Aquatek Tropical Fish

8023 Burnet Rd # 1, Austin, TX 78757, USA

Address:	8023 Burnet Rd # 1, Austin, TX 78757, USA
Phone:	+1 512-450-0182
Site:	aquatektropical.com
Rating:	4.6
Working:	11AM–7PM 11AM–7PM 11AM–7PM 11AM–7PM 11AM–7PM 11AM–7PM 12–6PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 4

Tay Giglio

The store looks good on the surface, but what lurks beneath the surface is pretty messed up. When I was setting up tanks initially, I was impressed by what seemed to be a friendly, knowledgeable staff. I bought some equipment and gravel, that kind of thing. Transaction went well. I bought 5 gallons of RO/DI water since I was setting up a shrimp tank. Started trying to cycle my tank, wouldnt cycle. Bought myself a chlorine tester. Huh, water had chlorine in it. Shouldnt have had, but it did. Got myself a TDS pen. 117 ppm total dissolved solids in their RO/DI water--means they dont change out their membranes. For comparison, Ive never had more than a 6 ppm when I buy RO/DI water anywhere else. I was mad, but I gave it some time, figured it was a fluke and I went back. Theyd started bringing in a bunch of fancy neocaridina shrimp and I was intrigued. A friend and I checked them out several times and were alarmed to see that they had shrimp infected with a green fungus/parasite well known in shrimp afficionado circles as being 100% deadly. It comes in on asian imports that are grown in open vats that get sunlight and it kills every shrimp that gets it. They were selling these infected shrimp as if they were healthy. I stopped going for a long time and today decided to give them another chance. I was looking for fish, not shrimp, but they often keep teeny tiny rasboras in with the shrimp so I went to look for those. A tank labeled for shrimp and the rasboras I was looking for was absolutely crawling with planaria, a type of parasite that kills shrimp. I brought it to the attention of an older man who has been working at the store as long as Ive gone--Ive seen him every single time Ive been there. His response was that they put black worms in there and planaria just happen. I began examining the filtration to see if it was linked to other tanks to see if I could expect this infestation in all of them--when I say infestation I mean I counted no fewer than 8 full sized planaria on the front glass and there were many others crawling over the floor of the tank. He asked me what I was doing, I told him I didnt want planaria and I wanted to see if I could expect them in every tank they had because if the infestation was that bad everywhere, I wouldnt be buying fish from them. He told me then you shouldnt buy fish here and walked off without another word. One of his tanks had the worst infestation of a parasite Ive ever seen and he was going to just sell livestock out of that tank to unsuspecting newbies. Im thoroughly disgusted. And yes, I know that overfeeding can cause planaria and that a certain amount of parasite load is to be expected in the aquatic hobby, but this wasnt just the odd one here and there that Im accustomed to. This was RIDICULOUS.

Amanda Nichols

It seemed like these people didnt want to be there at all. A couple of months previous, I browsed and asked questions without incident to courteous staff. Today, having bought a unique nano aquarium, I thought Id go to Aquatek. Though I had a two-hour round-trip, I wasnt impatient. When I waited thirty minutes for someone to be available to help me, and then waited for them to cash others out when I finally found someone, I didnt complain. When the man who finally took my questions abandoned me halfway through to disappear into the back, I waited patiently at the counter for someone else to help me. When another employee picked up where the other had left off, and another customer grew belligerent and accused me of skipping before him, I said nothing. I had been there almost an hour and a half, most of which was spent waiting for help. He may have been extremely rude, but please dont call him a "douche" in front of me, it gives me more discomfort than the already uncomfortable situation. The employee helping me at this point truly would rather have been anywhere else, and either had no aquarium experience at all, or just none he was willing to offer me at that point, although he relented a bit as I tried my best to be conciliatory. His answers were short and impatient, so instead of getting any direction at all, I had to rely almost solely on luck. Its anybodys guess how my nano tank will turn out. The whole situation was supremely uncomfortable and inconvenient, but I said nothing but gratitude. I probably still wouldnt have complained at ALL! But it turns out they charged me 10$ for a fourth cherry shrimp I didnt buy. Worst experience at an aquarium store ever. ***Update: the three dwarf rasboras I purchased, in a brand new, untainted nano tank, have ich, two days after purchase. Save yourselves from the misery that is Aquatek.

A Private User

Ive heard mixed things about this place about it being elitist and unhelpful with unpleasant decor, but I went in yesterday with my infant daughter and a long list of questions. Their selection is amazing, both salt and freshwater fish from 3 continents, including fun things like frogs, snails, crabs, starfish, live coral, whatever you can dream up! I was approached non-aggressively by staff and they were patient and interested in my tank and needs.They were super knowledgeable about local water and its properties and how it would effect each type of fish, the compatibility of fish with each other, and what fish are hardy and good to start a new tank with (and affordable). Jessica, a chemistry major, walked me through everything, priced it, and even protected our feelings by suggesting small plain fish to take home that we wouldnt become too attached to if they didnt survive the new tank situation. She saved me money instead of up-selling and taking advantage of my beginner status. We went in just to look at the selection and went home with four fish and everything we needed to enjoy our tank within the same evening! The other customers seemed to know the staff and each other by name, and to be serious fish lovers, but not in a snotty way. The fish were so healthy here, the show tanks gorgeous, and staff totally over qualified. I will be loyal to this place, and it doesnt hurt that they like kids! :)

Regina Pribyl

These guys really know what they are talking about! They are willing to help you even if youre not going to purchase anything from the store. I went in this past weekend because Ive been battling what I thought was algae, and one of the experts (because thats what someone with as much knowledge as these guys should be addressed as) was able to identify it as something completely different! This expert told me exactly what to do to fix the situation (bad case of bacteria) and it worked perfectly. Before getting this help I had been doing everything I thought needed to be done to get rid of this disgusting infestation: changing the water and changing the filter. Every time 2 days would go by and BOOM. The bacteria was back again. Its been 5 days since I did exactly what they told me and my tank is as clean as the day I set it up 2 years ago. I should add that I bought all my fish from these guys. They helped me figure out what the perfect balance of marine life for a 5 gallon tank was. They take such great care of the variety of creatures in their store and are not afraid to tell you no when you present them with an idea they know will place any of them in harms way. Trust these people.