Aquarium — Local services in Knoxville

Ive been a customer for at least 20 years possibly more bc i cant remember exactly when i found the joint because i was a kid but ive been in and out of the hobby since the 1980s and im telling you this because i while im certainly no brilliant master aquarium owner or builder of any sort but i fancy myself a bit more knowledgeable than the average person on the subject and i want the reader to know that im not some ignorant first timer when i leave this review. Also i feel it might be important to add that this will be the 3rd time ive updated this review and i think thats because i REALLY do like this store and i want to give it a great review...

My major problem with this place are the prices and products offered. If you want the very best rimless tank with all the options incuding CO2,saltwater or fresh and you literally dont give a damn how much you pay for it then this is your place, absolutely, you should go here.

But if your like the other 99% of the population, i find this place to be kind of uppity and dont get me wrong, the younger employees are extremely helpful,patient, friendly and have a genuine knowledge about most anything youd need to know.

My 1st issue that caused me to take notice was about 6 or 8 years ago. Ive always wanted to get some shrimp but i was always afraid to keep any because they were kind of expensive to me at 8.99 and i bought 2 because i remember they had signs up everywhere "15 day guarantee on all fish and 30 days guarantee if you join our club" and there was no fee so i joined thinking hey, if anything goes wrong then i can at least get my money back or something else.

Two days later i found them both dead and bagged them up and made the journey back to papermill from loudon county only to have some uppity "manager" point out that on the very bottom line in really small print, it said "no returns for shrimp". As you might imagine, at this point i became quite livid. There is some information i could have used BEFORE they took my money but nobody at any point ever even mentioned this little fact and you might even think to yourself as much money as this place must be making on all these high end rimless tanks and other equipment that they cant even make a 20$ exception to make a customer happy ! Well arent you a big big man with all your signs and small print !?

So the 2nd time i dealt with them was when my pleco algae eater and my irredescent shark got too big for my biggest tank and its a 75 gallon tank so i contacted them about giving the fish up to a better bigger home and they assured me they had customers that wanted these type fish and they would possibly even pay me for my fish which was great but it was more important to me for the fish to get a proper habitat until they paid me. 8$ for my 18 inch standard run of the mill plecostomus algae eater and 1.40 for the 14 inch shark. I know they charged whoever they sold them to for a lot more and i would rather they just had let me GIVE the fish to a good home instead of them making a big payday while throwing pennies at me, know what i mean ?

So now im at event #3. I bought the two, now sad looking plants pictured below for my 75 gallon planted tank and included a picture of the entire tank so as to prove that i can grow some plants. Ive had those 2 african swords for a few years now and the flame sword is a recent purchase along with the giant hairgrass too. The cryptos are all over a couple of years old as well but i recently pruned some of them way way back due to a bout of hair algae but now thats cleared up and i wanted to add some new stem type plants because ive had some before and they grow quick to fill in spaces. Im still learning plant names and i know one is called red ludwigia but totally cant remember the other name but i did provide photos and i hope theyre just melting like some plants will, before they take root and start growing right. Ill be sure to do a 4th update if thats the case but theyre looking pretty rough and one has broken entirely into two while i was making...

Don't ever buy fish from the "Aquarium" store! We have a larger tank and when we first got our tank started, we purchased 7 freshwater-tropical fish from Pet Smart. Then we also purchased 5 freshwater-tropical fish from the Aquarium store and every single one of them died within the first week of having them in our tank! All of our fish aren't over 3" fully grown by the way, so they aren't large fish. Our aquarium water is kept in the condition it should be, with normal levels. We tested it immediately after each fish died and the water was normal! So there's something wrong with the fish at The Aquarium Store. It's funny all our fish from Pet Smart are just fine, and every single one from aquarium are dead. Also when we bought the ones from the aquarium they looked nasty , their colors weren't vibrant at all and they looked cross bred with other similar species or with other colors of their species -in a bad way. We thought it just meant they weren't bred in bulk like chain stores and we thought that was nice. But no! It's because they are just bred however. We also noticed a lot of the tanks there at the aquarium were severely old and had tremendous amounts of algae, but we weren't concerned at the time because it wasn't the tank for the fish we were buying. The same exact fish at Pet Smart are 10x more vibrant and energetic and healthy looking and acting. Also, not to mention, the fish from the aquarium attacked our other fish and harmed their fins. They are VERY aggressive, the salesman there will try to convince you that it's because you can't predict fish, but it's really because of the way they are bred! Other pet stores breed their fish to get along with other fish in small confined spaces like home aquariums and tanks. The aquarium do not do this! They get their fish from whoever and however and they claim to quarantine them but it's a crock of crap! Their idea of quarantining doesn't solve their other problems and lack of quality. And the managers and salesman (including the one who wrote back to a review I here ) will tell you that you have a money back guarantee on your fish if they should die even if your water is fine , or if you are displeased with the fish after you get them home (like aggressiveness) then you can get a refund... Well no, that's a straight lie. You only get 30% back of what you paid for them! They talked us into becoming an aquarium member which extends your refund days to 14 days instead of 3, well again that's a crock of crap. They still wouldn't take the fish back!!!! All we were offered is 30% of what we paid. The fish died within a week of having them home! Last but definitely not least, while we were there we saw them taking fish from just some random person, and another fish from some random person - NOT reputable breeders like they claim they do. So basically it's unknown where your getting fish from when you buy them from the aquarium, you're better off to go to Walmart and get fish. Also, the other stores fish that we bought from pet smart and places like that are still alive and well. So as far as the aquarium goes, Never buy fish from here, I cannot stress...

Aquarium Haven: Where Knowledge Meets Warmth, and Harriet's Heart Shines Bright!

I can't recommend this aquarium store enough! From the moment I walked in, I was blown away by their incredible knowledge of the hobby. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just starting out, they have all the expertise you need to make your aquatic experience a success.

The staff here is not only knowledgeable but also incredibly personable. They take the time to listen to your needs and guide you in the right direction. It's like talking to old friends who genuinely care about your interests and want to see you succeed in your aquarium endeavors.

And let's talk about their selection—it's simply outstanding. They have everything you could possibly dream of for your underwater world. From exotic fish to vibrant plants and top-of-the-line equipment, they've got it all. I could spend hours browsing through their aisles, and each visit leaves me inspired to create something new and beautiful in my own tank.

What sets this place apart, though, is the fact that it's family-owned. You can feel the passion and love they have for this business in every aspect of the store. It creates a warm and inviting atmosphere that makes you feel like part of the family.

But there's one person who truly makes this place exceptional—Harriet. She's an absolute gem. From the first day I met her, she reminded me of my beloved grandmother, who passed away recently. Harriet has a way of making you feel right at home, and her genuine care and warmth brighten every visit. Her personal touch and attention to detail have made a world of difference in my aquarium journey.

Every time I come back to this store, it's like returning to a place filled with fond memories and new possibilities. And it wouldn't be the same without Harriet's presence. She's the heart and soul of this place, and her kindness has left a lasting impact on me.

In summary, if you're looking for a place with exceptional knowledge, a personable and friendly staff, a vast selection of products, and a family-owned charm, this aquarium store is the perfect destination. But the reason I keep coming back time and again is Harriet. She's the reason this store feels like a second home to me, and her warm hospitality makes every visit unforgettable. Don't miss out on this...