Stopping over in LA -- worth spending time there?

[arch85]

Hey all,

We've our connecting flight in Los Angeles in the near future, and I was wondering if there are any good fish stores in the area worth visiting? Is it even worth-it? In terms of pricing, do you guys have any comparisons on whether the pricing is similar to our LFS here or if it's cheaper? If anything, I'd probably be buying some corals; doubt I'd buy any more fish.

Just curious if anyone else has done a similar trip/thing before.

(of course, if we do end up going to some fish stores, and you guys want any corals, feel free to let me know; I don't mind lugging them back as long as you promise not to screw me over! lol)

 

[twiddledog]

Vivid Aquariums is in LA I think. The pictures of the store on their web site look great..they have some hige tanks for viewing and frags. Check it out.
I would love to pay the store a visit.

http://www.vividaquariums.com/

 

[twiddledog]

If you go there..they have a fish I would love to get! I just don;t want to pay shipping for a $30 fish.

 

[arch85]

well if I end up buying any corals, then obviously there'll be 0 shipping cost, because I'd get a check-in bag or box and fill everything in there But are their prices good? Any other shops worth visiting? If I'm taking a whole extra day or two off, I better visit all I can! lol

I'd personally be afraid of bringing any fish though :-/ ... I'll do my best to keep it safe and alive, but fish are far more delicate than corals I feel ...

 

[Jocko]

Yeah with fish you'd have to check them since they'd be in water. Not sure what I think about that. I mean I guess in theory if they are in a properly marked box the staff should theoretically treat it well. At least with the corals you can dry pack them and carry them on with you in an insulated bag. That's what I do every year at MACNA.

Not sure if you should being going to LA expecting great deals although I honestly don't know for sure. I would probably be expecting to see a good variety and maybe stumble upon some hard to find gems. I think LA is like one of the biggest import hubs.

 

[arch85]

Yeah with fish you'd have to check them since they'd be in water. Not sure what I think about that. I mean I guess in theory if they are in a properly marked box the staff should theoretically treat it well. At least with the corals you can dry pack them and carry them on with you in an insulated bag. That's what I do every year at MACNA.

Not sure if you should being going to LA expecting great deals although I honestly don't know for sure. I would probably be expecting to see a good variety and maybe stumble upon some hard to find gems. I think LA is like one of the biggest import hubs.

Hm, well if I buy anything at all, I'd probably check it in anyway. Not sure if I want to dry pack corals much rather have them in some water. I'm not sure yet ... on one hand I want to go there and go crazy, but at the same time, I don't have too much tank room ... grrrr

 

[twiddledog]

They are the only place I can find that has the fish I want...a Red Spotted Blenny. I would think checking baggage is no different then Fedex

http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=01-1610&Category=Fish:Blennies&SortBy=Price

 

[Jocko]

Hm, well if I buy anything at all, I'd probably check it in anyway. Not sure if I want to dry pack corals much rather have them in some water. I'm not sure yet ... on one hand I want to go there and go crazy, but at the same time, I don't have too much tank room ... grrrr

You would be shocked how well dry packing works. I'm talking like 12+ hours in a bag with no water. Get home, float the bag for a few minutes to equalize temp, and then boom right into the QT tank. CRAZY polyp extension within half an hour or less. Been doing it for a few years and have yet to lose a single specimen. Slime coatings are wonderful things. It really surprises me that it's not more popular. I never transport corals in water.

 

[arch85]

You would be shocked how well dry packing works. I'm talking like 12+ hours in a bag with no water. Get home, float the bag for a few minutes to equalize temp, and then boom right into the QT tank. CRAZY polyp extension within half an hour or less. Been doing it for a few years and have yet to lose a single specimen. Slime coatings are wonderful things. It really surprises me that it's not more popular. I never transport corals in water.

hm ... interesting. Can you provide some link to the instructions? I would love to try it over here with some weed coral first

Thanks!

 

[Jocko]

Well I can tell you my instructions. So picture a bag with water in it. Now picture the bag with essentially all of the water dumped out except for a few drops and the bag being full of air instead. The coral slimes up. It is able to respirate through the slime, so having the bag full of air provides lots of oxygen. The slime keeps the coral from drying out as well. Well that and the bag being closed up.

I'm not sure if this is actually true, but it's always sort of seemed to me like the slime coating helps to ease the acclimation of the coral when I put it in the new water. I have no evidence that is actually what happens but it seems crazy enough to be possible. And, like I said, the corals are always very happy very quickly after going in the new water.

The slime acclimation thing is something I started before I started actually dry packing. Basically I never ever acclimate corals other than floating the bags for temp. Even for corals packed in water. I take the coral out of the water, set it in the open air for 30 seconds and then boom right into the new water. Sitting out in the open air causes it to slime up. Did I mention that slime coats are awesome?

I'm not sure if there are official instructions. I mean heck most people don't even know about it. I've had vendors practically yet at me at MACNAs. One thing I can point you at is the classic Borneman article on dry shipping corals. I think that was what originally inspired me to abandon drip acclimation of coral.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/eb/index.php

 

[onefish]

in and out burger, double double animal style.

 

[arch85]

in and out burger, double double animal style.

Sorry, no idea what that means lol

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[arch85]

Thanks Jocko,

I will do some more research on this; sounds very interesting.

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[onefish]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-N-Out_Burger

order a double double "animal style"

 

[arch85]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-N-Out_Burger

order a double double "animal style"

ahhhhhhhh! hahahaha damn, just reading through that page made my mouth water lol

 

[arch85]

Found a thread from west-coasters on rc -- went through all 11 pages to make this list ... damn I'm jealous!! lol Wished we had so many saltwater stores in the area .... (or maybe we do, but I just don't know about them?)

Here's the map in-case someone is interested:

http://g.co/maps/xbrvd