LFS in Calgary?

[reefmaster12345]

Originally Posted by SteveConn

I have to put my 2c in here.
I just switched from FW to SW in July (what a ride!), and I am disappointed that Wais was a bit pushy with me for livestock..Yeah, I WANTED all the purty things, but I was nervous about my ability to care for the stuff at the same time. I told the guy that my newly acquired tank was going through a "mini" cycle because I screwed up the live rock.. anyway, I felt persuaded to take home favias.. a bunch of corals that required 1-experience and 2- a stable tank.. He also was gung 'ho that I purchase a white (bleached out) anemone and that it would be reef and tank safe.
The tank started to die off.. the anemone kept moving around. Thankfully I sent the anemone back before it would have died, but all the coral except for the toadstool (still recovering died). It was a very discouraging experience as a newbie. I feel responsible for what I acquire and keep, but I do feel, in hindsight, I should have been steered away from such purchases until my tank was ready and my knowledge was increased.
Now... I say Wais has some interesting stuff, but they dont have my trust. I would tell a newbie to stay away. I also find their sales tactics somewhat pressured.

Red Coral though.. I wish they had more stuff. Seems most of what I like is available elsewhere, but I understand that they can bring in specific things if asked.. even better, Kevin was honest with me, directing me away from difficult corals and to START with a simple birdsnest. NOW I know I can keep SPS and in fact my tank has growing SPS.. mostly Acros :-)

Not trashing Wais, but they could do to spend more time with anxious newbies and help them steer away from more difficult corals ..not promote them for newbies to uhm.. kill. I still go to Wais, but as a much more informed consumer (with a heck of a lot more to learn!)

Make that my 3 cents

yes i think so too as when i went there the first time after my yummy peters burger he is pushy likes to sell not give info out like when i started i just had blue damsels and i was going to buy a new fish he recomending a sweat lips said they were easy wont eat anything in my tanks ok put him in and wat the hell lol he eat all my shrimps hermint crabs and even a few small slugs i had for flat worms but to bad he eat the slugs and died after as they were poison to him but o well he turned out to be a 200 buck fish and the next time i went there i talked to him about it this was about 4 days after he tried to tell me he didnt recomend it i was ****ed any ways i walked out of there mad and then went to ocean city and he had a super nice brain and hammer coral made my day got them to but then he was nice anuff to give me a deal on a third coral so i grabed a plat coral for 20 bucks nice guy i do recomend going to him because everything in his store is like reef safe u cant go wrong just dont buy a stingray or octopus its a great store for newbies and if u are starting of go to pices just to take a look they some times have some really rare fish there and they got monkeys

[Gripenfelter]

I want to check out Concept and Red Coral.

Where are they located?

I'll be in South East Calgary.

[Ross]

I shop 90% at Red coral.
The reasons are simple, his fish are eating, healthy and fair priced.
Kevin, Doug, & Carmen all treat you with respect and dont try to up sell.
Go when orders arrive as they get picked through fast.

Gold Aquarium:
Best prices, ok selection, get you in get you out service, its a busy store.

Ocean City:
Typically spotless tanks (no sediment on the bottom), decent prices, nearly constant supply of typical fish/lps corals.

Big Al's:
Boxing day sale is about it for me.
(typically sick under fed fish, algae, filty store)

Pisces:
High prices, tiny tanks, clueless staff, ok selection

River front:
Wont go back to a place that makes you feel like someone is out to steal your kidneys. high prices, dirty tanks, sickly livestock.

[Jackie]

I could not find Concept yesterday.
Anyone know the address?

[parkinsn]

Originally Posted by Jackie

I could not find Concept yesterday.
Anyone know the address?

Best to call 1st. He does not sell live stock at the moment, but he has a huge inventory on hardware.

Concept
http://www.conceptaquatics.ca/index.php/contacts/

Red Coral
2501 Alyth Rd SE
Calgary, AB T2G 5L4
(403) 338-1880

[chopperman]

I've never been to ocean city. Where is that shop located?

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by chopperman

I've never been to ocean city. Where is that shop located?

16th Ave. a couple block west of Peters Drive In, it's on the south side of 16th and is now called Oceans Creations.

[lastlight]

I think that's their third name nutty.

Ocean Aquariums
Ocean City
Ocean Creations