Reviews of Aquarium Illusions Inc (Fish Shop)

Rhonda Proano

Of course I started going here because it was closest but I'm so glad they are becasue after visiting a few other fish stores now, I would say Aquarium Illusions is by far the best. They have sturdy stock and a great selection. Sometimes I have to wait for the exact species to come in but that's only because they maintain good practices and don't overstock their tanks to the detriment of the fish. People also know that you get good quality livestock there so they can sell out at times of higher demand. The staff are great. They are always so busy and there is always 2 people minimum in the store yet they always put the customer first. If they don't know the answer they will get it for you, even if you phone in. The prices are competitive if not lower than any other store in town and members get special treatment that is worth the price of membership. Go check them out. You'll be glad you did.

Brooks Family Farms

Smart staff

Jacob Thalen

The staff was pleasant and they had interesting stock. I bought some blue pearl shrimp.

Jay Dahbs

I am a newbie and all my questions were answered politely and patiently. Nice selection of things too.

Lori Swanston

The owner is so knowledgeable and helpful. I always enjoy visiting their store. Beautiful salt water aquariums and corals. If I kept salt water tanks they would be my go to shop.

Mel J

Staff is always friendly and helpful. More salt water ( for salt water keepers) then fresh water fish but an amazing store. Staff is amazing can't say that enough

Kris Meszaros

I decided to try my hand at my first salt water aquarium a couple years ago, I shopped around other local fish stores that were closer to home but was not happy with the results. Having no previous experience I had a lot of questions but the employees were either impossible to find or made me feel like I was wasting their time asking questions and made to feel dumb because I didn't know everything already. I finally went to Aquarium Illusions, which was a bit further out of the way but ended up being totally worth the drive. The first time I went in I probably spent an hour talking with one of the employees who helped me with all my "dumb" beginner questions. It never felt like I was wasting their time and I could tell they had a genuine interest and love of the hobby. I probably visited them 3 or 4 more times over the next few months just asking follow up questions and getting all the information I felt I needed before making any decisions (I'm an engineer so it's in my nature to gather as much information as I can). Eventually I decided to go for it and ended up ordering a custom 90 gallon reef tank, which was actually much better priced than I was expecting. They have a good variety of products and I was always able to find what I needed for my particular budget. From my experience they also have the best livestock. Everything is always healthy, I won't buy from anywhere else.

Joe Curran

Dealt with A.I. for many moons. My go to store for healthy fish, knowledgeable staff, and good quality product stock.

Sam Poier

For a small store they do have a lot of stuff. The front of the store is primarily dog stuff, and the fish stuff is at the back. Kinda wish they focused less on the dog stuff though because it takes up most of the store's dry goods area and they didn't really have many tanks or any fish decor. They have both salt and freshwater fish. In the middle there's a beautiful coral tank with many varieties to choose from and nice fish as well. They actually had their Bettas in proper enclosures too. My only criticism is that the saltwater selection was almost all clownfish (which I love but doesn't offer a lot to choose from).

Sandy

Best store in Edmonton for all your tank needs. Most knowledgeable staff, fish are quarantined for 2 weeks before sale so you know that you are getting a healthy fish that won't infect your tank and wipe it out. We gain so much information from the staff that helps our reef tank run excellent.

Mike Winther

Aquarium Illusions is the only place my wife and I shop for our saltwater aquarium needs. In the year and a half we have been dealing with Aquarium Illusions, we have always found their staff to be courteous, knowledgable, and friendly. They are always ready and willing to answer any questions and they genuinely care about how their customers' tanks are faring. The staff at Aquarium Illusions all keep tanks themselves and they have tons of practical experience to draw from--beginners need not be afraid to come and talk to these guys! All of their fish are quarantined, we have never gotten any sick stock from A.I. They have a great fish warranty policy, too! I highly recommend Aqurium Illusions for any type of fish keeping need--whether salt or freshwater. They can custom build any tank, sump, and/or cabinet set up you'd like, too, and they will service any existing tank. RECOMMEND!

Charlie Sinclair

Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Interesting selection.

C K

Popped in to buy some fish food as it was on my way back. Was a little concerned at some of the bare shelves, but quality items are stocked at a reasonable price (way better selection than a PetSmart). Ended up looking at some fish, and they have some really neat ones! Bettas are just beautiful - really neat and unique varieties. Staff were great - I had to wait a bit to get some help as they were busy with others but were chatting about care for their purchase, or tips on their tanks...everyone was very knowledgeable. Made me comfortable to purchase as I felt like it was important to make sure I had all the details (without overexplaining!) even though I wasnt buying anything wild (a few tetras and guppies). Will absolutely be back. Thanks guys!

melissa

Very nice , lots of different fish to look at, good prices friendly staff

Len Walden

Very impressed with the selection of Freshwater Shrimps at Aquarium Illusions. Got a sweet Shrimp Tank from them the other day. Thanks for all the great advice and good deals. This shop exceeds my expectations every time I'm in.

TIXX Reviews

I love this store it's the only place I go the staff is amazing and extremely knowledgeable the only place in the city that offers warranty on marine animals there prices are vary vary good the owner is vary nice and helpful store is clean and we'll taken care of can't say enough good things go there you won't regret it

KILLERK260464

Always good knowledgeable staff, always super clean and well cared for, puts the rest of the stores in Edmonton to shame.

Bru Tanner

Always helpful, very personal business, way better than the competitor ....cough "BA"

Daniel Porretta

Lori, the owner of Aquarium Illusions Inc. contacted me today to ask me for some advice about concrete, I could tell right from the beginning of speaking with her she cares about her customers. Since our interaction I posted my experience on Facebook and have gotten positive feedback from people on my friends list about the experience they've had with Aquarium Illusions Inc. Top notch customer service and great products. I will recommend Aquarium Illusions Inc. to everyone.

Sam Caskey

Great selection of livestock and dry goods and always the very best service! Highly recommend them for all your saltwater fish and supplies. They also have a fine selection of freshwater fish and supplies as well.

Brandy Leigh

Love this place. Dont matter what your there for its amazing and prices are awesome

Wayne Amirault

We were referred here by an employee of Petland. The pricing is very good and the service even better. We received a lot of help through their live online chat. We ordered online and it was delivered so quickly I was stunned. Very good selection of product and it feels good supporting local. We will 100% be back.

Sarah Winterburn

Best place to go for fish or aquarium needs. They also take in fish that you no longer have room for or grown tired of. Because hey, fish are a lot of work. Plus, staff are very friendly.

Chris Jugandi

Very knowledgeable staff and prices are quite reasonable, some things half the price of big als, petland or petsmart. Worth the visit. They cater more to the salt water setups. Great place to buy pumps, tanks and stands. They custom build aswell.

Beverley Folstad

This is a MUST for any hobbists fresh or saltwater. Knowledgeable friendly staff and the best products to keep your critters happy and healthy. If they don't have what you want, they will get it in for you. Highly recommended!

Mathew Hermary

Always have a great time at AI. Super knowledgable staff and always friendly! The range of services and advice is superior. Had a great time today at the bbq!

Cody Wallbank

I went in to the new store and found that Ron was very unhelpful. I was trying to buy a new aquarium and equipment and he keep pushing me off for his cellphone and another couple in the store. I even waited around for over an hour and approached a few times and each time I was blown off. He refused to answer any of my questions. Poor customer service. Had to call another saltwater specialty fish store out of province to get the answers I needed. Too bad I have to get an aquarium and equipment shipped from BC instead of supporting a local store.

B M

Helpful staff, lots of stock! Will be back

Gilles Losier (Gilles Losier)

Found the store to have a large selection of fish products that are not your typical box store. I also found the staff were very knowledgeable with the products they sell and helpful with an issue I had.

Jennifer Manion

My personal experience with this store has been amazing !!Staff is very pleasant and helpful.Their products are of exceptional quality and they always have what I need in stock. Aquarium Illusions is my first choice for aquarium supplies..

Sean Leonard

A great fish store with knowledgeable staff. Always helpful and go above to ensure I'm happy.

Andreas Krause

I'll start by saying that I used to love shopping at this store. Unfortunately, things seem to have changed. Prices are triple or more for live stock, compared to their competitors in town. Some (one in particular) of the staff talks down to you, no matter what your experience level. No price matching whatsoever on fish, even when their $110 fish costs $25 at their other local stores. When asked why that is, I was told it wasn't their problem, but the competition's store's. It's disappointing to see them taking advantage of peoples' ignorance in this way. Unless they have product I simply can't find anywhere else, or I'm in a bind, I will not support this business any longer.

Sir S1aughters

Always enjoyed shopping here. Very helpful staff.

S K

Very friendly staff, have a nice selection of aquariums and equipment, and alot of nice saltwater fish and coral. Just wish they had a little more selection of tropical fish. I'll still be coming back as they can special order particular fish that you're looking for which I very much appreciate!

James Hooper

Fantastic place. Lots of advice. Will be back.

James Casemore

Only place I will ever go for livestock . Very knowledgable staff and everything is healthy healthy healthy .

Susan Thibodeau

Friendly service very informative

Darkz

been there twice, bad customer service, at least the guy I spoke with had no idea whats going on, when we finally decided to get some livestock, had everything packed and ready to pay, the cashier was on the phone chatting and ignoring us, worst part is? the second sales guy came with another customer's livestock, they jumped in line and completed the transaction, ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? We walked right after that happened in front of us, hasn't been there for the past 4 years! sure don't miss it!

Doug Masters

My Tank was in trouble and these guys had it sorted out in no time. Saved me alot of money and time. Great advise and a really stocked store. I'm a loyal shopper now for sure. Thanks to all the great staff and management that took so much time and interest in my aquarium.

Kevin Schnarr

Probably the best livestock in town, a bit pricey on most items. Knowledgeable staff.

maryleen laycock

The people working were very helpful for my grandson and myself.

Dylan Michael

Always a great experience here

Simeon_natureboy#1989

Some of the staff were snobby and curt with me, i don't like poor customer service were people rush you no one does won't be going back to buy from these guys again.

daftbeni

I've bought a few fish and live rock from here and I had no problems with either. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff that will answer all your questions honestly. Def check out aquarium Illusions before the other stores in the city.

Kevin Riddell

Great and friendly staff, excellent products and fish! Their delivery surface has been a life savior during COVID as family members are immune compromised.

Ali Sanaee

The most knowledgeable staff & great advice.

Kyla Hermary

Bought supplies online, went in for pick up. Right away Ron know who I was and scurried to the back for my order making it fast and kept me from buying extra things. Lol

Ken R

Loved it

Kyle Mulligan

When I couldn't find aquarium parts I was looking for, these were the guys who had it.

Brad Walline

I shop here because it is one of the few local fish stores in the city, however I am disappointed with their downsizing and what appears to be their gradual transition away from a LFS to a general pet store since moving to their new location. Front end is packed full of dog and cat supplies. I get it though, probably a tough market to survive in, in Edmonton.

Kris Meszaros

I decided to try my hand at my first salt water aquarium a couple years ago, I shopped around other local fish stores that were closer to home but was not happy with the results. Having no previous experience I had a lot of questions but the employees were either impossible to find or made me feel like I was wasting their time asking questions and made to feel dumb because I didn't know everything already. I finally went to Aquarium Illusions, which was a bit further out of the way but ended up being totally worth the drive. The first time I went in I probably spent an hour talking with one of the employees who helped me with all my "dumb" beginner questions. It never felt like I was wasting their time and I could tell they had a genuine interest and love of the hobby. I probably visited them 3 or 4 more times over the next few months just asking follow up questions and getting all the information I felt I needed before making any decisions (I'm an engineer so it's in my nature to gather as much information as I can). Eventually I decided to go for it and ended up ordering a custom 90 gallon reef tank, which was actually much better priced than I was expecting. They have a good variety of products and I was always able to find what I needed for my particular budget. From my experience they also have the best livestock. Everything is always healthy, I won't buy from anywhere else.

Jessica Zylinski

We have recently acquired a rescue turtle and some extra fish with it, we had to come down for a Dr. Appt. We were looking for plants and information regarding our turtle and tank and we found this gem on Google. Lori the owner was great to deal with and very informative. There was no pressure to buy and any question we may have had he was great at explaining his answer. Will be back for sure. Next time we are in the area!

Corry Bruce

Bright, clean and knowledgeable staff.

Roden Rante (Nikki Lovesalot)

The lady working there was so rude. Sold me a dead hermit crab. The guys were also condescending, like if you dont want to help a new beginner in fish quite your job. Will not recommend this shop to anyone...

Benita Greenwood

Great place to buy tropical fish. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Stacy Born

Great staff and nice selection of corals.

Bineesh Kurian

Great customer service. Great staff with thorough knowledge

Jaclyn Beer

Great place for supplys. Watch that step going into the store, it's 4 inchs higher than the ground.

Tim D

I have purchased many many items at Aquarium Illusions never had a bad experience always treated great by staff. Bought my first 150 gallon there with big sump big stand. Plus everything else there. Great variety of fish and corals. Just bought a Apex Trident working like a charm. Always fun to take a ride to Aquarium Illusion’s and look around talk with staff. We also buy all our raw meat for our Dog (Lola) and treats too. Great variety of pet foods and supplies. We get a lot delivered which is handy glad they have that service. Thanks for everything and see you soon.

marion herbert

Good service and selection

Robb Fenwick

Great staff, super knowledgeable and always willing to go the extra mile. :)

Radical Edward

FISH FREAKIN RULE!

Kerry Baker

Was at their Boxing Day Sale, and I was impressed. Even though they were super busy the customer service was Excellent!

Jenine Campbell-Cove

My favorite aquarium supply store

Ken Dodman

Love the place. Steve if very knowledgeable, prices are good. Usually really good live stock, and coral.

Brittany Coursaux

They have a great selection of Salt water aquarium paraphernalia. Very clean and friendly staff

Pirate Jim

Fabulous service and healthy fish. I bought a beautiful Naso Tang. I Will definatly stop by again the next time I am in town.

Mark Telenko

Very informative

Reader Read

This place gets a 4 star for their customer service. Ordered some fish on Black Friday, was told that they would be delivered to my place the following Wednesday. The delivery people F'ed up and said that they will not transport live animals (there was an exemption in place for Aquarium Illusions to allow the fish to be delivered). So after many emails and phone calls with Aquarium Illusions the fish were sent back to the store. A new batch a fish was sent on the Monday after, and I did receive them the next day in the afternoon. All but 1 fish had survived and Aquarium Illusions did refund me my money for that fish that didn't make it. After this mess of FedEx goofing up, I dont think Ill order online again. Thank you Ron at Aquarium Illusions for all of the help on figuring out my order. The fish are doing great in their new home.

jerry conway

Best aquarium store in the city. Very knowledgeable staff. Excellent equipment. I've had my 2 salt water tanks running for a year and the staff here are the reason it's been a success. Awesome selection of fish and inverts and the best corals. ????

H.D. Mech. Mortenson

Very friendly, knowledgeable staff. I visited for the first time last week and was pleasantly surprised.

Peter Claassen

These guys are awesome! Nick is the best!

Lucas Thompson

Easily the best and most knowledgable reef aquarium store in the area. Been shopping here for over 10 years and they always had top quality livestock and very well-informed staff. (And I should point out that although we have the same last name, I am not related to Ron)

Bill Jenkins

This store is the best we've been to in either Edmonton or Calgary. Best selection ever. Great prices, they do have expensive stuff there too though, don't know how it price compares cause I haven't seen it elsewhere, staff that really know their stuff inside out. Always friendly and attentive. QUARANTINED FISH !! Who else does that really? Great job guys All the best in the future Bill

Kevin Yetman

Love there staff and selections

Papi Bert

Always awesome service. Social distancing? No worries. They deliver????????????

rigs rigs

Expensive

George Tsalavoutas

Very discouraging experience. Felt like selling was the number one goal for the employe.

Raheem Suleman

I went to this store looking for some information on starting a freshwater aquarium. I specifically chose this store, as opposed to a "big box" pet store, in the hopes that I would be provided with their help and expertise. Unfortunately, as soon as the sales associate realized that I was a relative beginner, he seemed to lose all interest in speaking with me. In response to my question about what kind of starter equipment I would need, he directed me to a kit and then wandered off, leaving me just as bewildered as before. I fully acknowledge that I'm not an expert on fish, but I would think that a passionate sales associate would see that as an opportunity to educate me about his hobby. If you only cater to the experts, you're missing out on quite a large segment of the market! Fortunately, I visited one of the "big box" stores later in the day and I was given all the help I could ask for. I happily walked out of that store with a 20 gallon tank, filter, heater, and ornaments, and plan on purchasing my fish from there in a few weeks once cycling is complete. So in conclusion, if you're an expert on fish already, then Aquarium Illusions might be the store for you. But if you're starting out in the hobby, or looking for someone to answer your questions, you may be better off going elsewhere.

Daniel Porretta

Lori, the owner of Aquarium Illusions Inc. contacted me today to ask me for some advice about concrete, I could tell right from the beginning of speaking with her she cares about her customers. Since our interaction I posted my experience on Facebook and have gotten positive feedback from people on my friends list about the experience they've had with Aquarium Illusions Inc. Top notch customer service and great products. I will recommend Aquarium Illusions Inc. to everyone.

AP

pricy but great variety of fishes.

Alex Bernstein

Had a bad experience with the store. The store is well equipped for saltwater hobby and associates appear to be knowledgeable. However, this is our story. Bought 2 shrimps, crabs and a fish plus a number of supplies from the store. Everything was fine. One day we decided to buy a coral. We were told to purchase Revive Coral cleaner as well to disinfect the coral as per the store's coral acclimation instructions. We did everything as we were told. After adding the coral, both of our shrimps died. All the water parameters are good. The only conclusion is that the Revive product is the cause of death. We brought this issue to the attention of Chris and were directed to the store manager Ron. Ron refused to admit that the Revive cause us to loose both of our shrimps. 1. Revive product is not regulated, has no warnings regarding inverterbrates and may contain anything 2. The store should stand behind their products and instructions And the biggest question is, would it be wise to turn away loyal customers for two shrimps? Randy and Lori, if you read this, you have my permission to contact me anytime and we can discuss. I noticed that you are proactive owners and would like to talk to you. We liked the store, but this kind of experience will prohibit us dealing with Aquarium Illusions in the future unless the issue is resolved. Sad

Kirra Kent

Built me an excellent cube for holding water! Super nice customer service, patient with my questions. Excellent people!

Janos

Great staff and one of the best stores in town

Brendan M

Huge aquariums

Leonardo Gomez

Aquarium Illusions Inc has very knowledgeable and experienced staff, after my tank was cycled properly, i was introduced to the different types Fresh-water fish, where the staff discussed comparability (and environment settings) for my 35 Gallon Tank. I walked away very happy and with all the tools i needed to properly manage my new tank.

Amanda

Great prices on testing kits, the cheapest i found in Edmonton so far. But wish they had more unique freshwater fish to choose from i find they have more saltwater. But still a great place

Tristan Carey

Excellent store, really healthy livestock & a good selection of dry goods

Chris Wobeking

Same old bread an butter fish every week. Lots of inventory with prices close to online shops.

Adam Wojtasik

Excellent customer service. Starting to become my 2nd home.

Aaron Williams

Great staff good selection

James Bond

Friendly staff

Chris Helmers

*SO* much doggie stuff. The staff is wonderfully attentive, knowledgeable, & helpful. They gave us recommendations from their personal experience. Clearly the staff is not there filling a spot just for a pay cheque.

Rachel Castelletti

Primarily for salt water tanks. Has some equipment that is better priced than other aquarium locations in my experience. Friendly staff.

Cody Tait

Great selection of fish and a very nicely kept store.

Edwin Ortega

My favorite place in Edmonton to go shopping for reef corals and invertebrates. They have really healthy stock..

Courtney Girard

Been in the store several times now and each time has been a great experience. The staff is knowledgable and ready to help. One of the nicest aquarium places in the city for sure.

James Oconnor

Great aquarium store for marine fish and coral

Dirt Napper

Learned something new on clown fish while I was picking up supplies for my tanks. Always great service and knowledge from staff.

Steve Godreau

Been going here for years. Only one of very few here in town.

G M

Great selection of marine aquarium supplies and fish.

Natasha Allen

This was our first stop after getting a new fish tank for Christmas. The guy helping us seemed relieved to hear we were interested in starting a freshwater tank because his store is "90 percent saltwater and 10 percent freshwater". He was quite condescending at first, but warmed up a little after my husband talked to him a bit (not enough that we would ever be back, but enough that when he recommended Aquarium Central, we drove over there to get help.) I am not sure why so many people in the aquarium retail world are so superior in their attitude towards people who are just starting out. Surely they realize that the business thrives when the customers feel confident in their advice and feel like keeping fish is a do-able hobby. The owner of Aquarium Illusions should have better staff training to build up their business. We won't be back, but the store will last longer if they are able to build their customer base and new customers are part of that.

Dipin George

Fast delivery. Thanks

Nathaniel R

Knowledgeable staff, friendly environment and clean healthy tanks makes this the best aquarium store in Edmonton. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend to anyone in the hobby especially if your just starting out to stop in and see Randy and his staff.

Mark Nelson

Best saltwater aquarium store in Edmonton!!!

space rag

Helpful staff. Clean, healthy tanks. A good selection of supplies.

Sam Tucker

They had a lot of cool fish and pet treats! Will definitely come back if we’re ever in the area again ❤️

Cliff Buller

I have been dealing with this store for over10 years now. There are always friendly faces in the store and I am always greeted with a smile. I started with a little Beta fish, then moved into many more tanks, I have ordered 2 custom tanks from them all great quality. I have also used there service side for when I am gone on holidays. Great selection of "New" equipment on the market for those people who want that little extra for there tanks.

Diaspora

Always enjoy going to Aquarium Illusions, great staff and products. Picked up some corals and a goat fish.

Gordon Martin

Staff provided us with good information to assist us in choosing specific corals, fish and equipment for our aquarium setup.

Cali F

I'd been only once or twice to the previous location, and since it was almost all saltwater I mostly just browsed. I've been doing tours of all the aquarium stores as of late desperate to get my hands on some specifics and I was very happy with the customer service! I was mostly just perusing and a woman came to help me and was fantastic. She had to jump to some other customers but always came back to make sure I was good. She took the time to chat with me about the bettas and plants. We ran the gamut from fish, plants, equipment, substrate, and chemicals. She was helpful and knowledgable about them all and even introduced me to a new product that ended up being fantastic. When they didn't have something I needed, she sent me to other locally owned stores including one I had never heard about - I thought I knew them all - and it's close by my home and also amazing. Super happy I stopped in, even if I hadn't had much luck with the store before being I am a freshwater keeper. Great job!

Michelle Fedyniak

No selection of freshwater fish. It's saltwater selection all the way. Staff was friendly and approachable, but wasn't knowledgeable.. however he knew a good reference site and didn't provide any information he wasn't confident in. Would reccommend for saltwater needs. Lots of coral and anemone.

that fish guy

Great place i recently bought my saltwater set up from here and by far they handed me best price, great staff and good pricing i would definatly reccomend checking this place out.

Nicole Caney-Clement

My apologies in the 1 star. I meant to put a 5 star. We had amazing customer service when we were in the store. The staff was very knowledgeable and we will definitely be back to buy or equipment to set up our tank.

Alistair Harding

Busy at times. Fish staff are helpful. At least they are willing to give me money for fish I surrender, unlike big Al's.

Jake Leavitt

A new aquarium owner, all my questions were answered the staff was knowledgeable and questioned other staff if they weren't sure. I left there feeling secure that I wouldn't run my newly purchased fish or tank a muck. There was no over selling or trying to sell me something I can't handle. Great place, excellent customer service.

Nick L

Friendly staff

Kimberly Cooney

We found the staff to be friendly and knowledgable. The owner spent an hour with us making sure we understood how to install pond equitment and he truly cared. (he also put half of it together to make sure there was no problems) There was enough staff on that it didn't affect other customers, that's so nice! We dealt with this company years ago with our salt water tank and it was the same awesome way. We will always return ;-) Thank you Randy!!

Alta Gacusan

Our personal experience with Aquarium Illusions has been so amazing! So easy to deal with in and out of the store. Extremely knowledgeable, very friendly and very eager to help with any need. This store is highly recommended. Thanks Randy & Lori!

Alexei Iakouchine

Just wanted to say that this is a great store with very friendly staff. Would recommend

Kyle Brown

They have a fair amount of salt water species, but then tend to not know their own stock levels and where the stock is located.

Handsome Guy

I have shopped here for 10 years now. This is hands down the best store in the city for Saltwater fish and supplies. The staff are extremely knowledgeable, the new store super clean and organized and the best part is all of their saltwater fish go through a 2 to 3 week quarantine so by the time they are available on the sales floor they are eating well and healthy. Out of the 40 or 50 fish I have bought over the years I can only remember one that died shortly after getting it. All others have done well. If you want a healthy fish, great customer service and a superb buying experience. This is the ONLY place to shop UPDATE: July 13/2021. I have bought three fish over the last 6 months and all had ich or marine velvet. I even let tank go fallow for 6 weeks and added only one new fish. Within 3 days, ich appeared. Turns out they have gone away from what made them such a good store. No more quarantine, they sell them the day after they arrive. Helps with cash flow I guess but does it help there customers. Since there is no more quarantine they are essentially just a more expensive version of Big Als. Time to shop elsewhere at a store that does proper quarantine. Too bad, this really did uses to be a good store.

K M

Our office has the pleasure of having Aquarium Illusions help us out with our saltwater aquarium. Rudy visits us every 2nd week to service our tank and of course it's always an exciting day when it's fish day because Aquarium Illusions has an absolute stunning selection of little sea creatures! The staff are very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. So grateful for all the hard work and dedication you guys put in to your business! It definitely does not go unnoticed.

Eric Glendining

Great advice and great fish. Mainly tailored to saltwater/corals but they have some freshwater fish and most dry goods and supplies. This is my go to store for quality stock and genuinely good advice. They also offer in home services for emergencies or ongoing maintenance.

mitch clackett

Nice place super helpful people had a great experience I would recommend going there they have lots of great info

Laura B

Staff always very helpful and knowledgable about fish, and water conditions.

chamberland eric

The only place in town to buy aquarium. The staff knows their stuff and they are happy to help you. Great advices and great conversations. In this day and age of crappy customer service, this place stands out. They really care about what you need and what you have to say. I didn't know much about fish before I went there, but now I feel like I have found great help.

Drew Janes

I went in on Tuesday for first time as I'm from out of town. I keep fresh water and was curious as to what they might have. I was disappointed in there selection of freshwater but hey they are best known for saltwater. I am happy with the fish I got and am blown away by the health and durability of the fish. they survived the 6 hour trip with no losses. 5 days later and the fish are happy and beautiful. I believe it's because they don't overstock and crowed their tanks. I can't wait to go back and perhaps start up a small salt water tank.

D McAndrews

Better prices than any other aquarium store in Edmonton. Mostly saltwater, but a decent selection of freshwater. They keep their bettas in appropriate tanks so thats a 6/5 from me!

Eric Dostie

The people that work there are kind and knowledgeable with all my salt water kritters. I was out of town and my aquarium lights died and I sent my girlfriend there with my light fixture and they replaced all the lights for her.

hannibal cuenca

Friendly Staff. Staff always give me tips on how to take are my aquarium. Always have good deals.

Tyler McInroy

Love this store. Knowledgeable staff and always friendly!

Andrew Rafo

The store, staff and management is excellent.

joshua heudes

Been coming here for years and will continue to do so, service and knowledge are top-notch

Gerald Teerling

Aquarium Illusions is the best fish store that I have ever dealt with. The staff are more then friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and eager to help with any need. The fish and corals they stock are second to none, and they offer many other products and specialty equipment for aquariums. I have to drive over an hour to get there, but it is time well spent. Thanks Aquarium Illusions!

Devyn Dalton

I had a great experience with Aquarium Illusions! The staff were very friendly and helppful as I had little knowledge going in. I am also extremley satisfied with my end product. I would highly recommend them for future work and plan to use them again.

Brent Strynadka

Great people and great shop lots of great things.

Lisa MacKenzie

Small location and competitive prices. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The aquariums seem healthy and maintained.

Peter Humphries

Ron and AmberLee are very experienced in the industry. When it comes to tech , equipment, and livestock hard to find more informative staff.

Sergei

It's only for salt water Aquariums

Lindsay Ewing

Amazing selection great staff

Vincent James

Very helpful staff, and great saltwater fish selection!

Tia Eeles

Great service and knowledgeable staff!

Tyler Crawley

They are very helpful and know what they are doing. Ya they can be a bit slow but that's because they are helping a costumer just like you with problems they maybe having and they want to make sure every costumer leaves with the knowledge they need for a successfully aquarium. By far the best fish store in Edmonton.

pthaughi

I purchased an established reef setup and had Aquarium Illusions manage the move. It went flawlessly - no casualties and no issues whatsoever.

Cod Engineer

Rhe employees here take their time to explain everything throughly. Love this place !

Andy Crossland

Looking for a nano tank kit to get kids for christmas to get them into aquatics. They were having a pre-christmas sale and the price was better than any other store or internet site! Really helpful staff, even knew kit didn't include a heater and recommended a good model. Decided to get matching stand but only one in stock had their display tank on it - no problem as they happily moved the fish and drained the tank to be able to move it. Cleaned up the stand and checked for any damage before helping to load it and the nano kit into my car. Store is clean and very well laid out, easy to find everything. Fish tanks and fish all looked good and healthy, tanks not over stocked. Selection of corals is amazing. Mainly marine fish and invertebrates with a small selection of freshwater. Good selection of tanks and equipment, food etc. All good brands and reasonable prices. Much nicer experience than other stores in Edmonton, even on a busy Saturday when they had a sale on. Worth a visit! One year later and recently bought a new bigger tank from Aquarium Illusions (only place stocking Fluval Flex 32.5G) and have converted the old nano to saltwater. Bought some very healthy freshwater fish recently and will be buying saltwater fish and a few corals here once nano tank is cycled. Staff always friendly and helpful with good advice. Tanks always clean and fish, inverts and corals look really healthy. Will continue to shop here as prices and services are good.

Ryan D

Great store with fantastic staff. Everyone has been helpful with the success of my reef tank. Learning this hobby has been a daunting task and I wanted to give a special thanks to Amber Lee for answering my many many questions. She has a talent for dealing with people new to the hobby and that is something I really appreciate

Simone Kosik

wow quite a bit smaller, there asst of fish is not at all there any more

Tony Power

This is the only place I will buy anything from. The service is great, their live stock is the highest quality. Knowledgeable staff, and great prices. They will even price match! I would recommend these guys to anyone. Thanks again guys! Keep up the great work!!

Mike l

Nice new place

Terry Luhoway

I always wanted to have a saltwater tank, but was apprehensive because of the perceived cost and difficulty. A year ago, I decided to take the plunge and aquired a 60-gallon tank. Since that time, the staff at Aquarium Illusions have been instrumental to the success of the setup, stocking, and development of the tank's aquatic environment. They are, not only, extremely knowledgeable about all of the products and livestock in the store, but also genuinely friendly and interested in helping people like me who are new to the hobby. Their advice and encouragement has been invaluable and greatly appreciated. The store has the best and most varied selection of corals and frags I have seen in Edmonton, as well as an equally diverse and quality selection of saltwater fish and invertebrates. I regularly go to the store to see what new products and livestock have come in and, as my wife has told me, I shouldn't be allowed to just stop by unsupervised on my way home from work, as I will usually come home with something new that I just had to have. The aquarium has become an integral part of our home and we have received many compliments on it from family, friends and visitors. I highly recommend Aquarium Illusions to anyone interested in starting an aquarium, as well as to those who are veterans of the hobby.

Jess Chapman

Very knowledgeable staff. They are always willing to offer valuable advice. So much more personable than big chain stores. Amazing selection!

Vern Depeel

I have been coming into Aquarium Illusions for over 14 years. I love the store. The prices are very reasonable. I have purchased many fish for our many tanks over the years and always had nothing but positive experiences. We have had Salt water, fresh water and brackish water tanks. The staff is always willing to give us good advice with every aspect of our aquariums and the livestock, plants and corals. Wonderful people and wonderful store.

Crystal Breakenridge

Nice looking store but I was offered no help so after 15 minutes I left empty handed. Not alot of tropical fish choices. Probably good if you are into marine fish.

john doyle

Great selection , great staff

Cory keeler

3 stars for lack of products and higher prices than other places.

Rebecca Jay

Went in and no one even acknowledged my existence...the whole time! Bye!

Steve Hodg

Very clean and neat store. Knowledgable staff that's friendly. Well stocked in beautiful corals and healthy fish

Sam L

Staff won't try to sell you on overpriced equipment/supplies; extremely knowledgeable and will work with you - checking with supplier to bring in anything you may want/need. Some of the best prices in town; will continue to support this store!

Hooli Gooli

Amazing first rate service and product.

Kay D

The gent that helped me was able to answer all my questions and help me make product decisions without over selling me on anything. Just gave me an honest opinion for the best care of my aquarium. The advice he provided showed a great overall knowledge of aquarium keeping and was more specific than any research I was able to do on my own. The employees were also just really nice to chat with. I highly recommend this place :).

hnnsquatch toboggan

Great staff and selection.

Kathleen Miciano

If you're looking for a good selection of live corals, this is the place to be. The staff was friendly and helpful. One of their newly arrived corals were imported from Australia, which was pretty cool.

Doug Allan

First time in the store, I am new to the fish tank hobby 2 weeks new. I purchased my 75 gallon tank and fish from a pet store (Cichlids and a ghost knife fish)the staff seemed knowledgeable however when I had a problem with my Snow White socolfi the pet store people didn’t really help much. I have been to every fish store in Edmonton just to get information being a newbie and all and everyone has given me something new to learn. The lady that helped me at Aquarium Illusions (lm sorry I didn’t catch her name) was so helpful and knowledgeable she spent a tremendous amount of time with me answering all my questions and never once tried to sell me anything. I was very impressed by the friendliness and knowledge of the lady that helped me, apparently I have a whole lot of different cichlids from South America and Africa so far is going well except for my socolfi, I will be returning when and if I need more fish never mind just a when not an if I am looking to upgrade to a 150 gallon next year so for sure a few more fish. Don’t let the couple poor reviews fool you great place to learn about the hobbie. Thank you guys for the service.

Carmalyn Montgomery

Very helpful staff!

Arnold Zoschke

Great knowledgeable staff n decent selection of stock

Darrell Galusha

I have dealt with Randy and Lori since the day they opened. I have found either of them and their staff very professional and eager to help with any issues regarding fish, aquariums and ponds. I find them and their staff treat you like family, as they always take time to chat and see if there are any issues they can help with. Would strongly recommend you go to see them.

Jason Loxton

Staff greeted me as I entered was friendly and informative, nice store had a nicely priced 150 gallon custom built bare tank for sale. If I was local I would have bought it. The fresh water selection was a little slim bit was assured they could more then likely order what I was looking for. I am a Tropheus keeper and its pretty hard to get the species I want anywhere in Canada.

Alvin Stauffer

I am new to the saltwater world but have had Tropical and Ciclid tanks. The staff at Aquarium Illusions have been great and very patient with me as I have had lots of questions. I am probably in the store at least once a week on average and they have always taken time to talk to me and have never made me feel like I was a bother, but I'm sure I have been, lol. Thank you, everyone at Aquarium Illusions for making this transition to the Saltwater world an awesome experience.

turtle 2.0

The staff are very friendly they know exactly what they are talking about and are willing to tell you any information that you may need to know. They have a wide variety of fresh and saltwater fish. They have everything you need for a fish tank.

scott5017

Excellent service and super fast contact-less delivery, thanks guys!

Edward Mah

Great selection and owner is a long time volunteer with Santa's Anonymous!

Kjol Lundgard

Great customer service and excellent selection of products and livestock. I will be happy to return for my next big ticket purchase.

Don Clement

Went in today to get information on setting up a new saltwater tank. Staff was amazing! Spent all the we needed with us, never felt like we were being pushed out or wasting his time. He invited us back a 2nd time to get more advise to make sure we are under control when we get this tank going. I would highly recommend this place especially after also visiting their competition.

Jessie Motz

Very nice and well maintained store. Very knoweledgeable and helped us out greatly. Little pricey but gorgeous fish

brooklyn reid

Although small it happens to be my favourite aquarium store in the city. The staff are always very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. There are competitive prices and unique merchandise. The livestock is always well kept and healthy, I've never purchased a sick fish :)

J Switzer

After checking out all the other shops in town, Aquarium Illusions is by far my most frequent stop. Their knowledgable staff make setting up a tank and stocking it fairly simple, and I appreciate the warranty on fish offered to club members! That small fee has payed for itself quite a few times over! Their staff are quite enthusiastic about their trade and are more than willing to spend more time than necessary to answer any questions I have ever had. Keep up the great work!

Silver Anvil

great place for fish of all types and if you need cool aquarium stones and cool minerals for your tank check out the place down the road about 200 yards away called Silver anvil rock, gem jewelry and tools they have a wicked selection of colorful tumbled stones and black light stones for the tanks !!

Moriah S.

Kind of a sad selection of freshwater fish.

Krista Lee

Very friendly staff. There was some amazing deals on their sale tables. I wish I still had a saltwater tank running and was able to bring home stock from our trip to edmonton.

Sean Ferguson

Best in the city for salt water livestock.

Alexandra Munn

Take great care of the fish at their store and the customer service was wonderful. I wish they just had more products to decorate fish tanks

Andre Littleton

their products are ridiculously over priced especially considering other locally available options. couldn't find what I was looking for in other stores so i had no choice but to go to them. buyer beware: it turns out they sell disease riddled fish, costed me a lot of money and time to have my third marine tank setup, now i'm scooping out dead fish. asked the employees there for assistance and they directed me to some woman by the name of Lori who proceeded to accuse me of a tank from her imagination. horrible products, even worst staff - don't go here unless you're willing to be berated for their imagination and have all your fish die from their overpriced disease riddled livestock

Daniel Rosich

Good selection.

Shelley Tkachyk

I have been in the store a few times. I have had mixed reviews about this place but, that is the way most business is. I have had the pleasure of having Amber Lee help me out on more than one occasion and she has offered me lots and over-welling information, but that is how it seems when it comes to all aquariums (everyone has an opinion). Between her and the other Lady I believe Lori, have made me regret not buying most of my aquarium stuff there instead of online due to their friendly and welcoming nature. I don’t mind paying a little more for supporting local but, their prices are very comparable to Amazon. Also, I have dealt with a gentleman named Ron on more than one occasion and I have not cared for the way he comes over. When giving information he is over whelming and mean about it. He is my way or the highway kind of guy. He is belittling and will make you regret buying a saltwater aquarium just like he made me. He lacks in any customer service skill and understanding. He is the first person who told me that my salinity should be at 25 ppt yet everywhere online, books I have read and other staff most say 30 ppt or up to 35. He told me that my phosphates were out and would not sell me anything to fix it, so I had to go home and buy it from Amazon. Yet the next day I test my water and no trace of any phosphates but, also the test was a pink color that is not phosphate. So, I question his understanding of testing. Considering I have had fish for over 30 years and this gentleman is the first horrible apple I have run into in my whole time dealing with any aquarium stuff. So be careful with who you deal with. Most staff are above and beyond.

gene nassirian

After many years of dealing with Aquarium Illusions, I appreciate their quality, service, expertise, and great selection of coral ,fish....... By dealing with Aquarium Illusions it saves me Money and Time. Time, my wife says, I should spend with her lol I'll be back

Joanne Robinson

Went here for dog boots! Amazing place for pet stuff,good prices too. Who know!!

Sindy Baxter

The staff here is great! Always willing to help.

Jeremy Brooks

The people at aquarium illusions are very knowledgeable about saltwater and freshwater fish. I have complete trust in their advice and recommendations. They will tell you what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong. They have a complimentary weather testing service that I abused sometimes be honest lol. But they don't seem to mind at all. In my opinion, they are the best local fish shop in the city. They are always happy to help. Thank you, Amber, Chris and Ron. Your loyal customer Jeremy.

Tyrel DeOrla

Ordered my clownfish and inverts online and originally bought my tank from them and both occasions excellent customer service/ prices/ knowledge.

Steven Penner

WORST service ever. these people are more concerned about their outward appearances and worrying about their own personal lives then helping their customers. went in, heard the blonde lady on the phone in the back yelling at a customer how it was HIS fault his tank failed and he can GET BENT they aren't fixing it for him. the guy was busy on the computer up front and didn't even bother to look up to see me standing in the store waiting for help. happily left. never been back. do yourselves a favor and dont go her - ever. wish i didnt HAVE to rate it with 1 star ... sure it says 1 star means hate but i would like to give alot less ....

Stephen Wright

The new store looks fantastic, staff and owners are great people with a ton of knowledge. Best prices in town and always the place to go for hi-tech. And now I can do shopping for my dogs too!! Excellent selection of top quality dog food, treats, and accessories for waaaayyyyy less than PetSmart or anywhere! If you haven't been to the new store yet, you must check it out.

w k

Best place for saltwater in my opinion much more knowledgeable staff then the other main ones in edmonton

Stacey Baker

Went to Aquarium Illusions for advice on starting an aquarium. The staff were very knowledgable & friendly. I was very impressed with their professionalism and the selection of fish & products. The best you've seen in the city!

Delsere

Good selection, decent pricing and phenomenal expertise - the knowledge and experience of the senior staff here is quite notable. Over time I've had a few mishaps dealing with Aquarium Illusions however they have always been dedicated to reaching a solution. A few things to mention. If you're a customer and you're not confident about something - ASK! If you encounter a problem, talk to these guys and they'll help you figure it out. Likewise, I'd like to see the staff be a little more proactive with ensuring their customers understand the care requirements of livestock prior to purchase. I feel Aquarium Illusion's approach to quarantine procedures are a bit outdated. Pests, diseases and parasites are a huge tax on the hobby and I'd like to see the staff ensure customers are aware of them and promote *home-based* quarantine or dip methods. For these reasons I give a rating of 3 and will look to raise it once I see improvement. Still a great store and I would recommend them to anyone.

Scot will

After going in to this store looking for a bit of knowledge on starting a saltwater aquarium I left there with a feeling of satisfaction. The staff here know this hobby well and took the time to explain there passion. I know where I will be going for all my aquarium needs from now on.

T J

We ordered a custom tank and experienced some issues. However, Ron completely stepped up to the plate and made it right (and then some) to our surprise. Talk about TRUE customer service!! Ron and team (especially Amber-L) are outstanding. Thank you!

James Kambeitz

I've had a fresh water for years and years. I decided to do a little research on saltwater set ups and went to these guys. Holy crow what an experience. Amber was very attentive and even gave warnings on things that I may want to stay from due to my first foray with salt. So excited and contrary to popular belief the saltwater doesn't need a whole lot of maintenance and even a bit less than fresh water setups.

Julie Marych

Knowledgeable staff

Michael Mirau

It's cool, it's fine, nice fish. But really small and I saw a fish die ????

Andrew Ta

I was looking to have a custom aquarium built and requested a quote. They replied to my initial quote request within 24 hours and gave me a price. In the email it said to "let me know if you have any other questions". I replied back with questions about features and options for the custom tank. After about a week of not hearing back from them, I thought maybe they didn't get my email. So, I sent another quote request through their website. After another week of no reply, I called in for a quote request. The person who answered (Ron I believe), said that he did not have any idea how much my custom tank would cost. He seemed like he was in a rush and didn't sound like he wanted to help. He said that he would have to talk to his tank builders to get a quote and the soonest would be Tuesday (next week). He didn't ask me what kind of options I wanted or anything that could help them understand what I am looking for in this tank. So I'm not sure how they would come up with a price or what I would be receiving if I accepted the quote. This was not very confidence inspiring. 11 days later, I still haven't heard back from them. In the end I went to a bigger local fish store and ordered a rimless aquarium from them. So, based on my experience with Aquarium Illusions Inc. I would not recommend them.

Craig

Stopped by on a whim while getting my truck worked on a block away. Had no intention on buying anything, just wanted to look around and get a mental inventory since we are new fish parents. Ended up spending an hour there! The staff was so helpful with our non-stop questions and we appreciated the knowledge and patience. This experience will ensure that we bring our business here first!

Hannibal Cuenca

Always have good deals. Staff are friendly and always give me tips on how to take care of my aquarium.

scott dunphy

Great staff and products

Cam Maxwell

Stopped in to see the place as i was thinking of getting into a saltwater tank. The service was outstanding. I was taken through step by step how to run and maintain a saltwater tank. Every question i could think was answered in great detail. This will be my go to place for supplies and any questions.

Jennifer Moore

My fiancé and I have been in this store a few time just before closing. That didn't stop them from being very informative and helping us pick out the best for our tank among the wide variety of coral, anemones and fish available. I find each and every experience pleasant :)

Amy C

Great staff local business very knowledgeable . Great for any aquarium lovers. Got some real cool snails there

Emilian Dosoftei

Excelent customer service

Darin Stuckey

Great Frag selection

Marlee Stewart

Aquarium Illusions has everything you need to look after your fishes! We recently rescued an abandoned aquarium that had tons of Algae growing in it! After messaging aquarium Illusions they quickly responded letting me know they have in home services to care for the tank. I was able to schedule an appointment and now the fish tank is unrecognizable! I was shocked at how clean it was after the first service call. All the fish are doing well and we look forward to growing our aquarium! Thank you guys so much for your expertise!

Stefan Guse

This is a top notch saltwater/freshwater fish store. They always have good stock, and sell what's current in the market. I've been coming to this store for years, and will be for many years to come. What sets this store apart is the quality customer service, and constant supply of required stock. The staff are always willing to help, and share advice about this complex hobby for free. When I first got going in the hobby my knowledge was limited on sumps. I brought my protien skimmer in and the sump I wanted to use on my first tank, and the guys helped me measure the baffles I needed to mount in the sump. This is just one example, they didn't need to help me, they just went above and beyond and gained a customer forever. The things I need for my salt tank are always on hand when I need them. Salt is an example: Aquarium Illusions carries half a dozen salts from high to mid grade salts. This requires a larger investment on the store's side, and I appreciate that they always have the H2Ocean salt in that I use. Check them out.

Matt Mckay

New to the hobby and went in today to get my salt water tested. Chris there helped me out and and brought home our first fish thanks for the help and will be shopping there from now on.

Ron Stephens

My wife and I have now been in the salt water hobby for about one year. During that time we have been researching and reading a great deal on the subject. We looked online and found the local fish stores listed. We visited Aquarium Illusions and were very impressed. The staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Everyone that works for AI is fabulous to deal with. The staff has been there a long time which isn’t a surprise when you consider the ownership. Randy and Lori are incredible people. They truly care about what they do. They started this local business in there garage and now have a amazing business. This is the kind of local small business that you want to support. We have had them in our home doing set up and maintenance. All the staff are professional and courteous. For my wife and I we consider our Saturday visit to Aquarium Illusions like an adventure. What new exciting live stock or product do they have in this week? (usually lots LOL). Sometimes we just stop in to say hello and visit. This is what the hobby is all about. I suppose I should mention the quality of the products they carry are top notch. They stock the brands I have have come to trust and they know what to do and when. We have been to almost all of the local stores now and we continue to return to Aquarium Illusions because it feels like family.

jody crocker

Nice store ,friendly staff , reasonable prices

Rena Robertson

I have been dealing with Lori and Randy Cameron for years. This husband wife team are caring and truly love what they do. I would highly recommend doing business with Aquarium Illusions!!!!

JT Teliani

Very knowledgeable staff, great selection, and best of all they monitor and quarantine their fish before making them available for sale to insure it's healthy

Alysia Richard

Staff are very knowledgeable and friendly and fish here are in relatively good shape. However the past 2 or 3 visits to this store me and my boyfriend have found nudibranches in the coral tanks and therefore will no longer make a special trip to the west end anymore for this store. Although this store generally carries a very nice coral collection I find that it is over priced compared to other stores in Edmonton.

J E

Good store, very helpful staff. They have everything you need for fish keeping. If your into salt this is the place, if your into fresh best go elsewhere. A great hardware selection though, if your looking to get started in the hobby great place to start.

Carlee Bauer

Very friendly staff and answered all my questions was very polite.

kayla farkash

I am extremely happy with the service all the staff are super informative, and will to always take the time talk and answer all my questions. Their super helpful and personable. Theres a bunch of fish store in edmonton; but I’ll drive out of my way to go to aquarium Illusions. A shout out to the staff who were working last night Chris, Brian, Michelle! They helped me pick out my first fish and first coral!

Jay House

Good marine store. Lists of gear but fish and coral can be quite pricey. Also has very unique fish compared to other stores in city most of the time

Kevin Fenton

The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, very friendly and eager to help and answer any questions

Mike

Very underwhelming, selection of coral is tiny there seemed to be more dog and cat products (and purses?) Then fish.

James L Baxter

Very knowledgeable staff.

Jesse Snider

For reef aquaiums im sure they are great but if you have planted freshwater tanks i recommend going elsewhere. There plant tanks are horrendously infected with pest snails and don't have a very big selection at all.