Aquarium Obsessions

Randy Banks

2024-01

I drive all over the Midwest for work. I enjoy stopping at saltwater stores. To find new items for my tank.1 owner stayed open late for me to make.2 owner is VERY knowledgeable3 coral selection is great4 fish are healthy.5 prices are very fair. Aka some good deals!!!!This place is a top 2 for locations of saltwater fish and corals.Will return again.

ZK

2024-05

Charles is one of the most knowledgeable people I know in the saltwater game! Definitely recommend checking out aquarium obsessions, you will not be disappointed!

Aaron Coakley

2023-06

Amazing store! This is a local business that it is a pleasure to write a glowing review for. It is easy to write a good review for a restaurant that's better than your favorite chain, however when the local small business is one that can stand-up next to the big-boys nationally and compete and survive if not thrive you know you have something special. People come from adjacent states just to visit this store, and I am lucky enough to have it in my backyard.In this scenario, I'm not even the target customer. My mom started with a small all-in-one salt-water aquarium she purchased from her local now-defunct small shop and loved it. When they closed down, she made it a hobby to visit every salt-water aquarium store and coral show she could get to including surrounding states. We spent many weekends on Marketplace and Craigslist looking. She found AO to be the best of all she visited and well worth the 2 hour drive and buying new from AO over trying to cobble something together from Marketplace and the local yokels.The owner Charlie was immensely helpful in getting her setup with a really nice addition of a Red Sea Reefer 350 to her existing all-in-one tank. They were extremely helpful in showing me what to do to setup her tank once I got it to her home, and I can't say I could expect anything easier in doing the installation (Which they also would have done). The engineering of the Red Sea systems leaves me very impressed. Most everything is well thought out and perfectly sized with only a couple of things I would do differently. Well worth the extra, if it even was extra over hassle and expense of a DIY system.Charlie is very knowledgeable and a great resource in deciphering the often conflicting information you find on the internet. Often what you find will be what /was/ the consensus some time ago, but isn't the current latest industry take on things like proper nitrate and nitrite levels.The coral selection is amazing. Thousands of corals from dozens of varieties and sizes (i'm not a coral expert, so I can't tell the number of sub-species) to choose from. Clear pricing on the starter plugs in the show areas with many more in back starting as low as $20Nice selection of accessories, chemicals and testers in the front room with a great stock of sand, rocks, salt, etc in the showrooms.When you enter, if you only walk in the door, it may not feel like there's that much when you're used to walking into a big-box, however there's much more than meets the eye. The greeting area is only the start of the store. They have multiple show-rooms, such as one just for the aquariums and supplies such as sand, and these are all just-off the main entrance.One of the things that will throw some people off are that since it's not a large retail chain, they are located in a small industrial park far enough outside of "the city" to feel disconnected and easy to miss. If you haven't been there before, I highly recommend you turn on your navigation. The other retail spaces in the park appear to be catered to professionals and I think most aren't retail, though his spot is a nice one in the center of the front-most row. The park is one that doesn't have one of those sign-boards that lists all the businesses. This is probably one of the reasons they're able to stay in business and keep their prices some of the best around while their competitors are dropping like flies.Don't judge the tank photo by the cloudiness, we were just finishing the first water fill.

Tearra Thomas

2023-12

great place to shop I love that he gives advice. Does not push any purchases on you will make sure you are ready when moving up in the fish world. Prices are amazing if you haven't you should definitely check it out.

James “Jestor” Foster

2022-05

Charlie is very nice and very knowledgeable.Well worth the two hour trip from Springfield to Washington.Beautiful fish and corral.Pictures of clowning are from his store, in my tank. Bought a fire angel as well. All eat well and have been doing well for weeks.

Karthik Kanniyappan

2023-11

Friendly welcomeSporty guy , helpful.He is good at explaining the salt water preparation and expenses.

Chip Moore

2024-03

Charlie is great and very knowledgeable! Great selection of corals and supplies as well.

Tyler Albright

2023-05

Amazing selection, Friendly and educated owner, definitely the best place to go for all your salt water needs!

Amanda Hinrichs

2023-05

Love the selection! I just love going to the store! Charlie has grown and expanded so much from when I first met him! He has adapted and over came a lot of obstacles! I am so glad the business is doing great and I hope it continues because it is so nice to have a salt water store so close to me! He is full of knowledge! I tell him what I have in my tank and he tells me yes or no on what I can add! This is so awesome! Keep up the great work Charlie!

Riley Whitlock

2023-05

This place is amazing! The Charlie is so transparent with his customers and works hard to build a relationship! I went in there this Friday to get some fish and he gave me a deal on the fish to help me out a bit and also included a free gift! He also answered anymore questions I had and told me when he was getting the other fish I needed in stock! He offers making appointments outside of business hours too! All the fish looked healthy and cared for! He even quarantines all fish before selling and will order and quarantine fish you want! This place is getting all my business!

devin mileur

2023-05

Took my daughter in to check it put as I'm looking to get into the hobby. Man what a cool place. Walk in and it's very welcoming. They have a great variety and is displayed in a way that you can see everything. Charlie was nice and easy to talk to. I will definitely be returning!

lucas tracy

2023-07

Super friendly and knowledgeable! The coral assortment and cleanliness is next to none! Couldn’t be more pleased with my latest visit! I will 100% drive the hour one way every time to make this my new “local fish store”

Bret Hartman

2023-09

I sold my tank to them and they showed up on time, cash in hand, no fuss - which if you sell anything online you know that isn’t often the case!Very knowledgeable and professional. Really top notch.

Brad Smith

2023-05

Charlie helped us build our first tank. He is making sure we don’t rush the process and do things that will make us have a bad experience. He is knowledgeable about what he sells and the industry as a whole and know what fish to put together and which will destroy the habitat not just selling us what we want because it is a high dollar purchase. Where he makes more money. That kind of person is what you want in a owner, he also came to our home and installed the tank so it was right from the start. Thanks Charlie

Jessie Maclin

2023-11

Charlie helps me out a lot about how to keep my fish healthy and always have good deals on fish and corals

Melody Justus

2020-05

Always the cleanest operation in saltwater fish and coral around and such a great selection and the owner is fabulous

Josh Eckhart

2023-05

Super passionate and super knowledgeable about everything aquatics. Aquarium Obsessions has a wide variety of fish and even more coral. Owner is extremely nice and helpful while never being too intrusive. Highly recommend checking this place out!

K Sturgeon

2022-05

My wife and I made a trip to aquarium obsessions today 12/5/2021 in search of some clowns and coral. The owner Charlie is a great dude with some great livestock for any saltwater aquarium. It’s nice to see a local business not only thriving but also being self sustainable with corals.He also remembered my wife and I from when we frequented his shop in bartonville. If you are looking for great fish and amazing looking coral at prices you can’t beat go to his place…:you won’t be disappointed. We will not get any livestock from anywhere else. All his coral and fish were in good looking health oh and did I mention the prices….Charlie is a great dude so go support his business and spend some money.

Justin Williams

2019-05

Live a few hours south but has now became my go to store. Owner Charlie is awesome. Takes time with customers and doesn't push sales. Picked up some awesome coral for a faction of the price of popular online retailers. Speaking about dipping while checking out and when he was out of stock on his preferred dip he gave my his personal bottle. Great coral great fish great store.

A Medrano

2022-05

Our 13yr old absolutely loves his saltwater fish tank hobby! That’s why we are sooo happy we found someone who he can relate to. The owner shared with us how he started the hobby very young with his father and that hit home …he is such a kind and knowledgeable person. My son had great conversations with him. We brought home some beautiful fishes and coral. He can not wait to go back!

Nick Friedrich

2022-05

Charlie is great! His knowledge, variety, quality, and price are unmatched anywhere. When you go, make sure you leave yourself some time because it is normally busy, and Charlie takes his time to make sure his customers are happy. There is nobody else I would trust to help my saltwater experience!

farm boy

2022-05

Absolutely awesome store. Strictly saltwater. The guys really knew what they are talking about. Took the time to help my wife select what corals she wanted. Able to tell her which ones have similar needs for her setup. Be careful if your sensitive to blue light.

Sara Knox

2021-05

Amazing selection of beautiful corals, ranging from $25 frags to golden torches and bounce mushrooms worth hundreds of dollars.The conditions are pristine. All the tanks are clean with vigorous water flow, and the corals are vibrant.Fish make up a smaller portion of the business, perhaps 1/4 of the tanks. At the time of my visit, they had dozens of tangs, more than half of them purple. They were all the healthiest tangs I've ever seen in a fish store. The owner talked to us about how he quarantines all of his new shipments of fish, and that care shows with their health. We went home with a hippo tang, and from day one in our tank, it has been active and eating eagerly.We also got an octopus frogspawn, an orange ricordea mushroom with incredible fluorescence, a beautiful multicolored chalice coral, and a tiger cucumber. All of them were in great health and already have visible growth in our tank in the first 3 weeks.I will definitely return again, and would recommend this store to anyone with a reef tank.

Alec Steinkraus

2020-05

Owner was very kind. Great saltwater-only fish store! All fish looked very healthy and they have a great reef plants and coral storage/growing setup. Didn't buy anything this trip, but I will definitely come back for all future saltwater fish purchases.

ArjunViper365

2022-05

Awesome store the owner prices everything fairly and is extremely honest. Great selection of coral and fish and he will go out of his way to help you with what you need. I highly recommend this store to beginners or experienced hobbyists.

Curt Markley

2024-01

This dude is overrated. His prices are inflated. His RedSea system sucks too 😒

Tim H

2021-05

Always great to come here. Charlie knows is stuff and is a really awesome guy! He takes good care of his livestock and really cares about his customers. I'm a repeat customer and will continue to be coming here.

Ryan J Underwood

2022-05

Owner is hands down one of the coolest guys I know, he is always there to give the best deals around when it comes to the saltwater hobby, he has an awesome store, and has always lended a helping hand in answering all of our questions and is a very upfront person. A+ services and highly recommended

Jason Anane-Sefah

2016-05

What a fantastic shop and truly good owner! I had a salt water aquarium about 15 years ago when I lived in LA but became frustrated with it because I never really understood what it took for a successful reef so I gave up. Fast forward to today. I met Charlie at the shop and he was great. He put together a kit for my budget. He was honest and didn't try to sell me what I didn't need. He went through why we would add things to the tank and when. His store and quality of the fish are impeccable. I wish there were more businesses and honest business people like Aquarium Obsessions.

LowKey

2016-05

This place was awesome. I've been to all other stores in the Pekin Peoria area and this place blows the others out of the water literally. Owner Charlie was very knowledgable and has a lot of years in the hobby. Very recommended! Outside doesn't look like much but as soon as you walk in you know it's the real deal. Very clean, very taken care of. Everything health. Great prices. Kid friendly my kid loves watching all the different fish.