About
Tucked away in Fairfield, Maine, AquaCorals Reef Aquariums has built a devoted following among saltwater hobbyists across the country — largely through its online coral store and the tireless dedication of owner Penny. This is primarily an e-commerce operation specializing in soft corals, and reviewers consistently describe receiving specimens that dwarf what other vendors offer at comparable prices. Toadstools, gorgonians, weeping willows, cabbage sinularia, and finger leathers arrive as small colonies rather than tiny frags, already mounted on chunks of live rock instead of standard frag plugs.
The packaging is a recurring point of praise: corals triple- or quadruple-bagged, sealed in well-insulated boxes with heat packs that stay warm even during Maine winters. Multiple buyers report opening their shipments to find crystal-clear water and corals that open up within an hour of being placed in the tank. One long-time customer shared photos of seven leather corals purchased from AquaCorals, all thriving and growing rapidly despite admittedly inconsistent husbandry — a testament to the health of the livestock leaving Penny's facility.
What truly sets AquaCorals apart is Penny's hands-on approach to customer care. She coordinates shipping around buyers' schedules, delays orders when weather conditions threaten livestock safety, follows up after delivery to confirm acclimation went smoothly, and even includes handwritten notes with orders. Several reviewers who have purchased from numerous online reef vendors describe this as the best experience they've had in the hobby.
Her willingness to offer acclimation advice and coral care guidance makes first-time online coral buyers feel supported. The selection leans heavily toward soft corals, including hard-to-find varieties, making AquaCorals a destination for reef keepers building soft coral displays. A couple of in-person visitors reported less favorable experiences, but the overwhelming consensus from online buyers is that the coral quality, generous sizing, pest-free livestock, and personal service make this a standout saltwater coral vendor worth ordering from repeatedly.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Online StoreShips FishConsultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Soft corals shipped as small colonies mounted on live rock, not tiny frags
- Owner Penny personally coordinates shipping, follows up on every order
- Exceptional cold-weather packaging with heat packs and multi-layered bagging
- Hard-to-find soft coral varieties including gorgonians, toadstools, and sinularia
- Corals consistently open within an hour of being placed in tanks
From keepers
Customer reviews
“High quality soft corals! Penny is super friendly and helpful. Will certainly be buying from them again!”
— John DeBiasio5.04 months ago“If you are looking for high quality corals and customer service, this is your place! Super pleased with my order of soft corals that arrived in perfect condition. It was very nice that everything was mounted to chunks of live rock already instead of frag plugs. The corals were generously sized for the price compared to many other online stores. Penny reached out to make sure everything arrived safely and I was happy with my order.”
— Chandler Stephens5.010 months ago“Captured this beautiful underwater scene in Fairfield, Maine! Two clownfish swimming among stunning corals. Thanks to Penny for showing me this amazing place!”
— Pedro Amilkar Melendez Becerra5.010 months ago“Awesome service and very friendly. Penny was very quick with communication and shipping. I've been blown away with each order, the corals are far bigger than expected and are super healthy. They usually are fully open within an hour. I highly, highly recommend!!!”
— John Judy5.011 months ago“Everything arrived as promised. I cannot begin to say how impressed I am with the quality and service. The packaging was so careful to protect the corals, the water was so clean, and the corals are gorgeous and healthy. I am new to this and have never ordered coral online before, but I can assure you I will be a repeat customer.”
— Kimberly Hauser5.02 years ago“Its extremely rare for me to leave a review even if i am pleased by the experience. But being pleased does not even compare to how outstanding my experience was with Aquacorals. This was by far the best customer service i have ever received from any company I have ever ordered. I was extremely impressed at the attention to detail and how well and neatly packaged the coral was and was extremely surprised how large, nice, and healthy the coral I received. I will be a regular customer and will be ordering again in the foreseeable future. Aquacorals has set the standards on my expected customer care, product quality, and reliability. Thank you again specially to Ms Penny for the personal touch. Shes treats the customers package as if it was her own. Very easy to reach and gives you the best care and personal service i have ever received. You feel as if you are a VIP under the care of aqua corals.”
— Francis Paule5.02 years ago“First time buyer from this location. Coral's arrived on time and were as advertised. The packaging was secure. Acclamation was seamless and the corals are doing spectacular. I will order from here again. Penny goes above and beyond to make sure receipt of the package and the acclimation of the corals. Thank you Penny. I look forward to placing another order.”
— Ron Oppor5.02 years ago“Fantastic service and great corals, Penny is excellent and provides you with constant communication along the way. Highly recommend!”
— J Ebert5.02 years ago“I have ordered from AquaCorals twice now over the years. With every delivery, I have been blown away by the quality, value and service Penny provides. All the corals are incredibly healthy and pest-free. You can purchase small colonies for the price you’d pay for a tiny frag at any other vendor. The customer service is out of this world and she even included a personal handwritten note on the packing receipt of my most recent order. 5 stars all the way. This is exactly how a business should be run.”
— Connor Crouse5.02 years ago“Great 1st time experience! I will definitely be ordering again in the future! My corals came fast and earlier then expected! The package was packed perfectly. Once the corals were in my tank they opened up in about an hour. They are in great condition and look healthy. I love the selection of soft corals and how there are pictures of the adult colonies. Penny gives great customer service and emails you back. She even sent me an email checking up on my order!”
— Eric Manna5.02 years ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (207) 238-0076 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting AquaCorals Reef Aquariums.