Best LFS in Houston?

bigtank · 09/01/2007, 10:26 AM

I live about 90 miles from Houston, the nearest place with real saltwater stores. So far I have been to Aquarium World and a couple other places...where is the best reef store down there?

Thanks.

pelochas · 09/01/2007, 10:50 AM

depends on who you ask and what kind of spending money you got. but hey, thats just me, im cheapo

for me the best LFS, not the cheapest, is Aquarium World and the new place that was created from Village Tropical Fish on 59 south and Kirby which is now called Fish Gallery. Both of these places have outstanding selection, clean tanks, good service but the prices are "yikes!". but they are the best. you also got several others very good, like CIty Pets, T&T, or you can get more listings at MarshReef.com

Purple Haze · 09/01/2007, 05:12 PM

Selection and price--City Pets.

Cool factor (overpriced on some things)--Fish Gallery.

apache73 · 09/02/2007, 01:35 PM

Having lived off and on in the greater Houston area since 1992 the short answer is that none of the LFS in Houston are super impressive for saltwater. Coming recently from the DC area the LFS there are superior.

City Pets = Best selection and prices for dry goods. Corals range from decent to OK on selection. Bad fish selection.

Fish Gallery (formerly Village Tropical Fish) = Good selection of FW fish and pretty darn good selection of FW plants, border line lousy for saltwater fish. Has a tendency to stock too many non-reef safe fish. Pricey. Nice folks though.

T&T = Tends to have the best SPS coral selection and occassionally has some unique fish and inverts for sale.

Aquarium World = Tends to have the most variety of reef safe/nano fish in the area. Pricey. Corals are very lacking.

ThaNgBOm321 · 09/02/2007, 02:47 PM

i think we all are in the same boat... there isn't really a 'good/great' fish store that i have seen... like above the best of them all is fish gallery but they charge a arm and a leg... city pets is have a nice dry good section usually stock with everything you need... i been looking to add more life into my tank for like 2 months now but never see anything good... tour best bet is to do what i do... sign up on 'marshreef.com' and wait for someone to sell frags... imo i think that is the best... there are plenty of people with awesome tanks like ''fishcraze2002'' totm winner... or invincible or naka... and so many others... just got to wait till they need to trim and give them a shout out... i know i will.. even if im broke and have no $$$ i would still like to come over to check out there system/ set-up...

YzGyz

09/01/2007, 10:26 AM	#1
bigtank Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arvada, Colorado Posts: 1,050	Best LFS in Houston? I live about 90 miles from Houston, the nearest place with real saltwater stores. So far I have been to Aquarium World and a couple other places...where is the best reef store down there? Thanks.

09/01/2007, 10:50 AM	#2
pelochas Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pasadena, TX Posts: 385	depends on who you ask and what kind of spending money you got. but hey, thats just me, im cheapo for me the best LFS, not the cheapest, is Aquarium World and the new place that was created from Village Tropical Fish on 59 south and Kirby which is now called Fish Gallery. Both of these places have outstanding selection, clean tanks, good service but the prices are "yikes!". but they are the best. you also got several others very good, like CIty Pets, T&T, or you can get more listings at MarshReef.com __________________ 120g Reef Tank Oceanic, 2x175watt MH 14k Iwasaki, 1 Ecotech MP40, Reeflo Dart return pump, AquaC EV-120 Eheim 1262 ,AquacontrollerJr, KentMaxximaHI-S, PhosBanReactor150, Geo Kalk Rx. Current Tank Info: working on diy led lighting and finishing a sump refuge relocated outside the house

09/02/2007, 02:47 PM	#5
ThaNgBOm321 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tx, houston Posts: 792	i think we all are in the same boat... there isn't really a 'good/great' fish store that i have seen... like above the best of them all is fish gallery but they charge a arm and a leg... city pets is have a nice dry good section usually stock with everything you need... i been looking to add more life into my tank for like 2 months now but never see anything good... tour best bet is to do what i do... sign up on 'marshreef.com' and wait for someone to sell frags... imo i think that is the best... there are plenty of people with awesome tanks like ''fishcraze2002'' totm winner... or invincible or naka... and so many others... just got to wait till they need to trim and give them a shout out... i know i will.. even if im broke and have no $$$ i would still like to come over to check out there system/ set-up... YzGyz __________________ YzGyz = Wise Guys ohhh and cows go MOOO!!! 2nd best way is to learn from ones own mistakes but the best way to learn is from others... thx to Randy and so many other for making reefing that much easier

09/01/2007, 05:12 PM	#3
Purple Haze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: TX Posts: 1,156	Selection and price--City Pets. Cool factor (overpriced on some things)--Fish Gallery.

09/02/2007, 01:35 PM	#4
apache73 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 179	Having lived off and on in the greater Houston area since 1992 the short answer is that none of the LFS in Houston are super impressive for saltwater. Coming recently from the DC area the LFS there are superior. City Pets = Best selection and prices for dry goods. Corals range from decent to OK on selection. Bad fish selection. Fish Gallery (formerly Village Tropical Fish) = Good selection of FW fish and pretty darn good selection of FW plants, border line lousy for saltwater fish. Has a tendency to stock too many non-reef safe fish. Pricey. Nice folks though. T&T = Tends to have the best SPS coral selection and occassionally has some unique fish and inverts for sale. Aquarium World = Tends to have the most variety of reef safe/nano fish in the area. Pricey. Corals are very lacking.