San Fernando valley aquarists?!

[yithead1]

Is anyone from around my area that could share some tips about local shops and club meetings? I'm new to planted tanks but have kept reefs and ponds for years.
Also, is there anyone who i could buy a few scraps of plants from for my nano? (something carpeting)
I frequent Aquarium city (canoga park) and the petco/petsmarts but can't find much of a selection plant-wise.

thanks,
Dave

[Demise]

Pacific Aquatics West on Devonshire St. in Chatsworth
Clean store, good selection of fish and an ok selection of plants.
Plant selection varies greatly in that store, I've seen hygrophila Polysperma there once.

The Aquarium Center on Ventura in Sherman Oaks (Same block as Guitar Center)
Clean store, very wide selection of plants and fish, theyll have Carpeting plants for sure if they've just stocked up(usually every week).
I frequent this store alot, great people and always have a good selection of plants.
http://www.theaquariumcenter.com/

Mark's Tropical Fish on Ventura Place in Studio City
Clean store, good selection of fish and plants, they usually carry carpeting plants.
Good people and good selection of plants.
http://www.markstropicalfish.com/

Theres a few others but they don't compare to the quality of these stores. Theres a 1 more store on Ventura and Woodman but I cant find anything on it.

[xtm]

Originally Posted by Demise

Theres a 1 more store on Ventura and Woodman but I cant find anything on it.

That would be Underwater Depot. "OK" selection of plants, but mostly reef stuff. They are an authorized Tunze retailer..

Aquarium Center is cool. TIP: Go there on Tuesday between 5pm-closing, they have 25% off on FW plants and FW fish.

A less known store that impressed me as far as FW plants selection is a tiny mom and pop store in the corner of Hollywood Way and Magnolia named "Peggy Wood's Pet Emporium" right in front of Porto's Bakery. AMAZING selection and stunning display tanks!

[ciohiro]

Thanks for the recommendations.

I just went to Aquarium Center last weekend. The Aquarium Center had a nice selection of aquarium plants. I was happy with their selection. Okay selection of schooling fish. They had green fire tetras, some rasboras, etc... They had limited selection of co2 stuff. Small selection of rocks, substrate, and driftwood. Not too sure how knowledgeable staff was on planted tanks. Their planted tank expert was not there at the time I was there.

I went to Mark's Tropical Fish about a 1.5 weeks ago. They had an adequate selection of fish. Not really a place for freshwater tanks at this time. Okay selection of plants. One on the workers was going to try his hand at it. Really good selection of saltwater fish (I don't Know much about saltwater but their fishes were unique and looked cool).



If you don't mind to drive far, my favorite place for fish is All About
Fish in Long Beach. Great selection of fish for nanos. In two weeks their getting another order of galaxy rasbora. Kirt if very knowledgeable and friendly. Okay selection of plants no foreground plants.

[paradise]

And Kirt is an official Sponsor of SCAPE so SCAPE members get 10% off all their purchases. We also hold meets there at least once or twice a year. Great place and an awesome store owner.

[plantbrain]

Yes, join SCAPE, also, there is a general club I think that meets in Chino, not the SF valley, but it's LA area..........

Regards.,
Tom Barr