About
Tucked inside a small industrial park in Washington, Illinois, Aquarium Obsessions Saltwater Shop is the kind of place that draws hobbyists from adjacent states—and keeps them coming back. Owner Charlie runs what is essentially a coral farm combined with a saltwater fish operation, and the results speak for themselves. Walk past the modest greeting area and you'll discover multiple showrooms housing thousands of corals across dozens of varieties, from affordable $20 starter plugs to showstopper pieces that make seasoned reefers wish they had more tank space.
The operation is laser-focused on saltwater. Charlie keeps his fish systems at lower salinity than a typical home reef aquarium to minimize parasites and disease, a detail that reflects the care-first philosophy running through the entire business. Fish arrive healthy, corals grow out in-house, and the overall cleanliness of the facility is something reviewers mention again and again.
Don't expect big-box retail signage plastered on every tank—this is a working coral farm where the staff would rather talk you through each piece personally than slap a label on it. Charlie's knowledge is the store's backbone. He'll walk you through saltwater preparation and expenses honestly, advise against purchases you're not ready for, and help you cut through the often contradictory information floating around online forums.
He's set customers up with Red Sea Reefer 350 systems and offered installation support, and the store handles custom orders and emergency equipment repairs as well. Livestock is also available through their active Facebook page, where new shipment arrivals are posted regularly for those who want to browse before visiting or order remotely. Pricing is a consistent bright spot—multiple reviewers note Charlie's coral and fish prices run 50-75% of competitors within a 200-mile radius.
The store operates primarily on Saturdays with weekday visits available by appointment, so plan accordingly. For the central Illinois saltwater community spanning Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, and Champaign-Urbana, this is the destination shop worth building your weekend around.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive in-house coral farm with thousands of pieces starting at $20
- Fish systems kept at lower salinity to prevent parasites and disease
- Red Sea equipment dealer including Reefer 350 setups with installation support
- Pricing consistently 50-75% below competitors within 200 miles
- Active Facebook page with new shipment announcements and online ordering
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Stopped by for my first time this past Sunday and had a great visit. For anyone like myself who may be wondering what to expect before going; This place is (in my understanding) first-and-foremost a well-stocked facility which imports, raises, grows, and sells high quality marine life of all kinds online via their social media page. While they're ALSO a storefront , their focus appears to be strongly on providing these animals optimal conditions for life (They keep their fish systems at a much lower salinity than a home reef aquarium in order to keep things like parasites and diseases from affecting their fish, for example). Their tanks aren't plastered with price tags or detailed descriptions of the fish/corals/inverts inside , but the people working here are kind, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable in the hobby so if you want to know anything about a fish or coral, just ask and they'll be quick to help you out. They post frequently on their Facebook page to let people know what new fish etc. are in on the latest shipment as well so you can get an idea of what they've got before visiting or ordering from them. Overall this place definitely feels like one of , if not -the- best fish store in the Peoria/BloNo/Chambana area”
— Tony5.0Edited 2 months ago“I found this place about 5 years ago and was amazed. 90% of aquarium shops are a disappointment. But this place is a full o. Coral farm and extraordinary. And I say Charlie charges 50-75% of anywhere else within 200 miles. Recently got back into fish also! Stop by every 3 months and drop a couple bands.”
— Brian5.04 months ago“Great experience and super friendly owner”
— braxton eckart5.04 months ago“Nice selection, quality fish, extremely reasonable”
— P C5.04 months ago“A great salt water fish tank store. The prices are fair and the owner is EXTREMELY knowledgeable and friendly.”
— Ian Ackroyd5.07 months ago“Was passing thru and seen it on maps. Stop in and owner was very welcoming. Had great setup.”
— Anthony Victors5.07 months ago“Nice guy. Super clean and healthy fish. We'll kept. TONS of corals. If you like saltwater fish this place is a must visit.”
— Nickolas Watts5.011 months ago“Charlie is running a food business and I’m glad to hear he is wanting to move closer to Peoria. I grabbed some fish on a steal of a deal from him. He had tons of livestock at good prices. The real showstoppers are his coral tanks. He has got quite the farm in place these days and had some amazing pieces. Only regret is my tank is already full on coral, so I’ve got nowhere to put any of his beauties!”
— Sarah Potts5.0a year ago“A unique entry to the Peoria area. This store specializes in salt water fish and coral. The owners were very courteous and willing to answer all the questions we had. While they do not currently have fresh water fish, they had an extensive collection for the salt waters. They stated they also help with custom orders and emergency repairs. Definitely check them out if you are in the area and are looking for a new hobby”
— Mike McGillivry5.0a year ago“owner/operator of this place is awesome! Far and away best space in the area!”
— E Gh5.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call ahead to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aquarium Obsessions Saltwater Shop.