Aquarium Adventure — Local services in Schaumburg Township

I’ve been shopping in this store for 2-3 months. I’ve spent well over 500$ in accessories/pets including fish, one of my tanks, live rock and food. I even paid for their premium fish club membership for a year which gives you discounts etc. As the location is incredibly convenient to where I live I started shopping here exclusively. Generally the staff is helpful and willing to give you advice, while extremely inconsistent between employees you can tell they try and help.

At the start of April (Yes I’ve been trying to sort this out for well over a month). I bought a larger tank for my puffer fish and decided to make the slightly smaller tank into a salt tank. I did my research, bought everything I needed sand, live rock, etc etc, all from this location. I got the advice of the staff on how long I needed to set up the tank etc, bought everything they suggested set it up, let it run, came back on Saturday. On Saturday I had a few people assisting me, just on this trip alone I had 2-3 different people telling me 2-3 completely different things, to the point they started arguing with themselves over the tank and what I should do. One very helpful associate told me I should get turbo start, than her manager overheard and basically scorned her saying I didn’t need that, while another employee chimed in saying I did. After some back and forth I bought two Mocha clownfish and had the store put them on hold over night so I could come back the next day and get them.

Trying to keep this as concise as possible the fish both ended up dying within days from Ich. I called the store and spoke to a manager who told me it’s completely my fault and that my tank was too new and that’s why they died and there’s nothing he can do. Nothing. I told him the only reason I bought them so early was from staff at this location telling me it was ok and I’d be fine. He told me I should have used turbo start. I told him another manager last week told me specifically NOT to use it. He then told me I needed to throw everything away, water, live rock, everything and just trash it. I told him I rather not just because I had just spent 250$ on all the supplies, again at this store and I had bought a fire shrimp, again from this store and he was still alive. This is the best part, he told me in the most roundabout way, “Just get rid of him.” He basically told me just to kill this animal so I could start the tank over.

After the fish died I did end up reaching out to another fish store, a small local place about it and asking them what I should have done. They asked me if I still had the dead fish. I actually still did as I called the store right after noticing the second one had died, less than 12 hours after the first. They asked me to bring it in. I did. They asked me how many weeks I’ve had this fish, I told them not even 5 days. He was shocked and told me the fish looks like it had been sick for weeks.

To end I’ve now reached out to the store owner directly 3 times within the last week and haven’t gotten a response. It’s not about the money at this point. It’s the fact that I was told things by multiple people at the store that were so drastically different. When I go to a store like this I expect the staff to know what they’re talking about, so I take their advice. I want to believe people are giving me honest help but due to their advice and the fact I was sold sick fish I feel I’ve been greatly cheated by this store.

On that note I also want to state that since that incident I have been going to another store. I bought new mocha clownfish and I’ve had them for about three weeks and they have 0 signs of disease and they’re much much more active. Also it’s worth noting my new clownfish are in the same tank as the old ones that the store told me to trash completely. All and all I’m still willing to work with the store if they’re willing to reach out to me. I want to state that pretty clearly. I’m even willing to continue shopping for supplies at the store, but until I hear from someone at the store. I will take my...

I frequently stop by Aquarium Adventure as its right down the block from me and have always been hesitant to buy anything due to their pricing. Some fish are incredibly expensive, while others are priced in the ballpark of competitors. Living in the area, though, I seem to get coupons in the mail all the time for 35% off fish and what have you. Also, the store commonly has 35%-50% off all fish sales that last about a month. Well, Last week I gave in and bought some fish from here (as previously mentioned, their selection absolutely cannot be beat!). The sticker shock nearly had me walking out the door, but I kept in mind that they were running 35% off (got a $39.99 elephant nose, which brings him to a manageable $25 and change). So as I'm looking around for an employee, there's no one to be found. I was one of only 2 or 3 people in the store (came in right before closing, around 2030). I eventually found a teenaged employee who pawned me off to another teenaged employee, who pawned me off on the customer service desk, who paged for someone to help me, who was then told by the prior teenaged employees that she needed to help me. I tried to small talk about fish and whatnot, and she wasn't having it. So I had her bag up my 2 fish and get me out of there.

a few days later, I went in to find if they got any Electric Blue Acara in stock and they had the medium sized ones, but I was unsure if they were actually electric blues as they were extremely pale. I actually had a young blonde female employee come to me asking if I needed help (first time I've ever been asked in this store). I asked her about the coloration knowing that its probably due to the stress of a new tank ( I believe I went on delivery day). She didn't try to pull the wool over my eyes and she gave me the exact answer that I though (and if you're reading this and remember me, he is doing great and his blue coloration is right where it should be!). SHE then small talked ME asking what kind of fish I have and told me how he'll work well with some of the fish in my tank and to keep an eye on interaction with others. She was knowledgeable beyond her years and its evident that she cares about the creatures she sells. I made the common mistake of never asking her name haha.

All in all, my rating of Aquarium Adventure is "Neutral". High prices and less than stellar staff (with ONE exception) bring the rating down. However, Their incredible selection and sales bring the rating up. I may or may not be back!

One request, stock more freshwater oddities! I was in the market for a Rope Fish awhile back and never ended up seeing one. I ended up moving on from wanting one, but I know I'm not the only one that really enjoys the eel types! Also, 2.5" is not enough to charge $35 for a "Large" Black...

I must say I love this store dearly and the staff are so incredibly helpful, patient, personable and knowledgeable but the last two batches of fish, (spaced out at least a month and a half if not two from each other) have introduced sickness and now even parasites to my tank. I now have anchor worms in my tank and I fear I will lose all my fish because of the harsh chemicals I've so far researched needing to use to rid the tank of the infestation and also not to mention that I will have to physically remove the worms myself. Now once again, I have nothing bad to say about this location/business but I can say that it seems like you might be a bit under staffed lately and being in the retail industry myself I understand wholeheartedly but to all new comers or little under a year old hobbyists like myself I can't stress the importance of quarantining before introducing new fish to your tank. I've got to set up five different hospital tanks now and figure out how to rid my existing tank of the infestation now and it is ultimately my fault because this should be the practice of any dedicated fish owner but we all know the excitement of a new fish. I also have two fry that I have been unable to retrieve in my tank still...Goodness. But my first experience of returning once I had my first batch of very ill fish the staff was incredibly helpful. I had a girl who, although she didn't know the answer to my question, was able to get the answer from her manager (I believe) while the store was incredibly busy. The fish suffering the same same ailment in their tanks were ensured to me that they would be promptly removed and treated correctly. A+ on customer service/assistance and a shout out to all of you hard workers there! Just leaving this comment to stress how important it is to not introduce your fish too early and it's a rule I've overlooked myself four times now, only twice have ended badly for me. This is something that is not the fault of the aquarium store as they have so many little ones to keep track of and so many new shipments weekly if not biweekly, this is on the owner/purchaser of the fish. We're responsible for these little guys and all life is to be...