Pacific Aquarium & Plant — Local services in New York

What a great experience visiting Pacific Aquarium... I was last there 15 years ago. At the time I was heavy into South and Central American Cichlids such as Uaru's, Severums and Convicts with a dozen tanks scattered throughout my house. I was and still am also a keeper of African Cichlids as well with my favorites being the Lake Malawi Yellow Labidochromis and any Lake Tanganyika Shell Dwellers such as the Neolamprologus Simile and other species. I must say that shop is a arranged in a very logical and inviting manner with each tank filled with an abundance of fish species (fresh and salt); plants; corals; live rock and driftwood dependent upon water chemistry or fish species needs. All of their tanks were spotless, neat and clean with not one dead fish to be found. I came in with my two daughters (Cheyenne 17 & Sierra 15) who were treated with kindness and grandfatherly respect by the owner (Chi). As we explored the shop, one of the staff members (Andrew) was engaged with a customer totally unfamiliar with fish keeping who immediately wanted to plunge into advanced reef keeping. Andrew was very professional and courteous throughout the exchange and emphasized the difficulty of properly maintaining a reef aquarium without first researching heavily what it entails. I stepped into the conversation and gently explained to the new comer to the hobby that it would be easier to start with a fish only salt water setup or start with fresh water first. If he was searching for colorful fish then African Cichlids especially from Lake Malawi would be a good place to start. I was impressed by Andrew's patience and his not trying to just make a sale that you find in other shops. The variety and health of the fish on display cannot be beat. I did purchase three adult Yellow Labidochromis one Male and two females holding eggs or fry in their mouths. They have settled in nicely in my main African display tank with only Yellow Labids... Unfortunately they had sold their last Shell Dweller but asked me to call back the following Monday for a possible special order. Also the quality of their live plants, corals, and anemones are very high. After completing my purchasea... there Yellows for 25... a very good price. I spent the next half hour just talking about the hobby and the quality of aquarium stores in the Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Nassau County region. Of the four stores I frequent at this time Pacific ranks as number one in Manhattan. Kissena Aquarium and KHC rank as my top choices in Queens. Parrots of the World in Rockville Center (Nassau County) is good as well. For me Pacific is ranked at 1; Kissena at 2; KHC at 3 with Parrots at 5. New York Reef Aquatic (rank at 4 IMHO) also ranks high but they are primarily reef oriented. They rank ahead of Parrots of the World. The store formerly known as Fishtown is now known as Fish World has not been rated as it has not reopened in it's new location. Even when they do they will have to be lights out to grab the top spot. I have 46 years in the hobby and have kept and collected across fresh and saltwater. Pacific is the best you will find in...

Simply outstanding. Incredible supply of healthy, robust fish and beautiful, vibrant plants -- including quite a few uncommon and rare species. One of my very favorite shops in the city; I can spend hours browsing their incredible showroom and admiring the gorgeous planted tank at the front of the store.

The shop itself is extremely well stocked. They've got anything and everything you might need for your tank, including the specialist supplies most shops don't carry. You won't leave disappointed.

As terrific as the livestock, plants, and equipment might be, where this store really shines is in the care and attention they give to every single customer.

As an example, one of the employees (Chi) spent a full TWO hours teaching me everything I needed to know about caring for my freshwater nano tank. Not only did he offer his insight and suggestions, he also was kind enough to study photos and videos of the tank, its water composition, lighting, feeding, co2, dosing, temperature, and just about every other parameter that might be affecting the tank. Moreover, when my phone died, Chi unplugged one the point of sale devices so I could charge it and continue showing photos of my tank.

After carefully reviewing everything -- and responding to all of my questions and concerns -- Chi offered his professional opinion and pointed me to (and ran around the shop to collect them all) products that would help my tank thrive. Throughout, he was extremely friendly, inviting, and accommodating. Chi's passion for keeping fish was tremendous. And Chi's not alone: the entire staff of the store is extremely helpful, eager to share their advice, and willing to put in the time in to help you achieved the best outcome possible.

Like most brick and mortar stores, some products are available for a bit less on Amazon and other websites. However, given the essentially ludicrous amount of support, insight, and personalized advice the staff offers their customers, I'd pay TWICE retail... and gladly.

Pacific Aquarium & Plant is a rare gem and one of the last of a dying breed. It's a phenomenal and special store -- and one that I intend to support for as long as I'm able. PA&P is a quirky, comprehensive, and brilliant NYC treasure --...

You know, I really really enjoyed this store. The interior and everything, the fish selection, it all was fantastic. Staff we’re polite too. On the other hand, all staff and what I’m assuming to be people ranked higher on their team repeatedly told me that the fish would be “perfectly healthy”. Shortly after I got them, internal diseases, extreme fungus disease, and such was present on the fish I had purchased. I have a large community tank, and hadn’t purchased any fish in a very long while (from any stores) and this disease they had, after I had purchased them, left a toll of death on lots of my larger, perfectly healthy fish in the community tank too. My parameters were in good condition as well. Please, I advise you, be careful. Below is a photo of the fungus on one of my fish (that is alive) in a quarantine tank I recently moved him to.

Edit: He passed away shortly after that night—The fungus present appeared approximately 3 hours before this photo was taken, and he passed about an hour later. It was very sudden and rapid. I also had called to complain and they kept on dodging the complaint, not offering a refund of some sort, simply just responding with the ways in which I should treat the fish (which I had told them multiple times I had already been doing so). All fish are well now, but about 5 of my fish died (including extremely healthy large, adult angelfish), including the 2 large sailfin mollys...