LFS: Absolutely Fish - Clifton, NJ

[Momotaro]

Absolutely Fish
1080 Rt. 46 West
Clifton, NJ
973.365.0200
www.absolutelyfish.com

Absolutely Fish is the shop in Northern NJ. In fact, it may well be one of the best shops in the NY-NJ Metro area.

Plant selection is almost always good. The person in charge of plants is a real "plant fan" with good a knowledge about plants. Absolutely Fish always carries the staples, Java Ferns, Hornwort, Crypt wendtii, and also carries some harder to find plants.

Checking out the fish is always an adventure since their fish selection is great. Again, they carry the staples, as well as some harder to find species. They often carry rare species of Plecos and Apistos. They almost always have Amano shrimp, Otos and SAEs.

Dry goods? They have them. Selection is great as well, and the shop is well stocked.

Perfect shop? Well, unfortunately not. The Absolutely in their name could also apply to their prices...Absolutely high! Their fish and plant prices are pretty good. Their dry good prices are the reason most of us purchase equipment online. Enough said.

As I understand it, their saltwater section is one of the best in the Northeast.

All told, Absolutely Fish is a good shop. Lots of fish and plants, as well as a variety of dry goods. Well worth a bit of a drive.

Mike

[Sponsors]

[GulfCoastAquarian]

I have to chime in and plug this shop. Yes, their prices are a little higher, but if you're just browsing or looking for some rarity, then this store is worth a trip! It's by far the nicest LFS I've ever visited.
Their saltwater selection is HUGE!

[ThomE]

I live about 2 hrs away from them. Is there midnight madness worth the trip? I was looking for an ehiem 2126 (another one) and a couple of anubias.

thanks

[GulfCoastAquarian]

You can call them and ask for their hardware prices, but chances are it won't be nearly as cheap as buying one online. Even at the midnight madness. But if you find a reason to make the trip to northern NJ, it is definitely worth stopping by. You'll probably find several Anubias and end up doing a bunch of other impulse shopping once you're there.

[jerseyjay]

Here is my Interview and photo session with Plant Specialist in this store.

http://www.greenstouch.com/gallery_m...lutelyFish.htm

[aquaverde]

Nice piece, Jay. Thanks for posting.
I've never personally seen anything like that tank in an LFS. Absolutely Fish is close enough for an all-day outing from where I live, though.

[GulfCoastAquarian]

Man, I forgot how gorgeous that planted display tank is! The reef tank across from it is usually not to shabby, either!

[jmiz16]

No doubt, this fish store is the bomb when it comes to selection especially with SW fish. I have been using these guys for the last 20 years. It used to be called Aquatropics.
There dry good prices are CRAZY HIGH!! But every now and then you have to buy a little something just to pay for the knowledge you walk away with after having a conversation with a couple of those guys.
I rank them as my number one LFS.
P.S I live in New City n.y. just up the GS PKWY in Rockland and all the stores up there suck.

[Momotaro]

Aqua Tropics used to be in the center of Clifton. I new the owner as I was good friends with his sister and brother in law.

Mike

[Sudi]

I live about 10 minutes from that store
Its really great, they have a big selection of fish and plants.
Prices are a little high, but its worth it.
People inside know what they're doing.

matt

[SunkShip]

Hello...are the prices of the plants reasonable? I'm just looking for some common ones like (anubias, java fern, hygrophila polysperma, dwarf sag, dwarf grass).

[jerseyjay]

Originally Posted by SunkShip

Hello...are the prices of the plants reasonable? I'm just looking for some common ones like (anubias, java fern, hygrophila polysperma, dwarf sag, dwarf grass).

SunkShip,

Prices are a bit on the high side but what do you expect from North Jersey store. Absolutely Fish = Absolutely $$$$$. At the same time, AF is one of the best salt water stores in North East.

I would recommend getting familiar with www.njas.net. Few members on this forum are NJAS' members.

Good luck !

[SunkShip]

Thanks for the tip! I'm only sixteen though

[bhare]

I visited Absolutely Fish after an unsuccessful plant hunt down on route 22, when I arrived I was surprised to see two large tanks full of good looking plants. Their planted display tank was also cleaned up as it had been looking pretty bad over the holidays. They had bright green ambulia, good looking hairgrass, only two pots of nice glosso (which sold out by the time I left), and plenty of the red type of rotala, ludwiga, etc.

I wouldn't say I was blown away by the freshwater fishtanks, but they did seem to have an incredible variety of fish, water looked clean, and the livestock looked very healthy. Japonica shrimp were $4.99 each which seems a little high considering their small size, but they also looked healthy. They didn't seem to have a lot of catfish or cories if your into that. Also, they were selling the false SAE's labeled as SAE's, maybe some people just don't care, but I can't believe a store of this caliber is doing that.

The staff is very busy but very helpful, the young guy who helped me even asked if I had enough light for a planted tank. By the way, behind the checkout counter they started a small 10G planted tank which looks like its going to be very good.

EDIT 01/21/06: I must have been mistaken about the false SAE's, because today i visited there and the had a tank with true SAE's labeled as "True SAE's", I think they were ~$7.99 each..my bad...

[maverick2402]

I was not impressed at all,actually I was alittle mad .I call them up asking if they have a certain plant in stock and they told me yes, because my LFS didn't know when they'd be getting the plant in and I heard so much about this place so I figured I give it a try.I jump in the car the same day and drive 2 hrs to find out they don't even have any of the plant.Guess I am the minority on this store.