About
Walk into New York Reef Aquatic in Flushing and you'll immediately notice two things: the store is immaculately clean, and the coral selection is staggering. NYRA has built a devoted following among saltwater hobbyists across the entire East Coast — one reviewer drives from Massachusetts just to shop here, and another orders coral shipments all the way to Miami, raving about the careful packaging and the free frags included with every order. The heart of the operation is reef.
Frag tanks brim with healthy, vibrant corals at prices that undercut most competitors, and the livestock translates well to home systems — multiple reviewers report their NYRA corals thriving for months and years, a stark contrast to pieces that melted within days from other shops. Clownfish are a popular pick (more than one parent has come in to build a "Nemo tank" for their kids), and the store stocks seahorses, octopus, anglers, eels, and even small sharks for the more adventurous keeper. Freshwater isn't an afterthought either.
Bettas, guppies, goldfish, and koi fill dedicated tanks, and the staff — frequently named Calvin, Ben, Jenny, Karen, and Alvin — are well-versed in both disciplines. They'll test your home water before selling you fish, build you an acclimation drip on the spot, and troubleshoot a leaking overflow on a 125-gallon setup without missing a beat. 5 nano all the way up to a Red Sea Reefer 525 G2.
Beyond livestock, NYRA carries live rock, salt water, dry goods, and equipment — enough to function as a genuine one-stop reef shop. Their online store extends their reach nationally, with corals shipped with care and confidence. The staff's willingness to answer questions, offer honest advice, and follow up on problems keeps customers returning weekly, many describing the experience as more like visiting family than shopping at a pet store.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive coral selection with healthy frags at competitive prices
- Ships corals nationally with careful packaging and free bonus frags
- Staff offers free water testing and hands-on acclimation help
- Stocks exotic saltwater species including seahorses, octopus, and small sharks
- Guided tank upgrades from nano setups to Red Sea Reefer 525 G2 systems
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Awesome experience with NYRA. Helped cover any issues experienced during recent shipment where it was cold. Decided to drop in since I was in the area and good stuff in the store as well. I did keep myself from wasting all my money. Ben was helpful and Jenny was god send via email support!!”
— mikey canuela5.0a week ago“Great store, friendly staff, they always work with you to get what you want, The corals are healthy and thriving in my aquarium compared to another place I got something and it just melted away over the TG weekend without a trace These corals are top notch! And they always have new stuff and great selection. Highly recommend!”
— Mariusz Bednarowicz5.02 months ago“I spoke to Ben on the phone, he’s very informative, and cool! and I am very excited to build a tank of Nemo and friends including marlin for my son for Christmas:-)”
— Victor Williams5.02 months ago“Always great selection and knowledgeable staff! The only place to go!!!”
— Mikhail Petrov5.04 months ago“Best in the business … they come from humble beginnings and will do anything to help you with your fish / reefing needs…”
— Steve5.05 months ago“Got a tiny Betta fish and a guppy from here! They seem incredibly healthy and didn't have to medicate them or anything! Definitely coming back here to pick up some more”
— Prasanth Louis5.06 months ago“I only go to Calvin he's the best !. Kind, friendly, helpful, great prices healthy corals and fish ,any problems you can go there and they will help you solve it. Great staff helpful and friendly. I go there every weekend lol they're like family.”
— Andre Lalla5.07 months ago“possibly one of the best aquatic stores in the city. sold me great quality fish that I still have to this day, friendly staff.”
— Lucia Thornley5.07 months ago“AMAZING Corals and the way package the frags is well worth the cost of the shipping. Plus the FREE FRAGS THEY GIVE YOU. Buy with confidence people New York Reef Aquatic is The Real Deal. Thank you NYRA. DEFINITELY WILL BUY AGAIN AND AGAIN. And I am in Miami Florida.”
— ROB PEREZ5.07 months ago“Nice and helpful folks”
— C.J. W5.08 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (718) 888-0902 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting New York Reef Aquatic.