A massive aquarium in your local fish store: Is that still a thing?

[Peace River]

It used to be that many local fish stores (LFSs) had a massive aquarium in their store and that was intended to be an attraction for people to marvel at the tank and watch the fish. With the cost of real estate going up, profit margins getting thinner, and culture changing, is it still a thing for LFSs to have monster tanks? Does your LFS have a huge show tank? Do you care? Tell us what you think about the importance or impact of a large show tank in your LFS in the thread below!

Here is a video of the 1500 gallon show tank at @WWC's mega store:



It should be mentioned that this large show tank is not just a beautiful and mesmerizing, it is also a “working” tank where the corals are regularly fragged and sold. One of the many benefits that this provides is that we get to see many large coral colonies!

 

[TheReefDiary]

my lfs has a few show displays. nothing majorally big, but still nice. rather more space for cool fish than big display tanks.

 

[revhtree]

One of the first stores I started visiting had a huge tank of pulsing Xenia and that really drew me in! To see those “things” actually living and moving was amazing to me.

 

[acesfull44]

Several of our LFS (I am sure like many) have several tanks to show off different types of things - fish, coral, inverts, etc. A few of them have really nice show tanks, but due to space are not "MASSIVE."

 

[MONTANTK]

My LFS has a 300g fish only tank and an 800g acro dominant display, however, they’re in the process of redoing it

 

[LeDart]

My favorite LFS, has a large display tank, I think it is a 230 gallon, and it is beautiful, however, because of the size of their shop, they can't have any other large displays, they have a nano, and a pico display, but the 230 takes the cake, sadly I have no picture of it.

 

[Gtinnel]

Where is the option for I don’t have a lfs?

My favorite not so local fish store that I love to visit has several large show tanks.

 

[Mikey-D]

Unlimited Aquarium in VA Beach has a fresh and saltwater display tanks and they are are amazing!

 

[tbrown3589]

It used to be that many local fish stores (LFSs) had a massive aquarium in their store and that was intended to be an attraction for people to marvel at the tank and watch the fish. With the cost of real estate going up, profit margins getting thinner, and culture changing, is it still a thing for LFSs to have monster tanks? Does your LFS have a huge show tank? Do you care? Tell us what you think about the importance or impact of a large show tank in your LFS in the thread below!

Here is a video of the 1500 gallon show tank at @WWC's mega store:



It should be mentioned that this large show tank is not just a beautiful and mesmerizing, it is also a “working” tank where the corals are regularly fragged and sold. One of the many benefits that this provides is that we get to see many large coral colonies!

The main LFS I go to has 4 or 5 DT. They've got an Arowana and Redtail Catfish tank, African Cichlid tank, Oscar tank, and two reef tanks. They also have several smaller DT with plants and shrimp and community tanks. All NFS. Some are nice, others are just kinda "Meh".

 

[mjszos]

An LFS in my area has a shark tank in the center of their store, but you can't really see much of what's going on inside of it unless you climb up to look from the top. Still a neat thing though.

Otherwise the rest are just giant frag tanks, with a few "smaller" show tanks (100-200g)

 

[LordofCinder]

My local Big Al's has a shark tank. They feed it once a week, I've never seen the feeding, but just seeing the sharks is cool.

 

[DeadEnd]

I wonder if there is any fish store that is worth flying to. I am kind of getting bored of my LFS's (they are amazing but I visit them to often)

 

[Slocke]

Of the 3 I go to I'd say they all have one a few hundred gallons. One has really impressive corals bu the other two are nothing special. I wish they did though. I'd love to see something to aspire to there and ask them about it.

 

[JSmith]

I had a large LFS near me that closed down a few years ago but they had twin tanks that were 500 gallons each if I had to guess.

 

[AV corals]

I feel LFS kind of have to do that IMO. It essentially shows the capabilities of a LFS. Ok maybe they don't haaaave too, but it's always nice to see that's for sure. If you guys ever eat by Ports O Call in San Pedro CA- Stop by 7 Seas tropical fish San Pedro! Reeally nice stuff!

​

 

[Aspect]

Not my LFS but I made the drive up to Tropicorium in Michigan. Absolutely awesome place, Ray (Owner) has 6 2k gallon ponds where he grows coral with natural sunlight and breeds sharks. Wish I lived closer.

 

[Piscans]

I wonder if there is any fish store that is worth flying to. I am kind of getting bored of my LFS's (they are amazing but I visit them to often)

predatory fins is cool

 

[Coral-vault]

If anyone is in Fort Worth Texas come by and see us!

 

[exnisstech]

I have 4 LFS and one has a couple of really nice displays the other 3 do not. Well one other does but it has been neglected and is not nice

 

[rtparty]

The two stores I ever visit don't have large show tanks. The tanks they do have are underwhelming to say the least.

The 2 stores I used to visit a ton had amazing show tanks! One was a 600g full walk around tank and it was stunning! Lit by halides and it just glowed from every angle. The other was an in wall tank and very deep front to back. It was so cool to stare into an actual reef. The depth made it very real.

Sadly, both stores are gone now.