I absolutely LOVE this place! I come here for all my coral. Staff is friendly, selection is great, and the prices are reasonable. Their large display tank is beautiful, too. Biggest plus for me is that it's family owned and down to earth. Sea King feels like a used car dealership and Saltwater City is low-key dog water read more

Barrier Reef Aquariums - Healthy OG bounce I got from Barrier Reef - Aquarium Services Near Me - Renton, Washington

Amazing people with a ton of knowledge. They have answered any questions I've had and help guide me in the right directions. My reef tanks are doing awesome! If you are starting out please do visit them. read more

This is the fish store that is my current favorite just because if the cleanliness, and the attentiveness of the staff. The tanks are clearly organized and labelled for saltwater v. Freshwater. I initially avoided going here because I thought they focused mostly on saltwater fish...and I'm interested in freshwater because I really like aquarium plants. I got some MONSTER amano shrimp here. And they're all still doing very well, many months later. I also got some water lettuce...that has spread from one tank to all 7...and some friends tanks. I haven't bought fish here...but I intend to change that the next time I am looking to add more fish to my tanks. Their plants selection isn't all that great--so I don't go in as much as I should--I'm writing this review because I want to remember how much more I like them than the others in my area. This place is way too unassuming and it needs to be a bigger focus for me, and the other people I've met in the area that keep fish. read more

What a fun hidden away aquarium shop! I was excited to check it out, once I read reviews and the owners blurb on adding fresh water fish and plants to their repertoire. Lots of cool salt water fish and corals! Quite a selection of tropical freshwater fish and a big selection of freshwater water plants, all healthy and thriving. I was able to add a little more color plant wise to my aquarium and also add some floating plants, which are so cool and the fish love them!! Yes, a bit of nerding out naturalist going on. Lol great selection of fresh and saltwater fish, and corals. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, for both. I was able to add a unique whip tail catfish, some colorful pencil fish, and a few peppered Cory catfish to keep my 20 year old male company, since he lost his mate, this last summer.. Sad Days. But hopefully they'll energize the old guy. A little challenging to find, it's at the back of the strip mall, before you exit back to the road. A great place to check out to get your fresh and salt water fish, and fresh water plants, or just visit to see all the great fish selection. Happy Yelping, God bless and Cheers! read more

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My husband and I had a hard time finding this store as it's hidden behind the dentist office but once we found it we were really impressed. First off they are on it with customer service! Great, friendly staff who seem knowledgable about what they sell. Secondly, we've been looking at some pet and aquarium stores around the area and they all have such a small selection of corals, but not here. They have everything you could imagine. It is a little small but they make up for it in variety and inventory. This place reminds me of this store Aqua SD in California. Aqua SD is my favorite but they are very similar. read more

Barrier Reef Aquariums - Aquarium Services Near Me - Renton, Washington

I just found this little gem not too long ago. I usually drive up all the way north and I am so thankful that there is a decent fish store nearby. The staff here are very helpful and answer my numerous questions. The fish looked great the plants look great. I have returned twice already in two days. read more

This store has expanded to freshwater products, in addition to its outstanding marine selection. All tanks appeared very well cared for and clean. Taylor is extremely knowledgeable and i was surprised to find him here after having his excellent help at other stores. I bought a unique snail that I'd never seen elsewhere. Plants are appeared very healthy too. I wouldn't hesitate to go back there, especially knowing Taylor is there. My only "gripe" is that they are tucked in the back corner of the shopping center and the entry is hard to find. It is off of 43rd Street, in the back of this complex. Don't go looking for 43rd Place, as Google directed us. A real gem, worth the trip. read more

Very good service and the workers all know their stuff. If you're looking for a wide variety of different aquatic creatures, they have almost everything but sharks read more

Ok, wow. There's a reason this place is hard to find and sort of tucked away... Because people don't just randomly find this place, they look for it and seek it out! Barrier Reef has more coral, fish and accoutrements for salt water tanks than I've seen anywhere else. My boyfriend and I are starting to get into salt water tanks and have to start from ground zero. We walked in with tons of questions and the young woman that assisted us was incredibly polite, patient and helpful. I was so impressed with the set up, the displays, the variety of options, and especially the customer service. We bought a tank and live rock today and will be back in a few weeks to buy coral and fish. So excited! Wouldn't have been confident about this adventure without all of the help. read more

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My daughter and stopped in looking for a snail- we are very new to fish life. The staff was very kind and attentive. Very cool store, thank you for letting us look around. We will be back. read more

Amazing!! Prices are competitive, seriously, I got an Anubis's plant for 6.99, which was great for the size, and I got large plants for only $5, (forgot the name, always saw it and wanted it) and got an xl baby tears. I'm coming from portland and staying in the Sheraton, no brown leaves on any plants that I saw!! I didn't buy a fish due to travel, but they all looked so stunning! The owner and a worker got me a box with insulation to make sure they stay cool during this heat, thank you so much, if I'm ever in Seattle, I'll come back!! read more

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I have had a reef aquarium for over 10 years now and have had a yellow goby / candy cane pistol shrimp pair for pretty much the entire time. I was trading in a few live rocks with overgrown mushrooms to my LFS more than a month ago. I thought I was being very careful but it turns out, I either killed or took the rock with my candy cane shrimp in it to the LFS. I was so heartbroken as I've had this shrimp for over 3 years and my yellow goby appeared sad and lost without his buddy. I was calling local shops and scouring the internet for candy cane shrimps every day and no one had any, only tiger pistols were available. Then I found Barrier Reef who came to the rescue and shipped me a very difficult to get shrimp during the pandemic. This afternoon, I acclimated the cute little guy and put him in the tank. He is already digging and preparing his home, and I can't wait for the yellow goby to pair up with him. THANK YOU, Barrier Reef!! read more

The staff at Barrier Reef are awesome. I stopped by just to take a look at there current fish stock and while entering the store they had a sale section. While most of us in the hobby are always trying to save more money for fish I took a look and found a light for my new setup. One of the staff members stopped to ask if I had any questions. He was very helpful and knew a lot about what each light did and there capabilities. He made me an awesome deal on a light perfect for my setup and I can't wait for it to fully cycle so I can go back for some corals and fish. Thanks again Barrier Reef read more

Barrier Reef Aquariums - New LED light setup for 20G long. Way way more then enough light. This is running at 20% output. - Aquarium Services Near Me - Renton, Washington

I recently got back into one of my favorite hobbies and was looking for a place to shop for saltwater fish & corals. I was recommended by a friend to check out this place, and so glad I did! Their prices are competitive compare to other places and great selections. The staff are also very knowledgeable and helpful. I will definitely be coming back and highly recommend this shop to anyone looking to add beautiful/healthy livestock to their aquarium. read more

So I used to go to Barrier several years ago and I absolutely loved Natalia!! I didn't see her the last time I visited the shop with my family but I did see this man who was apparently the manager and was the biggest asshole ever!! I felt so bad for the poor employees... You would think that this business was run by someone who has a family and understands how to be a decent human being but after my last visit, me and my buddies will never even consider returning. I think the shop is cool and all but I cannot stand poorly treated workers and I hope they get new management ASAP. I also talked to a bunch of people who told me that they refuse to come in during the weekdays because the "good" staff only works on weekends so if you really wanna shop there maybe only come in during the weekends and hopefully the manager won't be there... I went to Sea King afterward and the employee who was working there was super energetic and genuinely loved his job so I would definitely recommend going there!! Plus the store is way cleaner and more organized! read more

May be a little tough to find (hint - drive around the back of the dental clinic!) but it's an amazing place. Clean and well stocked. It's primary geared for saltwater enthusiasts but they've got freshwater folks covered too. You could wander in here for days.... Staff was really helpful and knew their stuff. Prices were good, tanks were pristine and everything looked healthy. Great little shop! Skip the chain stores and make this your LFS. read more

Kind of tucked away so you wouldn't find it unless you knew it was there. Great selection of live rock, corals and marine fish & invertebrates. Also a good selection of freshwater fish, plants, and invertebrates. High quality aquariums and supplies as well. read more

Literally had everything I needed. Advice, products, great prices and immense customer service. I will be continuing to come to Barrier Reef Aquariums. :) read more

This store is so hidden and the way to enter is like going thro a backdoor... unless you go slowly around the block, there's no way you can see the entrance at all. Once you open the door, if you're a saltwater fishes fan, this is HEAVEN. Dare I say HEAVEN? oh yeah, I haven't seen any other places even in CA like this. It's so gorgeous, the lighting, the setup of their tank, wonderful! They have so many good-looking healthy corals plus fishies that I've ever seen and the colors are just magnificent! Prices aren't so bad IMO and looking at those tanks, made you just want to have all of them in ur tank. I would definitely come and look at this place if I ever visit Seattle again. read more

I have been stationed in Washington state for almost three years. In that time I have been fortunate enough to meet and do business with barrier reef. There staff and management have been amazing at every turn. They always have great advice and pointed me in the right direction even if it was cheaper or more cost effective. I have been a service client ever since and I am happy to say they took great care of my tank and system. My true admiration and respect for this business comes from those rare times when the system did have issues and they worked tirelessly to get it right and often outside there business hours and at little expense to me. Over the years I specifically worked with Tim who I can't say enough great things about. My system has been mostly run by Tim and Mike who made my tank a centerpiece of my home and for many gatherings. As the military transfers me to my next duty station the only negative comment I can write regarding this business, is I am unable to take them with me to NY. IF YOU ARE INTO SALT WATER FISH OR THINKING ABOUT GETTING INTO THE HOBBY, THESE ARE THE GUY's YOU WANT AND NEED! read more

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I've been frequenting Barrier Reef for almost a year now. The store is incredibly hard to find if you never been there but once you do, you're in for a treat. The staff is knowledgable and friendly and the tanks are incredible. There's no other store in the area that even comes close when it comes to the quality of livestock available, particularly SPS. If there were anything to complain about it would be the high prices and the fact that they sometimes keep the best pieces for their two display tanks and don't offer them up for sale. Great store though. read more

This is the best SW place to visit in Western WA. There is a wide variety of corals and fish /inverts available. Of course not all their live specimens are perfectly healthy, but I usually see their staff working on the tanks or helping a customer. They seem to try their best to keep every live specimen healthy and happy. They also sell tanks and equipment. Their online website outlines many products offered. The parking is plentiful, but they are a little hard to find. When you walk in, it might seem a little small but it feels appropriately sized after visiting this place a few times. Staff has been helpful every time I come. I'm lucky to live close by. read more

Barrier Reef Aquariums is a little hard to find, but totally worth the search. So here's a little tip. When you pull into the complex, go past McDonald's towards the little business strip which includes a dentists office. Go around the back and when you think you're at a door to a back storage area, you are there. Don't let the windowless exterior deter you. Once you're inside, you'll see the pride in ownership. The place is spotless and while small, it's well organized and there is always an excellent selection of fish, inverts and coral. I've had great success with the livestock from Barrier and if there's something in particular I'm looking for, they keep a list and let me know when something I want comes in. I find myself checking their Facebook page almost daily because they regularly post updates on the livestock coming in and Brie's pics & videos are always cool to see. The staff is great. I don't think I've ever been there and not had someone greet me soon after coming in. It's a small, simple thing, but something that makes me feel valued as a customer and keeps me coming back. I'm still new to the hobby and ask a lot of questions. I've learned a lot from the staff and they don't make me feel stupid, even when I ask stupid questions. I recently signed up for maintenance and highly recommend it. I have a pretty demanding job that takes up a lot of my time, and while I enjoy tinkering around in the tank, I don't like taking on full maintenance duties. I can count on Tim to come as expected and if there is a change to the schedule, he lets me know. If you're a saltwater hobbyist, you owe it to yourself to stop by Barrier. read more

Nice little shop with friendly and knowledgeable staff. Very well maintained tanks with a surprising about of stock for the middle of winter. We were quite impressed and more than willing to drive a few extra minutes from our house to seek out this local business. A little hard to find, it's behind the McD's and the dentist office in this strip mall. There is a sign around the building to the right, park and walk up the concrete stairs. No windows and no lighted sign, but you have found it! read more

The staff is very nice and they do go out of their way to help people answer questions. They are very helpful care about what they do. I love to look at the coral. I even buy coral and fly it home with me to Ca. Thanks read more

This is a top of the line store in Washington. Some of the best customer service with plenty of knowledge to serve the newest in the hobby to the most experienced. I've been a frequent customer since the store opened more than 12 years ago due to the quality of the animals that they bring in and the care given to them. You can definitely tell the care that goes into each customer to make sure they are making educated decisions on what they purchase. I will continue to make this my home for my saltwater tank needs. read more

My go to place for salt water stuff. Nice, helpful staff with excellent choice of stock.

Luv this store!!! Great staff and great products! Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. They have everything you might need!!! read more

One of the best experiences I've had at an aquarium store. Staff was super helpful and you can tell they love what they do.

If you have a salt water tank you must go here. They are doing salt water right. There are so many fish stores around that will sell you mid range products and you get what you pay for. Come to this store and see what your tank is supposed to look like. Check out the healthy stuff and build your reef right. Always friendly and helpful staff as well! read more

So I really like coming here, is my husband's favorite and nearest since OBD closed. So we kinda have to drive here now, and I think my hubby is very excited about that. They have an amazing selection of saltwater corals and fishes. They can help you on your way to building a new tank and their knowledge is off the charts. You can tell that they genuinely love everything in their shop. They have events once every couple of months so be sure to like them on Facebook for the latest updates. However, I am docking a point off because service is a hit and miss. I've ordered something before, and was told it was going to take a week but ended up being 3 weeks or so, not their fault, Cy (the owner) took care of it. But I wished they would go the extra mile and check up on their pending orders instead of having customers bring it up first. And Natalia is great. But 8 times out of 10, no one says anything to me or my family. I don't know why, maybe is a vibe that we give out or maybe we have 2 toddlers that do get a little noisy. I dont know but most of the time, we get a "hello" as we walk in and thats it. No one asks us what we were looking for, no one asks about our tank or our livestock. And the thing is I've seen them chatting it up with most other customers. Maybe is just us. This afternoon, we had to waved down the people 4 separate times to grab 4 things for us, instead of asking us the first or second time if there were anything else they can get us, they just grab the item and go straight back to what they were doing. We still love this place and we will continue to come but I just have to tell it like it is. read more

Remy is just superb with his attitude, knowledge of fish and aquariums, and service. He is responsive to problems and very cordial. Compared to other providers, you cannot do better. read more

This place is dangerous. After viewing their gigantic showcase tank, I actually told my boyfriend that I think we need a bigger tank. He had to reel me in to keep me from trying to buy half the store. I was dazzled by the lush corals and exotic fish for sale. I can't believe they had a Helfrich's Firefish in stock. I'd never seen one in real life. Tons of shrimp, crabs, nudibranchs, and anemones. They even had a "cleaner crew" offering. Where other reef stores have an overabundance of green and brown corals, Barrier Reef Aquariums offered a full spectrum of colors. Plus, many tanks with gorgeous fish that look well taken care of. 5 stars just for the spectacular variety of coral and fish available for sale. The coral prices are a little higher than what I usually see in the Portland area, but being so close to Bellevue, this might be what the market will bear. If I took away a star for the high prices, I'd give it right back because they actually list the prices directly on the tanks. It's straightforward and much appreciated. read more

If you're looking for a very respectable supple of poorly cared for rarities and sub-par customer service, this is the place for you. I've seen things here that I have never seen anywhere else. $400 meat coral, pink carnation coral, rock flower anemones, a VERY respectable sps collection. . . But their anemone tank looks like a concentration camp. Every inhabitant is starving, stressed, and mostly dead. Some upside down on the bottom, some with gaping mouths and no color. I rate them high for supply, but that's only half the battle, they flunk out on care for the animals AND the customer. No returns like you should expect because they know it's already dead, and no mention if it is difficult to care for or has specific requirements that your tank might not offer. You want that extremely aggressive little terror of a fish for your tiny peaceful little tank? You got it! In the bag! No returns when it eats everything else. I'll go to saltwater city in bellevue, or even Denny's pet supply in totem lake before I trust Barrier again, even if I really do want that enormous blue carpet anemone, cause customer care and pet care should be priority one for any business. read more

This is my favorite aquarium. They are the best at helping me pick out good fish and corals for my tank. Natalia, Chris, and Alex are super knowledgable and trust worthy and always go out of their way to make sure I've got a heathy tank. Thank you so much for all the help and advice and see you again soon! read more

I absolutely love barrier reef aquariums. Everything about this place is perfect. The livestock is well taken care of, it's super clean, and the customer service is great. Chris, a sales associate always helps me out, even if it's directing me away from something that may not do well in my tank. I appreciate it so much more than just making the sale and ending up with a bad situation at home. I've visited every store north and south of Seattle and none can match here. Any of the bad reviews I see must be from lack of knowledge because some of the higher priced items are extremely rare. read more

Nice shop, lots of frags and a decent variety. The only reason i dont give this five stars is they dont have frags available of the colonies in the display tank, and there were lots of aiptasias throughout the frag tanks. The workers were very friendly and attentive. read more

They have a large selection of LPS, SPS, fish, inverts BUT the prices are a bit high. Granted they do tend to carry some of more desirable hard to find clams and whatnot you won't find anywhere else in the area. The service depends on who's there that day. I did receive a coral with red bugs that they let me return. Luckily it was taken out before it could infect my tank. read more

I want to get a new fish tank and after being treated really bad by another store in Tukwila, I stopped at another store in Renton and this place. This place was the best by a long shot. It's a very small space and like others have said it is hard to find I'm glad I didn't give up. The place is clean with all kinds of beautiful fish and coral. They don't have many tanks in their store because it's small but they said they could order anything I want. My tank now is very small and they answered a lot of questions that I had and were really nice about it. I will order my new tank from these guys for sure and I will be buying a lot of fish and coral from them eventually. They aren't too far from where I live in Bellevue which is nice. read more

I got out of the hobby for a few years. And then I decided on a whim to go into the store. I can't speak highly enough of Marc, Natalia, Mikayla. Not only is the staff quite friendly and knowledgeable. But there never pushy and are very excited and passionate about the hobby as well. I would recommend the store to anyone. read more