Only a few years ago, online shoppers were special. They were unique people who didn’t trade their precious recreational time for mundane shopping chores. They may also have had a taste for unusual products to surround their life and found the internet the perfect medium for finding those special items. Internet shopping is now mainstream. It’s time for everyone to take advantage of the time saving benefits of shopping online for their daily, special, and unique products.
Shopping for online aquarium supplies is just the next evolution in what we search for online. We shop online for books, clothing, and even cars. Supplies for our fish tank and the fish and invertebrates that inhabit the watery depths makes sense more than ever. Here are some of our favorite reasons for online shopping:
Convenience – The internet never closes; your local store does. Your busy schedule might make after-hours shopping the most convenient time to find that perfect item. In a moment, you can access your favorite online aquarium supplies site and search for the products you need and then place your order. The rest of your time is yours to enjoy. You won’t have to make a special trip to the pet store or remember to pick up bulky supplies or sensitive cargo that can’t sit in your car for hours on end.
Shopping online is done at your own pace. You can browse leisurely as time permits or go directly to your destination. Family distractions can limit anyone’s time at the computer, but the internet is always ready for you to make efficient use of your time. You can pick your time when the distractions fade or before they begin.
Online aquarium supplies sites offer another side benefit – recurring orders. Never run out of supplies or spend valuable time tracking your supplies. Automatic pre-arranged shipments of fish food, extra filters, or water treatment to your front door saves you from having to dash out to the store. This valuable service often comes with discounts. Sign up for the valuable reminders, along with notices for new items or sales.
Selection – Online product selection outstrips what your local grocery store, giant retailer, or brick-and-mortar pet store can afford to carry. Common supplies such as tanks, fish, fish food, and aerators can be found at stores, but inspect the shelves. Often you’ll find a few products by a select manufacturer and the common favorites crowding the aisles, giving the appearance of selection through volume. Finding specialty items might take trips to several stores, but they are easily found online. It would be the rare store that stocked the thousands of products found at the top online aquarium supplies sites.
While most stores stock the basics, finding unique items can prove to be a challenge. Many stores are locked into distributors, making the effort to find a unique item nearly impossible for them. It makes sense then to look to the online aquarium supplies sites as the best available option to search for that unique item. It also cuts out the middle man and allows viewing the world of options … not the filtered choices offered by the local store. It just makes sense that an online vendor will have the broadest selection available. By using the internet, you cast your net far and wide to catch your aquarium supplies.
Information – Online aquarium supplies sites are often great sources of information about aquatic life and the supplies supporting that life. Articles, books, product descriptions, and even videos are available at online aquarium supplies sites. As a novice setting up your first aquarium or a seasoned professional looking for the perfect fish, many sites provide the opportunity to ask questions and for the experienced online community and aquatic experts to provide answers.
Each online aquarium supplies site has its own identity. Some highlight specific inventory, such as Fish Tanks Direct, which focuses on saltwater supplies. Others cast a wider net to offer you an array of products, such as That Pet Place and Big Al’s. Still others have customer support that is just mind-blowing like Drs. Foster and Smith. Below are the critical factors we considered when ranking the sites:
Inventory Selection
Does the online aquarium supplies site carry what is needed? That is the question every shopper wants to know when shopping for aquarium merchandise for your aquatic life. We’ve done the research for you, so you can focus your shopping time. No site has everything. However, many sites have a wide merchandise inventory to ensure your aquarium operates at maximum efficiency. That creates peak conditions for your fish, plants, and aquatic life to thrive for their entire lifespan.
Ease of Use
Online aquarium supplies sites should be easy to navigate with well-marked links and offer user-friendly search options. Even a computer novice should feel comfortable using the site to save time and find the specific inventory item desired.
Payment Options
We’ve identified the payment options per each site. How you pay for what you need is as important as finding the inventory item needed. Everyone wants flexibility, and you can be the judge of what payment option(s) work best for you.
Customer Service
No excuses. In a competitive market, customer service must match or exceed the customer’s need. We’ve taken a careful look at the various ways individual sites service their customers. We’ve marked down those sites that fail to offer top notch customer service
Security
Identity theft and online fraud are among the most devastating of crimes from which to recover. Online shopping needn’t be risky. We’ve evaluated each of the sites in this review for standards that keep your private information safe. Happily, these sites seem very secure.
We entreat you to read the reviews of individual online aquarium supplies sites. Match our findings with your individual needs. Then explore the sites and read our articles related to aquarium supplies, enjoy the information they present and maybe do a little shopping. You are likely to find just what you’re looking for to make your aquarium and its inhabitants enjoyable for all. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™
| Rank | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 |
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Doctors Foster and Smith | That Fish Place | PETCO | PetStore.com | Big Al's | Aquarium Guys | Marine Depot.com | Fish Tanks Direct | PetSmart | fish.com |
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| Overall Rating | ||||||||||
| Ratings | ||||||||||
| Inventory Selection | ||||||||||
| Ease of Use | ||||||||||
| Payment Options | ||||||||||
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| Aquariums, Fish Bowls, and Tanks | ||||||||||
| Aquariums - Large | ||||||||||
| Stands | ||||||||||
| Aquariums - Small | ||||||||||
| Canopies, Hoods, or Tops | ||||||||||
| Fish Bowls, Houses, and Singles | ||||||||||
| Refugiums (Breeders) | ||||||||||
| Starter Kits | ||||||||||
| Accessories | ||||||||||
| Fish and Live Species | ||||||||||
| Live Rock or Sand | ||||||||||
| Hatchery or Nursery | ||||||||||
| Invertebrates | ||||||||||
| Freshwater | ||||||||||
| Saltwater | ||||||||||
| Plants | ||||||||||
| Artificial | ||||||||||
| Care Additives & Substrate | ||||||||||
| Fish Food | ||||||||||
| Processed (Dry) | ||||||||||
| Freeze Dried, Frozen, or Refrigerated | ||||||||||
| Automatic Fish Feeder | ||||||||||
| Live | ||||||||||
| Liquid | ||||||||||
| Filters | ||||||||||
| Assessories & Supplies | ||||||||||
| Ultraviolet (UV) Sterilizers | ||||||||||
| Trickle (wet/dry) | ||||||||||
| Power Filters | ||||||||||
| Hanging or Power | ||||||||||
| Canister | ||||||||||
| Sponge | ||||||||||
| Fluidized Bed | ||||||||||
| Inline & Specialty | ||||||||||
| Internal | ||||||||||
| Undergravel | ||||||||||
| Reverse Osmosis | ||||||||||
| Overflow Boxes | ||||||||||
| Rotating Drum (Water Deflector) | ||||||||||
| Filter Media | ||||||||||
| Biological (Bio wheels or balls) | ||||||||||
| Chemical | ||||||||||
| Mechanical (Filtration) | ||||||||||
| Aeration | ||||||||||
| Air Pumps and Accesories | ||||||||||
| Air Stones (aerator) | ||||||||||
| Airline Tubing and Valves | ||||||||||
| Air Wands | ||||||||||
| Air Diffusers | ||||||||||
| Decor (Decorations) | ||||||||||
| Coral | ||||||||||
| Gravel and Substrates | ||||||||||
| Decorative Items | ||||||||||
| Gems | ||||||||||
| Driftwood | ||||||||||
| Background | ||||||||||
| Figurines | ||||||||||
| Heaters | ||||||||||
| Hanging | ||||||||||
| Submersible | ||||||||||
| Internal Filter | ||||||||||
| Sump | ||||||||||
| Inline & Specialty | ||||||||||
| Lighting | ||||||||||
| Bulbs | ||||||||||
| Fully Assembled Fixtures | ||||||||||
| Timers | ||||||||||
| LED Lights and Moonlights | ||||||||||
| Supplies and Retrofit Kits | ||||||||||
| Saltwater Supplies | ||||||||||
| Sea Salt Mixes | ||||||||||
| Reef Care Additives & Supplements | ||||||||||
| Substrate | ||||||||||
| Protein Skimmers | ||||||||||
| Medications & Treatments | ||||||||||
| Dosing Pumps (Dosers, Drips, Squirt Tube) | ||||||||||
| Wave Makers | ||||||||||
| Coral Propagation Tools & Supplies | ||||||||||
| Ozonizers | ||||||||||
| Calcium Reactors | ||||||||||
| Chillers | ||||||||||
| Gels | ||||||||||
| Mineral Mud | ||||||||||
| Medications & Treatments | ||||||||||
| Bacterial and Funal Additives | ||||||||||
| Fish Meds & Treatments | ||||||||||
| Vitamins & Supplements | ||||||||||
| Algea Control | ||||||||||
| Maintenance and Cleaning Supplies | ||||||||||
| Assorted Mtce. Equipment | ||||||||||
| Water Chemicals, Treatment, & Additives | ||||||||||
| Sealants & Lubrication | ||||||||||
| Water Buffers, Clarifiers, and Conditioners | ||||||||||
| Gravel Siphons, Vacuum, or Washers | ||||||||||
| Pest Traps & Controls | ||||||||||
| Plumbing Parts & Supplies | ||||||||||
| Water Testing | ||||||||||
| Hydrometers & Refractometers | ||||||||||
| Thermometers | ||||||||||
| Water Quality Test Kits | ||||||||||
| Controllers and Monitors | ||||||||||
| Miscellaneous Supplies | ||||||||||
| Bilological Additives | ||||||||||
| Water Pumps (External) | ||||||||||
| Nets | ||||||||||
| Power Heads | ||||||||||
| CO2 Regulator Kits | ||||||||||
| Deionization | ||||||||||
| Furniture | ||||||||||
| Resources for Customers | ||||||||||
| Books, Media, orPosters | ||||||||||
| Gift Ideas | ||||||||||
| Learning Center | ||||||||||
| Online Community | ||||||||||
| Store Locator | ||||||||||
| Compare Products Feature | ||||||||||
| Security | ||||||||||
| Account Registration | ||||||||||
| Secure Payment Server | ||||||||||
| Verified by Visa | ||||||||||
| MasterCard SecureCode | ||||||||||
| Address Verification | ||||||||||
| Payment Options | ||||||||||
| Credit Card | ||||||||||
| e-Gift Certificates | ||||||||||
| Gift Cards | ||||||||||
| PayPal | ||||||||||
| Bill Me Later | ||||||||||
| Google Checkout | ||||||||||
| TeleCheck | ||||||||||
| Personal Check | ||||||||||
| Customer Support | ||||||||||
| Telephone Support | ||||||||||
| eMail Support | ||||||||||
| Online Help | ||||||||||
| Independent BizRate | 9.1 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 8.9 | |||