In Queens I think your best bet is Fishtown on Northern Bvd. I think they have the best selection of plants in Queens
Queens LFS
Hey guys! I am coming from Aquarium Advice. While I love it there, the regional forums aren't as active as they are here. I have been out of the hobby for almost 2 years due to college and everything, but since me and my brother got our own apartment here in Astoria, I am getting going again. I am currently fishless cycling a ten gallon that I am planning on doing low tech planted. I have done low light before, but I didn't do it right and it sucked.
Since I am from LI, I don't know of any LFS here in Queens. The only store I know of is Petland right on Steinway, but it is the crappiest store I have ever been in...they didn't even have Prime dechlorinator. Anyway, I did a search on here and couldn't find much for Queens (forgive me if I didn't look hard enough), but would love some recommendations of an LFS that I can get to by walking or by taking the N Q or R, preferably one with a large selection of plants. I have a car but I only like to drive it to Queens College and nowhere else, so walking or subway is preferred. I live off of 30th ave...I frequently walk up and down Broadway and Steinway but I have yet to see a LFS on either.
Thanks!
Since I am from LI, I don't know of any LFS here in Queens. The only store I know of is Petland right on Steinway, but it is the crappiest store I have ever been in...they didn't even have Prime dechlorinator. Anyway, I did a search on here and couldn't find much for Queens (forgive me if I didn't look hard enough), but would love some recommendations of an LFS that I can get to by walking or by taking the N Q or R, preferably one with a large selection of plants. I have a car but I only like to drive it to Queens College and nowhere else, so walking or subway is preferred. I live off of 30th ave...I frequently walk up and down Broadway and Steinway but I have yet to see a LFS on either.
Thanks!
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+1 My wife shops there all the time.In Queens I think your best bet is Fishtown on Northern Bvd. I think they have the best selection of plants in Queens
chinatown in manhattan has a bunch of small stores if you're willing to go there. but otherwise yea, fishtown, although I havent gone in a while. Might be time to stop by soon. I guess the Brooklyn aquarium is another option, I hear good things but have never gone myself.
I would have to agree about Fishtown USA. Good fish and plant selection although the owners need a personality transplant.
Well, Fishtown it is, then! Do you guys happen to know how far it is from Queens College? I'll take a ride over on Friday after class to check out their selection.
Thanks
Thanks
Shouldn't be that far. I think LIE to Clearview Expressway. It's just west of the Clearview on Northern Blvd.Well, Fishtown it is, then! Do you guys happen to know how far it is from Queens College? I'll take a ride over on Friday after class to check out their selection.
Thanks
About a 10 min ride from there Northerm Bvd 1 block from Francis Lewis bvd
Since you are driving to Queens College you might as well drive to Fishtown USA. It's very close by car. Take the LIE to Francis Lewis Blvd, make a left onto Francis Lewis Blvd, Make a left onto Northern Blvd and it will be on your right side. It has a big awning and is easy to spot. They have parking in the back via a small alleyway next to the store so roll by slowly or else you might miss it.About a 10 min ride from there Northerm Bvd 1 block from Francis Lewis bvd
Beware though, there plants have tadpole snails and Malaysian Trumpet snails. My tank has a big population of them thanks to Fishtown USA but I've grown to like them and the background work that they do eating the leftover food and plant matter. Most of their plants are kept in low light conditions. They also sell stuff like Seachem Flourish but they charge $9+ tax for a 250ml Bottle but I think ALL aquatic/pet stores charge high prices on consumables to cover the obvious costs of owning a storefront. In terms of the personality transplant, I always found them to just be very busy and you just need to be direct with them and tell them what you want and if they have it you'll get it.
Awesome, thanks for the directions. Low light plants are what I need, so that's good. I wish I could go check this place out now but I am jammed in the library writing a paper :icon_cry:.Since you are driving to Queens College you might as well drive to Fishtown USA. It's very close by car. Take the LIE to Francis Lewis Blvd, make a left onto Francis Lewis Blvd, Make a left onto Northern Blvd and it will be on your right side. It has a big awning and is easy to spot. They have parking in the back via a small alleyway next to the store so roll by slowly or else you might miss it.
Beware though, there plants have tadpole snails and Malaysian Trumpet snails. My tank has a big population of them thanks to Fishtown USA but I've grown to like them and the background work that they do eating the leftover food and plant matter. Most of their plants are kept in low light conditions. They also sell stuff like Seachem Flourish but they charge $9+ tax for a 250ml Bottle but I think ALL aquatic/pet stores charge high prices on consumables to cover the obvious costs of owning a storefront. In terms of the personality transplant, I always found them to just be very busy and you just need to be direct with them and tell them what you want and if they have it you'll get it.
*Just a quick question...if I go on Friday, I'll probably want to buy the plants and bring them home that day. My fishless cycle is at the nitrite spike phase...will the high nitrites effect the plants at all, or should they be ok? Thanks
Cycling is only for fish, shrimps, and snails. It won't harm your plants...in fact they would love the extra nutrients and help you cycle faster
I think they will be fine so long as you have some fertilizers to add to the water. I didn't have any special mineralized topsoil or eco complete/flourite. I had plain Estes gravel and my plants like anarchis and cabomba basically fell apart until I started adding a little Seachem Flourish. Pretty much all my plants started to melt until my fish population boomed since I didn't dose with any types of fertilizers or trace elements at first and the lights I had were much better than what are in the plant tanks in Fishtown USA. The plants wanted to grow with the light but didn't have the nutrients to do it. It's amazing how plants like cabomba can come back to life and over run your tank from a tiny 1 inch chunk if given the oppurtunity!Awesome, thanks for the directions. Low light plants are what I need, so that's good. I wish I could go check this place out now but I am jammed in the library writing a paper :icon_cry:.
*Just a quick question...if I go on Friday, I'll probably want to buy the plants and bring them home that day. My fishless cycle is at the nitrite spike phase...will the high nitrites effect the plants at all, or should they be ok? Thanks
You should also check out Pacific Aquarium and Winn. Pacific has a really huge planted tank that is nice to get some ideas. They won't remove anything from it but you can get an idea of how stuff will grow. They also carried plants that I don't remember ever seeing at Fishtown such as riccia, hemianthus callitrichoides, Glossostigma elatinoides, and lots of other plants that would look great in a small tank. Winn has ridiculous prices on some of their fish like $2 Siamese Algae eaters and $1 juvenile Cardinal tetras and a few plants but not many.
Awesome, thanks! I agree with the fert bit. When I first had a planted tank I really saw my plants start to take shape after I began dosing.I think they will be fine so long as you have some fertilizers to add to the water. I didn't have any special mineralized topsoil or eco complete/flourite. I had plain Estes gravel and my plants like anarchis and cabomba basically fell apart until I started adding a little Seachem Flourish. Pretty much all my plants started to melt until my fish population boomed since I didn't dose with any types of fertilizers or trace elements at first and the lights I had were much better than what are in the plant tanks in Fishtown USA. The plants wanted to grow with the light but didn't have the nutrients to do it. It's amazing how plants like cabomba can come back to life and over run your tank from a tiny 1 inch chunk if given the oppurtunity!
You should also check out Pacific Aquarium and Winn. Pacific has a really huge planted tank that is nice to get some ideas. They won't remove anything from it but you can get an idea of how stuff will grow. They also carried plants that I don't remember ever seeing at Fishtown such as riccia, hemianthus callitrichoides, Glossostigma elatinoides, and lots of other plants that would look great in a small tank. Winn has ridiculous prices on some of their fish like $2 Siamese Algae eaters and $1 juvenile Cardinal tetras and a few plants but not many.
I'll look those two places up.
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