Inventory Selection:  

Since Fish Tanks Direct builds the aquariums in their shop, they have a convenient list of additional aquarium options when ordering your tank. Should you just want a fish tank kit, I counted almost 100 separate products to get you and your aquatic friends up and running quickly and efficiently. A separate product category displays a number of books on saltwater aquariums, something necessary when starting out to ensure your tank starts out and stays healthy. From calcium reactors to aquarium chillers to corals and live rocks, this site has a full lineup of products to stock your saltwater aquarium.

Ease of Use:  

Looking for something specific? The search facility returns results with several categories of potential products that you can narrow within the category or by price. You just have to love narrowing product returns by price. This facility is excellent when looking for just the right sized (and priced) aquarium amongst their many to fit the size of your wallet and the needs of your fish. Search for fish food not only returns a number of products, but some commonsense guidelines for ensuring that you aquatic livestock are getting the nutritional value out of their food.

Payment Options:  

Fish Tanks Direct accepts checks, money orders, bank transfers, and major credit cards. However, you should be familiar with their payment options. E-gift certificates are redeemable. Most Tenecor products are made to order and cannot be returned or cancelled once the order is started. Customers need to be aware of this policy. Orders are tracked by the shippers and the security of one’s information seems adequate through use of the McAfee Secure system that is tested daily.

Customer Support:  

Customer confirmation of this company’s products or service is lacking on the site. Only one testimonial was found, and there doesn’t seem to be a facility for customer feedback on a product-by-product basis. And there is no outside source of customer satisfaction from a site like BizRate. It doesn’t mean the products aren’t good or service unacceptable; it just means we didn’t find that level of support.

Telephone customer service isn't on par with the competitors, but is available from Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is also email support. It’s unclear what the professional level of aquatic support is when compared to other online aquarium retailers we reviewed.

Overall, Fish Tanks Direct is a good resource for aquarium supplies, especially saltwater acrylic fish tanks. How do other leading online aquarium supply sites compare to Fish Tanks Direct? Read our reviews of That Fish Place, Drs. Foster and Smith and PETCO for details.