New LFS in Town

We all love visiting a new LFS and this is precisely what I have done today. And wow, am I impressed. They opened back in January, and frankly I did not really understand the scope of this store. They have been doing Installation and Maintenance for years and have only now taken the plunge into the LFS market place.

I speak of Fins Up Reef, 3625 W. Bowles Ave. #18, Littleton, CO 80123. It is the second unit from the end on the ground floor of a nice shopping center. See my pictures below for the full tour. I must mention right here, they are only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10-6 because they are doing I & M during the week. This is a common retail model for saltwater only LFS’s.

So what do I find impressive? First off, the place is well laid out, clean, and well stocked. They do not carry much in the aquarium product department, but they do have a few things for saltwater systems. I would say they really wow with the corals and the way they are displayed. The flow in all but the SPS tank is slow enough to maintain a clear surface with excellent viewing of the coral. Well Done! I cannot remember ever seeing this done so well. It is important to see the product after all. So, why is this hardly ever done? The viewing panels or cones work ok, but this system is so much better. The owner, Ryan Cullen, has been in the business since childhood and has worked at other LFS, so he has learned the ropes well. It is nice to see young folks doing well in their lives, even though I am sure it is a struggle at this stage.

The back wall has the saltwater fish and inverts. A nice looking setup with some beautiful fish! As is so vital in a store like this, they offer both seawater and RO. They also have a good selection of frozen and bottled foods. I like that he focuses on what this customers need without messing with products which can be found in any large box pet store. With the closing of Neptune’s he could easily offer freshwater livestock, but again, he stays true to his specialty, so my hat’s off to him. If you live on the south side of the Metro, this is the place to find your saltwater fish, corals, and support. Yes, there is competition with the other saltwater LFS’s in the greater metro, though I welcome this to our not so little fishy community.

Sequoia Elisabeth