It can be hard to get out to the store sometimes, even when choosing your next aquarium. Even if you do make it to the store, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll even find what you’re looking for. The good news is that the internet can be a great place to find an aquarium to meet your needs, whether you’re looking for something custom or a specific size or brand. These reviews of the best online aquarium stores bring together the best of the best to help you find your next aquarium from a reliable source.
When it comes to Chewy.com, there’s nothing better if you need something pet-related. This website features a broad selection of items and fast shipping. They only sell aquariums up to 32 gallons and do not offer custom options, but this is a great place to find a nano, small, or medium tanks for most people’s needs. Chewy offers a selection of budget-friendly options, as well as some premium brands. They can also meet your needs for tank setup with products like heaters, filters, substrate, and décor. Even items like fish food are easy to get through Chewy, making it a one-stop shop for just about everything but the fish.
You’re likely familiar with the brick and mortar Petco stores, but their website can be a great spot for picking up aquariums and supplies. Their prices range from low to moderate and they carry tanks up to 103 gallons. They also carry stands, kits, and everything you need to get your aquarium up and running. You can even order fish and invertebrates through Petco.com, so you don’t have to visit the store for anything. They do not offer custom builds, but they do have physical store locations, so you can view products in person before you purchase them if that’s your preference.
Fish Tanks Direct has a large selection of pre-fab tanks, and they also offer custom acrylic tanks. They can make almost any shape of acrylic tank, including cylindrical and other unusual shapes. This store offers aquariums, stands, and any supplies you might need, including plumbing supplies and reverse osmosis supplies. Their prices range from moderate to very high for extra large and custom tanks, but they do carry pre-fab tanks up to 800 gallons. They do not have a physical store, but their customer service is willing to help out if you have questions or issues with a product, including a custom build. If you receive a damaged item, they require it to be reported within 24 hours of receipt for guaranteed credit.
For uniquely shaped aquariums, Live Aquaria is one of the best. They carry tanks from 4 gallons to over 200 gallons, and they carry aquariums in shapes and designs like wall-mounted and cylindrical. They do not have custom builds and their pricing ranges from moderate to very expensive for extra-large tanks and large tanks in unique shapes. Live Aquaria also carries aquarium supplies, fish, invertebrates, plants, coral, and reef rocks, making them a great pick to set up a saltwater tank. They offer free shipping on aquarium purchases over a certain amount, which can save you a lot of money on shipping expenses.
Pros
Multiple brands
Good option for small to large tanks
Aquarium supplies and live plants and animals available
PetSmart’s website is a great option for aquarium shopping because they offer multiple items online that they don’t usually sell in stores. They carry aquariums up to 300 gallons, making them a good spot to get tanks from nano to extra-large. Their prices range from the lowest end to the very expensive end, so PetSmart.com has an aquarium for any budget. They don’t offer custom builds, but they do have physical store locations where you can see a portion of the aquariums they stock. They also have aquarium supplies and live fish available on the site. In some areas, you can get same day delivery from the PetSmart website.
Dream Fish Tanks carries a large selection of rectangular and square tanks, including large rimless tanks and “floating” tanks that sit on a pedestal. Their pricing runs on the high side and even the small tanks they carry are pricey due to having unique features. They carry tanks up to 300 gallons, making Dream Fish Tanks a good option for small to extra-large tanks. They are able to make custom acrylic aquariums, but they require custom builds to be 100 gallons or larger. Dream Fish Tanks offer free shipping on all orders regardless of cost and their customer service is willing to help with any problems. They carry aquarium supplies, but their main focus is aquariums, so their supplies are somewhat limited. They also require damages to be reported within 24 hours of receipt for guaranteed credit.
Marine Depot is a good starting point if you’re looking for an extra-large or huge tank that isn’t a custom build. They carry tanks from 1-900 gallons, so you can find a nano tank there as well. Their pricing runs from the high end of moderate to very high for large and specialty tanks. Marine Depot sells aquarium supplies including protein skimmers and reverse osmosis supplies, so you’ll be able to find pretty much everything you need to get set up other than fish and plants. They require notification of damaged items with 24 hours of receipt for guaranteed credit. The Marine Depot website features videos and blog-style posts full of information on aquarium setup and care.
Wayfair is a website that mostly sells discounted overstock and out of season items, so it can be a good spot to snag a deal on an aquarium. The aquariums they carry vary depending on the stocked items, so check frequently because there’s likely to be something new. They tend to carry tanks that are under 20 gallons, but you may be able to find a larger tank as well. The price range is extremely variable based on the available items. They do not offer custom builds and there isn’t a physical store location. They have a limited selection of aquarium supplies that is usually limited to aquarium décor.
Walmart is the biggest corporation in the world, so they have access to a large number of aquariums and supplies. The Walmart website is similar to Amazon in that it is a vendor marketplace, so when purchasing from Walmart.com, it’s important to note whether you are buying from Walmart or a vendor. Like with other marketplace sites, unreliable vendors do slip in and sell poor-quality items. In many areas, you can select same day pickup on most items, and some Walmart stores can do same day delivery to your front door. The product availability and prices are variable based on vendors and stock.
Pros
Products vary
Aquarium supplies available
Same day pickup and same day delivery are available in some areas
Amazon is a huge online marketplace of vendors that carries just about every type of item you can think of. The availability of items and the pricing is variable based on the vendors and stock. There are no custom options, but there are tons of aquarium supplies and live plants, fish, and invertebrates are usually in stock as well. Amazon offers free shipping on Amazon Prime items for members with free, easy returns, so if you change your mind it’s a simple process to return or replace the item. Make sure to read through reviews before purchasing an item through Amazon because sometimes, unreliable vendors slip through the cracks and may sell you a damaged or poor-quality item.
Pros
Products vary
Aquarium supplies and live plants and animals available
Free shipping and returns for Prime members
Cons
No custom options
Products and prices are variable
Unreliable vendors may sell poor-quality items
Buyer’s Guide
Things to Look for When Choosing an Online Aquarium Store
Reviews: Read reviews from multiple sources when purchasing from an online store, especially if it’s a company you are unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, there are lots of scam sites online that will intentionally sell you broken or unusable items, if you receive items at all. Reviews will give you an idea of the trustworthiness of the site, as well as the quality of the products they sell.
Pricing: Finding a site that sells aquariums within your budget may take time and research to find the perfect site. Make sure to verify what you are paying for, so you aren’t stuck with fees you didn’t expect. If you think you’re ordering an aquarium setup and you only receive a tank, then you’re going to have to spend more money buying everything else you need to get started.
Customer Service: Reviews will give you an idea of the customer service that a site offers, but so will interacting with customer service directly. If you email or call with questions or concerns and can’t get a response, then it may be best to move on to a different store. The last thing you want is to have a problem with your order, only to realize too late that customer service is unhelpful or impossible to get in touch with.
Warranties: Warranties are important when you’re investing in an expensive piece of equipment like an aquarium. You want to stick with companies that have warranties that cover manufacturer defects for at least a few months. This is especially important in extremely expensive or custom items. A $2,000 fish tank that springs a leak after 2 months isn’t something you want to find out you don’t have a warranty on.
Returns: So, you buy an aquarium and realize it doesn’t fit into the space you thought it would, or you just don’t like it. What now? It’s important to check on the return policy of the shop you’re buying from. Most small businesses will offer store credit instead of monetary refunds, while big box stores will likely fully refund a return if you decide you don’t like the item. There are tons of different types of return policies, all with their own pros and cons, and none of them are the “right” policy, but it’s good to know the policy before you buy.
You Have Options!
Online only vs physical location: If you’re the type of person who likes to lay eyes on a product before you buy it, or compare products in person, then online stores with physical locations may be the best option for you. Having a physical store location doesn’t inherently make a business more trustworthy, but some people are more comfortable with a store they can walk inside of if there is an issue or question.
Custom vs pre-fab: If you have a specific tank shape or size in mind, then this will guide whether you purchase a custom tank or a pre-fabricated tank. Most custom tanks are acrylic, which can be molded into just about any shape and size. If you want a specialty centerpiece in your home or business, then a custom tank is probably best for you. If you’re interested in a basic aquarium shape, like a rectangle or cube, then a pre-fab tank will likely meet your needs.
Specialized vs broad options: Some shops almost exclusively sell aquariums and little else, while others sell basically everything you need in the aquatics trade. Broad-focus businesses are a great one-stop shop, but they tend to have fewer custom options. Specialized-focus businesses usually have custom builds available and are able to put more time and effort specifically into helping with fish tank questions and problems.
Conclusion
Shopping for a fish tank online doesn’t have to be complex! Chewy.com and Petco.com are the top two picks for online aquarium stores. Both offer fair prices and a selection of items, as well as other aquarium supplies to make your life easier. Fish Tanks Direct is our top pick if you’re looking for a more premium product or a custom tank build. Make sure to research companies before purchasing from them and you’ll end up with the aquarium of your dreams. These reviews aim to help you consolidate your best options into one convenient place.
Featured Image Credit: Alexander Geiger, Shutterstock
