LFS in Pitt

jglackin · #1 08/20/2007, 05:06 PM

Folks,

Sorry for the intrusion, but I am here for two days and want to hit a good LFS while I am here. If you only could pick one store, which store would you consider to be a must see? I know that this is a loaded question, but I figured hat I would give it a try.

Aqua World
8143 Ohio River Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
412-732-9100

Atlantis
4724 Clairton Blvd. (Route 51)
412-882-7222

Elmer's Aquarium
http://www.elmersaquarium.com
4005 William Penn Hwy
Monroeville, PA 15146
412-372-6535

Petland
Miracle Mile
Monroeville, PA
412-380-2522

Perrytowne Aquarium
Perry Highway
412-364-1550

Seahorse
4906 Route 8
Allison Park, PA 15101
724-443-2920

Wet Pets & Friends
http://www.wetpetsandfriends.com/
3695 Washington Rd
Cannonsburg PA 15317
724-942-4442

Wilkinsburg Aquarium
1005 Wood St.
Wilkinsburg
412-731-5108

Under the Sea
http://utsfish.com/
20510 Rt. 19 Suite 107
Cranberry Twp., PA 16066
724-473-1128

acer · #2 08/20/2007, 05:34 PM

There are several threads found in this area discussing our LFS's - "very opinionated " is the nice way of saying that is it all by personal preference. Suggest you read a few of the threads and make a few phone calls to determine what would be best for you. It might depend on where your staying (location ) and what amount of time you are willing to drive to get to a specific store location. What are you specifically looking for? Let your fingers ( cell phone) do the walking.....

jglackin · #3 08/20/2007, 05:50 PM

Thanks. Iam staying at the Marriott downtown. I am looking for a reef store with a good sps selection.

I have some ideas now. Thanks again.

nataz · #4 08/20/2007, 06:13 PM

Well if you are looking for a reef store for corals tha I would knock off
Elmer's Aquarium -- limited selection unless you go late on wed. when there order arrives.

Petland -- bout the same as elmers.

Wilkinsburg Aquarium -- hardly any saltwater fish and no corals.

Well hope this helps you out a little.

snowhitejolf · #5 08/20/2007, 08:19 PM

atlantis has some aussie acans in

Scooterjenny · #6 08/20/2007, 08:33 PM

Aqua World has a widest & nicest selection of corals I have seen around here. They are expensive though! The owner is really nice, and if you are looking at buying alot, they may cut you a deal.

The last time I was at Sea Horse they didn't have many corals at all.

I have yet to veture out to Atlantis, so I have no idea what they have.

Good luck!

carpenterwrasse · #7 08/20/2007, 09:30 PM

my call is under the sea in cranberry...

jglackin · #8 08/20/2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acer
There are several threads found in this area discussing our LFS's - "very opinionated " is the nice way of saying that is it all by personal preference. Suggest you read a few of the threads and make a few phone calls to determine what would be best for you. It might depend on where your staying (location ) and what amount of time you are willing to drive to get to a specific store location. What are you specifically looking for? Let your fingers ( cell phone) do the walking.....

It's almost like religion. We have had "strong opinions" over at the CMAS forum (Chicago). The best way to settle it, if there is a way, is to put it to a vote with a poll. List all of the LFS stores in the area in a poll and let everyone vote just once. Vote for your favorite LFS. Then count up the votes. About once a year, we do one of these: Here I did the last one and god forbid you miss a store in the poll, you will never hear the end of it.

I notice that none of the stores, but one, have listed themselves in the LFS Locator. I would have used this if it had anything on it.

BeanAnimal · #9 08/20/2007, 10:00 PM

atlantis? Your kidding right? I have yet to ever stop in and be able to buy anything. No prices, no stock. Just the owners mother chain smoking and taking messages. Of course I could just have dropped by at the wrong times... or it could now be a real store instead of a service business with a half baked retail space.

raynist · #10 08/20/2007, 10:01 PM

For SPS I would say Aquaworld. It is the closest to where you will be staying.

I haven't been to Under the Sea in quite some time. You may want to call them when you get here to see if they have much of a selection.

I was at Aqua World this evening and they had a decent selection of SPS corals and are supposed to get a shipment in next week. Most of their SPS corals can be had for around $50.

--Ray

jglackin · #11 08/21/2007, 10:06 PM

Thanks everyone.

I went to Seahorse and Wet Pets. Seahorse had a decent selection of fish, softies, and LPS, but I do not recall seeing any SPS. Wet Pets had a much larger selection and much more diversity, but also not much in the way of SPS. They did have some great clams! I was in Wet Pets for 30 minutes looking around and not one person came over to offer assistance. I wasn't impressed with their service. As a sales guy, I don't believe any customer that comes into your store should ever have to seek out an employee for assistance unless the place is slammed with customers. The employees at Wet Pets were just standing around for the most part.

Scooterjenny · #12 08/22/2007, 12:26 AM

The last time I went to Seahorse I didn't see any SPS either. They do have a lot of fish. They sold me a sick Chromis that died within 2 days of purchase despite proper acclimation and pristine water conditions. When I called them on it, they expected me to drive all the way back out there for a 1/2 refund. No thanks, I will just do my business elsewhere!

It's a shame you didn't get out to Aqua World. They have a really nice selection of SPS. If you ever come out this way again check them out.

AHDOnline · #13 08/24/2007, 01:00 PM

I just moved here from indianapolis and have been trying to find a good LFS. I live less than 5 minutes from seahorse and have been there 4 times and not once did I get anyone to acknowledge me, and the one time I went to track someone down they treated me like I was an idiot because I was looking for something they had never heard of. Never going back there.

Wet pets actually was a really cool place, and I had several people willing to help but they seemed to have a lot of people hanging around not wanting to help.

So for now I have been lowered to Pets Mart, and online ordering. I occasionally make the trip back to Indiana and fill up at Premium aquatics.

So if you find something in the area you think is great please let me know.

jglackin · #14 08/25/2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AHDOnline
I just moved here from indianapolis

How much do you miss Inland Aquatics?

bnmir · #15 08/27/2007, 11:52 AM

You'd think with a local Macna just weeks away the local fish stores might clean up and stock up. The monroeville selection is just pitiful lately.

BeanAnimal · #16 08/27/2007, 12:21 PM

I am not sure that some of them even understand or care. We (as a club) have tried to bring them all on board. I would think that some will get shipments in right before the show. Then again, who knows.

Janice12 · #17 08/27/2007, 01:03 PM

I wish we had a quality marine store.

Now where's that genie at?

Maybe a road trip to Salty Critter would satisfy us for the time being?

jglackin · #18 08/29/2007, 12:06 AM

I've been there. Salty Critter is much better than both places I visited. Dan is a great guy and very helpful. What is it, about a 2 hour drive from Pittsburgh? I drive 3 hours to go to Inland Aquatics, but then I am a little on the out of control side of this hobby.

raynist · #19 08/29/2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jglackin
I've been there. Salty Critter is much better than both places I visited. Dan is a great guy and very helpful. What is it, about a 2 hour drive from Pittsburgh? I drive 3 hours to go to Inland Aquatics, but then I am a little on the out of control side of this hobby.

I have driven to Salty Critter several times. Best store I have ever been to. I order all of my dry goods from Dan. Can't beat the next day shipping.

Takes me about 2.5 hours.

--Ray

jglackin · #20 08/29/2007, 08:54 AM

I try to get to reef stores wherever I travel. I have seen some great stores. Dan's is a very good one. If you ever get a chance to go to Inland Aquatics in Terra Haute, IN, you should do so. It is by far my favorite reef store. The place is amazing. They have 35,000 gallons of saltwater. The place does a lot of business, but only a fraction of what they could do. The owner is somewhat checked out, but he has good people.

www.inlandaquatics.com

Janice12 · #21 08/29/2007, 09:40 PM

Hey! Quit it! You're making me wanna go right this second.
NanananananananananaImNotListening....

bs21 · #22 08/30/2007, 07:14 PM

Out of curiosity where is salty critter? I live pretty close to wet pets which is where i usually go but their coral selection lately seems to be alot of the same stuff every order. Anyways I am always looking for a new store to go to and there are still some stores in the area i need to visit.

raynist · #23 08/30/2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bs21
Out of curiosity where is salty critter? I live pretty close to wet pets which is where i usually go but their coral selection lately seems to be alot of the same stuff every order. Anyways I am always looking for a new store to go to and there are still some stores in the area i need to visit.

It is on the west side of cleveland. I live right by wet pets also and it take me 2.5 hours.