Stores in SE Florida ?

[jcvddm]

Hello-
Any suggestions for quality stores that stock fish, coral and live rock in the Miami-Dade / Broward county areas ?
Thanks !

 

[reefman22]

I live in Palm Beach but I know there is one called Jawz.net on Broward just east of I-95, and a BIG HUGE place called Big Al's in mirimar out on University. There is one more called Nemo's fish on Federal just north of Commercial on the east side. Hope this helps.
REEFMAN

 

[cmiles]

I Am Going To Ft Pierce To Visit My Grandparents On The 7th, Do You Have Any Suggestions On Some Stores I Can Check Out While Im There???
Thanks

 

[reefman22]

In Ft Pierce? Haha sorry. I dont know all the local stores, those are just the ones I shop at around here. I'm sure you can check the phone book or online (Retail Store Finder) if you want to find a LFS around Ft. Pierce. Oh and jcvddm, Big Al's matches every price on products, has over 40,000 gallons of DISPLAYS alone!! If you haven't been there, you DEFINATELY want to check it out. I think it took the place of a Publix or some supermarket! IT'S HUGE!! And its located on the corner of McNab Rd and University Dr. Does this help?
REEFMAN

 

[fraggle_a]

Ah, Polk county here... Now I want to go to Big Al's.. <sigh>

 

[saltn00b]

yea i live 2 blocks away from big als. DAM I AM A LUCKY ONE
this place is so awesome, i have never seen anything like it before.
its literally a super fish store, operated by mostly intelligent, caring people
this place has a 7 million dollar 24,000 gallon circular shark tank in the middle with weekly feeding shows!!! 90% of the fish are always in beautiful shape with trace signs of desease and stress.
the hardware and dry goods are great prices, they almost give tanks away!
only drawbacks are some fish are a little overpriced.

 

[lukeb321]

I am also about 5 blocks away from big als, and I have to say WOW. I dont think I would be in this hobby without it. They have an awesome selction, hold fish for you for 2 weeks to quarantine. And yes the tanks are practically free.

 

[sufunk]

Big Als is a nice place to go for fish and to look at their large tanks but im always shocked how little coral and liverock they have. Sometimes they literally have NO LR at all but rubble. The fish are incredible and the tanks are cheap but their anemone tanks are a disgrace, no lights and 75% of them are melting. Why do they never have nice anemones?

 

[saltn00b]

well i agree about the LR selection and the coral selection is pretty weak. anenomes, well the selection isnt awesome but they usually have a few nice little ones. these last weeks they had a bunch of big beautiful carpets, and i picked up a very nice bubble tip and long tentacle (juvenile?) for a nice price as well.

 

[reefman22]

I'm headin down there this weekend to see if they have the lights I want in stock. I love that place. You can never leave with out a "WOW!"
REEFMAN

 

[sufunk]

try and wait for a sale for the lights. A few months ago, my wife got 30" coralife lunar aqualights w/ moonlights 2x65 for $129.99 there on sale

. I was shocked, thats much less than i have ever seen them anywhere, online included. First time she ever spent LESS than she was supposed to

 

[battosai]

I also live just a few blocks away from Big Al's, It's definatelly a great store. I personally know somebody that works there and the reason that the Corals and Anenomes don't do that great is because the City gives them a hard time about having too mant MH lights on at the same time. Just ask somebody when the corals are coming in and try to get them then.

 

[drf0524]

I have been to BIG AL's and well the Livestock that they have there is ok.. The people that they have working there are horrible. Next time you go there ask one person there about a particular fish and then ask another you will get two different answers on what to feed, lighting, etc... Also half the people that work there do not even have a tank just ask.LOL

Here is a hint for all those folks that purchase anything there, go to there online site. Everything there is a hole lot cheaper print out what you want to purchase with the price and take it to the store and they will give you the same price that they have online. That is how I purchase all my stuff from there. You will save a lot of Money

....... Jawz.net I have been there also nice place but come there with MONEY they will sell you the store if you have the money. Basicly they will sell you things that you really do not need. .. The place that I have gone to now for a while is called REEF LIFE. It is in diana beach, FL... Just of sterling and I-95. Place is real small but the people that work there are very knowledgeable. They are not just going to sell you somthing just to sell you something. One person that works there has an award winning tank (so he knows what he is talking about). I have purchased all my livestock from here and never had a problem with one dieing or anything. Like I said the place is great. If you want more info on the place please let me know, I would be glad to share. Remember this is just my thoughts......

***)

 

[fraggle_a]

try and wait for a sale for the lights. A few months ago, my wife got 30" coralife lunar aqualights w/ moonlights 2x65 for $129.99 there on sale . I was shocked, thats much less than i have ever seen them anywhere, online included. First time she ever spent LESS than she was supposed to
Theres a store around the corner from me that does corrals and anenomies and everything (even a 150Gallon talltank base and hood for $899) that has that coralife 2x65 light for $140 regular (but hes always willing to haggle!) I belive the 2x95 is $199.
If your in central Fl and feadup with ***** and the other LFS that closedown, openup, and stop their saltwater section check "Nolan's Aquarium Superstore". (check google or yahoo). Its on 92 on the east side of Lakeland. Awsome place, and has LiveRock for $5.99 Baserock for $2.99 special rock for between $10.99 and $14.99. An amazing collection of healthy fish, snails, anenomies and corrals (even seahorses and octopus if your that way inclined). Knowlegeable staff and a freaking kickbutt aquarium selection.

 

[sufunk]

Reef life is decent but their tanks are gross as well. The coral tanks are so filled with algae and god knows what, id be scared to put anything from those tanks into mine. Also, they have huge bins of live rock but they're in concrete tanks so you can only see the very front top. You cant even touch the LR to find the pieces you want or they FREAK out and tell you to get your hands out. They do have decent frags of zoo's in the front of the LR bins though. Got a great deal on a BIG frag there like 3 weeks ago.

 

[sufunk]

By the way Battosai, i dont know how many MH's Big Al's can run at 1 time but ive been to stores smaller than their bathrooms that have more MH's running. Either way, the anemones need to be in the MH tanks, not 1 -3 small tanks on the bottom row melting. Not to mention , how can a store that big, with that big of a selection, not have nassarius or cerith snails for the last 3 months?!?!?!! They havent had 1 ! To me that's unbelievable

 

[isistius]

i think swf.com is in ft. pierce. but i'm pretty sure they don't have a showroom. god knows if they did, i'd drive from west palm up there to get stuff....

 

[saltn00b]

yes SWF is supposed to be opening up a showroom soon. that would be a nice bike ride hehe

 

[isistius]

awesome bike ride - but the fish would die in the saddlebags........

 

[reefman22]

haha what a cooincidence, I posted a thread about SWF's showroom in "The Aquarium" forum. You should go check it out. It sounds like even the moderators don't know when it is opening...
REEFMAN