Best LFS in San Francisco?

[marty_5555]

Hey everyone,
I'll be visiting San Francisco from Canada in late August and was looking to hit up a couple of LFS when I'm there. Any recommendations, esp. for corals? TIA

 

[Saltyreef]

Hey everyone,
I'll be visiting San Francisco from Canada in late August and was looking to hit up a couple of LFS when I'm there. Any recommendations, esp. for corals? TIA

Highly suggest you drive into san jose to visit neptune aquatics.

Diablo corals and aquatic collection are still among my favorites too.

 

[WheatToast]

Highly suggest you drive into san jose to visit neptune aquatics.

Diablo corals and aquatic collection are still among my favorites too.

Great recommendations! Both Neptune Aquatics and Aquatic Collection have super healthy livestock and are great places to visit (Aquatic Collection stocks a greater variety of marine animals, but Neptune Aquatics is much larger). I have never visited Diablo Corals, but I hope to soon.

Cali Kid Corals (@calikidcorals) is another store i would reccomend, which is in Concord. It's not a very large store, but they have a good coral selection (though I never really payed much attention to it) and some beefy Trochus snails on sale.

Unfortunately, two of the largest stores in the Bay Area are now permanently closed. Back in January of 2017, an electrical fire broke out in Aquarium Concepts in Dublin and fire sprinklers ended up dumping their contents into the frag tanks. In September of 2021, All About Fish in Pleasant Hill permanently closed after the owners retired and could not find anyone to pass the business over to.

 

[Saltyreef]

Theres also ultimate aquarium in san mateo.

If you are going to san jose theres a small handful of shops that arent widely known.
They arent the nicest either but the coral and fish are normally healthy.
Lots of wild selections.

If i were you, wherever you end up, search tropical fish store on google maps and visit every single one you can find thats open.

 

[Natural_Reefer]

Highly recommend Aquatic Collection and Neptune as well.
There is also Violet Aquatium (minutes from Neptune).
Are you planning on purchasing anything? I have not been to Cal Kid but my buddy had and said it is very nice. I think you could order online and pick up at their store as well.

 

[Mike konesky]

Cali Kid is in southern California. Op is going to northern California.
Pretty sure the shop in Concord you are talking about is Diablo Corals.

if you stop by Diablo please post pics. Heard Jess got a new shop.

 

[Natural_Reefer]

Cali Kid is in southern California. Op is going to northern California.

Do some researches!
Cali Kid has a location in Norcal. My buddy and I purchased from them couple times and they shipped from Socal to Norcal for us to pick up (no shipping charges).
5416 Ygnacio Valley Rd Ste 50,
Concord, CA 94521

 

[WheatToast]

Cali Kid is in southern California. Op is going to northern California.

I think they have two locations. I never knew they had a Southern California location but it looks like a cool place to visit.

 

[Mike konesky]

Oh wow. Lucky! Had no idea about the NorCal one. That'd be my first stop.

 

[Saltyreef]

I think they have two locations. I never knew they had a Southern California location but it looks like a cool place to visit

Yea calikid is from LA originally.
They probably saw the writing on the wall with bay area coral collectors. Lots of people like shopping in person when they are very high end collectors.

 

[Natural_Reefer]

Cali Kid is in southern California. Op is going to northern California.
Pretty sure the shop in Concord you are talking about is Diablo Corals.

if you stop by Diablo please post pics. Heard Jess got a new shop.

Pretty sure it is Cali Kid In Concord!
I believe the Socal Location is much larger.

 

[Natural_Reefer]

Oh wow. Lucky! Had no idea about the NorCal one. That'd be my first stop.

Yes, we are very lucky to have some good shops in the area.
My buddy is near by so he usually goes there to pick up our stuffs. I need to find time to go check it out soon.
He also mentioned
SJREEF
6715 Dublin Blvd.
Dublin, CA 94568

 

[Saltyreef]

Yes, we are very lucky to have some good shops in the area.
My buddy is near by so he usually goes there to pick up our stuffs. I need to find time to go check it out soon.
He also mentioned
SJREEF
6715 Dublin Blvd.
Dublin, CA 94568

Sjreef i believe is, or was a vendor here. Hes got some nice stuff. I havent been to the shop yet though.