pets gets negative reviews from a ton of people. Their customer service is awful.
Fish Factory has a lot of dead/dying corals for sale also.
Pets Plus is very over-priced on too many things.
The Hidden Reef's fishroom will be done by mid-April. I strongly suggest you wait for them to open because they are the best, hands down.
 
glibgoat

glibgoat

Member
I went to Hidden Reef the other week and the place looks beautiful. I wonder if they can get that room open by April? I'm sick of driving to lancaster everytime I want to purchase.
 
trainfever

trainfever

Active Member
The Hidden Reef was the best around here. There prices seem to be a bit higher than they were but still better than most around here. Cant wait until the fish room opens. Water Pets is extremely overpriced although they do have nice selection f fish and corals. I have to agree, their customer service needs a lot of improvement. Pets Plus is probably the best right now, but thats probably because some of the guys in the fishroom came from the Hidden Reef. There is another fairly new place called East Coast Aquatics. Prices vary but they do have a nice selection. There are a few other fish stores around but not really worth mentioning.
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
That is down by the airport.
I do really believe that The Hidden Reef fish room will be open no later than the end of April, if not sooner. I was there 2 weeks ago, and they had no tanks, just the framework. I was there today and all of the tanks are up and drilled. They are almost done the plumbing, and then it is just going to be filling the tanks with water.
The place really looks amazing. I am getting so anxious for them to open up.
 
terry1017

terry1017

New Member
water pets in southampton has very bad customer service. would never shop there. last time i was there most of the fish were sick and they were still trying to sell them. pets plus is ok. the fish factory is dirty. the hidden reef fish room should be open shortly. when in philly there fish room was always clean and the fish were healthy. I did buy some stuff from saltwaterfish.com had good luck with them so far. any body close to bucks looking to sell or trade anything. i am looking to trade a valantini puffer.
 
glibgoat

glibgoat

Member
SWF.com clearly is the best option, howevercan't always afford the 75 minimum and then the surcharges for shipping. When possible, they are #1.
I'll have to check out East Coast but as an old Hidden Reefer, I'm excited about them reopening. I remember going in there on a given monday and them being wiped out because people spent the entire weekend cleaning out their supply. I'll keep my fingers crossed that Reef opens soon.
Assuming they do open in April, when do Factory and Water Pets get run out of buisness...lol.
 
adairable

adairable

Member
Thanks guys for all the good input.... being a new philly chica and new to the hobby I need to find my way around. i got my setop from Pets Plus on Ridge Pike....they were very $$$ but they always seemed willing to go the extra mile. Also, close to roxborough is a really small place I think it just says aquarioum on the outside....anywho , they don't have a great selection but you can talk them into getting just about anything you want....and then you don't have to spend 75 or the handling fee!!!
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Originally Posted by Adairable
Thanks guys for all the good input.... being a new philly chica and new to the hobby I need to find my way around. i got my setop from Pets Plus on Ridge Pike....they were very $$$ but they always seemed willing to go the extra mile. Also, close to roxborough is a really small place I think it just says aquarioum on the outside....anywho , they don't have a great selection but you can talk them into getting just about anything you want....and then you don't have to spend 75 or the handling fee!!!
Hey Adairable, welcome to the Philadelphia area!
Don't forget to check out the Hidden Reef when the fish room is open in a week or two. It will be amazing. You will definitely not be disappointed. When the fishroom is open, it will become the one and only store that most people shop at. Just the dry goods are done now, but even still, the low prices for the dry goods are worth the trip as it is.
 
trainfever

trainfever

Active Member
No, its not on the Blvd, it used to be in a shopping center that was behind the shopping center between Grant ave and Welsh Rd. They were destroyed by a fire flood a little over a year ago. They just reopened about 2 months ago but at a new location in Levitown, about 20 minutes from where they originally were. I was just there today and their fish room is still not opened, maybe by the end of the month. On the way home, I passed another store I heard a lot about but never been there so I stopped in. It was The Fish Factory. The had a good amount of stock but their prices didnt seem to be that great. I think the Reef is going to hurt them. One thing I saw there which I had never seen in any fish store and thought was pretty neat, they had used equipment for sale. They take in used equipment for trade.
 
adairable

adairable

Member
Originally Posted by trainfever
No, its not on the Blvd, it used to be in a shopping center that was behind the shopping center between Grant ave and Welsh Rd. They were destroyed by a fire flood a little over a year ago. They just reopened about 2 months ago but at a new location in Levitown, about 20 minutes from where they originally were. I was just there today and their fish room is still not opened, maybe by the end of the month. On the way home, I passed another store I heard a lot about but never been there so I stopped in. It was The Fish Factory. The had a good amount of stock but their prices didnt seem to be that great. I think the Reef is going to hurt them. One thing I saw there which I had never seen in any fish store and thought was pretty neat, they had used equipment for sale. They take in used equipment for trade.
Alright, well keep us posted as to when it opens and I will definately head out there....That is cool that the other place trades/sells used equipment. Not a bad idea :thinking:
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Yep, that is the one thing that I like about Roy and the Fish Factory. That definitely sets him apart from everyone else.
There is no doubt that his store will take a heavy beating when The Reef opens up though.
 
glibgoat

glibgoat

Member
I went to east coast aquatics over the weekend. I got some watermellon zoas. They appear healthy and seem to be doing well in the tank. I am however looking forward to the Reef opening. I called them the other day and they said late April or early may for the fishroom opening.
 
glibgoat

glibgoat

Member
Hidden Reef in Levitown has their first shippment of Damsels; more fish coming next week. Corals are coming next month. The fishroom is about 80% of Lancaster's size. Big orders, obviously use this site because their qualiy is outstanding, but for a local store, things just changed in Philly!
 
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