Local fish stores

MBarr57

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I am looking for some suggestions of new fish stores to try. I visit optimum and premier aquatics frequently but would like to visit some new places. What are the best ones around Atlanta?
 
Most of all the reef store in metro atlanta are all within 1 hr range. Literally you can hit one every 30min of driving. Check out all of em!


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Have you never been to Rits place at Atlanta Aquarium? His 3 main coral tanks alone put him above the rest, not even counting his high end torch/zoa tank.
I’ve been there a few times. I prefer PR. I like the fact you could eat off the floor there so clean. Rit has far more corals than PR does for sure.
 
I’ve been there a few times. I prefer PR. I like the fact you could eat off the floor there so clean. Rit has far more corals than PR does for sure.
I mean, have you seen the floors of any of the restaurants you go to eat at? Lol

It’s a clean store and they do have a decent selection, but if I’m driving 30+ mins to and from in Atlanta traffic, all I care about is my selections of product/quality
 
I’m a big fan of Pure Reef in Alpharetta and Reef Shack in Marietta.

Pure Reef has a lot of variety and their staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Reef Shack is my go to for coral. Their prices are super reasonable and they have a good variety of great looking frags every time I’m there.
 
Reef Shack is my go to for super reasonable price for coral frags
 
Pure Reef is my go to, not only because their close but because they've been awesome to work with. I recommend them 100%
 
Pure Reef is super clean, great staff. They even talked me out of buying an Apex. Their prices are high but they've become my go to for the few items I buy retail like food and AFR based on shopping experience alone. BRS selling to private equity helped that decision along as well.

Optimum has the best prices but the overall store and selection is mediocre.

Southern Aquatics is similar to Optimum in all regards.

Atlanta Aquarium is huge and decent prices.

Nemos I think is worth checking out. Decent prices and decent selection.

That's my 2cents on the stores I've visited.
 
Its tough to say anything negative about fish stores because it’s a tough business. I wouldn’t wish owning a fish store on my worst enemy…I’ve had friends approach me with the idea and my response was only if you want a slow and steady slide into bankruptcy 😂

I think I’ve been to every sponsor store at least once and some are nicer than others but my personal go to are Nemo for livestock and AA for hardware/dry goods.
 
I would say hands down Pure reef alittle pricy..... George keeps that place spotless. The staff is super amazing and been there along time. Where the other stores i go to Its never the same people so thats not good. If your shopping for livestock nemos is the best priced store there
 
I've become a big fan of Atlanta Aquarium. They are the first place I visit for dry goods, and usually the last, because they always have what I need when other area stores don't. The new Nemo store is great as well. Lots of unique stuff I've not seen at other stores. Reserving final judgment on it until I've done more business with them but I've been happy so far.

I do have to shout out Optimum as they always have excellent prices and carry a few things I don't see anywhere else. I've been on the lookout for a conch and some peppermint shrimp lately and they were the only shop around to have either. Plus they're a mainstay. Greg sold me my first saltwater tank in 2007 and although the shop has moved, he's still around. This was the very first fish store I ever set foot in and it's a great place.

I haven't been there in many years because they're a big trek but I'm sad to see Creation Pet not mentioned at all. They used to be my favorite store back in the day. Clean store, great displays, interesting livestock, good dry stock selection, super friendly staff, and competitive prices.

FInally I want to mention Premier Aquatics... They have the best displays in Atlanta, hands down in my opinion. Big store, always clean, lots of stock, fantastic freshwater section, and well staffed.
 
I've become a big fan of Atlanta Aquarium. They are the first place I visit for dry goods, and usually the last, because they always have what I need when other area stores don't. The new Nemo store is great as well. Lots of unique stuff I've not seen at other stores. Reserving final judgment on it until I've done more business with them but I've been happy so far.

I do have to shout out Optimum as they always have excellent prices and carry a few things I don't see anywhere else. I've been on the lookout for a conch and some peppermint shrimp lately and they were the only shop around to have either. Plus they're a mainstay. Greg sold me my first saltwater tank in 2007 and although the shop has moved, he's still around. This was the very first fish store I ever set foot in and it's a great place.

I haven't been there in many years because they're a big trek but I'm sad to see Creation Pet not mentioned at all. They used to be my favorite store back in the day. Clean store, great displays, interesting livestock, good dry stock selection, super friendly staff, and competitive prices.

FInally I want to mention Premier Aquatics... They have the best displays in Atlanta, hands down in my opinion. Big store, always clean, lots of stock, fantastic freshwater section, and well staffed.
Unfortunately, creation pet has gone massively downhill. They went from a fish only store to an all-purpose pet store, and their staffing shows it. The last several times I've been, they have entirely new staff, and only once has the "saltwater specialist" actually had a saltwater tank. I used to visit all the time before they expanded to reptiles and birds, but now I only go when I need reptile stuff.

I agree with others here, pure reef is my go to. Their prices are worth it to pay an amazing staff who didn't write off 8 year old me when I first visited, and they actually try to talk me out of things when I get a crazy idea lol

Southern aquatics was a letdown, same deal as with creation pet it seems. Tanks all have hair algae and pests in them, display has ich, etc.

I refuse to buy from Premier due to a nightmare with them a few years ago. Very rude, snarky staff.
 
Unfortunately, creation pet has gone massively downhill. They went from a fish only store to an all-purpose pet store, and their staffing shows it. The last several times I've been, they have entirely new staff, and only once has the "saltwater specialist" actually had a saltwater tank. I used to visit all the time before they expanded to reptiles and birds, but now I only go when I need reptile stuff.

I agree with others here, pure reef is my go to. Their prices are worth it to pay an amazing staff who didn't write off 8 year old me when I first visited, and they actually try to talk me out of things when I get a crazy idea lol

Southern aquatics was a letdown, same deal as with creation pet it seems. Tanks all have hair algae and pests in them, display has ich, etc.

I refuse to buy from Premier due to a nightmare with them a few years ago. Very rude, snarky staff.
That's such a bummer! I used to love Creation. So much so that I even applied to work there about 10 or 15 years ago when I was still in school.

Sad to hear about Premiere, too. I was wondering why they hadn't popped up in this thread. I've probably spent hundreds of hours in that store, and thousands of dollars. I'm no longer on their side of town but when I am I still pop in. They were pretty helpful when I wanted to set up a planted tank last year, but I can't say I've bought more than a few inverts from them on the reefing side in a long time.
 
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