[ryddo]

I am just wondering where the good LFS' are in the Philly and Wilmington, De areas are? I frequent my lfs, Fishman and Frazer Zoo. Are there any others that you would suggest?

http://www.frazerzoo.com/

[Steven Pro]

The one place I visited in Philadelphia was The Hidden Reef, but I believe it had a fire or something. I am not sure if it is still open or not.

You might also want to check out, http://phillyreef.org/main/index.htm

[almostdiva]

Hidden Reef did have a fire next door to them right before Christmas. The store had heavy water damage. They post on their web site that they are waiting for permits from the City of Philadelphia to start construction.

[dougc]

There is a new store, In Living Color, opening in Marlton, NJ. I got a tour from one of the co-owners in December and it looks like it will be a destination. They have installed 100% IceCap lighting, have several hundred tanks, and a living-room-like showroom with couches and built-in tanks. They are in a strip center, with saltwater on the first floor and freshwater in the basement. They envision eventually taking over the entire strip center and are planning coral aquaculture facilities onsite. Andy from IceCap says that they have more IceCap lighting (VHO, T-5, MH) than anything this side of Fosters & Smith's aquaculture facility in Wisconsin. The partners have poured money into the place and are focused on educated and informed customer service. Both of the owners are hip-deep in the hobby and have very strong opinions about how other stores have failed to serve their customers.

The opening has been delayed and delayed some more. The current target for an opening is 2/21. This week, they were waiting for a final electrical inspection. The store is at the site of the old Aquarium Authority on Route 70, near the junction of 70 and 73. The only problem I see for them is parking, which is severely limited at that particular strip center.