Coral Connection

Tucked down a driveway in Kenner, Louisiana, Coral Connection is the kind of place you'd walk past if you didn't know it was there — up a set of stairs, through an unassuming entrance, and suddenly you're surrounded by some of the most vibrant reef displays in the greater New Orleans area. Run by father-and-son team George and Dustin, this family-operated saltwater shop has been a fixture in the local reefing community for well over a decade, and the loyalty of its customers speaks volumes. The store's reputation is built squarely on corals.

" One Chicago visitor made a special detour just to pick through the stock. The pricing undercuts many online retailers, and the shop runs Facebook auctions that add a competitive, community-driven element to buying livestock. Beyond corals, Coral Connection carries a solid lineup of saltwater fish — clownfish, tangs, and other exotics fill large display tanks that double as a mini-aquarium experience.

Thursday afternoon live feedings draw families with kids who come just to watch the action. They sell RO/DI water, premixed saltwater, and live sand seeded directly from their own coral display tanks rather than off a shelf — a detail that serious hobbyists appreciate. Custom aquarium builds are another strength.

Customers report purchasing complete setups including sumps, refugiums, and canopies at competitive prices. The shop also stocks tanks, stands, and a broad range of saltwater equipment. One reviewer even recounted how George and Dustin loaned out equipment to troubleshoot a tank they hadn't sold — the kind of above-and-beyond gesture that earns lifetime customers.

George remembers faces and tanks years after someone leaves the hobby. That personal investment, paired with deep reefkeeping knowledge, makes Coral Connection the saltwater destination for southeast Louisiana.