If you’ve been scrolling through social media or talking with anyone in the Florida reefing community over the last year, you know the hype is very real. There’s a relatively new Local Fish Store (LFS) in Boynton Beach, Florida, that has been generating a massive amount of buzz among professionals and everyday hobbyists alike.
That store is Lush Corals. Stepping through their doors feels less like walking into a traditional fish shop and more like walking into the Apple Store of the reef aquarium hobby. The visual appeal of the facility is absolutely stunning. It’s a pristine, modern showroom that strips away the clutter and puts the breathtaking beauty and health of the corals and fish front and center.
But as I found out during my recent visit, Lush Corals is far more than just a beautiful storefront.
Meet the Team Setting a New Standard
During my walkthrough, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with owners Susan and her husband, Andrew. I want to take a moment to give them a massive, warm welcome to the professional side of the hobby. While Andrew brilliantly handles the business operations, Susan is the heartbeat of the livestock and customer education.
With 12 years of experience as a dedicated hobbyist, she is one of the few female aquarium store owners in our industry—and her passion is contagious. While on-site, our videographer, Evie Hale, and I filmed a full tour of the store. Evie added so much to the conversation as we met the rest of their amazing staff, including their in-house fish biologist (Aaron) and their social media specialist (Giovanni), who all share that same infectious energy for marine life.
Watch the full walkthrough of Evie and I touring the facility and chatting with Susan by clicking this hyperlink: The “Apple Store” of Aquariums: Why the Hype is Real for Lush Corals
The Lush Corals Approach: Stability & Biosecurity
The display aquariums on-site are immaculate. When I asked Susan about her secret, her approach to reefing was refreshingly simple: Keep your parameters stable above all else. But what truly justifies the hype surrounding Lush Corals is their incredibly caring, responsible approach to biosecurity. Susan’s dedication to the animals and the future success of her customers is unmatched.
The Lush Corals Fish Quarantine Protocol:
- The Cool Down: New fish shipments bypass the retail store entirely. They are taken directly to her off-site coral farm, where they spend at least a week peacefully acclimating after their stressful journey from wholesalers or breeders.
- Medicated Acclimation: Next, the fish are transported to the retail store and placed in a dedicated, medicated acclimation system for another week of close observation.
- Retail Ready: Only after passing strict health checks are they finally moved to the retail display systems and made available for sale.
Her approach to coral is just as meticulous. The vast majority of the corals available have been lovingly farmed for years from Susan’s own personal collection. Whenever outside corals are brought in, they first go to the off-site farm for thorough pest and disease treatments. Once she guarantees they are 100% pest-free, they make their way into the retail display aquariums or onto their soon-to-launch online platform, www.lushcoralsaquatics.com.
What’s Next: Farm Tours & Reefapalooza Orlando!
The video we shot at the retail store is only the beginning. Next week, I will be visiting Susan’s off-site farm to film an even more comprehensive walkthrough of the entire aquaculture facility!
But right now, all eyes are on this weekend. Lush Corals will be hosting their very first booth at the major trade show, Reefapalooza Orlando. Susan is bringing an absolute fire lineup of corals from her personal collection, and the store is proudly partnering with major international manufacturers for the event:
- AquaForest
- ATI
- Nyos
If you are attending Reefapalooza this weekend, do yourself a favor: make sure you swing by the Lush Corals booth, say hello to Susan and the team, and check out the stunning livestock she’s bringing to the show. The hype is real, and it is entirely deserved.
But you don’t have to just take my word for it. Check out the gallery below for an exclusive sneak peek at 10 of the incredible, aquacultured corals Susan and the Lush Corals team are bringing to the show floor this weekend!
If you would like more information about Lush Corals, don’t forget to watch the walkthrough video mentioned earlier in the article. Also, next week Evie and I will be going to Lush Corals Farm and releasing that video along with the full walkthrough of the rest of the store. Finally, we will have Susan on a live Reef Therapy in 2 or 3 weeks where more of your questions can be answered.
See you next time Reef Builders!
-Shawn
