a review of taking a drive on Tuesday 1/18/11

now this is only  "my view of a review" from the drive I took on Tuesday (some places are closed today Sea of Marvels make a note)
I heard Thursday is a better day to come from some of them (delivery's come Wednesday) if someone else wants to take trip like this.
I went to Pets Playhouse Cedar Rapids, Fish Shack Manchester, Coralville Bay Coralville, Anemones, Clowns, & Corals Washburn, Mad Hat Pets Cedar Falls,
This review is only looking at there salt water selection of fish and related dry goods. Not fresh water stuff, dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, pet grooming, you get the idea.
I will say every one I talked to at each store was very HELPFUl  and Polite. (I hope none of them get offend by me posting my views of them on here SORRY if you do)
   had no real salt water selection maybe 10 fish, some dry goods and equipment not much else.  
   had lots of tanks, some coral, not a lot of fish, most if not all tanks had there own filter system BIG PLUS makes it a lot safer when getting a fish (you know what I mean), red slim algae, aptasia, a lot of debris needing to be cleaned up off the bottom of the tanks. they had a good selection of dry goods and equipment.
   had  maybe 15 tanks, some fish, few coral, about 1/2 the tanks were clean the other 1/2 well, some dry goods, several used tanks, (side note black & white percula clown 2 for $50 The only thing I should have gotten but I did not)
   had 10 maybe 15 tanks well used to show what they have, several different types of fish and corals to chose from, very clean tanks, they had good selection of many dry goods and equipment that could be for salt water setups. clean story well organized.
   all salt water lots off dry goods, lots of tanks, lots of clean up crews, some fish, no coral yet,  well organized on what was done there so far.
   all salt water lots of tanks, most were very clean, many fish and corals (I think he had 3 tanks full), hard to find a prices, some dry goods, LOTS of used stuff (tanks, pumps, stands).
I am from the Quad cities area we have 4 stores that have salt water stuff to offer (if I am gong to say hat I seen out today I will tell you what I see here when I go)
Aquatic Environments Davenport,  The Pet Store Davenport, Pet Mart Davenport, Teske Pet and Garden Moline.
    has small self contained rack system,  with some live rock, never more than 5 fish, (at the most when ever I stop in) tanks need to be cleaned, some dry goods mainly for fresh water.
   has 10 maybe 15 tanks, very few fish, no coral (when I stop in), some dry goods mainly for fresh water.
   has 10 maybe 15 tanks, tanks are clean, several fish (good use of tank space for the number of fish), some coral, some live rock, all tanks had there own filter system BIG PLUS makes it a lot safer when getting a fish, some dry goods mainly for fresh water.
   has 25 tanks, many different fish,  plus a self contained rack system, that is put to good use with smaller clean up crews type stuff, star fish, shrimps, crabs, snails, anemones, tanks are always well cleaned up, a large tank full of live rock, 2 large tanks full of corals, pricing on or near that tank, a large selection of dry goods, a lot of things for salt water needs,  
remember this is MY VIEW ONLY every one has one
HAD A GREAT TIME MEETING ALL OF YOU !
THANK

 

sorry Matt (if you personally want to know about one in particular let me know )
YES it is some what confusing ! (ok a lot)
but some of the people I talked to are on here (this site) don't want to hurt any ones feelings
I do not want to say store X sucks thats why I did not list there nameby there review
I don't want to put a name to each location pros vs cons
I would still say they all have some pros to there store.
the salt water aspect may not be its
again met some GREAT people at each one
if you have visited  any of them you know which one is which.

 

Pets Playhouse Cedar Rapids,
2-11-11 stopped by today on Friday
they had MORE fish and the tanks were a lot cleaner than the last visit.
even found a RTBA

Anemones, Clowns, & Corals Washburn,
2-11-11 stopped by today on Friday
you have come along a lot in a months time, more tanks up, more dry goods, more fish and corals.
THANKS for showing me all the different light colors available I have a better idea of what I want to try when it comes time to replace my bulbs.
Thanks for the tax sale you got me to drive up.