Having a good knowledgeable local fish store is one of the most important factors to starting off right in the aquarium hobby, fresh or salt. Today there’s more saltwater aquarium departments and reef aquarium shops all over the world but you can imagine how rare this was back in the mid 90s.
We’re very happy to report that our childhood LFS, Fishy Business in Columbia South Carolina, is not only still in business but more engaged in the reef world than ever. This LFS is where we first learned to mix saltwater, treat ich, deal with algae etc. – after more than twenty years it is still alive and kicking, all the original staff, ownership and employees are still there and they seem as excited as ever about the fresh and saltwater aquarium hobby.
We ran into Fishy Business at Reefapalooza Orlando last weekend and discovered that they’d recently started up a YouTube channel for the store. If you watch the store tour video you’ll see a very well stocked, full line aquarium store with all the dry goods, freshwater fish and saltwater livestock to get you started.
But what I see is a huge spread of tanks where I scored some of my first frags, freshwater plants, my first LED Moonlight, and where I hustled Guy for a free coral for the first time – it was an Acan echinata that we used in a fragging workshop for the local reef club.
It’s rare to see a full line aquarium store last so long but Fishy Business is a testament that if you stay in touch with the needs of your customers, and keep your livestock and dry goods inventory current, you can be successful in the retail aquarium business. I love the enthusiasm they bring to their videos so give them a Sub, and if you’re in the Columbia SC area do pay them a visit.
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