Best Reef Store in Austin & San Antonio

[DrMark]

Hello. Fairly new to MAAST and reef keeping, although not fish only salt.
I have a 204 gallon reef and a 34 gal "nano" and live in Corpus Christi.
I do not get up to Austin or San Antonio too much. However, in March I will be in both cities on one day and would like an opinion of the best store in each city to visit.
My main interest is LPS and soft corals. I appreciate any thoughts and comments.
Mark

[SoLiD]

The one I always visit in SA is:

Aquarium Designs 15223 San Pedro Avenue San Antonio, Tx 210-495-REEF (7333) Fax: 210-495-2732

Jason is as good as it gets.

[SoLiD]

BTW welcome to Maast!!!

[apedroza]

If you can make it too Taylor (N. of Austin) Austin Aquafarms has a great selection on LPS. Rivercity Aquatics, Aquatek and Deep Blue Aquarium are all within a short drive of each other. In SA Aquarium design and B&B aquariums are excellent shops.

[RayAllen]

I prefer Aquarium Designs and Phemoninal Aquatics. Both are also willing to special order things if they do not have them. So you can call before you come. Both are in San Antonio

[bexarhunt]

I've never heard of phenominal aquatics. Where in SA are they?

[erikharrison]

I've never heard of phenominal aquatics. Where in SA are they?

It's aka Wolf Reef. They are on Eckhert.

[bexarhunt]

Ohhh, ok...

[coraline79]

I vote wolf reef. fair and truthful.

[envy]

i would say visit austin might have a better selection in corals than San antonio. don't get me wrong some stores here have good selections but it is luck of the draw and what time you get there from time they recieve(good stuff goes quick) so make sure before you go anywhere the stores you plan on visiting get corls in on that day.

[erikharrison]

Mark, I had previously discussed with the board about having sponsor galleries for our local (Texas) sponsors. I am going to visit the stores that wish to participate and take plenty of pictures of each store so our members can view the stores via a gallery. This should be done and posted before you visit SA. Austin is going to be a little harder since I live in SA, but my girlie and I are going to make a couple of trips to Austin, so hopefully we can squeeze them all in.
:)

[coraline79]

cool! I have been to aquatek and deep blue in Austin, and they are both great stores. I still keep freshwater and aquatek has a pretty unique selection along with the standard stuff....sorry off subject.

[DrMark]

I appreciate the replies here. It seems that the San Antonio and Austin people have a nice community of members of MAAST. In Corpus not quite like that, more isolated down here. Really only one LFS, which I have had my ups and downs with. Although they did a nice job installing my 214 gal reef display aquarium back in June 2007. Now I am much more educated and am doing most of maintenance myself.......except the cleaning which is not the fun part anyway. I will post a pic sometime if there is interest in seeing what I have............although long way to go.
I also spent the $25 to join MAAST, although may not utilize any discounts that much, but that is not really the point anyway. Thanks Again.
Mark

[stoneroller]

Post some pics! We'd love to see the tank.

[erikharrison]

Mark, welcome and thanks for the support. Any questions or comments just holler. We have some great meetings and frag swaps, but they are usually around the SA ATX area. I would highly recommend going as you will walk away with some useful knowledge! We also have raffles and giveaways at the meetings, but they're nothing compared to what you can walk away with information-wise! We have some BIG things going on here in the near future, so keep your eyes out!

[apedroza]

Also forgot about aquadome which has the widest variety of fish anywhere. They also carry a nice selection of softies and LPS

[crossxfire2]

Half of aquadome is now corals, in the saltwater section. I went by there today, and stayed and talked with them past their closing time. They are really moving up the coral ladder. The fish selection has decreased, but its still great. Half of the fish tank became coral tanks.

[DrMark]

Have been trying to insert pictures for those interested. Will try again tomorrow, cant seem to manage it (not as easy as ebay). The display has been up and running 6 months and is going well, but has a LONG way to go. Biggest problem has been trying to find the best way to clean the acrylic. Acrylic safe scrapers are NOT acrylic safe, thats for sure. Any suggestions as to what has been tried and tested.
Mark

[erikharrison]

http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40582

There you go. If you need help, PM me.

[Jamie]

Hi there...I'm in Corpus too...just getting started. I hope to have my lights set up in the next month or so. Right now I've got a 150 with about 180lbs of LR. I've just got some crappy T12's on it and the algae is going nuts right now.

We should identify everyone who's from Corpus. I agree...it sucks only having one "real" place to go to down here. If enough of us get together we could probably help each other out.

R, Jamie

[DrMark]

ok. trying again with the pictures. Was glad to see someone else in Corpus. I know there are others! Trouble with only one LFS is no competition and no competition is bad for the consumer........always.
Thats why you guys are so lucky up there in SA-Austin.
Hope the pictures work.
This aquarium is a 214 or 204 gal, dont remember now. Viewable from 3 sides, it seperates my office from the foyer of my house.
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii112/mseanwilson/Fish/th_DSCF1847.jpg (javascript:void(0);)

http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii112/mseanwilson/Fish/th_DSCF1842.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii112/mseanwilson/Fish/th_DSCF1846.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii112/mseanwilson/Fish/th_DSCF1843.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii112/mseanwilson/Fish/th_DSCF1845.jpg


http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii112/mseanwilson/Fish/th_DSCF1844.jpg
http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii112/mseanwilson/Fish/th_DSCF1852.jpg

[JimD]

Very nice!!! PM sent...

[erikharrison]

That looks very, very, nice. Thanks for posting!

[glennr1978]

Hey I'm also in Corpus. Your tank looks like it's coming along nicely. i remember seeing it at Tropical Fish Haven right before they were going to install it. I don't really get much of my livestock from them anymore. I pretty much just buy everything online, and I've also set up a small "network" with a couple other reefer's here in Tx that I trade with. In fact I'm getting an order of SPS frags from a friend up in Dallas this week. I bought 9 frags for $100, if I would have bought them locally they would have certainly cost me $250+. So yeah, I agree, only having one real LFS = the consumer loses.

Not that our LFs is bad, but things do tend to be a bit pricey.

[merlin0883]

aqua dome-south austin. B&B Aquatics, Phenomenal Aquatics/Wolf reef, Aquarium Designs-SA. I'm sure there's more in Austin, but i've never been to them. These 4 stores are also my favorites.

[SoLiD]

:ph34r:Be nice guys.... Our LFS Rocks.........:sick::D

[stoneroller]

Looks like a show-stopper!

[apedroza]

I love Island Tanks!!!

[papijames]

I also vote for Wolf Reef. You can call Ed ahead of time before you waste your gas. Jason @ Aquarium Design can also take good care of you

[MissT]

Austin- RCA!!!

:bigsmile:

[BioCube14]

wolf reef always has the best prices