This is a serious Aquascaping store. This is not a run-of-the-mill pet store. Aquascaping is an art and began in Japan. This store is like visiting the fine art items in another country.

As others have made comment, customer service needs to be worked on. There's a good selection of brands, livestock, and plants. But quite frankly, I used to come here by default since they're the only aquascape-focused store in San Francisco near me. Most reviews are of the products themselves. They carry premium brands, and as it should, these products ought to be high quality. I've been a multiple repeat customer for about a year, but this business does not care about customer retention. And offer as little interaction as possible. In fact, I get better and consistent service when buying elsewhere online. It is no surprise my questions get acknowledged and answered promptly by other businesses. It disheartens me when I see fellow hobbyists discouraged at this store. I've stepped in a number of times to help offer suggestions/advice. As someone who was once in their position, I would have greatly appreciated the help. I make a point to support local businesses. Unfortunately, my recent experience was the final straw. Am bringing my business where it is valued i.e. I won't be back.

Great selection of plants and good selection of fish, but some of the tanks are too high up to see into and the ones with plants are absolutely ridiculous with snails. The main thing, though, is that the service here absolutely sucks. I have been here three times. I've never seen more than two people working the store at a time. I struggled to get the attention of an employee when I was the only customer in the shop and when I did get their attention, they scoffed at me when I asked for clarification on a plant species. On two of three visits, there were multiple customers all milling about, waiting to be helped or trying to politely get an employee's attention with little success, the employees either busying themselves with something else or hanging with one customer who obviously didn't have a specific question and wasn't ready to check out. Greet your customers when they enter and ask if they'd like help. Check in on them. Do not stand around with the same one person as they browse and make up their mind for 20 - 30 mins. Tell them you'll check back with them and move on! If somebody has an honest question, be stoic and answer it! Be professional, for goodness sake and don't discourage people away from the hobby by ignoring them or laughing at them!

I will order from this company forever. I am semi-experienced and I am setting up a new 55 gallon, and I decided to order Amazonia from here (per a youtube review), which I have read is a bit more troublesome for beginners. I am attempting to level up and step up my plant game. The order came quick, and someone called me to explain I selected the wrong shipment method, and they refunded me without me having to ask them to. I had questions for the person I spoke with, and he was extremely kind, knowledgable, and happy to answer my questions. Since I want to cycle this tank the right way, I reached out to Aqua Forest Aquarium with more questions, and they were SO WILLING to help me. This company is willing to go the extra mile and I LOVE IT! Once you order from them, they won't leave you wondering - they will do what they can to help you. If you are on the fence or if you want to order something outside of your norm, go for it!

Decent selection of fish and plants. Price was reasonable for a specialty shop like this in the heart of SF. It is quite a hassle finding parking nearby so be aware before driving in.

For all the people who gave this store a bad rating, y’all gave the lousiest reasons. I mean, if you’re not communicating properly, they won’t communicate back. It’s a store for hobbyist and aquascapers, not people who give bad ratings just because they only have small fish and that the prices are huge. Might as well just go to Petco. The people there are kind and helpful, and they have the largest variety of things to help you get started with aquariums 👍

Awesome store. They had a great variety of fish I was impressed. They even had a fish I've been looking for for years. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly and it was clean. I don't think I saw a single dead fish floating around.

The aquariums are great... But you go to a store like that for the expertise for the service otherwise you can just buy everything on the internet... When I was there the staff was more interested in drinking tea and talking amongst themselves.. and to be very forward and ask for help more than once.

was there for the first time. clean bright store where you want to come back again and again. friendly staff and great selection of aquarium plants.

When me and my BF walked in here. The place looks clean and we'll organized. So I saw one employee and nicely asked. Where the cold water fishes are located. The guy pointed with finger to me directions. So we went there and there were just a few fishes here, there. So I asked again the same guy. Is this all you guys have or maybe somewhere else there is more? He said well depending how cold water u are talking about. And walked away. Without saying anything else or showing more. He seemed irritated for me to ask him questions again. My BF saw all of that and he said to me. We are not buying anything from the rude place where people are not happy to see us or help us to sell fish. So we walked out. No one even said "thank you , have a good day " or something. It just seems very unfriendly and terrible in customer service workers there. And generally, all I saw is small fishes there. Nothing like a bigger size for a big aquarium. Or even if there is something in a bigger size it is barely 1 or 2 fish . Not recording this place at all. -REP

Walked in here with my coworker on our lunch break and we both love the variety of fish they had here and how well preserved everything was. Also it was a very clean environment which I also really appreciate. Everyone seem pretty friendly there didn't really ask any questions but was impressed by the environment and presentation of business. I recommend coming here for any of your fish needs.

Wow. The most beautifully kept aquarium store in the entire Bay Area. All high end tanks and aqua scapes. Incredible plant collection, great fish selection but the plants are the main event. It was busy when I went even late on a Sunday which is awesome to see. I bought 4 lime rasboros and 2 white tetras and a bunch of plants- all happy at home and clearly high quality. Will be back again soon!

Great customer service with clear communications for shipping updates, my products were shipped on time and delivered earlier than expected. Products were well packaged and protected. Will definitely order another ADA product through them again.

If you want to escape your world into another fascinating world, for just one moment, then here it is. Listen up, it's microecology at its best. Looking for the best freshwater tropical fish aquarium store in the West Coast? This is it boys and girls, so look no further. Bountiful freshwater fauna and flora endemic to the world over are waiting to be seen and discovered. Low-tech to high-tech aquarium systems can be customized and suited for the novice, hobbyist, or expert. . . . If you're flying in for a visit, definitely call first. NOTICE: Phone or email the staff for current livestock availability and business hours BEFORE the day you visit the store.

Drove over 1 hour 1/2 to go to this store with the intention to buy an aquarium set and more but the person that was working there was not friendly and helpful. I asked how much was the price of one of their display tank and he just replied with $ 700 - $1100 or it could be more. That’s it. No explanation of the features and benefits. When we walked in the the door, no greeting or hello, nothing. This tall guy with a beard needs a lot of customer service training. What a waste of my time driving here. I’ll just refer back to shopping on Amazon or the internet. Online is the best.

Gorgeous and inspiring - worth a visit just to see the beautifully designed and maintained tanks. A must visit for folks equally interested in the flora to go with the fishes 🐟🐠 Deeply knowledgeable staff, willing to work with customers to bring a vision to life. Prices are commensurate with quality 😉 so save up.

San Francisco is deserving of such an amazingly quirky aquascaping store. The store front is nestled in the lower level of an older (by appearance) residential building. Unassuming at first. Then you step through the door not only to see ADA gear in every direction, but some very nice display tanks, plenty of fish and plant stock, and more aquascaping gear (i.e., branches, stones) near the back. What else can you ask for?

They sell the most beautiful tanks and plants. They are more expensive than other stores but it is the best and cleanest store you will ever find, with knowledgeable staff. A rare find.

I love ordering products from their online store. I know there are many different places/sites to order from in this hobby, but this is always my go to first choice. Will def visit the retail store next time I’m in San Francisco! Thank you AFA

I’ve gotten plants here several times and they have always been healthy and nice specimens. George has emailed with me and is very helpful and nice. Love this place!

I absolutely love this store! The staff that work here are always so knowledgeable and helpful with all the questions that we may have about aquascaping. They have a great selection of plants, fish, and landscape items. Highly recommend checking it out if you ever need aquascaping inspiration!

Best store For ADA products and planted tanks in general..awesome staff with a lot of knowledge! Thank you for helping set up my tank!

Aqua Forest is the Gold Standard for planted aquariums. Worth a visit even if you don't own an aquarium to see the beautiful underwater lush green landscapes and schools of colorful fish in high tech tanks with fancy lights. Knowledgeable staff, somewhat expensive, but a convenient location on popular Fillmore Street.

Best aquascaping store in the US, and the only place I can seem to find ADA kit (never been to the shop but have been ordering products online for over a year)

great place, helpful staff and a lovely assortment of fish, plants, and hardscape materials and i intend to return at least once more for my future aquarium needs! 40 minute drive is worth it for this small shop!

It's hard to come by this selection of ADA aquasaping products in the USA. It's an unbeatable one stop shop for all of the hardscape, tools, tissue cultures and high quality tanks you could ever desire. Shipping is fast and packages are put together with extreme care to ensure they arrive perfect.

They care about what they do, and they're willing to help you by giving thorough advice on starting a tank. Fish are incredibly healthy, and they sell fresh, in vitro plants. When it comes to planted tanks, if you want to talk to / buy from someone who has seen it all, this is your best bet in the Bay Area. If there's a better aquarium store stateside, I haven't seen it. I used to go here and just soak in the beauty...

Designed, installed, and maintaining an 80 gallon aquascape for me. Real pleasure to work with - the cost for their design services is absurdly low for the amount of hours they put in, including multiple visits to my house by 2-3 people for many hours to install the tank, the equipment, and then the plants, logs, rocks, et al. Real pleasure.