About
Aquarium Adventure Columbus, located in Hilliard, Ohio, is one of the largest dedicated aquarium stores in the region — a sprawling retail space packed with freshwater and saltwater livestock, corals, live plants, and an enormous inventory of tanks, stands, hardscape, and equipment. The sheer scale of the place sets it apart: rows upon rows of tanks housing everything from dwarf rainbow fish and diamond tetras to stingrays, eels, seahorses, blue crayfish, and goldfish. The saltwater section carries corals alongside its marine fish, and the freshwater side is deep enough to keep even serious hobbyists browsing for a while.
The store doubles as a family destination. A koi pond lets kids feed koi for a quarter, and a touch pool adds an interactive element that draws repeat visits from families with young children. Staff members like Kestrel, Will, Zack, and Grayson earn frequent praise for walking customers through tank setup, species compatibility, and stocking decisions — the kind of one-on-one guidance that makes a real difference for people building new freshwater or saltwater systems.
A rewards membership program can deliver meaningful savings, with some customers reporting over $100 off. That said, pricing is a consistent sticking point. Equipment, rocks, and driftwood run noticeably higher than online retailers — some customers report items at double Amazon pricing.
And while most livestock arrives healthy, several reviewers have flagged issues with disease (ich, mouth rot) in certain tanks, along with frustrating customer service responses when problems arise. The store's return and quarantine policies have drawn criticism, particularly around feeder tanks and sale fish. For the Columbus-area aquarist, Aquarium Adventure remains hard to ignore purely on selection.
The variety of live fish, corals, plants, and invertebrates under one roof is genuinely impressive. Just come prepared: know your prices, inspect livestock carefully, and quarantine new arrivals at home. When the store is at its best — knowledgeable staff, healthy tanks, that massive selection — it delivers an experience few competitors in central Ohio can match.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Consultation
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive selection of freshwater and saltwater fish including stingrays, eels, seahorses, and blue crayfish
- Family-friendly koi pond with 25¢ fish feeding and interactive touch pool
- Extensive coral and live plant inventory alongside marine livestock
- Rewards membership program offering significant savings (20%+ off purchases)
- Knowledgeable staff members provide personalized stocking and tank setup guidance
From keepers
Customer reviews
“This used to be my favorite Aquarium Store (when it was near sawmill Rd), But it has moved around so much it got annoying. Plus there is a Lady that works there now, I think she maybe the manager ( Heavy-set with dark brown hair) who is just RUDE for no reason...very off putting attitude. I stopped going there just because of her. Also, the prices are out of control. I now go to a closer, more inviting, and personable shop with great helpful attitudes. Aquarium Adventures should look into new management. Either way, I wont be back.”
— Steve Marbury1.06 days ago“I’m not sure what has happened to the quality of the fish here. I’ve purchased fish in the past and other than being overpriced (my choice for purchasing) I’ve been happy with my purchases and the fish were happy and healthy….,until last week. I purchased 6 dwarf rainbow fish last Wednesday and by Friday I had my first death. By Sunday, 2 more passed. I took them back to the store and basically in no uncertain terms that I was somewhat responsible for their deaths. I went to the tank where the rainbows were and showed them that they could see that some of the fish had white spots on their mouth area which is what killed my fish. I did take 4 of them back home to replace the 3 I lost with 3 still alive at home. That night I lost 2 more and the last one started showing signs of mouth rot this Wednesday and passed today. So far 🤞the 4 I have in my QT tank are looking okay but being treated just in case. When I called back to let them know and that they should probably not sell any more until the tank is quarantined and treated the person basically blew me off saying okay and yeah we probably should do that. Buyer be warned! May not mean anything to them but to those of us who love fish, watching my fish die one by one has been quite heartbreaking! I will no longer purchase anything from Aquarium Adventures if this is how they run their business.”
— Dawn Buser1.0a week ago“Huge place and tons of selection for fish, accessories, and tanks & stands. Will go back..”
— sam snyder5.0Edited a week ago“A very expansive selection”
— Mark Passerrello4.02 weeks ago“My toddler had a great time feeding the koi fish for 25¢. They have amazing fish and great prices.”
— Nina5.02 weeks ago“Took the kids there to pet the COI fish”
— Deborah Spears4.03 weeks ago“By far the best fish store I've ever been too.”
— Ron Kempisty5.03 weeks ago“Great place. Lots of fish! Some good prices.”
— Jesse Phillips5.03 weeks ago“Decent place to buy livestock or corals/plants, super overpriced on aquarium equipment and hardscape like rocks and driftwood. Some stuff is double what Amazon is. I'd suggest heading over to Rivers to Reefs in Gahanna and supporting small businesses.”
— Josh Paige3.0Edited 3 weeks ago“By far one of the BEST places we have been. The selection that they have is great and you will not be disappointed. Kestrel helped us in sooo many ways. We are thankful for her knowledge in the fish, sizes, snails, bottom feeders, and what pairs well! We were also told about the rewards program which saved us over $100. We are truly grateful.”
— Pretty P5.03 weeks ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (614) 792-0884 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Aquarium Adventure Columbus.