The aquarium we have came with the house we bought, complete with many fish. We've struggled to…read morekeep the tank clean and fish alive for 4 years! As background, we hired another company about 2 years ago, to do regular cleanings (every 3 months or so), while doing water changes in between. It seemed to help. The tank generally looked ok. But the tank conditions continued to go down hill over time, and we had multiple bouts with extreme algae blooms. The equipment also got built up with more and more gunk. Out prior service team never advised us on how to prevent these issues. They just cleaned it up and left. Finally, when our prior service company failed to fit us in for a cleaning for over two months, meaning we went 5 months with no professional cleaning, we knew we had to go elsewhere! We hired Rick to completely redo our 150 gallon aquarium. We got an "all in" quote up front which was very reasonable. Basically same cost as a year of professional cleanings, which we would no longer need. Rick educated us on what was wrong and how he could adjust our set up so it will be virtually maintenance free and beautiful! He told us our filter was actually too small to keep the tank clean! He advised us against auto feeder unless on vacation. He completely emptied the tank and started from scratch. He also moved our equipment to a better place so it's more out of sight. He added black sheets to sides to prevent algae growth. And he has been over many times to monitor the cycling of the new environment, and will next add the fish. If you want an expert, who will not overcharge and will be honest and educate you, go with Aquatic Works. NEW: Added our fish after tank cycled enough. It just looks like a work of art!!

Fantastic family run business that has an immense knowledge of fresh and salt water aquariums…read more Rick set me up with a 230 gallon salt water aquarium back in 1999, and has helped me keep everything running smoothly ever since. I would highly recommend Aquatic Works.

I've always wanted fish and Aquatics Solutions made my dream of owning fish come tru. I've been…read morewith them almost a year and I can tell you there's the BEST in the business. Tony is dependable, efficient and an expert at his job. My fishes are happy and so am I. Thank you Aquatic Solutions You ROCK!!!

I just discovered this place and had the chance to visit in person today. The setup of the place…read morewas amazing displaying high quality fish, giant bettas, shrimp, plants, equipment, and more. The employees I talked to were very attentive and delightful, they're very knowledgeable about what they do and are willing to help with any questions about fish keeping, plants, and tank setups. Overall a great experience and I will definitely be coming back here for any future aquarium endeavors!

I love the website, the fish look spectacular, they sound nice as pie, but I have never been…read morethere, their prices make me want to rethink my choice of fish. But, you do get what you pay for, right. I will stop in one day and surely give them a more glowing review!!

Bought 8 fish a couple months ago then stupid me got 3 more. I was looking at 3.5" flora turquoise…read moreand 4.5" altum turquoise. I bought smaller guys thinking no baby problems and after growing like weeds they're laying eggs all over the place. I was concerned about territorial aggression. Just for laughs, Nerite snails eat discus eggs I have no intention of ending up with 100 of the things but blank happens. Had two females lay eggs and ended up giving away because of pecking order issues. Now I have a "dominant" and "sub dominant" pair with 5 other fish in a 120! This was not supposed to happen

Chris is AMAZING! Anyone, who can solve problems under pressure, that aren't his fault, while…read moredealing with my mother, is a super hero in my book! :) My mom ALWAYS as a little girl, wanted a salt water fish tank. But, as a little girl, didn't think about all the time, energy and knowledge that goes into one. Well, she learned the hard way, when the first tank guy ruined her tank and killed all her fish. Thankfully but unfortunately for Chris, she walked into his store In distress and he saved the day! The rest is history and now he's stuck with her forever !! Hahahah If you need a "tank guy" he should be in your speed dial ! He won't let you down, ever !

I have been there three times and each time I have never been able to get any help. The store is…read morenice and clean so I assume that the coral is healthy (fish are clearly an after thought, but if you want coral...). I suggest knowing what you want and know your prices, then go check it out ... but don't be in a rush, you may be there for a bit of time.

I'm trying to get in the process of adopting a sweet female cat at my local PetSmart in order for…read moreher to be a companion for my other baby Dolores. I understand the process of finding the perfect home is crucial for adoption but what's not right is how "SARAH" went about it while contacting me via text message. She clearly has no people skills and was very passive aggressive with me. I do not like how it was handled. I'd really appreciate it if you guys could have a word with her regarding speaking to applicants. I've posted the screenshots so further prove my point. This is unacceptable I should not be talked down on like this. I've been a cat owner since I was 15. I'm 28 now. Why am I being talked to like I own a rabid cat? A4LC you guys really need to train your volunteers to be a little more considerate when speaking to the public.

5 of our cats have come from this rescue, they are all amazing. I commend Sarah for essentially…read morerunning the rescue by herself and a few volunteers for cleaning and socialization time for the cat habitats through multiple store locations. She truly cares for the cats wellbeing and future, and will not allow them to be improperly placed into a home that does not suit them. She does not do cats as gifts to someone that is not applying for themselves. She does not do kittens as only pets. She tries not to split up bonded pairs. She does not do impulse adoptions on the same day. The process typically takes a couple days to ensure everyone in the household is ready to take on a potentially 20+ year commitment, to ensure the house is prepared for cats, and ensure the cat's paperwork for adoption is all in place. I also see others complain about the adoption fees, yet they go straight to the vet costs associated with each cat, which nowadays are always more expensive than the adoption fee itself. Sarah *does not* do this for the money, *she actually loses money* She is only in this to rescue great cats from this area that are typically on euthanasia row, or have come from awful situations. The last thing she wants to see is these cats to end up back in a bad situation like they originally came from by adopting to irresponsible people. That is why there is a application/interview process. I do recommend this rescue if you want to work with a true cat person that only cares about a cats best interests.

I can't say enough about this wonderful animal rescue. Heartbroken after my previous dog died, I…read moreknew I wanted to adopt another. I found a 2 y.o. little black Chihuahua mix here that honestly resembled my late dog, but smaller. Such a cutie! The process went quickly, we were able to meet the pup soon after being approved. A week later, she was on her victory ride home! The facility is spotless. Brightly colored, cheerful and lots of light. We met another dog too - for a li'l playdate to see how my pup is with other dogs. The animals here are all clean and very well cared for. Sure, it's a shelter situation, but they do a really good job of keeping them happy. The staff is utterly great - true dog lovers. They were very detailed with all the info and background they had for my new pup - behavior, quirks, feeding - everything. They love this little dog! Answered all my questions, AND we have a group chat for questions that have come up after she's been home now. The women here were really fantastic, and you can tell they want the pup to go to a home that really works out. Price? Sure, there are adoption fees - this pays for their medical care, microchip, etc. It's a BARGAIN, since these little beasts are priceless for all the happiness they bring to their new owners. We were sent home with food, meds, a leash, tags - everything! Location is GREAT, right next to Sketchbook Brewery in Skokie. Highly recommended - they are just great, and we are so happy with this little pup. We are gonna be great together! She's decompressing nicely and exploring her new neighborhood and home.

Stellar experience at C.A.R.E. Catherine was wonderful to work with. The facility was clean and…read morewell-kept every time I visited. And the animals seemed healthy and well cared for. This is the first time I've brought a shelter animal home without major health issues. After a God-awful experience fostering for a cat shelter on the north side of the city -- which lied to me repeatedly about the foster cat's condition and then heartlessly euthanized her -- C.A.R.E. was 180 degrees different and a breath of fresh air. Often shelter cats are underweight and saddled with at least one type of parasite, despite the shelter's best efforts. That was not the case here; in fact, the cat got a clean bill of health on her first vet trip, which she handled like a pro, leaving a trail of admirers behind her. That said, extra credit to C.A.R.E. for treating the less robust kitties, with cancer and similar illnesses, that other shelters are too cheap to deal with. If you're thinking of adopting or fostering, come meet the animals here.

Really chill place. Owner is awesome. QT'ed fish and coral. Ethical reefer and business person…read more Very reasonable prices. Could not have been nicer to my kids (6) and (8). Go check 'em out!