--- type: store name: "Old Town Aquarium" city: "Chicago" state: "IL" rating: 4.6 reviews: 395 url: https://www.fishstores.org/illinois/chicago/old-town-aquarium --- # Old Town Aquarium Fish store in Chicago, Illinois - **Address**: 4018 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641, Chicago, IL, 60641 - **Phone**: (312) 219-4193 - **Website**: [oldtownaquarium.com/](https://oldtownaquarium.com/) - **Rating**: 4.6/5 (395 reviews) ## Hours | Day | Hours | | --- | --- | | Monday | Closed | | Tuesday | Closed | | Wednesday | Closed | | Thursday | Closed | | Friday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM | | Saturday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM | | Sunday | 12:00 – 6:00 PM | ## About Old Town Aquarium has been a fixture of Chicago's aquarium scene for decades — the kind of neighborhood shop where you walk in overwhelmed and leave feeling like you actually understand what you're doing. Much of that comes down to Peter, the staff member whose name surfaces in review after review. He's the guy who'll write down the names of the plants you just bought, patiently walk a teenager through tank maintenance on his birthday, and play what one customer lovingly calls "murder mystery" diagnosing fish ailments. Ian and Kevin round out a team that reviewers consistently praise for genuine expertise and attentiveness. The store itself is compact but meticulously maintained. Tanks are clean, fish look healthy, and the livestock selection spans both freshwater and saltwater — from beautiful bettas and live plants to chocolate clownfish, anemones, and a solid coral selection for reef enthusiasts. Hardscape options including rocks and driftwood draw particular praise, and the equipment wall covers everything from frozen brine shrimp to full Red Sea tank setups. One long-time customer credited Ian and the team with guiding him through two Red Sea installations, from purchase through service and ongoing maintenance. What sets Old Town apart in the competitive Chicagoland fish store landscape is the consultative approach. Staff actively discourage customers from overbuying fish or rushing a cycle. They'll demo tank cleaning for first-timers and genuinely refuse to sell you something your setup can't handle. The owner has personally worked with customers to design and install custom aquariums in their homes, walking them through every step. Prices run higher than some competitors — a point a few reviewers flag — but many consider it worthwhile for the quality of livestock and the depth of guidance. Weekend hours make it accessible for hobbyists who can't shop during the week. For anyone building a freshwater planted tank or taking their first leap into saltwater reef-keeping in Chicago, Old Town Aquarium delivers the kind of hands-on expertise that big-box stores simply cannot match. ## Specializations - **Water Types**: Freshwater, Saltwater - **Livestock & Products**: Corals, Live Plants, Bettas, Clownfish, Anemones, Aquarium Equipment, Fish Food, Reef - **Services**: Tank Setup, Tank Maintenance, Consultation, Custom Tanks - **Known For**: Knowledgeable Staff, Great Selection ## Highlights - Peter provides exceptionally patient, personalized guidance for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike - Clean, well-maintained tanks with healthy freshwater and saltwater livestock - Red Sea tank sales with full installation and ongoing service support - Strong hardscape selection including rocks and driftwood - Custom aquarium design and setup services available through the owner ## Brands Carried Red Sea ## Customer Reviews **"Katherine Ramos"** - 5/5 - a day ago > I am brand new to this hobby and I’m completely lost, so when I went in asking for (very vague) help, Peter was so nice! He explained everything to me and even wrote down the plants I bought for future reference. I’ve been to like 4 other aquarium stores in the Chicagoland area and this store and setup looked nicer and more inviting. A lot of other stores also look like their tanks are so crowded and sad, but at Old Town, the environments just looked better and the fish happier in my opinion. 10000/10 for this store and definitely shout out to Peter for all his help! Will definitely be back. **"William Hay"** - 5/5 - Edited 2 weeks ago > Best aquarium shop in town hands down! **"Aidan Kelly"** - 5/5 - a month ago > Just stopped here over the weekend after coming from another local fish store and it’s safe to say this will be my one stop shop going forward. Upon arrival I was asked if I needed any help right away and boy did I have a list of 100 questions and i had the pleasure to ask those questions to PETER who had 101 answers with enough knowledge to back up every single answer. I am just a beginner getting into saltwater and I felt 10x better about it leaving this shop (along with two beautiful chocolate clownfish). Great selection of everything from equipment, to tanks, fish, and water. 10/10 **"Юра Фомин"** - 5/5 - a month ago > I like this it has fish and some supplies for fish **"Zach Lebovitz"** - 1/5 - a month ago > So overpriced. Staff are great but the owner is not so much. Go any where else! **"Ryan"** - 5/5 - a month ago > Great live and equipment/food selection. Expert advice, as a first time tank owner this has been amazing. They really care that I will take care of the fish and are very knowledgeable about them: to the point that I'm confident that when I talk about the status of my tank, I don't think they would allow me to do the wrong thing like overbuy fish, buy the wrong fish, or buy certain things before the tank is ready. So far, so good! **"James W"** - 5/5 - Edited a month ago > Always great and friendly service! Weekend hours are nice! **"Jeffrey Orloff"** - 5/5 - 2 months ago > Friendly, knowledgeable staff and well stocked inventory **"Shelby Jen McClure"** - 5/5 - 3 months ago > I wasn't even sure exactly what I wanted when I came in, but Peter asked insightful questions and showed me the relevant wares until we arrived at a great solution for me :) I will be coming back! **"Greg"** - 5/5 - 3 months ago > Great place ## Nearby Stores - [Chicago Discus](https://www.fishstores.org/illinois/chicago/chicago-discus) - Chicago, IL - 4.9/5 - [Big Fish Aquarium](https://www.fishstores.org/illinois/chicago/big-fish-aquarium) - Chicago, IL - 4.8/5 - [Ocean Design Aquarium](https://www.fishstores.org/illinois/chicago/ocean-design-aquarium) - Chicago, IL - 4.8/5 - [Tank It Easy](https://www.fishstores.org/illinois/chicago/tank-it-easy) - Chicago, IL - 4.7/5 - [Golden's Tropical World](https://www.fishstores.org/illinois/chicago/goldens-tropical-world) - Chicago, IL - 4.6/5 - [Acuario Piscis](https://www.fishstores.org/illinois/chicago/acuario-piscis) - Chicago, IL - 4.4/5 --- *Source: [FishStores.org](https://www.fishstores.org/illinois/chicago/old-town-aquarium)* *Last updated: February 7, 2026*