Calgary Saltwater Market: Your thoughts?

[andrewsk]

For me, Calgary's biggest missing component is a LARGE retail store like J&L where you can walk in and see all of this equipment most of us only read about at any time.

Gold's is great for getting in some items but they need like 4 times the space so they can stock the equipment on a continuous basis.

I also agree that inverts, and many corals, micro-algae and macro-algae are hard to find and need to be ordered online.

I think that the first BIG reef store in the city is going to make a mint as long as the economy stays hot here.

[AndyL]

While I like our boutique stores... They regularly drive me nuts... I hate to say it but I really do miss BA's. That was the only store that actually stocked hermit crabs, snails etc. You know the basics! The other stores are hit and miss on those simple items - yes I know one store usually has em, but I'm not paying 8$ for an astrea.

Hardware's no fun to find lately either... Seems like everyone wants you to wait 2-6 weeks for most slightly-less common items 2-6 weeks? I'll mail order - at least then i'll have it in 7-10 days.

[EG-9]

I just bought some Astrea Snails ($3.5),Hermit Crabs,Cleaner Shrimp
and Peppermint Shrimp from Ocean city !
Finally i got it all in Calgary.

[Nyxis]

I have to echo andy here. It's really frustrating when you go to three stores and can't find what your looking for.