San Francisco's best "planted tank" store

Roc · 04-26-2007, 09:18 PM

Today during my lunch break I went to the Aqua Forest ( located at 1718 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 415-929-8883). This place was AMAZING, all ADA show tanks set up wonderfully, they have the best selection of plants and fish I have seen in a lfs (I use that term for lack of a better one). Incredable tanks with some really great ideas. Not only do they have a great selection of hard to find plants, all the ADA products you could think of, but my favorite thing (although I don't need it anymore) is that they sell Java fern, and Java moss (as well as some other types) already attached to wood and rocks. These are not tied down but have well formed root stuctures, and I talked to the owner for awhile, he said that if you bought the plants and wood/rocks from them that they would begin it for anyone so that you could add it to your tank having never learned how to tie down properly.

Thought I would share with all the Northern cali ppl who have never been, you will be impressed, but they are very expensive if you plan to buy........

toshi · 04-26-2007, 10:17 PM

I work about a minute from there and visit every now and then. SF's best planted tank store? More like the only truly dedicated one

ringram · 04-26-2007, 11:20 PM

Yeah, I've been there once -- quite a trek from Sacramento! It's an amazing store. I was stunned at how expensive the ADA wood is -- good Lord! The piece that caught my eye initially was $72, so I passed on it. Ended up getting a few medium-smaller pieces. They have some really nice tank set ups and had some fish and plants that I've never seen in a store before. Crystal Red Shrimp (CRS) were there and that's the first and only time I've seen them in a LFS. They also had Celestial Pearl Danios (previously known as Galaxy Rasboras). Thumbs up! Be sure to go there prepared to spend some $$...it's worth it though, as the products are top-notch.

Roc · 04-26-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toshi

I work about a minute from there and visit every now and then. SF's best planted tank store? More like the only truly dedicated one

The tall mosty fern tank by the counter is amazing, I felt retarded just standing there wishing it was mine

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringram

Yeah, I've been there once -- quite a trek from Sacramento! It's an amazing store. I was stunned at how expensive the ADA wood is -- good Lord! The piece that caught my eye initially was $72, so I passed on it. Ended up getting a few medium-smaller pieces. They have some really nice tank set ups and had some fish and plants that I've never seen in a store before. Crystal Red Shrimp (CRS) were there and that's the first and only time I've seen them in a LFS. They also had Celestial Pearl Danios (previously known as Galaxy Rasboras). Thumbs up! Be sure to go there prepared to spend some $$...it's worth it though, as the products are top-notch.

Their price for CRS as of 4/26/07 29.99 Wholy sh^t I have seen ppl here sell them for wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy less, but they were all nice and preggo'ed

toshi · 04-27-2007, 11:22 AM

Yeah, the tank by the counter is set up really nice. I tend to stand there for a while staring as well

Wow, it went up to $29.99 for the CRS? I was just there the other day and they were at $25.00.

Roc · 04-27-2007, 02:41 PM

maybe your right I just remember thinking thats a lot more then I have even spent for a fish and we are talking a shrimp

**EdTheEdge** · 04-27-2007, 02:54 PM

I'll be in San Francisco all next week. Can anyone suggest some good aquariums other than Aquaforest?

TIA

Ed

PasD · 04-27-2007, 04:27 PM

Albany aquarium has a very nice selection of plants and fish, and they also quarantine their fish for a month before selling them. Ocean aquarium is the place to find hard to find plants and livestock.

Roc · 04-27-2007, 09:37 PM

Albany is good but it is HOT and cramped.

**EdTheEdge** · 05-01-2007, 02:56 AM

Quote:

San Francisco's best "planted tank" store

Without a doubt Aqua Forest is the best LFS that I have ever visited.

Ed

**KDahlin** · 05-01-2007, 05:04 AM

Ocean Aquarium is worth checking out. Justin is a real character. I could spend hours in there looking at the aquariums. They're all maintained really well and are really beautiful; not in an Amano kind of way.

**EdTheEdge** · 05-04-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDahlin

Ocean Aquarium is worth checking out. Justin is a real character. I could spend hours in there looking at the aquariums. They're all maintained really well and are really beautiful; not in an Amano kind of way.

I tried to find this place the other day and was unsucessful. I had an address of 120 Cedar? Is that correct? When I went there Cedar was essentially just an alley off of Van Ness. Can anyone help?

I guess I could call there too huh?

ianiwane · 05-04-2007, 05:20 PM

Alley way between geary and post. If you are traveling away from the freeway on Van Ness it is right after geary on the right hand side.

cbennett · 05-04-2007, 06:26 PM

yep, it's in an alley that goes between Van Ness and Polk St. There's a glass door usually propped open with a sign "appointment only" on it. That's the place.

**EdTheEdge** · 05-04-2007, 06:53 PM

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY?!? Man I gotta see this place......

04-26-2007, 09:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Roc Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (43) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, CA Posts: 662	San Francisco's best "planted tank" store Today during my lunch break I went to the Aqua Forest ( located at 1718 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 415-929-8883). This place was AMAZING, all ADA show tanks set up wonderfully, they have the best selection of plants and fish I have seen in a lfs (I use that term for lack of a better one). Incredable tanks with some really great ideas. Not only do they have a great selection of hard to find plants, all the ADA products you could think of, but my favorite thing (although I don't need it anymore) is that they sell Java fern, and Java moss (as well as some other types) already attached to wood and rocks. These are not tied down but have well formed root stuctures, and I talked to the owner for awhile, he said that if you bought the plants and wood/rocks from them that they would begin it for anyone so that you could add it to your tank having never learned how to tie down properly. Thought I would share with all the Northern cali ppl who have never been, you will be impressed, but they are very expensive if you plan to buy........ __________________

04-26-2007, 11:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
ringram Moderator (View User Tanks) PTrader: (64) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,531	Yeah, I've been there once -- quite a trek from Sacramento! It's an amazing store. I was stunned at how expensive the ADA wood is -- good Lord! The piece that caught my eye initially was $72, so I passed on it. Ended up getting a few medium-smaller pieces. They have some really nice tank set ups and had some fish and plants that I've never seen in a store before. Crystal Red Shrimp (CRS) were there and that's the first and only time I've seen them in a LFS. They also had Celestial Pearl Danios (previously known as Galaxy Rasboras). Thumbs up! Be sure to go there prepared to spend some $$...it's worth it though, as the products are top-notch. __________________ 90g journal: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...rnal-pics.html --------------------------------------------------- SFBAAPS member - http://www.sfbaaps.com/ SAPS member - http://intplantscaping.meetup.com/11/

04-27-2007, 02:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Roc Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (43) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, CA Posts: 662	maybe your right I just remember thinking thats a lot more then I have even spent for a fish and we are talking a shrimp __________________

04-27-2007, 02:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
EdTheEdge PlantedTank.Net Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lomita,CA Posts: 859	I'll be in San Francisco all next week. Can anyone suggest some good aquariums other than Aquaforest? TIA Ed __________________ 90 Gal - 2 Eheim 2217s - 4 Rio 50s - 4X96watts CF - Flourite - 2X300w Visitherm - Pressurized CO2 25 Gal - Eheim 2236 - 36 watt CF - 28 watt CF - Flourite - 150w EBO Jager - Red Sea 500 Reactor - Pressurized CO2 15 Gal - Eheim 2215 - 36 watt CF -18 watt CF - Flourite - 150w Visitherm - Pressurized CO2 - Nano Diffusor 03 Gal - Eclipse system - DIY CO2

04-27-2007, 09:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
Roc Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (43) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, CA Posts: 662	Albany is good but it is HOT and cramped. __________________

04-26-2007, 10:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
toshi Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 87	I work about a minute from there and visit every now and then. SF's best planted tank store? More like the only truly dedicated one

04-27-2007, 11:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
toshi Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3) Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 87	Yeah, the tank by the counter is set up really nice. I tend to stand there for a while staring as well Wow, it went up to $29.99 for the CRS? I was just there the other day and they were at $25.00.

04-27-2007, 04:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
PasD Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 223	Albany aquarium has a very nice selection of plants and fish, and they also quarantine their fish for a month before selling them. Ocean aquarium is the place to find hard to find plants and livestock.

05-01-2007, 05:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
KDahlin Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 458	Ocean Aquarium is worth checking out. Justin is a real character. I could spend hours in there looking at the aquariums. They're all maintained really well and are really beautiful; not in an Amano kind of way. __________________ "We are living on this planet as if we have another one to go to". T. Swearingen

05-04-2007, 05:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
ianiwane Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (48) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Francisco (mainland transplant from Hawaii) Posts: 1,431	Alley way between geary and post. If you are traveling away from the freeway on Van Ness it is right after geary on the right hand side. __________________ SFBAAPS 120cm ADA tank, DIY Stand 6 gallon rimless cave tank 60cm ADA tank 50 gallon Nano

05-04-2007, 06:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
cbennett Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 783	yep, it's in an alley that goes between Van Ness and Polk St. There's a glass door usually propped open with a sign "appointment only" on it. That's the place. __________________ 60 gallon planted - Filstar Pimp #38 pressurized CO2 w/ ADA diffuser, 175 watts (10000K/6500K), XP3, 100% ADA Aquasoil Discus; Apisto. trifasciatas; cardinal, three-spot and red phantom tetras; BN plecos; golden, niger and zebra otocinclus 12 gallon eclipse planted Excel, 32 watts (6500K), gravel/laterite mix emerald eye rasbora, jellybean tetras, rasbora maculata, Corydoras habrosus, cherry and CRS shrimp

05-04-2007, 06:53 PM	#15 (permalink)
EdTheEdge PlantedTank.Net Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lomita,CA Posts: 859	BY APPOINTMENT ONLY?!? Man I gotta see this place...... __________________ 90 Gal - 2 Eheim 2217s - 4 Rio 50s - 4X96watts CF - Flourite - 2X300w Visitherm - Pressurized CO2 25 Gal - Eheim 2236 - 36 watt CF - 28 watt CF - Flourite - 150w EBO Jager - Red Sea 500 Reactor - Pressurized CO2 15 Gal - Eheim 2215 - 36 watt CF -18 watt CF - Flourite - 150w Visitherm - Pressurized CO2 - Nano Diffusor 03 Gal - Eclipse system - DIY CO2

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