Austin Aqua-Dome

This is one of the best LFS in the Austin area. Not only does it look like «Patrick Star’s» house, but it houses one of the best selections of saltwater fish and coral in the area. At first I was a bit concerned about the size of tiny quarters the fish are in but I think they must sell out so quickly that it probably doesn’t matter. They always have a good selection and the fish are healthy, as compared to some other LFS in town. Though I would recommend quarantining any new addition from any store. Love their selection of coral too. Far superior to other locals. Their prices are also good. But the best part of that store is Hunter. He is very knowledgeable and patient with the customers. Actually, he should be cloned because on the weekends there is usually a line to get to Hunter and his sage advice. If you haven’t been there yet, definitely check it out!
–MichDFish, Bee Cave, TX

One of the best fish stores in Austin.
I wish I lived closer so i’d get to visit more often, but even if you are far it’s definitely worth the trip! Very highly recommended.

The hubby and I went here today to look around. We had heard a lot of good things about this place and that it has a wide selection of saltwater fish. We are beginners so we had a lot of questions. Both the guys we talked to were very friendly and knowledgeable. They gave us a lot of good advice and ideas for the next fish to add to the tank once the 2 we got settle in.
The store was well organized and I like that the freshwater and saltwater are clearly separated.
The only thing I hated was how the beta fish are treated. They have the poor guys in little jars with closed lids on a shelf off to the side. It seems like the beta fish are put in the store as an after thought. That makes me very sad, because I have seen other aquarium stores with beta set ups that show much happier fish. The beta fish here are sad and neglected looking.

Austin Aqua-​Dome is a unique, one of a kind place. Great staff that helped me get a replacement tank for a friend for just $ 14 .
Personally, I love to just walk around and look at all the great fish, and water life.
You have to check this place out if your living or visiting in Austin !

Aqua-​done has a wonderful selection of saltwater fish. Hunter is wonderful and very informative.
Do not forget to buy the membership pass!

Austin Aqua Dome has everything you need for a healthy tank, including the fish! They have fresh and salt water animals and products. They will also test your water for free and give you advice on how to keep you animals healthy. My kids love going here just to see the beautiful sea life and turtles outside. They even have starfish, shrimp and sea anenome. Check it out!

Unless you see Hunter working here, turn around like you are facing the plague and go somewhere else.
I have been patronizing this place (and have spent over $ 1000 there at this point, including buying into their so-​called discount program) for about a year and have recently discovered that the only reason to go there is because they have a helpful and reasonably knowledgeable guy named Hunter there. There are a couple of other people that may be worth dealing with, but otherwise, unless you want to spend outrageous amounts of money, be ripped-​off, and have to deal with rude, clueless, and insensitive people, I’d recommend staying away.
I went in there recently to get some help with some aquarium problems that I was having. If you know how stressful it is to have to deal with tank problems, the last thing you want is to have to deal with rude and insensitive staff at your LFS that make you feel like your dying aquatic life is your own fault. Well, that is exactly what I was met with when I was under duress and seeking help in buying the correct products to treat my problem. When I walked in, unfortunately, Hunter was not there. So I started asking the guy at the counter (and older guy who I now believe is the owner Gary) some questions. Instead of listening to my concerns, he sloughed me off to another staff member, a short, dark-​haired woman with long hair who was even more rude and insensitive. When I began to ask for advice about what product I needed to treat my problem, she more-​or-​less made me feel like I was an idiot, questioning me about my water parameters (which I already told her were excellent. I am not unskilled or unknowledgeable about this). Frankly, I think she was trying to cover-​up for her lack of knowledge about what the products that she was selling actually did, because when I asked her specifics about various available treatments, she just said, «I don’t know, you have to read the label, I’ve never used these things». Meanwhile, she just stood there confrontationally as I struggled to make my purchase on my own. Seriously, if you can’t answer my questions, don’t stand there as if to pressure me to make a purchase. The only thing that they had that I decided to purchase was the last item available. It looked old and beat-​up, but given that I was desperate to solve my problem, I decided to buy it.
Come to the cash register, she neglected to offer me the discount based on the program I bought into. I complained. Discount applied. Then I got home noticed that the price tag on the product I bought was $ 20 less than what she tried to charge me! Add insult to injury. The combination of being ripped-​off and treated insensitively and rudely was enough to make me not to even attempt to go back for a refund. Also, I now have snails in my tank that appeared after I bought some live plants from them. Not a big deal in isolation, but it does stack on to the other issues I have had, including improper guidance about quarantine and acclimation, which I also think caused other problems in my tanks. Needless to say, never, ever going back there again.

Let me start off with I absolutely love the selection at aquadome and they have live rock and plants at a decent price. But because they don’t have enough people on staff at once their customer service is lacking. I used to go once sometimes twice a week if we were buying water also, but only go about once a month now and usually don’t buy anything or ask questions anymore. It is always a hunt to find someone to help you and once you do find someone they’re busy and irritated that your pulling them away from what they’re doing or there are 5 other people following them around waiting to be helped. Bummer. I am also not impressed with their lack of knowledge. Honestly it wouldn’t be a problem if they were just honest and told me they did not know the answer to whatever question I have had in the past. All in all I love aquadome and will continue to come here, but I definitely don’t spend money here like I used to.

I have been patronizing this store for a few years. Until recently I have been into freshwater aquariums, and they have always been helpful with getting me fish etc but I never needed advice. Recently I got into saltwater aquariums and I have bought lots of stuff from them and gotten a handful of advice, and they’re great about helping as much as possible. The guy upstairs named Hunter is the most knowledgeable person when it comes to the saltwater aquariums. Everyone in the store has knowledge of some kind about everything if you just ask. If they don’t know they will tell you that they don’t.
However: Read up on your hobby! You have Internet, so use it. Don’t blame them for not being able to help you fully if you are a novice. Youtube is a wonderful resource which I have used to gather lots of information about my new saltwater hobby from drilling the glass to making your own sump filter to how to take care of any type of aquatic life form.
One thing to note: The weekends can be very busy and you won’t get the same attention you would if you were to go there on a weekday.

The animals are beautiful but the staff are either misinformed or uneducated. We wanted to buy several koi and goldfish from here and, being completely ignorant on the subject as we’ve never owned fish before, we asked what we need to do before we introduce the fish to our new 700 gallon outdoor pond that we’d just built ourselves. The guy behind the counter, an older gentleman, said to just toss them in & they’ll be fine. I said, «we don’t even need to temper the water or transition them slowly? It’s a brand new pond; we don’t need to check the water for levels of something or other?» And he said naw, chuck ‘me in. It kind of felt like he just wanted to make the sale and get rid of us.
Needless to say, all but one of our fish died. Since then, we’ve studied up on the subject of ponds and pond critters and have created a self-​sustaining ecosystem, with no help from any store clerk. We now have two bullfrogs, two turtles, and several koi and goldfish.
The rest of the koi, btw, are from petsmart and are twice as big as the one lowly survivor from our first attempt. We initially named her mama-​san because of how much bigger she was than all of the minnows we added later, but now the name doesn’t suit her since she’s now the smallest koi. Maybe the trauma of the whole ordeal stunted her growth, or maybe she’s a different species – we don’t know. Anyway, not too sure how to feel about this place.

These folks are really nice and helpful. They seem to constantly have some fish diseases, which my husband said is normal. It’s kinda dark in there and it feels a bit cave (ish). Pretty fish and they are reasonably priced.

I am more of a saltwater guy so I always just go upstairs and don’t pay attention to anything else. Their saltwater section is the best Austin has to offer! They have a huge area filled with the healthiest and rarest corals on the market at a great price. In addition, they also sell small frags for about 5 dollars. For a financially limited college student, this is a pretty good deal. Furthermore, there is a vast array of beautiful fish and invertebrates that are all healthy. This place is definitely worth checking out if you are marine hobbyist! They are also one of the few fish stores in Austin that give a military discount! In fact, to join their membership club as a military member, you join at half the price!
The man in charge of the saltwater section is friendly and very knowledgeable. I only have a small suggestion for the store: That man up there needs more help! LOL. He always seems to have a line of 5 or 6 customers and you can tell he is stressed.

I went to several other local fish stores looking for a nano reef tank, either they would have to order it or they were bored with my questions after a couple of minutes. I then called Aqua-​dome, amazed, they had all the tanks I was considering in stock, no ordering, take it home now. I went to look and everyone was so nice and more than willing to help. Hunter, one of the sales people was very knowledgeable, patient, and willing to help, as was every one else there. They are so willing to work for your business, that a pump I needed later, that they were out of stock on, they wanted to take my number to call me when they got it in, and they called!
Great selection of everything, fish, corals, accessories, the only place you need, go nowhere else!

Fishies!!! I can’t believe I’ve lived here for years and hadn’t been here until just recently. This place makes me wanna be a better person. This place makes me wanna be the kind of person that can manage a huge wall sized salt water fish tank without seeing fish floating belly up at the end of the week. This place makes me wanna be the kind of person who could manage an outdoor pond full of cute turtles, koi and water lilies. They have an awesome selection of fish and accoutrements for all those better people. For me, they have an awesome selection of fish and accoutrements to look at, to dream about, to make me wanna be a better person.

I think this is probably the best place in Austin in terms of variety and knowledgeable staff. They have both freshwater and saltwater sections. Upstairs is all saltwater, and it is really a cool place just to go and look at the variety of stuff they have there. All different types of fish organized by the region they originate from. Lots of coral, anemones, etc. etc.
Also a good selection of freshwater stuff, plants, snails, tropical fish, etc. I have not seen selection this good anywhere else.
However, I do feel that the prices are pretty high compared to, let’s say a Petco. So, if you see two fish that are the same and both places have it, chances are that Petco will be a lot cheaper. So basically come here if you can’t find what you need at the Petco, or if you just want a much larger selection, or just want to check out some cool looking fish and aquariums they have going there.

I almost didn’t want to leave this place. I fell in love at DOME. I mean how much more awesome can a place be that has selected a DOME for it’s HOME?
Plus there are some of the coolest Fishies, Shrimpies, and Corral (ies?) I’ve ever seen. There’s a fish in there I like so much, I’m willing to get a salt tank just to have him. HE MUST BE MINE!!! Can’t tell you which one, or everyone will want one. He’s cute, like a puppy, or something. (without the fur).
There’s 2 levels in side, and they welcome browsers. The peep’s running this shop are nice, it just makes me want to go back, all of it. Also, I’ve been telling everyone I see about this place I liked it so much.
Side note: While we didn’t actually buy anything, I noticed the prices are a little steep on aquariums and equipment, but from what I later understood it’s high quality gear and well worth it, if your wallet and bank can handle it.

Fishy!!!
I am not a connoisseur of fish by any stretch of the imagination but you know who is… the staff at Austin Aqua-​Dome. This place actually really surprised me when I went in because I thought it was going to be a dinky little fish store but the selection is amazing. They have pretty much every fresh water fish you could think of plus a huge selection of saltwater fish and crustaceans.
I do not even own an aquarium but I thoroughly enjoy going here and looking at the fish and then hanging out for a few minutes out back checking out the coy and turtle ponds.
If you have aquariums or have considered buying one this should be your only stop for everything you need. If you like fish but don’t like the work (like me) this is a great place to stop by and look at the selection. I really found the saltwater area upstairs to be the best.

I went here today to have my tank and tap water tested… the staff was very friendly. I explained my problem, which no doubt sounded very stupid, and the lady who helped me was very helpful and very knowledgable. I am one of those people who mistakenly thought goldfish were ‘simple’…well, I was wrong, and really appreciate anyone who can take the time to help me, and the ²⁄₃ goldfish that are still alive. RIP Cleo.
The hours of this place make it exceptionally convenient. Will definitely be relying on this place for all my aquatic needs of my life.

My boyfriend and I have a saltwater tank and we absolutely LOVE Austin Aqua-​dome! When we first got the tank going, we tried several different stores around town but found our «home» at Austin Aqua-​dome. The store really is like an aquarium, there are so many tanks to look at! Sometimes we go «just to look» but never leave empty handed. They have the best selection and get A LOT of new stuff in every single week. If you see something you like, get it! Because it’s not going to hang around very long, trust me.
You can’t beat Aqua-​dome on price and it is totally worth it to join the savings club. It’s also great because saltwater tanks can get very expensive and they even have a great selection of smaller items and frags for as low as $ 4.99
One of the very best parts about visiting the dome is the service! All of the employees are awesome and extremely knowledgeable. They are always quick to say hello and so friendly and patient (this place gets super busy!) They give better advice about caring for your tank and the corals and fish in it than you can find anywhere on the internet.
If you visit Austin Aqua-​dome, you will not be dissapointed! Check them out on Facebook too, they post pics of new items! My bf and I typically go at least once a week. This place is FUN most of all!

I can’t believe after all this time I had forgotten to write a review for one of my favorite weekend spots in Austin.
First, I have to admit that my husband and I have an addiction to salt water fish and everything that goes with them. Not to eat, but to look at. When we moved down here just over a year ago we brought a 210 gallon salt water tank as well as our 29 gallon salt water and 75 gallon fresh water tank. We even shipped our fish, and they all made it!
The Aquadome even let us ship our fish to them directly. They kept the salt water fish in one of their tanks in the store until we were able to get our small tank set up –and get this… NO CHARGE!
Gary, Hunter, and Teri are all awesome folks. They are very informed about what fish can go with what (without killing eachother or other things you have in the tank). They have very reasonable prices. We have also found that their livestock is pretty darn good. We have had a few deaths, but nothing outside of normal, and they always make good on these sorts of things.
Whether or not you have a fresh or salt water tank, go to the Aquadome. You will expand your knowledge about fish and you will get some great additions to your tank/​family!