Live Aquaria Diver's Den experience

[evolved]

I've ordered from DD for years and still continue to do so. One of the best in the industry. :)

 

[shred5]

Petco is LiveAquaria.

No Petco ownes live Aquaria. Also all the Live Aquarias are different and there are 3 of them. The one with Divers Den (Rhinelander WI) is Run by Kevin and it totally different. All fish and corals are quarantined at the Rhinelander facility but that dont mean something doesn't get through here and there. I have been there and that place is amazing. The question is what happens now Petco owns them.. According to Kevin Live Aquaria will be left alone.

The other two facilities are run like any other fish store except they are mail order and it is possible to get bad stock from them..

Live Aquaria and Petco get some of their stock from quality marine and have long before Petco bought them. Divers Den farm some of their corals and get from places like Reefgen, ORA etc.

I have ordered from Live Aquaria and have had issues but never from The Rhinlander DD facility.

There have been threads that Diver Den has been going down hill.. I hope not they have always been top notch.

 

[Zoaddicted]

You would be surprised how little of the really good stuff trickles down to LFS here in San Diego. Larger good quality SPS almost never. When they do, many stores chop them up into tiny frags to maximize profits. The LFS store scene is pretty sad IMO. There are a few exceptions but larger SPS never.
Haven't been to LA/Orange county stores lately so can't speak for them.

What about Aqua SD. I believe the sd stands for san diego.

 

[Tapio]

What about Aqua SD. I believe the sd stands for san diego.

I don't go there for several reasons and it is also a chop shop but have bigger stuff too. Many locals like it though.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

No Petco ownes live Aquaria. Also all the Live Aquarias are different and there are 3 of them. The one with Divers Den (Rhinelander WI) is Run by Kevin and it totally different. All fish and corals are quarantined at the Rhinelander facility but that dont mean something doesn't get through here and there. I have been there and that place is amazing. The question is what happens now Petco owns them.. According to Kevin Live Aquaria will be left alone.

The other two facilities are run like any other fish store except they are mail order and it is possible to get bad stock from them..

Live Aquaria and Petco get some of their stock from quality marine and have long before Petco bought them. Divers Den farm some of their corals and get from places like Reefgen, ORA etc.

I have ordered from Live Aquaria and have had issues but never from The Rhinlander DD facility.

There have been threads that Diver Den has been going down hill.. I hope not they have always been top notch.

Ah thanks for the run down :)

 

[ReefPiracy]

Live in Wisconsin as well. DD is located upper part of state and run by Kevin a long time player in the fish game. This place is pretty nuts and things in all the tanks look happy and healthly. They use a ton of light movers to keep cost down. They have an upper grow out area off limits. Some pictures don't look perfect, they do move a ton of product. I go for the annual in person view and always get spend more then I plan. They have both wild and aquaculture.These are very unique and I don't see them anywhere. Will take years to grow out. They QT everything. I would say there fish QT is top notch. Of course if you buy from DD I would say great, of course they want top dollar but they have a 21 day warranty. That is nuts, oops I didn't drip acclimate my crabs and they all died. Will replace no questions asked. I have always hated online pictures of coral, I like to buy in person, this is where you have to be really diligent about picking corals online.

 

[gmendez619]

You would be surprised how little of the really good stuff trickles down to LFS here in San Diego. Larger good quality SPS almost never. When they do, many stores chop them up into tiny frags to maximize profits. The LFS store scene is pretty sad IMO. There are a few exceptions but larger SPS never.
Haven't been to LA/Orange county stores lately so can't speak for them.

I live here in san diego also and there is ways to get nice fish and corals here. First off we have Aqua SD here. They really do have some of the craziest coral i have seen yet. Were lucky to have that here. Theres also SD Reef Shop in la mesa which is kind of new. They also have some nice frags and fish. Vets pets in el cajon also hase nice fish and coral. Fountains aquarium in la mesa sometimes has nice fish and every now and then theyll have a nice frag or two. Also two other stores which i havent been to but i have seen their stuff on ebay. You can look them up , socal aquafarms and tank gems. They also have nice stuff. Craigslist never fails either. Theres always someone around tanking down a tank who might have a nice piece. You just got to look around :) but yeah there arent many stores here. But if youre willing to pay shipping try out alldelightcorals.com. They ship to california for 25 bucks i think. Its pretty cheap and they have really nice frags

 

[Tapio]

I live here in san diego also and there is ways to get nice fish and corals here. First off we have Aqua SD here. They really do have some of the craziest coral i have seen yet. Were lucky to have that here. Theres also SD Reef Shop in la mesa which is kind of new. They also have some nice frags and fish. Vets pets in el cajon also hase nice fish and coral. Fountains aquarium in la mesa sometimes has nice fish and every now and then theyll have a nice frag or two. Also two other stores which i havent been to but i have seen their stuff on ebay. You can look them up , socal aquafarms and tank gems. They also have nice stuff. Craigslist never fails either. Theres always someone around tanking down a tank who might have a nice piece. You just got to look around :) but yeah there arent many stores here. But if youre willing to pay shipping try out alldelightcorals.com. They ship to california for 25 bucks i think. Its pretty cheap and they have really nice frags

I am aware of all the shops you mention. Local stores unfortunately do not carry or are willing to bring in the same large SPS pieces that apparently Divers Den do regularly. I prefer buying live stock locally but when it can't be found I have looked at DD, hence my original post. I always buy fish locally and Vets Pets is the best fish store in town, perhaps one of the best in the country with their willingness to keep fish for customers until eating well and monitoring for diseases. SoCal Aquafarms is great too for corals and he sells frags and colonies that are of good size, which is refreshing in these days. The selection is great too, BUT he does not have the larger pieces at DD that I am referring to.

 

[gmendez619]

I am aware of all the shops you mention. Local stores unfortunately do not carry or are willing to bring in the same large SPS pieces that apparently Divers Den do regularly. I prefer buying live stock locally but when it can't be found I have looked at DD, hence my original post. I always buy fish locally and Vets Pets is the best fish store in town, perhaps one of the best in the country with their willingness to keep fish for customers until eating well and monitoring for diseases. SoCal Aquafarms is great too for corals and he sells frags and colonies that are of good size, which is refreshing in these days. The selection is great too, BUT he does not have the larger pieces at DD that I am referring to.

Yeah i see. You dont really see large pieces out here in the shops. Have you tried sdreefs.com. Alot of people on there sell some nice stuff around town and i have seen some large colonies. You should check it out

 

[Tapio]

Yeah i see. You dont really see large pieces out here in the shops. Have you tried sdreefs.com. Alot of people on there sell some nice stuff around town and i have seen some large colonies. You should check it out

Probably my large colonies sometimes:D

 

[gmendez619]

Probably my large colonies sometimes:D

Ahha well if you ever have some nice frags or fish to sell dont be scared to shoot me a message. I personally like to buy small frags and see my coral grow but thats just me. I understand some reefers like to buy larger pieces and thats fine. Anyways im in spring valley and im always up for a good trade or sell. Specially zoas and clowns lol