Creative Aquariums of Tampa

Creative Aquariums of Tampa has built a loyal following over more than 15 years as one of Tampa's premier saltwater destinations. The store's core strength is its robust selection of corals — from Xenia and Anthelia to hammer corals — alongside a deep inventory of marine fish that fills clean, well-maintained display tanks. Their live rock has earned specific praise from reefers for accelerating tank cycling, and they stock aquatic plants for freshwater enthusiasts as well.

What sets Creative Aquariums apart is its full-service approach. The shop builds custom commissioned aquariums — tanks and stands assembled to spec — which reviewers cite as one of their strongest offerings. When one customer's tank catastrophically leaked, owner William rushed out the same day to help rescue fish, then built a replacement tank and stand.

That kind of emergency responsiveness speaks to the company's commitment beyond the retail counter. Their maintenance division deserves special mention. Technician Stephen has developed a dedicated clientele who value his consistency — one patron with a 100-gallon tank specifically credits the improvement in their system to having the same knowledgeable person service it every visit, rather than rotating technicians.

Staff members like Alex and Andrés round out a team that customers describe as informative without being pushy, offering genuine consultation to newcomers setting up their first nano reef or bio-cube. The physical space is on the smaller side, and some reviewers note that a portion of the display fish aren't for sale and that certain supplies like frozen saltwater fish food can be hard to find in stock. But for coral selection, marine fish variety, and competitive pricing, the store consistently draws customers who drive an hour or more to shop here.

The tanks are immaculate, the livestock is healthy, and the knowledge behind the counter is deep enough to back it all up. For reef keepers and saltwater hobbyists in the Tampa area, this is a shop worth knowing.