Guest JasonD May 7, 2007 May 7, 2007 I think I've been to every fish store in the DC and Baltimore area, from BRK in the west to Exotic Aquatics north of Baltimore. IMO, EA has the next largest and widest selection of fish after Roozens, w/o the third world charm of Roozens. Also, they carry a lot of SW equipment (how many places have Deltec skimmers in the store?). They are also a Tunze dealer. Their fish seem very well cared for, the tanks are clean, and the staff seem knowledgeable. Every weekend they have 25% off all marine livestock, and they offer a 25% off discount to WAMAS members during the week. I guess they biggest downside is that they do not QT their fish like BRK and Scales do.
90OcReef May 7, 2007 May 7, 2007 EA is a great store. I just want to correct one quick detail. Phil has 25% off all Marine FISH almost every weekend.
Guest JasonD May 7, 2007 May 7, 2007 EA is a great store. I just want to correct one quick detail. Phil has 25% off all Marine FISH almost every weekend. I suppose a phone call would be in order...the told me they always had the discount on the weekends. Even if they don't have it a certain weekend, you can still get the WAMAS discount.
90OcReef May 7, 2007 May 7, 2007 (edited) Yea, the sale is on Fish Only in most cases. Corals aren't normally included in the discount. Even so, EA is an EXCELLENT Store & they have $20, $40 & a recently added $60 coral tanks. You can find some really great corals at discounted prices in those tanks! -jess Edited May 7, 2007 by 90OcReef
Black Mammoth May 11, 2007 May 11, 2007 How can you guys afford exotic aquatics?! The only thing that they have good prices on is some of the hardware. Maybe they changed it around since I was there...but Ocellaris Clowns (False Percs) were $50 each!!!! Skunk Cleaners for $40 - $50 each. All of their fish were like that. Nice store and all...very clean, but way too expensive. It makes Marine Scene look like Walmart.
Leishman May 11, 2007 May 11, 2007 I like EA, just too far for me. Here's a couple of shots of their display...
90OcReef May 11, 2007 May 11, 2007 Rik, Nice pics:) Black Mammoth, I can understand not wanting to pay $40 for a cleaner shrimp, but when was the last time you were there? I visit the store about once a week and some of the prices you have mentioned I have not seen at his store. I am not trying to start anything, just commenting on my personal experiences. In my situation I am in too deep to worry too much about the price of the livestock that I buy because, if I see something that is healthy, appealing to me, and within reason of my wallet, I will buy it. A good example of this is somewhat recently (within the past 6mos) George and I were looking for a bellus angel. Now, anyone that is interested in this fish knows the few random places that can actually get this fish from time to time. We were on the hunt for this fish for months and after going to roozens a few times and coming home with one, just for them to die within a week, the $50 tacked onto EAs price, turned out to be much more worth while. EA is basically a clean roozens. Most of the odd corals and such that jos gets in at roozens, EA can get you something equally unique and it will live. I've personally had excellent experience with ea and I can't recall a fatality from the store that was due to an unhealthy specimin. The price of the coral, in relation to its health is irrelevant -- in due time, the more expenisve store far outweighs the fatalities of cheap stores. I am in no way saying Marine scene is a cheap store, I am just trying to make a point that most of us have too much involved in this hobby to worry solely about price. It is important, but not the first thing to consider. First thing to consider is obviously, the health of our livestock, which is the reason we are all in this hobby I hope that the computer is not making me seem like a snot, these things can depict it that way. If I sound rude, I apologize dearly. -Jess
Guest JasonD May 11, 2007 May 11, 2007 (edited) How can you guys afford exotic aquatics?! The only thing that they have good prices on is some of the hardware. Maybe they changed it around since I was there...but Ocellaris Clowns (False Percs) were $50 each!!!! Skunk Cleaners for $40 - $50 each. All of their fish were like that. Nice store and all...very clean, but way too expensive. It makes Marine Scene look like Walmart. I just bought 2 false percs last time I was there...$18 each PLUS a 25% discount. I got the pair for $27. Where are you getting this $50 figure from? Their website advertises Skunk Cleaners for $30 each. Edited May 11, 2007 by JasonD
extreme_tooth_decay May 11, 2007 May 11, 2007 (edited) I like EA. They are a long way away, so I don't go there very often, but I'm always happy when I do. They're the only ones I know of with the BIG pack of PE Mysis. For $32, it's a hugely better deal than the smaller packs. I've been working on one pack well over a year. Stored properly, I think they last pretty much forever. tim Edited May 11, 2007 by extreme_tooth_decay
Black Mammoth May 14, 2007 May 14, 2007 (edited) Wow! I might have to stop by there again...even though it is a haul for me. I was there about this time last year...maybe April last year. I went up there to get a Tunze and I didn't want to wait and get it from Premium Aquatics. The price on the Tunze was fantastic! I was really impressed with the tank up front. I didn't look at the price on corals since I wasn't interested in them at the time. I was really impressed by the variety of the fish and how healthy looking everything was, but I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the prices. I kid you not...those were the prices when I was in there about a year ago...but it sounds like that the prices are drastically cheaper from the last time I was there. I'll have to go up there again to check them out again. FWIW, I don't like Roozens either I'll spend the extra money to get something I think that is healthy I found your Bellus story kind of funny. I spent forever (almost a year) trying to get one. F&F was able to get me one and I was so happy...but then I lost it when I moved :( Now I'm trying to get another one. Well I'm glad to hear a bunch of people chiming in on the prices. Maybe I'll stop by there again on my next trip up to AC I try to hit as many stores as I can as they all have their pros & cons :D Edited May 14, 2007 by Black Mammoth
90OcReef May 14, 2007 May 14, 2007 (edited) I was just giving my personal input since i live so close to EA. In all seriousness though, Phil at EA is one of the few LFS that can actually get good healthy Bellus in for you. Best of luck in finding another one. They certainly are hard to track down! BTW, the Ocellaris prices, could have been for Black Ocellaris. I know he sells them for $60. They are healthy as well from my own personal experiences. But that's a whole different story... -Jess Edited May 14, 2007 by 90OcReef
jnguyen4007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 Where is it located at? It's a long drive for me, but I don't mind taking a nice road trip now and then. Anyone around Manassas, Centreville area interested in taking a road trip up there one of these days? James
jason the filter freak May 21, 2007 May 21, 2007 Short and simple, I was very happy with the store last time i visited, and will be going back asap
jamal May 21, 2007 May 21, 2007 i went there for the first time yesterday after i left the tank tour and the thing i hated the most about that store is the toll i had to pay coming back to dc. next time i will take 70 when i go. that store is huge and has several nice display tanks. i would say adding more saltwater livestock would be the only thing they could do. some prices were higher than ive seen other places but thats true for every store which is why you have to shop around. bottom line i would only be out there if i am visiting my cmas friends but its a good store
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