Best LFS in California!

KingTideCorals · May 4, 2021

This is a slightly biased thread, but its to help me out with the near future.. I am headed down to CA and want to scope out some fun LFS to visit and check out. I will be in Northern CA, but will have the means to travel to any of them within reasonable distance if they are worth it!

Would be a fun series to add to my channel, and getting a chance to see all kinds of different LFS will for sure be an experience. Have a feeling CA is going to for sure be a state that has all kinds of shops to check out! Hopefully in my area some good ones as well.

Lets hear about your CALIFORNIA shop/LFS experiences! I want to hear them all!

alpha199 · May 5, 2021

North County Tropical Fish Store - Reefers Garage is a store I frequented when I lived in California. It is in Vista CA though.

CoralsAddiction · May 5, 2021

Amazing Aquariums and Reefs in Orange, CA

Suohhen · May 5, 2021

Aquatic Collection in Hayward is the absolute go to for fish and they also have a great selection of coral. Neptune Aquatics in San Jose is a great place for coral and both have been in business for many years.

TangGang · May 5, 2021

Seaside tropical fish. Been to many places in and out of state but this place is truly the best. Not many times do you have a place with extremely healthy parasite free powder blues along with leopard and pencil wrasses that are eating frozens within 10 mins of getting home. Amazing prices too.

DinoMagnet · May 5, 2021

TangGang said:
Seaside tropical fish. Been to many places in and out of state but this place is truly the best. Not many times do you have a place with extremely healthy parasite free powder blues along with leopard and pencil wrasses that are eating frozens within 10 mins of getting home. Amazing prices too.

Seven seas in San Pedro is awesome also

KingTideCorals · May 5, 2021

TangGang said:
Seaside tropical fish. Been to many places in and out of state but this place is truly the best. Not many times do you have a place with extremely healthy parasite free powder blues along with leopard and pencil wrasses that are eating frozens within 10 mins of getting home. Amazing prices too.

What part of CA is this store located? Thanks for chiming in!

DinoMagnet · May 5, 2021

ReeferBlaine said:
What part of CA is this store located? Thanks for chiming in!

Huntington Beach.

Saltyreef · May 5, 2021

neptune aquatics, aquatic collection, diablo corals

monkeyCmonkeyDo · May 5, 2021

Vivids
D

Kynzo · May 5, 2021

ReeferBlaine said:
This is a slightly biased thread, but its to help me out with the near future.. I am headed down to CA and want to scope out some fun LFS to visit and check out. I will be in Northern CA, but will have the means to travel to any of them within reasonable distance if they are worth it!

Would be a fun series to add to my channel, and getting a chance to see all kinds of different LFS will for sure be an experience. Have a feeling CA is going to for sure be a state that has all kinds of shops to check out! Hopefully in my area some good ones as well.

Lets hear about your CALIFORNIA shop/LFS experiences! I want to hear them all!

Personally I've been disappointed with the stores in the northern California area other than 2 "aquatic collection" and "neptune aquatics". Most LFS have a smaller saltwater selection and very few corals. I haven't been yet but there's cali kid in Concord, they opened a few months back. There's also "your reef" in Roseville which I haven't checked out, and a few in San Jose since it's a bit of a drive for me. Maybe someone from SJ can chime in. I've heard of 360 coralz, violet aquarium, and legendary corals but idk if they have a storefront.

Saltandfresh · May 5, 2021

ReeferBlaine said:
This is a slightly biased thread, but its to help me out with the near future.. I am headed down to CA and want to scope out some fun LFS to visit and check out. I will be in Northern CA, but will have the means to travel to any of them within reasonable distance if they are worth it!

Would be a fun series to add to my channel, and getting a chance to see all kinds of different LFS will for sure be an experience. Have a feeling CA is going to for sure be a state that has all kinds of shops to check out! Hopefully in my area some good ones as well.

Lets hear about your CALIFORNIA shop/LFS experiences! I want to hear them all!

Check out LAX Aquarium. It’s close to… well LAX. I feel blessed to live close enough to visit at least once a week.

jambi0n · May 5, 2021

Aquatic Collection (Hayward) - Nice selection of SWF and Corals. Pricing is good, staff is very knowledgeable and tanks are maintained. I have picked up both dry goods and livestock here.

California Reef (Newark) - Smaller shop with a great selection of corals and a nice selection of designer SWF. Prices are average as well. The gentleman who helped me answered all my questions regarding a pair of Blackstorm Clownfish I purchased.

Neptune Aquatics (San Jose) - Really nice store with amazing display tanks filled with both SWF and FWF. Prices are a bit on the higher end, but an amazing collection of corals and stocked with almost every dry good you can think of. Staff is very friendly.

Violet Aquarium (San Jose/Santa Clara) - Nice selection of coral in their back area, but minimal fish selection in the front (at least the day I went to check it out). The gentleman there the day I visited said hello one time and remained behind the register.

All About Fish (Pleasant Hill) - Nice large location with a great selection of SWF. Coral selection was good too. Staff is great and will answer any questions you have regarding your tank.

SJReef (Dublin) - Smaller shop with a average selection of corals and minimal selection of SWF. Only four tanks for SWF.

Exotic Aquarium (Sacramento) - One of the shops I frequented when I lived in Sacramento. Nice shop but with a great selection of SWF. A bit on the smaller side in regards to coral selection. Great pricing!

Splash (Sacramento) - Nice shop with very friendly staff. Selection of corals is great as well as SWF. Fair pricing at this location

Your Reef (Roseville) - Amazing selection of coral at great pricing. Cheaper than ordering from their website. Selection of SWF at the time I went was minimal, but a great spot to get corals. The gentleman there answered all my questions regarding flow and lighting for a piece I purchased.

Aquarium & Reptile Depot (Carmichael) - Literally across the overpass from Your Reef with a great selection of SWF. One of the LFS I drive an hour to and frequent often. Staff is great and gets very busy on the weekends. The owners there are great and one of the LFS I drive an hour to and frequent often. Will help with any questions you have about your tank.

KingTideCorals · May 5, 2021

jambi0n said:
Aquatic Collection (Hayward) - Nice selection of SWF and Corals. Pricing is good, staff is very knowledgeable and tanks are maintained. I have picked up both dry goods and livestock here.

California Reef (Newark) - Smaller shop with a great selection of corals and a nice selection of designer SWF. Prices are average as well. The gentleman who helped me answered all my questions regarding a pair of Blackstorm Clownfish I purchased.

Neptune Aquatics (San Jose) - Really nice store with amazing display tanks filled with both SWF and FWF. Prices are a bit on the higher end, but an amazing collection of corals and stocked with almost every dry good you can think of. Staff is very friendly.

Violet Aquarium (San Jose/Santa Clara) - Nice selection of coral in their back area, but minimal fish selection in the front (at least the day I went to check it out). The gentleman there the day I visited said hello one time and remained behind the register.

All About Fish (Pleasant Hill) - Nice large location with a great selection of SWF. Coral selection was good too. Staff is great and will answer any questions you have regarding your tank.

SJReef (Dublin) - Smaller shop with a average selection of corals and minimal selection of SWF. Only four tanks for SWF.

Exotic Aquarium (Sacramento) - One of the shops I frequented when I lived in Sacramento. Nice shop but with a great selection of SWF. A bit on the smaller side in regards to coral selection. Great pricing!

Splash (Sacramento) - Nice shop with very friendly staff. Selection of corals is great as well as SWF. Fair pricing at this location

Your Reef (Roseville) - Amazing selection of coral at great pricing. Cheaper than ordering from their website. Selection of SWF at the time I went was minimal, but a great spot to get corals. The gentleman there answered all my questions regarding flow and lighting for a piece I purchased.

Aquarium & Reptile Depot (Carmichael) - Literally across the overpass from Your Reef with a great selection of SWF. One of the LFS I drive an hour to and frequent often. Staff is great and gets very busy on the weekends. The owners there are great and one of the LFS I drive an hour to and frequent often. Will help with any questions you have about your tank.

Be moving within striking distance of Sacramento! Thanks for this write up, got tons for me to check out!

KrisReef · May 5, 2021

Yes. The above posts got this right.
Northern CA has Paradise
Southern CA is truly coral heaven (Although the reef food with that name comes from Hawaii).

NanoReefs · May 5, 2021

I would vote for Neptune Aquatics in San Jose. It is my favorite store in California, and they have an amazing display room and so many frag tanks. They even have a "How much do you want it tank?" with tons of rare shrooms.

NanoReefs · May 5, 2021

If you want to see Neptune Aquatics, Kessil and Neptune Systems have videos filmed at the store.

Neros503 · May 5, 2021

Neptune Aquatics has a great selection of corals and Aquatic collection has a great variety of fish.

jambi0n · May 5, 2021

KingTideCorals said:
Be moving within striking distance of Sacramento! Thanks for this write up, got tons for me to check out!

My pleasure. While getting back into the hobby a few months ago, I did a lot of visiting of LFS in the valley area as well as the bay area. But enjoy and let me know if you find any other shops not listed. I’m always interested in visiting new ones.

socal562 · Jun 10, 2021

KingTideCorals said:
This is a slightly biased thread, but its to help me out with the near future.. I am headed down to CA and want to scope out some fun LFS to visit and check out. I will be in Northern CA, but will have the means to travel to any of them within reasonable distance if they are worth it!

Would be a fun series to add to my channel, and getting a chance to see all kinds of different LFS will for sure be an experience. Have a feeling CA is going to for sure be a state that has all kinds of shops to check out! Hopefully in my area some good ones as well.

Lets hear about your CALIFORNIA shop/LFS experiences! I want to hear them all!

Check out LAX AQUARIUM!!