About
Pop Corals in Brooklyn is a saltwater-focused shop that has built a serious reputation around one thing: coral. Walk in and you'll find tanks packed with vibrant frags and colonies — euphylias like gold torches draw particular attention, and the store regularly shows up at reef conventions like RAP in Orlando and ReefCon in Raleigh. , the father-son duo behind the counter, bring what they describe as 40 years of combined saltwater experience, and it shows in the health and color of their livestock.
The coral selection is the main draw. Reviewers consistently describe the frags as bright, healthy, and well-maintained. Beyond corals, the shop carries marine fish, cleaner shrimp, snails, and hermit crabs — all saltwater, no freshwater.
Staff member Enza also gets praise for patience and attentive service. Several customers note that John Jr. in particular is deeply knowledgeable about coral compatibility and will walk you through what will work in your specific tank setup.
There are a few things to know before visiting. Prices aren't listed on livestock, which frustrates some shoppers and makes browsing feel less casual — you'll need to ask for quotes on anything that catches your eye. The store also has a strict no-refund policy on fish, which is common in the hobby but worth noting.
And multiple reviewers recommend carefully dipping and inspecting any corals you bring home, as aiptasia and vermetid snails have been reported hitchhiking on purchases. Pricing opinions are split. Some find the numbers high for the Brooklyn area; others call them competitive or even unbeatable, especially for the quality.
The store seems to reward customers who engage — John and his team have been known to work with buyers on pricing, particularly on multiple coral purchases. For saltwater reef hobbyists in New York City, Pop Corals offers one of the most concentrated coral selections you'll find at a local fish store. Some customers cross the Verrazano Bridge just to browse.
The experience can vary depending on the day and who's working, but the livestock quality remains the constant.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Extensive coral and frag selection, particularly euphylias like gold torches
- Saltwater-only shop with marine fish, shrimp, snails, and hermit crabs
- Father-son team (John and John Jr.) with 40 years of combined saltwater experience
- Active presence at major reef shows including RAP Orlando and ReefCon Raleigh
- Staff provides coral compatibility advice tailored to your specific tank
From keepers
Customer reviews
“They have very nice healthy fish. No prices listed anywhere and verbally says out loud the prices after we asked for fish price. I wished fish prices were clearly marked but they aren't. The prices seemed a bit high but quality is excellent. From my experience, the prices for fish and corals here are higher than all other places I've visited, perhaps due to quality care and maintenance. Not unsatisfactory. … Great quality stuff but zero friendly interaction by the owner on site. My guess is he's a busy guy and not into customer interaction- but I definitely would have spent a ton more money if he'd have interacted with me or even pretended to be friendly because I did want to buy more fish/ corals. … They have a non refund policy for all fish once you buy them which is common. … Would I go back there or recommend them? Yes I would. Unfortunately there aren’t any nearby places and the quality of his fish are good. I wished there was better customer service or friendly interaction. … If you’re thinking about visiting this place: you've gotta visit this place. you will be very satisfied with their selection and quality of fish and corals here are amazing quality.”
— B. Saszare4.0Edited 5 months ago“Love this place very helpful takes his time and explains every question you ask highly appreciate this place”
— Respect_the_shooter5375.06 months ago“I found Pop Corals on the net and decided to drop by ----- I ended up buying a few fish, some snails, and hermit crabs. They do have a wide selection of corals and coral frags. John (the younger John - there are two john) was very helpful and honest. Prices are competitive, I would definitely go back. The fish, snails, and hermit crabs are doing great!”
— CK M5.06 months ago“Good selection of corals. Very helpful staff.”
— Dee From Brooklyn4.0Edited 8 months ago“John and John Junior are great and very knowledgeable. I recently bought a few gold torches to add to my tank.. they worked with me on which types of corals would best supplement my tank and worked with me on the pricing. Will definitely be coming back and highly recommend Pop Corals to those who are in the reefing hobby.”
— Pietro Pugliese5.0a year ago“Healthy fish, knowledgeable staff,owner nice guy”
— Bobby “Bass1mastr”4.0a year ago“This store is amazing 👏 highly recommended, corals are doing amazing”
— Kutchme Bistreh5.0a year ago“great customer service doesnt push u to buy anything thats not good for ur fish tank wants to satisfy his customer pays to go there”
— Erwin Friedman5.0Edited a year ago“it should be illegal to sell reef fish and corals. they should be protected not destroyed for a hobby. sad to see in my area.”
— Sarai Mishka1.0a year ago“This dude was bragging to me about having fish from Hawaii that the EPA said we shouldn't have. I didn't buy anything from him, and I won't.”
— Nicholas Frazier (Nick)2.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (347) 674-3724 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Pop Corals.