Aquatic Center is going out of business

Narkon'n'more

New Member
djconn said:
I bet I go through a tank of gas just checking out various LFS on a random Sunday. :lol:
Which is exactly the reason I had to slow down on going to the fish stores.
The cost was become to the point that I could just get Neptunes to order for me, and pay the extra price in that would save me the same amount of money for gas.
 

djconn

New Member
Man, Neptunes is just waaaaaaaaaay too expensive. I just don't understand how they think they can charge so much. I saw a little 2-3" piece of rock with about 10-15 zoanthid polyps on it a few weeks ago. Just for grins I asked how much it was and they wanted $50.00 for it. Honestly, it wasn't even worth $15. I've actually bought $5 frags that looked better locally.

I guess they've gone through some recent owner changes right Narkon? They need to bump their prices down a lot it they want to keep their head above water for much longer.

They're giving that big zoo of a store over on 290 a run for 'the most expensive LFS in Houston' award. :mrgreen:
 

Narkon'n'more

New Member
Thing is Neptunes is making though. It is the only real story over here, and that gives it certain advantages. And it should have been 39.95 with only that many heads, normally the 50$ ones have 30 heads.

I have told Trey that I feel it is to expensive, yet he sales, or at least he sales fish, and I am amazed that everytime I have been in on a weekend or evening, there is some one there buying a saltwater fish or item. Every Time! And these people never heard of MARSH and normal don't know fo the other stores or think they are to far to drive to get stuff!
 

incysor

New Member
djconn said:
Man, we all need to carpool to the fish stores sometime. We could get a big van and put a big sticker on the side reading "Reef Store Vanpool". I bet I go through a tank of gas just checking out various LFS on a random Sunday. :lol:
LOL...I had a friend that had a tank when I met him, but he only knew of 2 stores in town. For his B-day I took him an an all-day-tour, and gave him $50 to spend. We started with Tropical Fish Depot, hit Neptunes, then went up 45N to B&B, then over to Aquatic World on Jones RD, skipped Aquarium World, (since this was 1of his 2), went to Aquatic Designs, (this was when they still had a storefront), from there went out to Fish Land, T&T, came back on Bellaire and hit Fish World, (they were still open), went to Global, then City Pets, and Aquatic Center. On the way back to his place in Montrose, we skipped Fish Ranch II, (cause we were running out of time to get him back home in time to get ready for his date, and cause I think they suck.), skipped Planet Fish, (His number 2 store), ran through Village Tropical, and got him home with about an hour and a half for him to get ready to go out. All in all it took about 7hrs, and yep it took up a full tank of gas.

As for Neptunes. My opinion of them is pretty low. I only go through the store when I'm already on that side of town for something, because it isn't worth driving over there just to see what they've got. Nearly every time I've been in there their stock has been skimpy, overpriced, and unhealthy looking. I will say that on a few of their fish and inverts their prices have been fair, but it's a mostly hit-or-miss situation, with MOST of their stock being way overpriced. ALL of their corals are totally overpriced. I can't see how they don't get run out of business by tropical fish depot. It's not a great store either, but their prices are better, and they generally have a better selection.
 

Narkon'n'more

New Member
Well I would say "Location" is the reason they are doing as good as they are. Also, I would say they have gotten better, and each visit I have been pleasantly surpised to see something else impoved at Neptunes. I say give it 2 years and we might have a very nice place down hear in the SE. Of course it being one of my most closest stores I would love to see that happen.

His corals right now are to expensive, but I feel as time passes it will get better. *crosses fingers*

But I have to be optimisitic. :b
 

Narkon'n'more

New Member
It would be nice if didn't have to wait so long for it, but hey, all we can do is wait it out.

I am sorry to see Kenny go though.
 

incysor

New Member
Narkon'n'more said:
It would be nice if didn't have to wait so long for it, but hey, all we can do is wait it out.

I am sorry to see Kenny go though.
Yeah, it sucks that he's going out. It seems messed up that with the number of crappy stores around some of the good ones are going under.
 

incysor

New Member
Purple Haze said:
Are they still open? I'll be ready to fill my tank anyday now and am ready to start cycling some fiji :)
Nope, AC closed on x-mas eve. At least that was Kenny's plan. I'd give the number a call just to see if he has anything left. If no answer I'd try pm'ing him on Marsh. He might still be checking the board. It's certainly possible that he still has some stuff left.

B
 

djconn

New Member
I went by yesterday (Sunday) and the sign on his door said closed and noone was around. I also went to Global and John said that Kenny was official closed. :(
 

incysor

New Member
YouStink said:
kenny and john at global are friends? i thougth they were competitors
They are competitors, however they're also in the same part of town. All the store owners in that part of town know what's going on with the other stores.

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djconn

New Member
Yup, never said they were friends. Just asked what he knew about Kenny's situation and he said "he's gone".
 

Purple Haze

New Member
Just to let you guys know about a week ago I picked up some fiji from kenny. I just pm'd him on marshreef and he met me at the shop. He mentioned he'd be around until the end of January. He's still got a good selection of drygoods with prices that can't be beat.

fyi
 

incysor

New Member
He posted today saying that if you contact him you're welcome to come pick up LR rubble good for attaching frags too for free. I would expect this might be especially good for nano tanks.

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