Ocean Design Aquarium

I can’t believe I’ve never given them the review they deserved!!!
This was a couple years ago, but still worth a review.
My 150 gallon tank sprung a leak. I was a regular customer and called them in a panic — «Erm hi, you don’t really know me, but I buy things from you a lot, can you house some fish for me in an emergency??»
And they did — I had fish coming out my butt at that point including fry. I’m pretty sure we lost a few, but they helped me in a crazy crisis.
They’re farther away from me now so I don’t see them as often, but Tony and his people have always been incredibly helpful (and knowledgeable) on fish things.
I now have another 150 gallon tank populated by two convict cichlids. Meanies. I’m waiting for them to go so I can restock!

I use to buy here now of the saltwater fish, I am not beginner I know a lot more than this guy Tony think he knows, one day I went to buy some fish for my third tank! I bought the fish i overpaid $ 75 all his prices are hi compare with other stores but I thought he has healthy fishes, I took the fish home put the beg in the aquarium I add just 25ml water from my tank that’s nothing, the fish die … I call them he was so mad that I call for that I return the fish with the water he end up saying my alkalinity was low I start laughing my alkalinity was 8.1 that’s perfect and I have undetectable nitrate and phosphate however he said he will refund those money when I’ll buy next fish, when I try to buy next fish he refund me only $ 15 out of $ 75 … Never again in this store, now I go on Benseville 40−60% cheaper and warranty on saltwater fishes !

Very attentive service and very helpful. They took the time to help me select and setup a first aquarium for my son. I am quite the newbie and was treated with respect. They helped carry my purchase to my car.

Great pet store, the owner is verry knowledgeable about fish, the thanks are super clean and the fish always look healthy, i always leave happy. I give it a five star

Great spot for fresh and saltwater fish and supplies. The place itself is pretty cute, loaded with stuff. There tanks were super clean and all the fish looked happy and healthy. They had a nice variety and the prices were good. We talked with who I presumed to be the owner and he was really nice and helpful. He answered a few questions and helped us out. Very knowledgeable. I heard him with other clients and he was similarly helpful. I loved their fish and my time here. I definitely want to come back. Also, the parking around there is easy and free and they seem to have a Unilocal check in coupon, so it’s even better. Definitely stop in here if you’re looking for fish and/​or aquarium supplies.

Tony is the greatest. Very nice selection of fish. I love bringing the entire family here.

Great place for fresh and saltwater fish fans alike! I bought a few fish from here that make my tank look awesome! Great prices and the owner is a friendly and knowledgable guy too. Parking looks like it may be an issue but don’t worry it’s really not. Highly recommend!

This was a really nice store. The owner was really helpful. No pressure to buy. Tanks Exceptionally clean. Prices fair.

Ocean design was very helpful and knowledgeable on fish and fish tanks also with giving very helpful recommendations on treatments and filters. The customer service was on point and couldn’t have been anymore comfortable with asking questions. They made our visit there very fun and the displays are very clean and we’ll maintained I definitely recommend ocean design for everybody. Thanks for your great service :)

Very knowledgable and has the best fish. My mom goes all the time because their tank set ups are beautiful.

For being a small local shop, this place is great! There is a nice selection of fresh and salt water fish, and a good variety of plants. The fish appear healthy and they always have a nice selection. The prices are fair and the employees and customer service is great!

I’m not sure when the last time George G. went to Ocean Design Aquarium, but the store has not carried dart frogs or fruit flies in years. They do, however, carry a surprisingly impressive variety of freshwater and marine fish and marine invertebrates for being in a rather small space. I’ve been buying fish from Tony at Ocean Design for years. New shipments arrive weekly and the store never has the same variety twice (they can special order certain fish for you as long as those fish are available). I have had nothing but the best quality out of there. I also come here to buy snake food — Ocean Design Aquarium carries all sizes and types of frozen rodents. They also carry live blackworms, brine shrimp, ghost shrimp, crickets, mealworms, feeder fish, and pretty much every staple live food item. The reptile variety has slimmed down since they left the old location but what they do have are animals that are very well taken care of and healthy.
For me, the most important factor in determining whether or not I will return to a place of business is the customer service. This factor is never lacking at Ocean Design. If you’re interested in starting a new aquarium, or expanding into marine, or just pondering the idea of acquiring a new pet, come here and talk about your aspirations to the owner, Tony. He is as knowledgeable and friendly as anyone I’ve ever met. At Ocean Design, you’ll get a feeling you could never get at any chain store or at one of several pretentious shops. This is a classic, family run, literally «mom & pop» store, where customer satisfaction is the top priority. It’s just a fun place to go to.
But just so you know, they do not carry dart frogs nor fruit flies anymore. Can’t help you there.

This is the place for dart frogs and supplies in the Chicagoland area. They have a good selection of reptiles and a great selection of corals and fish for salt or fresh water. The owner has always been a cool guy and most of the staff is very helpful. I believe they are the only store that carries dart frogs and the supplies to feed them in the area.
They have flightless fruit fly cultures usually prepared and mature to feed frogs ready to go. They carry a lot of natural materials like rocks, wood/​logs, decorations and coconuts to decorate a frog tank and make your terrarium look like a piece of the rainforest. They also have some basic fogging machines.
The coral tanks are cool and set up well. They have a decent selection of different corals and saltwater fish. The selection of freshwater fish is pretty good as well, not as many exotics as I would like but some good finds are always had here.

After going to Chicago Aquarium and getting turned away because I did not buy my aquarium through them… yes I said turned away! I drove all the way from Edgewater to this aquarium store. They could have thrown the fish supplies at me after my experience at Chicago Aquarium and gotten 3 stars, but they did way more than that. The gentleman that helped me could have not been nicer and more patient. He listened to my specific tank needs and walked me through the store to find everything that I needed to start my new saltwater aquarium right. I will be going back to this store to buy my fish and to buy future supplies. Take my advice and bypass Chicago Aquarium and go to these guys even if they are out of your way. Well worth it!

My boyfriend and I went there yesterday for supplies, and found an EMPTY store! Oh no! How could our fav. pet shop be closed? After a quick look at their website we find out that they just moved! Oh, thank goodness! Their new location is not too far from their previous strip mall place. According to the website, they were closed yesterday for a family wedding, so we couldn’t check out the new place. So, like any normal pet lover, we did a drive-​by. It looks pretty darn cool. The windows are painted really cute, just can’t tell if its bigger or smaller than the last. Hopefully its a bit bigger. I’m curious to see the inside and learn why they moved.

Very knowledgeable staff.
Family owned, and I love supporting family owned businesses. Been shopping there for years. I love there selection of livestock (freshwater is my focus). Always something unique and this store perpetuates my obsession with aquariums because of their constantly evolving stock.
I will always come back here, at least for live fish.

An update: Since we are keeping saltwater now: OD Aquarium has STILL been the best source of all info salt! We’ve been to the Devon Street fish place (great selection, higher prices) and Old World in Chicago (sometimes great prices, and they can get you what you want)…Pound for pound I feel like this place has given us the best attention and advice. Salt specimens can’t compete with Devon and Old Town, but, then, again… I can’t say I trust those places for quality of fish/​corals. You might have to wait to get in something you want here, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it. Again: We have never gotten unhealthy fish from them! Would trust them above most.

I came in looking for some aquarium ideas. I am really impressed with this place. The girl that helped me seemed to really know her stuff. It’s definitely not inexpensive though but I think worth a few extra bucks to get more professional help than you’ll find at the discount pet stores.

This is a great little shop.
I am not an animal person, to care about or for.
But One day I’d like to get a frog. The frogs here make me smile and I do daydream about them. And I’ll only come here to get thee one.
The staff is awesome, and a sweet girl there is always super friendly, and man does she kow about the critters in there.
Gotta make it there soon one day.

I eliminated my previous review and have decided to totally rewrite my review of Ocean Design — not update but rewrite.
The people that work here are super friendly and will always approach you and ask you if you need help. They have a good, basic selection of fish supplies such as filters, water testing equipment, medicines, and décor. The aquarium fish really vary in quality however. Some tanks have really fantastic looking fish and others are just ok. By ok I mean these tanks may have a couple floaters (eww!). The store isn’t sparkling clean like Old Town but it’s also been a fixture in the neighborhood for many years (which says something, no?). In addition to fish, both fresh and saltwater, Ocean Design also sells some reptiles.
What really makes this store stand out is the selection of plants they carry. OUTSTANDING! I’ve been to many if not most of the local aquarium shops in Chicago (chain and independent) and I don’t think any place can even compete with the selection and quality of the plants they carry. So if you’re looking for great, live aquarium plants come here!