Been visiting Aquarium West for years now. Always such a nice store to find a variety of hardscapes and substrates, impressive options for fish and plants as well, and you can find all the supplies you need to get started with both silt and fresh water aquariums.
Visited yesterday because I recently decided to get back into the hobby with my partner who’s new to the hobby.
We were able to get some final touches of substrates and rocks. The staff were all friendly and helpful. The highlight of our stop was that we were able to get different substrates to detail our aquarium. One the staff, she was very friendly, kindly opened two of the bag of sands that we wanted and we were able to get how much we wanted by the weight
Drove all the way from PoCo to Downtown for this skimmer. The staff members were very friendly and helpful in reserving the product for me over the phone, which I truly appreciated.
However, I was disappointed to find out that it was an open-box product once I got home. It was clear the previous customer had used it and didn't bother to dry it before returning it. There was even algae inside the tubes. Since the drive is too far to go back for a return, I had to spend a lot of time cleaning and disinfecting it myself. I hope the team can be more careful when inspecting returned items in the future to ensure they are in proper condition before putting them back on the shelf.
Overall is a good place to shop.
Aquarium West is truly one of the best aquarium stores in Vancouver. The staff are very professional, patient, and genuinely care about the well-being of the fish—not just making a sale. I’ve visited several times for fish and plants, and every experience has been positive. Their advice and dedication to proper care really show through.
Eric Reyes Altamirano (CorranQ)
Sep 1, 2025
Honestly this store has become one of my favourites lately. It all started with wanting some supplies for some plant terrariums a friend and I decided to make, and now we are addicted to the diverse creatures (reptiles, fish, crustaceans, amphibians just off the top of my head), live plants (aquatic and otherwise), live rocks, and oodles of tanks, terrariums, and everything imaginable to put in them to decorate and more.
The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and make the experience wonderful. Definitely drop by!!
Kendall Bentley
Mar 15, 2026
A fantastic store for reptile and fish enthusiasts. The employees are always super helpful and kind. They give great product recommendations whether you're a novice or a more experienced pet owner. They're super knowledgeable about their products as well as the needs of the animals they sell. I went in to ask for advice on making a waterfall feature in one of my tanks, and the employees were as excited about the project as I was! It's great to go to such a niche store and be able to tell that all the people that are passionate about what they do. I love any reason to swing by and chat or browse. I cannot recommend this store enough.
