Aquarium City

Aquarium City in Canoga Park has been a San Fernando Valley institution for well over a decade, and the loyalty it inspires is remarkable — multiple reviewers mention 15-year relationships with the store. Walking in, you're greeted by a sprawling layout packed with freshwater and saltwater livestock, a deep coral selection ranging from $5 frags to high-end pieces, and a plant section that regulars describe as exceptional. Discus, peacock cichlids, geophagus, ghost knifefish, and other rare species share floor space with snails, and the variety genuinely surprises first-time visitors.

The dry goods section is equally serious. ADA aquascaping supplies sit alongside RODI equipment, Neptune Systems Apex controllers, and a well-stocked medication aisle. If they don't carry something, staff will order it.

Free water testing is a nice everyday perk that keeps hobbyists coming back between livestock purchases. Staff members like Grace, Kiarash, Jason, Rayan, and owner Julian are called out by name repeatedly for their patience and depth of knowledge. Tank maintenance appears to be a point of pride — one reviewer noted not a single fish with ich or visible parasites across the entire store.

Custom-built aquariums are available for home setups at all scales. The store also carries live reptiles and reptile supplies, including feeder insects for leopard geckos, though the reptile selection has reportedly scaled back over the years. A resident cat adds to the family-shop atmosphere.

Not every visit is perfect — a few customers have encountered brusque service or questioned pricing on smaller items — but the overwhelming pattern across nearly 700 reviews is one of genuine expertise and competitive pricing. For anyone in the Valley maintaining a reef tank, building a planted freshwater setup, or hunting for quality discus and uncommon species, Aquarium City is the kind of destination store worth driving across Los Angeles for. The depth of inventory alone makes it hard to leave empty-handed.