Best Saltwater Fish / Coral Store in Iowa? .... Go!

Coral Haven, Aquatic Environments. Both in Davenport

 

3rd place is a long long long way down the list

 

Bahahaha

 

Have to agree. Coral Haven and Aquatic Environments.
They have to have a huge client base for both to be 4 miles apart.

 

If you are in CR shoot down to North Liberty after 2pm to Sea of Marvels. Not the best store ever but Hung is a good guy and arguably has more experience than 95% of our club. His fish selection is poor, his corals are expensive, and variably priced seemingly based on which way the fumes are flowing from his wifes nail shop.

That being said he has been in business for 30 years servicing 100+ tanks in the area and that is his gig. But shoot in there for some witty sometimes unintelligible reef banter and I am sure will walk out of there more informed than when you came in.

 

LOL that is the best description I have heard about SOM yet.

 

Yea,

I'm not corking it after that. Sea of marvels, is as you said it, is priced variably and as he has a lot of coral, he is not geared as a retail source, No frags. He prices at a point so high even an offering of acceptable retail would seem to be low ball. A 3" maxima for 300; Does that include delivery and a 30 day guarantee?

If someone wanted to get into the hobby they would turn and run after seeing the price tags he has. The guy seems to be geared toward the maintenance side of the industry where the prices are set as a delivered and acclimated.
I don't see the appeal from the retail aspect. Someone looking for the full service of setup stock and maintenance. Then sea of marvels is your bet.
There, rant done.

 

Jeesh. I have no dog in this fight but no need to rant on an established business (30 years). He obviously knows what he is doing.

And not to get on a high horse but check out recent podcasts from Reef Threads or the MACNA talk on youtube from Jim Walter of Old Town Aquarium.



Basically, to summarize, the LFS doesn't need high end reefers (us). But to your point yeah Hung is all that. You don't have to buy but it doesn't hurt to catch yourself a buzz and go talk to him and zone out to his tanks on a rainy afternoon.

 

SOM is a acquired taste. The more I went the more I liked it.

 

Any Petco. I mean does it get any better than Aqueon products?

 

My rant is not in bad taste about the store. Nowhere do I discredit his establishment as far as quality or ability. Only the perception many reviews i read that left me to think "this is the place to go".
Then I get there and am just wtf. You have to ask the price on everything " dry goods mainly". No frags, only what's in the tank. To me, that's not retail.

And as I signed out. 'If you want full service, its the place to go.' Just be prepared to pay for full service.

If you go to a reef store where there is a prethra of options. Small frags, medium frags, mother colonies. Something for every budget such as Coral Haven, Aquatic environments, or the late Clowns and Corals, then I get the feel that this is what can make the hobby come to average joes finger tips.
I've killed my share of coral getting acclimated to the husbandry required of this hobby, I am not going to buy a colony for gold dabloons to learn hard.

 

Ok this went way off topic best three I would say at the moment coral haven ..... It is a drive but found some gorgeous stuff there.

 

Best prices best service Coral Haven hands down

 

I know I am lucky to have the best 2 stores in the state just minutes from my home. Aquatic environments and coral haven. They both stand behind the products and livestock they sell. And if you have a problem fixing something bring it to either store and they have parts on hand and will fix it for you. And if you need something custom made like a sump they can do that too.

 

Yes Jeremy you are very correct. Those 2 stores have the best customer service any one could ask for. And as well as house calls if needed as well!

 

Coral haven by far. And as far as SOM goes you guys just don't know how to talk to Hung right. He gives me great prices

 

You are correct Fish, politely with Him he will respect you with price. (SOM) also if u are a frequent flyer. Lol

 

Im somewhat new to the hobby. Most of my first corals came from a local guy. Once I got hooked I started looking for more. SOM was one of the first and Id say his prices arent that bad compared to some of the other places Ive seen. It is odd you have to ask the price on everything and he usually has to think about it. Coral Haven I have been to and the first trip I almost left empty handed. There was a few corals I wanted to know the price on, I was told everything in the tank was sold, while on the tank it was written that only 1 specific coral was sold. I looked around more and still wanted something in that tank, I asked again so everything in that tank is sold? Then it was "well what are you looking at, this is our high end/has a name coral". I pointed it out and right away had a price, which was a chunk but I bought it anyway. Another time when asking about a part they had in stock but their price was double what I could buy it for elsewhere. I asked why and "we cant compete with online". So I bought 2 for the price of 1 elsewhere. I emailed them once and never got a reply. Is it common to sell personal coral in your retail store? Kinda like here I grew this at home so give me $$$ for it.

 

I do apologize for the visit, and yes there are things that u can buy on line cheaper than in a store. Some times the store has a price they have to stay at to be able to sell that item per the distributor. And stores are there to make a bit of a profit. Other than that sometimes yes online may be a cheaper way to go on some items.