KeishaKornbread
Banned
I know a lot of folks on here have been hearing more about Global Aquatics since they have been increasing their presence via craigslist and facebook, which is how I discovered them. I got a tip from a Rob Thomas on facebook about a place near o’hare that supposedly is the wholesaler to many area pets tores. The note said they were open 1-5 everyday for the general public.
I’ve read about a place near the airport that was a wholesaler that some people liked and many people did not like, so I assumed it was the same place. I spoke with one of my favorite LFS personnel and he knew exactly which place I was referring to and was sort of against my going there to check the place out but that was not going to stop me from going. I’m no role model or perfect Christian, nor do I pay my bills on time….so I went.
They are in an industrial park right off of 290 and it was pretty easy to find with my GPS. I walked into the place and I was in a small office with dry goods and a desk. I stood there with Daisy in my arms until someone asked me if this was my first time there. I shyly nodded my head. He then opened another door to the back and then showed me where everything was. There was a room of various dry goods to the side and just past that room was the main fish room.
The place is in a warehouse building similar to Reefwise and Midwest Coral Farms. There were rows and rows of tanks all the way to the back of the shop. There’s a huge saltwater pond/lagoon that had live rock, fish that were over a foot long, large anemones, and canisters of small lobsters. They had tones of black piranhas and red piranhas in that same room. Those were the only freshwater fish in that room. There was a large shallow tank in the back that had HUGE fish in there with some rays that I imagine were for restaurants with HUGE tanks. The coral selection was really weak with nothing spectacular; most being green zoas and mushrooms. They had tanks full of starfishes, snails and different shrimps. The water was blue with some being so blue that you could just barely make out what was in the tank.
The majority of the saltwater fish were in tiny cubicles in two rows in two aisles. Some were way too big for their cubicle or had a cubicle mate in with them. Below these cubicles you would find a larger tank that had TONS of fish in them in all sizes. The corals were in two tubs on one side of the room, but again, there was nothing interesting in them. The selection of fish, on the other had was pretty nice. They had many of the same fish in different stages of life so you could find the perfect size for your tank.
There was a second room that had more saltwater fish, but mostly freshwater. There were tons of catfish, cichlids and angels. There was one row of Saltwater in each row. There were black clowns for sale. Small ones were $31 for one and $55 for 2. They were listed as small but they were more of a medium sized. There was another tank with those being sold as Medium. They had small batfishes for $20-45 that were beautiful. I was tempted to grab a baby but I decided against it.
The prices were lower than any LFS I had been too and they had a lot of fish. Most of the fish were priced as marked but the corals did not have any prices posted. There were potters angels for $23-35, sandsifting stars for $10, Red Fromia Starfish for $17, peppermint shrimp for $4 and that’s pretty much all I can remember. I was like a kid in a candy store so my eyes were going back and forth and I spent a good hour in their browsing before I even decided on what I was taking home. I took home a 2” Half Black Angel for $16, a sandsifting star and a fromia star. I also picked up some dry goods and frozen food that was priced half of what the local LFSs are selling them at.
As for the customer service, the guys there were great. Everyone was nice and I was approached by all four of the guys there on Saturday. From what I understand, it can get crazy in there on the weekends and I was there on a slow Saturday. The most helpful was a cute kid who bagged all of my fish. I ended up seeing him at MACI the next day. He seemed to know what he was talking about too in terms of animal husbandry, parameters, etc. The others, I don’t know if I would trust their experience or advice, so keep the smart phones in your hand and google whatever info you need on the fish you are staring at in those tanks. And be sure to tip the guys that help you.
I didn’t see any sick fish in there and I only spotted one dead fish out of all of those tanks. I am ALWAYS looking for dead fish in the tanks as well as tangs with ICH when I visit any LFS, and that is how I judge them. Some of these fish are visibly stressed and many of them are very skittish so I would recommend dropping them in your QT for a bit just to be sure they are clean and pest free. I didn’t but my little guy looked perfect and he has been fine all week, knock on wood. Again, that water is so heavily medicated and I am hoping that is enough.
The visit was a good one and I do plan to go back. As a single/unattached reefer on a budget with no spouse/roommate/second job and an eye for the most expensive stuff, this place is very welcomed…for me. It’s an expensive hobby that will swallow your wallets whole. On the flipside, I can easily see this place cannibalizing the local area’s LFS, who I know are already struggling to make ends meet in this economy where many people are getting out of the hobby just to feed their family. So…I’m a bit torn. This place shouldn’t be selling to the public, if it’s a wholesaler, but as a man holding a B.S. in Business & Management, I know that business is business and that the bottom line is really the main focus. I throw a lot of money at my local LFS, and as I have said in my other posts….support your local LFS. I rarely buy dry goods via the big name online vendors. Our LFSs are providing us with livestock and dry goods, but more importantly also providing us with their knowledge, tips and advice from their experience. They are ordering what we want when asked and searching the globe for requested livestock…so visit them and support them.
Again, I drink and cuss and I am no moral role model….so don’t bash me for trying to save a few dollar and going. I’m just giving my review.
I’ve read about a place near the airport that was a wholesaler that some people liked and many people did not like, so I assumed it was the same place. I spoke with one of my favorite LFS personnel and he knew exactly which place I was referring to and was sort of against my going there to check the place out but that was not going to stop me from going. I’m no role model or perfect Christian, nor do I pay my bills on time….so I went.
They are in an industrial park right off of 290 and it was pretty easy to find with my GPS. I walked into the place and I was in a small office with dry goods and a desk. I stood there with Daisy in my arms until someone asked me if this was my first time there. I shyly nodded my head. He then opened another door to the back and then showed me where everything was. There was a room of various dry goods to the side and just past that room was the main fish room.
The place is in a warehouse building similar to Reefwise and Midwest Coral Farms. There were rows and rows of tanks all the way to the back of the shop. There’s a huge saltwater pond/lagoon that had live rock, fish that were over a foot long, large anemones, and canisters of small lobsters. They had tones of black piranhas and red piranhas in that same room. Those were the only freshwater fish in that room. There was a large shallow tank in the back that had HUGE fish in there with some rays that I imagine were for restaurants with HUGE tanks. The coral selection was really weak with nothing spectacular; most being green zoas and mushrooms. They had tanks full of starfishes, snails and different shrimps. The water was blue with some being so blue that you could just barely make out what was in the tank.
The majority of the saltwater fish were in tiny cubicles in two rows in two aisles. Some were way too big for their cubicle or had a cubicle mate in with them. Below these cubicles you would find a larger tank that had TONS of fish in them in all sizes. The corals were in two tubs on one side of the room, but again, there was nothing interesting in them. The selection of fish, on the other had was pretty nice. They had many of the same fish in different stages of life so you could find the perfect size for your tank.
There was a second room that had more saltwater fish, but mostly freshwater. There were tons of catfish, cichlids and angels. There was one row of Saltwater in each row. There were black clowns for sale. Small ones were $31 for one and $55 for 2. They were listed as small but they were more of a medium sized. There was another tank with those being sold as Medium. They had small batfishes for $20-45 that were beautiful. I was tempted to grab a baby but I decided against it.
The prices were lower than any LFS I had been too and they had a lot of fish. Most of the fish were priced as marked but the corals did not have any prices posted. There were potters angels for $23-35, sandsifting stars for $10, Red Fromia Starfish for $17, peppermint shrimp for $4 and that’s pretty much all I can remember. I was like a kid in a candy store so my eyes were going back and forth and I spent a good hour in their browsing before I even decided on what I was taking home. I took home a 2” Half Black Angel for $16, a sandsifting star and a fromia star. I also picked up some dry goods and frozen food that was priced half of what the local LFSs are selling them at.
As for the customer service, the guys there were great. Everyone was nice and I was approached by all four of the guys there on Saturday. From what I understand, it can get crazy in there on the weekends and I was there on a slow Saturday. The most helpful was a cute kid who bagged all of my fish. I ended up seeing him at MACI the next day. He seemed to know what he was talking about too in terms of animal husbandry, parameters, etc. The others, I don’t know if I would trust their experience or advice, so keep the smart phones in your hand and google whatever info you need on the fish you are staring at in those tanks. And be sure to tip the guys that help you.
I didn’t see any sick fish in there and I only spotted one dead fish out of all of those tanks. I am ALWAYS looking for dead fish in the tanks as well as tangs with ICH when I visit any LFS, and that is how I judge them. Some of these fish are visibly stressed and many of them are very skittish so I would recommend dropping them in your QT for a bit just to be sure they are clean and pest free. I didn’t but my little guy looked perfect and he has been fine all week, knock on wood. Again, that water is so heavily medicated and I am hoping that is enough.
The visit was a good one and I do plan to go back. As a single/unattached reefer on a budget with no spouse/roommate/second job and an eye for the most expensive stuff, this place is very welcomed…for me. It’s an expensive hobby that will swallow your wallets whole. On the flipside, I can easily see this place cannibalizing the local area’s LFS, who I know are already struggling to make ends meet in this economy where many people are getting out of the hobby just to feed their family. So…I’m a bit torn. This place shouldn’t be selling to the public, if it’s a wholesaler, but as a man holding a B.S. in Business & Management, I know that business is business and that the bottom line is really the main focus. I throw a lot of money at my local LFS, and as I have said in my other posts….support your local LFS. I rarely buy dry goods via the big name online vendors. Our LFSs are providing us with livestock and dry goods, but more importantly also providing us with their knowledge, tips and advice from their experience. They are ordering what we want when asked and searching the globe for requested livestock…so visit them and support them.
Again, I drink and cuss and I am no moral role model….so don’t bash me for trying to save a few dollar and going. I’m just giving my review.
