corpus christi lfs

[brucedittmar]

we would like to invite everyone to corpus christi and check out TROPICAL FISH HAVEN.we have only owned the store for a little over two years and have made many changes.we have a large selection of saltwater fish and corals.we also have a new shop in the back that we build anything out of acrylic.we custom build tanks,refugiums cal.reactors etc.please come and ck us out. don't take one persons opinion

thanks
bruce and susan dittmar

TROPICAL FISH HAVEN
6325 MCARDLE
CORPUS CHRISTI TX 7841
361-991-1893

[Tim Marvin]

Who's opinion is it we shouldn't take? Do you have a web site we can look at? Maybe Minh could take a look for us.....

[Tim Marvin]

Oh yeh welcome! I hope I wasn't sounding too critical.

[brucedittmar]

SORRY WE DON'T HAVE A WEB SITE.STILL TRYING TO MAKE IT WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
DON'T ASK MINH I GUESS HE DOES NOT LIKE US
BUT WE ARE STILL LEARNING AND WOULD LIKE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN.
BRUCE DITTMAR

[brucedittmar]

YES WE HAVE THE LARGE TANK UP FRONT.WE BUILT IT FOR THE STORE ITS ABOUT A YEAR OLD NOW

[OrionN]

Tropical Fish Haven is the only LFS in Corpus Christi that sell salt-water fishes and invertebrates. TFH have a very beautiful show tank. TFH have a nice selection of salt-water fishes that are reasonably healthy and well care for at a fair price. There are several local reefers (me included) that supply TFH with healthy, cheap, colorful tank raise SPS frags. LPS and soft corals selections are OK as well. I certainly think that TFH is comparable to all the LFS in Houston or San Antonio. All in all, it is a very good LFS. It is certainly the very best LFS that Corpus ever has. Certainly the choices in Corpus Christi before Bruce and Susan took over TFH were pitiful. TFH also sells Skimmers, Acrylic tanks, and Ca reactors that they made. They are all of very good quality at a better price that one can get elsewhere.
It is not a store that I would drive several hours to see and I would not recommend people from Houston or San Antonio drive to Corpus just to see TFH. I, however, have not seen any LFS that I would drive several hours to see unless one does not have any LFS locally. If you are ever in or near Corpus Christi, TFH is well worth as one of the points of interest for reefers. So if any of you guys and gals ever drive by Corpus Christi, come by. Certainly the show tank would be well worth the stop.
I certainly think TFH is a great resource for reefers in the Corpus area.

Minh Nguyen

[brucedittmar]

THANKS GENE THE CORAL YOU ASK ABOUT CAME FROM MINH.IT'S JUST ABOUT READY TO FRAG.
BRUCE

[OrionN]

SORRY WE DON'T HAVE A WEB SITE.STILL TRYING TO MAKE IT WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
DON'T ASK MINH I GUESS HE DOES NOT LIKE US
BUT WE ARE STILL LEARNING AND WOULD LIKE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN.
BRUCE DITTMAR
Bruce,
Why did you think I did like your store?
I don't think I have ever said anything bad about your store.
Minh Nguyen

[brucedittmar]

MIHN CK OUT YOUR POST FROM 01/06/03

[Chris]

MIHN CK OUT YOUR POST FROM 01/06/03

The only post Minh had on Jan 6th was this....


Back to the main topic.
What does everybody think about having a meeting at my house some time? I have a very full tank and can alway give some free frags to people who brave the 2 hrs from San Antonio to come.
Minh Nguyen

At any rate, welcome to the group Bruce! I hope you'll stick around to share your experiences in the Biz with us.. and hopefully we can offer advice to you as well.

8)

[Janice]

MIHN CK OUT YOUR POST FROM 01/06/03

The only post Minh had on Jan 6th was this....


Back to the main topic.
What does everybody think about having a meeting at my house some time? I have a very full tank and can alway give some free frags to people who brave the 2 hrs from San Antonio to come.
Minh Nguyen

At any rate, welcome to the group Bruce! I hope you'll stick around to share your experiences in the Biz with us.. and hopefully we can offer advice to you as well. About the LFS "scene" as whole I think his first remark was about, not a specific store. 8)

Well this as well

"LFS here in Corpus Christi is not very good. There is only one store. It is reasonable in term of the health of the fish and animal but I would not make the trip just to see it. When you are down here, a trip to the LFS is reasonable.
Minh Nguyen"

I really think it was misinterpeted however by the store owner. I did not take that as a negative post about the store at all. I took it as him reffering to the LFS "scene" as a whole, not a specific store.

[Chris]

Ahhh.. weird... I didn't see that one in a search. I'm with Janice though... To me it sounds like Minh said there's only one good store in Corpus which went un-named.

Just a misunderstanding. :beer:

[OrionN]

Bruce and everybody,
I did not mean for that post to be negative about TFH. I think it is a nice store. I just did not think that it is a store that people in Houston or San Antonio should drive to Corpus just to see it.
BTW, I posted the post about TFH above before I saw Bruce's second post. It just take too long for my to type it, so by the time I send it in, several people, include Bruce, have reposted.
Bruce, please accept my apology. I will appology to you in person when I see you the next time.
Minh Nguyen

[brucedittmar]

NO PROBLEM WITH ANYONE EVERYONE IS WELCOME
WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL BUT IF WE KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS WE WILL HOPEFULLY GET BETTER.
MINH YOU HAVE HELPED US A LOT.DON'T STOP

AGAIN WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME AND VISIT THE STORE.
THANKS BRUCE

[Tim Marvin]

I have to agree. I thought Minh was saying it was an average store and we could see just as good a store locally. I'll still drop in when I come to the meeting at Minh's house. I think you guys are getting too touchy.
Not everyone likes me either Bruce, but you just do the best you can and business will work for you as long as you stand behind your products and treat people fairly. It is when we get greedy and start selling anything for the money instead of giving good advice. I personally try to sell people on refugiums, halides (T-5 soon), and Kalk to run the tanks on. A calcium reactor if they have numerous acros, clams, and stoney. I try to help people get by on as little cash out as possible yet still keep a thriving reef. I don't beleive in all the additives, I think they are a waste of money, but I do beleive in water changes. I think people keep coming back because I am honest. Also if someone losses something I don't make up an excuse and then try to sell a cure if I am not sure. Anyway I guess what I am trying to say is be fair and honest and you will have more business than you need. Minh would be good to stay friends with also, a good part of this business lies in relationships, and repeat customers.

[captexas]

Wish this thread had started last week! I was in Corpus on Tuesday for work and had some free time I could have checked out the store. I just got back from two days in Houston, but didn't have any free time to check out the LFS there.

Oh well, have to wait till next time.