Inventory Selection:  

This site supports aquatic forums whose fish, reef, and other aquarium-related topics number about 5,000. Many thousands of replies by other enthusiasts help to build a resource community that can help the beginner (try the “Beginner’s Discussion”) or ensure the experienced professional finds just the right answer to that mysterious growth on their tank. In addition to the forums, this site offers a wide selection of books and CD’s to aid in your hobby including: aquarium setup, fish and coral identification, and proper husbandry techniques. This site also features a blog. It seems to focus more on new products and sales items, but it also identifies upcoming events and related-aquarium articles, and hey, if it saves you a few dollars with the identification of discounts, it’s worth looking into.

Under “Product Information,” you can find product-specific FAQs. This nice feature seems a bit underused. Hopefully the valuable information here will be buffed-up in the future. It’s just another example of the people at this site attempting to provide the best customer support for their customers and the fish in their life.

Whether you’re looking for additives, overflow boxes, or wavemakers, Marine Depot carries a strong diversity of products to help setup your tank just right. Once you decide on a product, the supporting material to make an educated buy is outstanding. The details are thorough, and we like the ample customer reviews of individual products that point out the fine details of using the product at home and the little tricks of the trade that you might not otherwise think of. Finally, the product comparison feature allows you to compare your chosen product against several others.

Got fish? Apparently not, but everything else for your aquarium tank is available on this site, especially for the saltwater enthusiast.

Payment Options:  

Marine Depot accepts major credit cards, PayPal, Google Checkout, and the popular Bill Me Later option. Gift cards and e-gift certificates are redeemable. Tracking numbers for each day’s shipped orders are automatically emailed in the evening. Shipping on orders over $175 is free. The security of one’s information is strong, including the use of SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption.

Customer Support:  

Telephone customer support is through a toll-free number manned 7 a.m.-6 p.m. PST and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. Email customer support is also supported. Like its competitors, Marine Depot is staffed by experienced hobbyists with extensive knowledge in marine aquariums and reef keeping. And don’t forget the forums where you can find answers to your questions and share your aquarium-related experiences.

This is a solid site run by aquarium enthusiasts with an exceptional breadth of products and strong customer support. How do other leading online aquarium supplies sites compare to Marine Depot? Read our reviews of That Fish Place,  Drs. Foster and Smith and PETCO for details.