About
Zac's Reef sits a little off the beaten path in Easley, SC, but the parking lot tells the story: reefkeepers from across the Upstate, and some from two hours out, make the drive on purpose. This family-run aquarium store is owned by Terry, Kristie, and Zac, and saltwater is where it shines. The coral selection is the headline, with SPS and LPS frags grown out in the shop's own systems alongside marine fish like clownfish and a rotating mix of shellfish and other invertebrates.
If you're hunting for corals for sale in Easley, SC, regulars say the variety here beats stores they left behind in bigger cities like Dallas, and the pricing on high-end pieces stays fair. It isn't salt-only, though. A freshwater section runs alongside the reef tanks, with live plants and bettas available in Easley for hobbyists who'd rather start small; plenty of visitors wander in just to look and walk out with a betta and a couple of plants.
What keeps people coming back is the guidance. The owners walk first-timers through every decision, from picking equipment to cycling a new tank, and they live by the motto that the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. Reviewers describe arriving as complete newcomers to reef tanks and leaving with a setup they actually feel confident running, then returning week after week with questions.
One recent visitor credited the team with sorting out a stubborn tank treatment when nothing else had worked. They're also the rare local shop that will accept and barter used gear, which hobbyists looking to upgrade genuinely appreciate. The atmosphere is half the appeal.
Waffles, the resident Blue Heeler, greets everyone at the door, fellow customers strike up conversations, and the whole place feels more like a reef community than a retail counter. For anyone in Easley or the greater Greenville area chasing a saltwater or freshwater tank, Zac's Reef pairs deep hands-on knowledge with quality livestock and dry goods you can browse in person.
What they offer
Fish & livestock for sale at Zac's Reef in Easley, SC
Zac's Reef stocks corals, reef fish, clownfish, invertebrates, betta fish, aquarium plants and freshwater & saltwater fish for sale in Easley, SC. As an aquarium store serving Easley, SC, it also carries dry goods, aquarium equipment and fish medications and offers aquarium setup and aquarium consultations.
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Standout SPS and LPS coral selection grown in-house, with fair pricing on high-end pieces
- Family-run by Terry, Kristie, and Zac with patient guidance for first-time reefers
- Freshwater section with live plants and bettas alongside the saltwater reef tanks
- One of the few local shops that will accept and barter used aquarium equipment
- Waffles the Blue Heeler greets every visitor
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Helped me with fish tank treatment when other treatment wasn't working. Beautiful thank set ups.”
— Michelle Bornhorst5.02 weeks ago“This store got me into reef tanks. I spent probably close to 1,500 on coral and live stock and of course branched off into other stores across the web, etc while i shopped here almost weekly. I was moving and decided to temporarily get out of the hobby and sold my set up. They offered to buy at what I thought was somewhat fair considering in live stock just from them it was about on the spot with offered price. This isn’t counting my equipment and 1000+ in corals from other places and all growing multiple times the size they were and able to be fragged multiple times. (Which he did, i bought corals from broken down tank he acquired) After packing all my equipment, live stock and everything up on the last day to leave my rented living space. They handed me a third of the shook on price. I had no option or time and it was taken advantage of. I learned how scummy parts of this hobby could be. Create contracts beforehand. I fed them a lot of revenue and gave them bulk cost and time grown corals to sell for quadruple if not more than the agreed on price and still got scammed. I went into the store a bit forward in time and even saw some of my equipment show casing the last bit of my corals at a marked up price. Everything was great until it wasn’t. Thanks for the hobby but it’ll never be with your business that just leaves a bad tastes in my mouth. Not to mention fresh cutting an expensive coral and not letting it heal then selling it to a newbie 2 minutes after cutting it up, just for it to acquire a bacterial infection and die. Then offering to sell me another when i came back in. It’s a fresh cut coral before even being dropped into new system, different conditions, and different parameters. If only i knew then what I know now.”
— Miles1.03 weeks ago“Very helpful family-run business”
— Allan Thomas5.0a month ago“Had a good selection, friendly staff and good pricing. It was worth the drive”
— Dale O'Connor5.0a month ago“Love this place and the people . Very informative of fish and corals . Great place to go for all your fish and coral needs .”
— Janet pack5.03 months ago“Awesome store to shop or just come in and check out all the cool fish and corals they have. Beware though, once you come in, you may get hooked on a reef tank yourself.”
— Tommy Pack5.03 months ago“This business is a classic example of how a customer focused, values oriented business is supposed to be ran. My son and I have been Salt Water enthusiasts for years. After relocating from Dallas, we were sad about losing our primary store. Zac's reef far surpassed. I highly recommend. The coral selection is absolutely amazing.”
— Brett Anderson5.019 hours ago“Knowledgeable and had what we needed in stock”
— Hanna Pooley5.0a month ago“This family owned business is the best. They can also get anything online for the same price but better customer service BUY LOCAL. Corals are high end and priced fair. He takes care of his customers. I buy everything from livestock to dry stock from them. They are the best store within 3 hours of Greenville and that’s saying a lot. Support them.”
— Don Sherman5.02 months ago“My kid and I came in just to look around and ended up leaving with a couple of plants and a betta. Owner was real nice and so were the other customers.”
— Kayleigh Sizemore5.02 months ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (864) 307-9369 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Zac's Reef.