'The Fish Gallery' in Austin

volatile · 12-29-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_Douglas

I like the Fish Gallery in Houston. Good aquatic plants section.

Me too. I hope the Austin one is as good as the Houston one. It would definitely beat Aquatek and the stores we have here.

**Moe** · 01-13-2013, 05:40 PM

is it open yet?

polukoff · 01-15-2013, 06:00 AM

nope...

volatile · 04-28-2013, 01:30 AM

Any news on the opening? I'm out of the country so can't check for myself.

FreshPuff · 04-28-2013, 04:21 PM

According to their facebook page they are barely installed the counters. They have a ways to go.

volatile · 06-03-2013, 01:55 AM

According to their FB page, official grand opening is Tuesday 6/4 at 10am.

Bear Sage · 06-04-2013, 06:36 AM

Who's going today?!

wheeling · 06-04-2013, 06:38 PM

I actually stopped by, just to see what they have. Not bad, a lot plants that are actually not covered by algae. And they are still expanding another show room. I think it is better than Aquatek, even now, for us fresh water plants lovers.

syzygy9 · 06-04-2013, 08:30 PM

Very cool...I plan to swing by on my way home from work one day this week.

j03yYunG · 06-06-2013, 01:47 AM

Oh sweet they're open! Going to check it out

j03yYunG · 06-08-2013, 11:07 PM

I just went today. The place isn't as big as the one in Houston in terms of fish selection. They still have tanks that need to be setup. Overall its a nice place. I got some tiger barbs there today.

syzygy9 · 06-10-2013, 05:44 PM

I made it by on Sunday. As has been said, they haven't quite finished setting up, but it looks like the tanks not set-up yet are either in the salt water section or a section of the store that looks like it will be for pond type fish.

The place looks huge from the outside, but when you get in you realize that the far left side of the store is a huge display area that shows off some large custom tanks they have created (salt and fresh water). I presume a decent percentage of their income comes from the creation and maintenance of these types of high dollar tanks so it makes sense that they would have a display area in the store to advertise them.

Another smaller section on the right hand side of the store has 2 large plant tanks in the middle and then the tanks on the surrounding walls look like they will house pond type fish. The plant tanks look great, but other than the crypts and swords in the very front, nothing else is labeled. They had several stem plants to choose from (even some with nice red color), but I won't buy fish or plants without being able to do a quick google search to ensure they will work in my tank environment. I should have asked to see if any of the employees knew the names of the plants, but was in a bit of a hurry. Pricing is $9.95 for potted stems. Most groups looked to include at least 5 stems so that seems reasonable. One interesting thing in this room is a tank that looked to be 10 or 12 feet long and has 2 built in domes on the bottom for kids to poke their heads into and look around inside the tank. My 4yr old daughter thought this was the greatest thing ever.

The main fish section seems pretty small. One long row (2 sides) of community freshwater fish, a short section of more exotic stuff like discus and another long row of mostly cichlids. Most tanks had just 1 species of fish in it, but from talking with one of the employees it sounded like they had just ordered enough to get something in each tank for the opening and would be getting more livestock in through the coming weeks.

Livestock pricing seemed reasonable, but supplies seemed high to me. I expect they are similar to Aquatek in that regard though. Maybe they had extra staff for the opening weekend, but at least 3 different people (who all seemed very friendly) asked if we needed help. Nothing like that has ever happened while shopping at any other LFS.

Overall I was pleased and plan to go back in a couple weeks to check out the livestock inventory and see if the plants are labeled and still healthy.

volatile · 06-14-2013, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syzygy9

I made it by on Sunday.

Thanks for the nice detailed write-up syzgy9. Hopefully everything will be set up by the time I can stop by in July.

Bear Sage · 06-14-2013, 05:50 AM

Had a crap experience there this past weekend. Was charged twice for already expensive stock. Friendly staff just not the brightest. The positive was they carry Giesemann bulbs and I might swing by again sometime to see what they do to the pond room. The trip just drove me to visit the aquas to overpay for their stock as well...
Think I'll just stick to local stores to stock my tanks and save chingoes.

**Adam C** · 06-14-2013, 12:23 PM

Hey Adam, how much were the Giesemann bulbs?

01-13-2013, 05:40 PM	#17
Moe Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (49/100%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nolanville, TX Posts: 833	is it open yet? __________________ Fluval EBI Pimp #12

06-04-2013, 06:36 AM	#22
Bear Sage Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Antonio,TX Posts: 288	Who's going today?! __________________

06-14-2013, 05:50 AM	#29
Bear Sage Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Antonio,TX Posts: 288	Had a crap experience there this past weekend. Was charged twice for already expensive stock. Friendly staff just not the brightest. The positive was they carry Giesemann bulbs and I might swing by again sometime to see what they do to the pond room. The trip just drove me to visit the aquas to overpay for their stock as well... Think I'll just stick to local stores to stock my tanks and save chingoes. __________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-15-2013, 06:00 AM	#18
polukoff Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Austin TX Posts: 87	nope...

04-28-2013, 01:30 AM	#19
volatile Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (37/100%) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 625	Any news on the opening? I'm out of the country so can't check for myself.

04-28-2013, 04:21 PM	#20
FreshPuff Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Austin TX USA Posts: 63	According to their facebook page they are barely installed the counters. They have a ways to go.

06-03-2013, 01:55 AM	#21
volatile Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (37/100%) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 625	According to their FB page, official grand opening is Tuesday 6/4 at 10am.

06-04-2013, 06:38 PM	#23
wheeling Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2013 Location: TX, USA Posts: 52	I actually stopped by, just to see what they have. Not bad, a lot plants that are actually not covered by algae. And they are still expanding another show room. I think it is better than Aquatek, even now, for us fresh water plants lovers.

06-04-2013, 08:30 PM	#24
syzygy9 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 197	Very cool...I plan to swing by on my way home from work one day this week.

06-06-2013, 01:47 AM	#25
j03yYunG Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: TX Posts: 38	Oh sweet they're open! Going to check it out

06-08-2013, 11:07 PM	#26
j03yYunG Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: TX Posts: 38	I just went today. The place isn't as big as the one in Houston in terms of fish selection. They still have tanks that need to be setup. Overall its a nice place. I got some tiger barbs there today.

06-10-2013, 05:44 PM	#27
syzygy9 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 197	I made it by on Sunday. As has been said, they haven't quite finished setting up, but it looks like the tanks not set-up yet are either in the salt water section or a section of the store that looks like it will be for pond type fish. The place looks huge from the outside, but when you get in you realize that the far left side of the store is a huge display area that shows off some large custom tanks they have created (salt and fresh water). I presume a decent percentage of their income comes from the creation and maintenance of these types of high dollar tanks so it makes sense that they would have a display area in the store to advertise them. Another smaller section on the right hand side of the store has 2 large plant tanks in the middle and then the tanks on the surrounding walls look like they will house pond type fish. The plant tanks look great, but other than the crypts and swords in the very front, nothing else is labeled. They had several stem plants to choose from (even some with nice red color), but I won't buy fish or plants without being able to do a quick google search to ensure they will work in my tank environment. I should have asked to see if any of the employees knew the names of the plants, but was in a bit of a hurry. Pricing is $9.95 for potted stems. Most groups looked to include at least 5 stems so that seems reasonable. One interesting thing in this room is a tank that looked to be 10 or 12 feet long and has 2 built in domes on the bottom for kids to poke their heads into and look around inside the tank. My 4yr old daughter thought this was the greatest thing ever. The main fish section seems pretty small. One long row (2 sides) of community freshwater fish, a short section of more exotic stuff like discus and another long row of mostly cichlids. Most tanks had just 1 species of fish in it, but from talking with one of the employees it sounded like they had just ordered enough to get something in each tank for the opening and would be getting more livestock in through the coming weeks. Livestock pricing seemed reasonable, but supplies seemed high to me. I expect they are similar to Aquatek in that regard though. Maybe they had extra staff for the opening weekend, but at least 3 different people (who all seemed very friendly) asked if we needed help. Nothing like that has ever happened while shopping at any other LFS. Overall I was pleased and plan to go back in a couple weeks to check out the livestock inventory and see if the plants are labeled and still healthy.

06-14-2013, 12:23 PM	#30
Adam C Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Antonio Posts: 89	Hey Adam, how much were the Giesemann bulbs?