Any central California Reefers?

[stevearthur]

I live in Fresno, CA and I was hoping to get some sort of reef society or club going or perhaps find an existing one. Please post or message me if you are interested.

Also, are there any reefers in Sac that would want to show me there setup or know of any good LFS? I am going to Sac this weekend for a State wide Physical Education teachers conference.

 

[UnderGrad]

Steve,
I'm in Davis (which is about 15 minutes away from Sac...) but won't be around this weekend. If you're interested in visiting some LFS in Sac, then you'll probably want to check out these three stores (in order of my preference)
1.) Capitol Aquarium
2.) O street Aquarium
3.) Can't remember the name of this last one but its on Florin Rd. right off of 99.

If you're interested, I'll post the addresses and phone numbers later when I get home tonight (but you gotta let me know or I'll probably forget to). HTH.

-AM-

 

[rowan]

there's also aqualife in rocklin

gael
)o(

 

[wombat1]

Steve, welcome to reefs.org! I don't know of a central valley reef club, but there is the Marine Aquarists Rountable of Sacramento (mars.org??)
reefs.org is a great place to find people nearby as well.

Arlan, yikes, you like Capitol? I'd list those 3 in the exact opposite order! Capitol ( 29th and S sts.???) has good specimens, but it's terribly expensive, and the employees are of little help. They actually have a professional service come in to maintain the tanks. O St. (O and 30th sts.), has gone downhill the last year IMO, although I did get a nice maxima clam there recently. Exotic Aquarium, the one at Florin Rd. and I-99, is my choice for corals and such, if I do have to buy them at a LFS. They're the only LFS out of those 3 that carries SPS corals, and their staff is all very knowledgeable. I'd visit all three anyway, and decide for yourself. Arlan, does Rian know of any good stores down there?

Steve, you can check out my teeny little tank if you want, or come see our university reef tanks. PM if you're interested.

 

[UnderGrad]

Matt,
Those stores were listed in that order of my preference purely for aesthetic reasons. Capitol IMO is a nice store to walk around in but I would never buy anything there (because of the prices). Exotic Aquarium is a bit ghetto and the walking space is a bit cramped but I'd definetely buy from them before I would from Capitol.
If you're asking about stores in the Manteca/Modesto area... its pretty desolate in that area in the way of Reef stuff. The only store I could point you to (and the only one that I know of that sells any type of coral) is The Pet Barn. Their look is a bit reminiscent of Petco, but they are managed completely differently. There is one other store in Modesto, but I refuse to refer anyone there because their tanks are abysmal (but they do have the best prices for tanks...).

-AM-

 

[wombat1]

Arlan, thanks for the reference... I suppose Exotic is a bit in the ghetto :wink: Wait till you see Tropical Paradise in San Leandro...

 

[TaIk2Kevin]

I live in Southern california in Santa Clarita, any body know of any GREAT fish stores around here? withen 30 miles?

 

[wombat1]

Talk2Kevin, I think you might have better luck creating a new thread with a new title... there are lots of folks in SoCal willing to give you that info HTH, Matt

 

[TrevDog]

stevearthur -

Unfortunately the shops in Sactown leave much to be desired. I feel much of it has to do with availability as inventory is usually always pretty thin.

Exotic usually has some LPS and softies, very few SPS (they have a 300g display tank but don't sell much out of it). Fish selection is OK and most appear to be healthy.

Capitol has a very small reef section. The specimens are in great shape (I heard they had a flatworm problem but didn't see any when I picked up a SWEET SPS there two weekends ago). Fish selection is good - health not so good.

O Street is for sale. Inventory of corals is very limited. Fish only slightly better. Another victim of a slow economy.

I haven't been to the Rocklin shop but I'd make the trip......

Undergrad - I pm'd you.