About
Reef Gurus in Greenville, South Carolina has built a loyal following among saltwater hobbyists in the Upstate, earning its reputation as a go-to destination for corals, reef fish, and marine supplies. Owner Russell has become a trusted figure in the local reefing community, known for walking customers through the full history of each fish from the moment it arrived in the store — an uncommon level of transparency that gives buyers confidence in what they're taking home. The store's strength lies squarely in its saltwater selection.
Corals, reef fish, live rock, sand, and supplements like magnesium additives line the shelves alongside testing equipment from brands like Hanna. They also carry freshwater livestock — one reviewer noted spending over $300 on freshwater stock and being consistently happy with the quality. Bettas and snails round out the freshwater offerings.
A stunning 320-gallon display tank serves as a centerpiece that multiple reviewers specifically mention as worth the visit on its own. As an Aquarium Co-Op affiliate, Reef Gurus stocks products from one of the hobby's most respected names, and the staff has a habit of recommending what actually fits a customer's system rather than pushing the most expensive option. Russell's consultative approach has turned first-time reef keepers into confident hobbyists — one customer who inherited a reef tank credited him with teaching them everything they know about maintaining it.
The store operates on limited hours (closed Monday and Tuesday), which has frustrated some visitors, and a handful of recent reviews have noted tank cleanliness issues and inconsistent customer service. These seem to be growing pains rather than the norm, as the vast majority of reviews describe an attentive, passionate staff that treats every question seriously. For reef enthusiasts in the Greenville area and travelers passing through the Upstate, Reef Gurus functions as more than a retail shop — it's a community hub where advice flows freely and the love for the hobby is palpable.
Just check their hours before you drive.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationOnline Store
- Specializes in
Highlights
What makes them special
- Impressive 320-gallon display tank that draws visitors on its own
- Staff provides detailed history and quarantine guidance for every fish sold
- Strong coral and reef livestock selection serving the Greenville Upstate area
- Aquarium Co-Op affiliate with Hanna reagents and reef supplements in stock
- Owner Russell known for hands-on consultation with both new and experienced reefers
From keepers
Customer reviews
“This is the place I go for coral and saltwater fish. This guy knows what he’s doing and always gives me good advice for my tank at home.”
— Flora M5.0a month ago“The Reef Gurus shoot strait and are willing to give you the whole history of each fish from the time they came into the store, which is rare. The fish are all well cared for and the Gurus will let you know what else you need to do before adding your new fish to your display tank to ensure you keep a healthy and parasite free environment for your aquatic pets. Little Sherbert (pictured in this review) was in the Gurus' care, and as you can see, he is happy and healthy, and he has a good taste in furniture.”
— Fashow Allday (FaShowAllDay)5.0a month ago“One of the best reef stores around! You won’t find better gurus than these guys. They’re incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about the hobby, which makes every visit feel like you’re talking with friends who care just as much about your tank as you do. Whether you’re brand new to reefing or have been doing it for years, they take the time to answer questions, offer solid advice, and make sure you leave with exactly what your system needs. Just keep in mind—their advice isn’t free. These guys have spent years perfecting their craft, and their time and expertise are worth every bit of respect they get. They work tirelessly to ensure hobbyists in the Upstate have a place they can rely on for everything reef related supplements, coral, food, fish, and all the needs in between. Most importantly, the customer service is top-notch. These guys go out of their way to help, and it really shows. If you have a love for reefing, you owe it to yourself to stop by and check this place out. It’s not just a store it’s a local hub for the reefing community. You’ll walk out with quality products, a few new ideas for your tank, and maybe even a new favorite spot to visit on the weekends.”
— Jacob Creasman5.03 months ago“Placed an order 2 weeks ago, a simple bottle of Mag, nothing major. 2 weeks later no product, not shipped, I emailed with no response. Regardless of whether this shows up or not, poor service.”
— Joel Benevides1.03 months ago“Every time I try to go to reef Gurus they are closed...... being closed on Monday Tuesday is highly inconvenient and due to my work schedule this business isnt even available to me due to their peculiar hours. EDIT: with all due respect stop copying every other reef store around your not authentic and apparently the whole point goes over your head? Totally agree with the previous review aswell tanks are always filthy and half the fish are display only ..instead of aruging in reviews like a child why don't you clean the place up! Soda cans all over the place looks like your on lunch break 24/7. Amazing how fast you can reply back aswell because from what Ive experienced your late to opening the store and helping others and cleaning tanks that are covered in alge yet you run UV? But you sure can hop online to reply back to review's?Anyways a review is a opinion/experience of your store is it not? And yes your accessibility matters!? Those fish tanks still need some scrubbingand get those parameters undercontrol! You did have a 3 star and worked down to a 1star sad! This one's a angry "Guru"”
— sub tome1.0Edited 6 months ago“Wife and I like to visit and see reef shops in our travels. This shop has a selection of products. Customer service, and decent prices. Without trying to up sell me, offered something better. My next trip through Greenville I will stop by.”
— Paul Bleier5.06 months ago“We have always really enjoyed the products that we have purchased from this place, however this weekend was a different experience sadly. I am not one to typically leave bad reviews, especially due to our love for the hobby … We came in knowing we were gonna buy over $100 worth of stuff, however nobody spoke to us or asked if we needed assistance until after 15 mins of being there (they were not busy at all, as there were only two other customers inside. We picked out over 20 lbs of rock and we were asked to pick it all up and carry it to the register ourselves. This isn’t a SUPER big deal, but when you run a business you help people out and don’t make them do it all themselves. Once we checked out, the guy dropped the rock, didn’t offer a new piece just threw it up in the air and asked “still want this” - extremely careless. And the part that really frustrated me, is that we have ALWAYS been asked for our phone number I’m assuming for rewards and perks, but when we spend $150 in there, we were not asked for our phone number although we have been a long time customer for almost 2 years. In the past, half of the items in the display tanks are “not for sale” but located in display tanks? - Very dirty tanks, lots of algae and everyone sitting down doing nothing. Overall, we felt very rushed and felt like nobody was willing to answer our questions and help us out. I highly doubt we will be back. I really hate this but we did not have a good experience at all.”
— Jaden Byers1.08 months ago“Great selection!”
— JASON ALLEN5.010 months ago“Friendly helpful, the store didn't have what I needed so she ordered it for me. Thank you”
— Mike Riviera5.011 months ago“Really great store with nice selection”
— Joshua Rasmussen5.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (864) 283-6067 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Reef Gurus.