What Denver area stores to visit in half an afternoon?

[Etoimos]

I'll be taking the family up to the Denver Aquarium (we live in the Springs) next Wednesday. What stores would you recommend we try and visit while we are up there? We don't have a tank yet, and are just looking into the hobby, so we'd like to see some stores that have good stock selection and nice display tanks. Anything conveniently located between the Springs and the Aquarium would be a bonus.

Thanks,

Keith

 

[reefmaster719]

Re: What Denver area stores to visit in half an afternoon?

Aquatic art. Aquamart. Elite reef. Best ones worth your while. Enjoy

sent from my EVO eater

 

[Ghosty]

Elite Reef has no tanks, but nice corals & fish. It's also in Arvada (NW Denver), so opposite direction for you from downtown. Aquarmart & Fish Den both have tanks. Fish Den has a TON of tanks & stands on display, so if you wanna measure stuff and see the furniture, definitely hit them up, not far from downtown at all. I've never been to Neptunes, but heard good things. Look all these up on Google for map, phone, & directions.

 

[dr.schlegs]

Todd's and Fish Den have an area solely for new tanks. Most of the prices you see are for cabinet, canopy and tank, you will still have to get all the guts. AquaMart can make tanks, and have some great displays. Dave and Mike at AquaMart are great people to talk to. Myself being new to this hobby as well, I suggest surfing the forum there are great deals on used tanks, and equipment. Most expensive part of the hobby is getting set-up.

 

[Etoimos]

Thanks everyone. I should have made my first post clearer. We'd like to see tanks that the stores have setup with fish in them... so we can see what the different kinds of fish look like and how they behave. Although, seeing the different tanks and stands that are for sale out there would be nice as well. I've been watching the forums for used setups, but we are not looking to buy until around March. So it makes used deals hard to take advantage or right now!

 

[Campbell]

What Denver area stores to visit in half an afternoon?

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[Etoimos]

Just mapped these stores out and looks like we will try to hit up Fish Den, Aquamart, and Todd's Tropical. If there is extra time, we might throw Elite in their after Fish Den.

 

[dr.schlegs]

Thanks everyone. I should have made my first post clearer. We'd like to see tanks that the stores have setup with fish in them... so we can see what the different kinds of fish look like and how they behave. Although, seeing the different tanks and stands that are for sale out there would be nice as well. I've been watching the forums for used setups, but we are not looking to buy until around March. So it makes used deals hard to take advantage or right now!

AquaMart, Neptunes, and Fish Den have tanks with fish and corals "showcasing" their goods. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15 This is a good website to learn about who plays well together, and some of the nuances of each species. Several shops have directed me to this website. Some fish are going to be harder to keep in smaller tanks, some fish will eat snails and crabs, or other fish, some will eat coral. These website will inform you on those types of issues. I would suggest making a list of things you would like in your tank and talking to the stores about your selection. Further, Do you want corals? or Fish with Live Rock?

 

[WatercolorsGuy]

Re: What Denver area stores to visit in half an afternoon?

Fish Den... A decent place to look at tanks to buy. Dry goods are priced fair...a little higher than some imo. Their salt tanks....never been in there when they looked good or clean. Always filthy imo.
If it was a choice between Elite and Fish Den...I would definitely choose Elite over Fish Den.

 

[Etoimos]

AquaMart, Neptunes, and Fish Den have tanks with fish and corals "showcasing" their goods. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15 This is a good website to learn about who plays well together, and some of the nuances of each species. Several shops have directed me to this website. Some fish are going to be harder to keep in smaller tanks, some fish will eat snails and crabs, or other fish, some will eat coral. These website will inform you on those types of issues. I would suggest making a list of things you would like in your tank and talking to the stores about your selection. Further, Do you want corals? or Fish with Live Rock?

Yeah, my whole family has been researching on that site. LOL The wife went through and added all the fish like the looks of to her Pintrest account and we will go through them removing the ones that would be issues with the type of setup we want to do. Right now we are leaning towards doing a nem and clown tank. I've researching those heavily. So the tank will be just live rock and whatever we decide for the non clown fish for at least the first 6 months. Then we'll slowly add in some BTAs over the next couple months. Finally we'll add in the clowns once it's all established.

Fish Den... A decent place to look at tanks to buy. Dry goods are priced fair...a little higher than some imo. Their salt tanks....never been in there when they looked good or clean. Always filthy imo.
If it was a choice between Elite and Fish Den...I would definitely choose Elite over Fish Den.

Thanks for the extra info. I left out Elite as they were further north and west... sort of messed up the the easy commute between all the other stores. I would like to check them out though.

 

[Walter White]

In My personal opinion if there is but one you had time to visit I would say Aquatic Art.

 

[Etoimos]

Thank, I've been talking to Cris via email to setup a time to stop by. I work every Sat and that is his only retail day.

 

[reefmaster719]

Re: What Denver area stores to visit in half an afternoon?

AQUATIC ART!! Awesome 450 galllon tank that you have to see.