Aquarium

I travel all over and this is a destination store. They are busy but that is for a reason. The pond section is second to none. I was helped by Dan on a special sale day they had and the curly haired lady she has been helping me for years and I enjoy her humor. She always takes care of me fast. She is great. Simply the best around. Some of the reviewers on this page seem to have an agenda or they simply have not really be shopping much at Aquarium. more

They sold me a fish for my reef tank about a year ago that is sub tropical and requires a chiller to be healthy. They themselves keep the catalina goby in a 78 degree reef tank. It died in 3 days. When I returned after a couple weeks worth of research to inform them that they shouldn't be selling these fish to hobbyists unless they have a chiller setup, I was ""greeted"" by one of the owners, a very short, older lady with an afro-like hairdo. I got about half way through my 1st sentence before she interrupted me and asked me what I wanted. I had had dealings with her before and she is one of the rudest people you will ever meet. And please don't question her... I admit fault myself for the purchasing of the fish without proper research. It was very pretty and tempting, and I impulsively purchased it. What I did breaks every cardinal rule of reefkeeping there is. That was a big learning experience for me, as I was heartbroken that I made such a poor decision. This fish, to be happy and healthy, needs a special tank setup specifically for it with the temp set around 58 to 60 degrees. Very Few reefers have a setup such as this. This incident is typical of this store, just ask any serious aquarist. But basically, don't trust advice from any of the people here. They always seem stressed and understaffed and usually answer you with short, inaccurate responses. For marine or reef aquariums, there are much, much better places in Knoxville to visit. But as most reef forums will tell you, NEVER, EVER take the word of a local fish store over your own research. But especially these guys... more

My husband has been begging me for weeks to visit this locally owned fish store. I've been to my share of fish stores, both super stores such as PetsMart as well as hole-in-the-walls that smell worse than they look. I've been in the hobby 6 years and since our tanks are established, my husband only shops for maintenance supplies. I don't usually go with him. It's like sending a sugar addict into a candy store. When I finally agreed to go with my husband to visit Aquarium, I admit I was impressed with the amount of floor space dedicated to products, and while many of these products were not new to me (apparently my husband has been shopping here for a few months now), I noticed the widest array of brands I've seen at a retail location. (By the way, I prefer to support local business, so I don't use online sites to order goods, whenever possible.) Once I stepped inside the Fish Room, I was amazed. There are so many tanks and lots of variety in fish and plants, both freshwater and saltwater. I'm positive my husband and I spent over an hour just walking around and taking it all in. The (lack of) lighting in the back helped bring out the colors of the fish so that even the more mundanely patterned fish seemed to sparkle (I'm sure they have special bulbs). Also, one of the employees told me that they only feed high quality brands of flake, frozen, and pelleted foods! Wow, sounds like more thought than I put into my dog's treats, and I buy the bakery kind! It was obvious when you looked at the livestock that they are well cared for by a knowledgeable staff. Seeing fish like that gives me confidence that the person offering me advice isn't just trying to take my money, but is honestly invested in the livelihood and health of my fish. I've had the majority my fish for 3+ years now, and they are part of our family. I want help from someone who appreciates that and feels the same way about their pets. Did I mention Aquarium has a pond section? I see a container pond in my future. I recommend anyone with a serious addiction to the aquarium/pond hobby stay far, far away from Aquarium. It will be too much for you to handle. For everyone else, Aquarium is a stunning store with a great selection of everything, a friendly & knowledgeable staff, and good prices. They also have a customer rewards program that gets you discounts and email coupons (I'll take it!). They are a little hard to see from the road, so map it or call for directions if you're not sure where it's located. more

I've been keeping a reef aquarium for nearly 3 years now, and I must say, I love this store! I've had nothing but good advice from them and I really trust their judgement. Yeah, they are a little hard to find, but on my first trip I just called the store and they gave me great directions for finding it. They're more than willing to spend time with you to answer any question you could potentially have, and I've actually received an email from one of the managers checking in on my aquarium. What a nice gesture! I also really like their VIP program. I build up points to use as store credit. It's only the products that they recommend that you buy, but those are usually what I get anyway. They have a large selection of both products and livestock, and some items are more expensive than other stores, but many are priced lower and so all-together it falls in line. Plus since they quarantine and carry higher quality brands, you spend less money in the long run because you do it right in the first place. I really like that they quarantine their fish prior to selling them. I'm an impatient person, so it's hard to ""visit"" and not buy, but I know that when I get them they'll be healthy and eating. Their whole staff is helpful, and if the newer members don't have an answer, they will find someone who does. It's apparent that their salespeople care about the hobby, and that's means a lot to me. All in all, this is by far my favorite aquarium store, and I've been to them all! more

They have a great building in a poor location. You have to really search to find the place and it is on a very steep hill with awkward parking. more