Michigan Saltwater

[Skywater]

Anyone have any favorite saltwater aquarium shops in Michigan?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Anyone have any favorite saltwater aquarium shops in Michigan?

Pruess Pets in Lansing is probably the best all-around pet store in the state. I've known Rick Pruess for nearly 50 years, from back when I managed a pet store. I haven't been to his shop in about 10 years, but I know some people who got some nice corals from him a few months ago.

There is also Tropicorium in Romulus. I haven't been there is 20 years, but they used to import a lot of corals.

Sorry, I don't know of any stores on your side of the state......

 

[Tonycass12]

Great lakes corals in Petoskey, Moby ***** in Waterford.

 

[Matt L]

Where abouts in MI? I’m in southeast MI, and the only one around me is Tropicorium in Romulus. They have some cool things, but are less than half of the size they used to be.

 

[Skywater]

Pruess Pets in Lansing is probably the best all-around pet store in the state. I've known Rick Pruess for nearly 50 years, from back when I managed a pet store. I haven't been to his shop in about 10 years, but I know some people who got some nice corals from him a few months ago.

There is also Tropicorium in Romulus. I haven't been there is 20 years, but they used to import a lot of corals.

Sorry, I don't know of any stores on your side of the state......

I appreciate the information. I took a 12 year break from the hobby: then restarted two years ago. The aquarium shops within 75 miles from Hart, do not live up to the vibrant standards of the 80s; when I added my first saltwater tank. Dutch mini-reefs, with their extremely interesting diversity were big then.

 

[Skywater]

Where abouts in MI? I’m in southeast MI, and the only one around me is Tropicorium in Romulus. They have some cool things, but are less than half of the size they used to be.

Thanks for the recomendation. I haven't been to Tropicorium yet. Will have to.
Hart Michigan here, Central west side of Michigan.

 

[Skywater]

Great lakes corals in Petoskey, Moby ***** in Waterford.

Good recommendations. Haven't been to those aquarium shops yet: however I have been to Waterford; to Motor City Guitar store; to pick up a bass guitar. Will have two places there to shop now.

 

[Frithton]

I'm on your side of the state in Hastings. I have used Preuss Pets that has been mentioned. In Grand Rapids area I use VI Pets on Plainfield and Cutlerville, they also have a store in Holland. There is also Blue Fish Aquarium in Grandville.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I appreciate the information. I took a 12 year break from the hobby: then restarted two years ago. The aquarium shops within 75 miles from Hart, do not live up to the vibrant standards of the 80s; when I added my first saltwater tank. Dutch mini-reefs, with their extremely interesting diversity were big then.

Back in the late 1970’s, Ann Arbor had six good fish stores. Now there are none, just big box stores with poor quality fish.

There is one fish store, between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti called the Fish Doctors, it is pretty decent, but it would not be worth the drive for you.

 

[Skywater]

Back in the late 1970’s, Ann Arbor had six good fish stores. Now there are none, just big box stores with poor quality fish.

There is one fish store, between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti called the Fish Doctors, it is pretty decent, but it would not be worth the drive for you.

Thanks for all the good information. Lots of the old fish stores might have been outsold by online sellers and the big chain stores.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

I 100% echo what @Jay Hemdal said.

I got my start at Preuss’s back in the early 90s, and worked there all the way through college. Many people working there were like me…zoology or vet med majors at MSU…which I think just sort of took the animal understanding and husbandry to another level. Rick was probably the most significant mentor I’ve had along the way, and I highly doubt I would have the business I have without him.

If I were a hobbyist in Michigan, I would drive past every other store there to get to Preuss.

 

[twentyleagues]

Been said Mobys, Preuss, Blue thumb in sagnasty, fish Dr's, trop, I've known Dick and his son for years. I was out from 2010 until 2022 lots has changed mobys is still good and preuss is always a fun place to go even if you worked there part time for 3 years lol. Trop has declined a bit Dick isn't around anymore not sure if he's still " around" or not, I couldn't bring myself to ask his son ( can't remember his name atm) last time I was there after my 12 year hiatus. They used to get some crazy stuff back in the day.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

I'm on your side of the state in Hastings. I have used Preuss Pets that has been mentioned. In Grand Rapids area I use VI Pets on Plainfield and Cutlerville, they also have a store in Holland. There is also Blue Fish Aquarium in Grandville.

Continuing my walk down memory lane… I also used to work for John VI over at 68th and Division(?) way back when :face-with-tears-of-joy:

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Been said Mobys, Preuss, Blue thumb in sagnasty, fish Dr's, trop, I've known Dick and his son for years. I was out from 2010 until 2022 lots has changed mobys is still good and preuss is always a fun place to go even if you worked there part time for 3 years lol. Trop has declined a bit Dick isn't around anymore not sure if he's still " around" or not, I couldn't bring myself to ask his son ( can't remember his name atm) last time I was there after my 12 year hiatus. They used to get some crazy stuff back in the day.

I don't think Dick is around any more, he'd be about 90. I stopped dealing with them a couple of decades ago, and then this came out in 2014:

Michigan Aquarium Store Operator Sentenced For Illegal Trafficking Of Marine Life

www.justice.gov

 

[twentyleagues]

I don't think Dick is around any more, he'd be about 90. I stopped dealing with them a couple of decades ago, and then this came out in 2014:

Michigan Aquarium Store Operator Sentenced For Illegal Trafficking Of Marine Life

www.justice.gov

Yeah I dont think that was the only time either. Like I said they had some crazy stuff. At the time I didnt know it was illegal but "I know someone" who got some things there that were not legal to be harvested or sold but I guess once in a tank it was not illegal to own.... Luckily they thrived in this "persons" tank.

 

[Matt L]

Trop has declined a bit Dick isn't around anymore not sure if he's still " around" or not, I couldn't bring myself to ask his son ( can't remember his name atm) last time I was there after my 12 year hiatus. They used to get some crazy stuff back in the day.

Dick Perrin is still alive and well at age 92. His son Ray runs the store now.

 

[Hockeypunk1]

I get most of my fish from Fish Dr in Ypsilanti. They have a really good fish medication process that seems to work well. They have several separate systems with different medications so when a new fish comes in it will start at the top level and each week will work to the next level until they've gone through an entire treatment. It's not a full quarantine but it's probably as close as you can get in a fish store without jacking up the prices. They have a decent coral selection, not too many sps.

Tropicorium is a really cool store, they have huge runs full of live rock.
If you have some cash to spend and you want high end corals you have Cherry Corals out near Detroit also. I think you have to make an appointment depending on which day you want to go there.

Preuss is an amazing store that has everything you are looking for!

There's also Pet Station in Jackson they have a small salt section but I would hesitate to buy fish from there unless I had a quarantine ready to go. It's worth a look if you're in town but I wouldn't set them as a destination.

 

[twentyleagues]

Dick Perrin is still alive and well at age 92. His son Ray runs the store now.

I dont know why I had a mental block on Ray. Thats good to hear that Dick is still (oh boy) around. I've known them since the late 90's. I guess not as long as some others but Trop was one of the first places I went to get corals/fish besides Mobys and Preuss. Last time I was there Ray had just gotten the Emu's (I think they were Emus anyway). That was where I got my bamboo cats and corals cat sharks, I talked to someone other than Ray or Dick and lets say it was not the greatest decision I have ever made in the hobby. Luckily about 2 years later Ray took the bamboos back and gave me plenty of stuff in return.
An hour + drive to do something I love is not a problem for me. I have been to most stores in Michigan many are not around anymore. Seaworld was one that I didnt even know it closed until I saw their fish displays at Preuss. Rick told me they closed.

 

[Matt L]

I dont know why I had a mental block on Ray. Thats good to hear that Dick is still (oh boy) around. I've known them since the late 90's. I guess not as long as some others but Trop was one of the first places I went to get corals/fish besides Mobys and Preuss. Last time I was there Ray had just gotten the Emu's (I think they were Emus anyway). That was where I got my bamboo cats and corals cat sharks, I talked to someone other than Ray or Dick and lets say it was not the greatest decision I have ever made in the hobby. Luckily about 2 years later Ray took the bamboos back and gave me plenty of stuff in return.
An hour + drive to do something I love is not a problem for me. I have been to most stores in Michigan many are not around anymore. Seaworld was one that I didnt even know it closed until I saw their fish displays at Preuss. Rick told me they closed.

Yeah, those Emus are huge now, lol! They usually take in trade for store credit there, that’s where I get my salt. I am aware of their past, but that is the only store within an hour of me, and they don’t have their Florida facility anymore (from what Ray told me). Now they order in livestock and get lots of aquacultured coral from hobbyists trading in things.

However I wish he’d let me adjust the light and flow in the main frag tank, as the corals get bleached over time. There are a lot of misc. goodies to find in the large greenhouse tanks too. But even if it isn’t what it used to be, I think it’s still a good spot to check out.

 

[twentyleagues]

Yeah, those Emus are huge now, lol! They usually take in trade for store credit there, that’s where I get my salt. I am aware of their past, but that is the only store within an hour of me, and they don’t have their Florida facility anymore (from what Ray told me). Now they order in livestock and get lots of aquacultured coral from hobbyists trading in things.

However I wish he’d let me adjust the light and flow in the main frag tank, as the corals get bleached over time. There are a lot of misc. goodies to find in the large greenhouse tanks too. But even if it isn’t what it used to be, I think it’s still a good spot to check out.

Absolutely a must visit if you are in Michigan.