Saltwater Fish Supplies

Building a saltwater aquarium takes effort, but it can be an incredibly fulfilling achievement when complete. To begin building your aquarium, you’ll need to shop at a saltwater aquarium store for all the supplies you need—including a habitat, substrate, lighting, filters and more. Petco offers all the saltwater aquarium supplies you need to build and maintain a thriving and beautiful saltwater ecosystem. Once the aquarium is ready for its first inhabitants, we can also be your saltwater fish store. Come into your local store to purchase your Petco saltwater fish or order them online for added convenience. Not sure what saltwater fish need beyond stellar supplies? Then start by exploring our New Pet Guides for Saltwater Fish.

It should come as no surprise that one of the first saltwater aquarium supplies that you’ll need is an aquarium. If you’re already a seasoned fish parent, you’re probably looking to replace or upgrade your existing habitat. If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to choose an aquarium that suits the number of fish you’re planning on getting and the space you have in your home—we recommend nothing smaller than 29 gallons.

At Petco, we have various aquariums, including standard glass, rimless, curved and even AquaTables. If you’re looking to purchase most of your saltwater fish supplies at once, we have aquarium kits that typically include an aquarium, filter and other essentials in one bundle. Once you’ve chosen a habitat for your fish, take a look at our selection of aquarium stands to provide a sturdy—and often stylish—base for your new aquascape.

While you’re at the saltwater aquarium store, you’ll also want to pick up some supplies to help you maintain the water quality of your new habitat. A filter and filter cartridges can be essential in helping you keep your water clean, as well as aerating the water so that your fish can breathe. Since some saltwater fish require more precise water temperatures than freshwater fish, thermometers, heaters and chillers can help you if your water becomes too warm or cool. The proper salinity can also be vital to the health of your fish, and some important saltwater aquarium supplies include a hydrometer—to measure the salinity—and some marine aquarium salt to keep on hand in case some of the salt in your water evaporates. A water test kit can help you test for these kinds of fluctuations in your aquarium water and help you determine if any changes are needed.

There are also some saltwater fish supplies that not only help your fish feel more at home but can also make your aquarium look great. You’ll need some substrate for the bottom of your aquarium—typically sand or gravel—but a saltwater fish store should have a variety of colors to fit your preferences. You can choose sand or gravel to match your fish’s color or accentuate the room’s design where you place your aquatic habitat. Décor like plants can also help recreate your fishes’ natural habitat—live plants have the added benefit of providing oxygen to your water. Still, even plastic plants can help your pets feel cozier in their aquarium. Saltwater aquarium supplies like lighting can be essential if you have plants or coral, as they need light to photosynthesize and grow. Additionally, proper lighting can help your fish create a daily routine and help them know when to be active or not.

These are just some basic saltwater fish supplies that can help your fish thrive and keep your aquarium looking great. To find more beneficial saltwater aquarium supplies online, check out our guide, What to Know About Your Saltwater Fish.