I can't recommend this place enough. I love walking in and being greeted by the employees. I enjoy the banter everyone has (and with me) it's friendly. I have gotten all my fish and plants from here, and again I can't recommend this place enough. It's clean, it's populated, it's what an aquatic store should be (in my opinion). read more

Let's start off with the positives. Tanks are beautiful and well maintained. A lot of aquatic plant selection too. No doubt the fish in both the fresh and salt water section were healthy. The cons, the employee was glued to his chair. Maybe it was my t-shirt and shorts that made him think I wasn't going to buy anything? I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. Then another customer walked in and he immediately got up and was showing him around. I was prepared to spend 100 dollars plus on coral but after seeing that I decided to save my money. As I left he asked if I needed any help. No thanks! read more

The store is beautiful and the fish all looked very healthy. That said I bought 4 platys and acclimated them, put them in with my other platys, and they acted great, until they suddenly went belly up one by one. eventually all 4 died in a span of less than 2 weeks. I called the store and was told it was probably because they add some salt to their freshwater tanks so the salinity was very different, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF YOU TOLD ME THAT WHEN I CAME IN!!! I even asked if there was anything I should know before I left. They are offering to replace them at cost but I live over an hour away and since I do not salt my tank wouldn't it be the same problem all over again?? I feel terrible giving such a low star rating but I am just not satisfied, I will be 100x more likely to go over to the Winchester Aquarium & Pet Center for other fish. read more

The fish were nice but their service was pretty bad in my experience, if you're a beginner they were rushy. The only reason they aren't a one star is because they have a really nice variety. However, when I talked to one of them they seemed to be quick pace and rushy even though they had no one in the store but me. read more

Dave and crew run an amazing operation that just keeps getting better and better! Worth the drive if you are looking for something special both marine and fresh water. The cichlid room is teaming with options. Don't waste you time and money elsewhere support local business! read more

This is the best store in the area for fresh and salt water fish, plants and coral. The staff is friendly and very helpful in all areas of the hobby. You can even request a fish species and they will notify you if/when they get them. The salt water tanks they have are amazing and worth a visit just to view them. read more

We've been there twice. Nice selection of fish, plants and other aquarium related items. The employees were nice and able to answer questions. The fish and shrimp were healthy and survived. read more

NOVA Tropicals should be everyone's local fish store! We'd visited several local fish stores as we researched putting a large salt water tank in our house. During our research we found that NOVA Tropicals customer service, knowledge and inventory far surpassed their competition. We've since installed a 20 gallon and 130 gallon salt water tank in our house without issue. The store is always clean, you're met with friendly faces and employees that really want to help you learn and succeed. Dave the owner is absolutely fantastic. He helped us plan the 130 gallon tank, ensured set up went smoothly and is always been available for follow up questions! NOVA Tropicals is the very reason we support small businesses! read more

Nova Tropicals - Waterbox 130.4. - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Dale City, Virginia

See all

One of the if not the best aquatic shop in NVA, they actually quarantine their fish and do things right!! I have several planted tanks and recently stopped by to get some Otos and shrimp to keep the algae growth in check, Maggie actually bagged my shrimp with a tiny bit of moss for them to grab onto, that is the right way to bag shrimps and it was the first time I've seen it done in any NVA aquatic shops I've brought shrimp from. In the past I've also bought a betta tank, substrate, rocks and driftwoods from them, very reasonably priced! I'm most impressed and this shop is now my go-to place for aquatic needs. read more

This is a new freshwater focused aquatic pet store, and this crew have hit the ground running! The tanks are always clean, the plants are always healthy, the fish! They are quarantined and medicated before EVER touching the display tanks and if they do get sick afterwards, the team will not sell anyone from that tank till all is clear. I have had the pleasure of talking fish with Joe, who like everyone else has shown that it's more than a job they have, its knowledge they intend to share to make sure you succeed in the hobby. They keep betta fish NOT in cups but in their own little tanks with constant aeration and water changes the water and the boys look BEAUTIFUL. They keep the few girls in stock in a 30 gallon sorority tank with plants and sand substrate so that everyone can hide if they feel like it. It's a 40 minute drive but worth it every time. read more

I really like this place! They have great stuff and they taught my son a lot! There is a very wide selection of fish so there is something for everyone! read more

I went back to this place out of desperation and had none of the customer service issues I had before. The people working that were there when i had the bad experience have either been replaced or were off the day I came in. The staff seemed interested in helping and making suggestions. The amount of maintenance they do to keep the displays clean is ridiculous. Each tank seems to have its own water unlike the other larger pet stores and it really makes a difference. Hopefully they keep up the good work read more

See all

Worth the hour drive from DC. Great selection of corals, at amazing prices (especially if you are looking for large polyp stony). I got a decent sized red and turquoise acan with over two dozen heads for $69 and a neon green/purple hammer for $29. Saltwater fish selection was *mostly* the basics but they all looked super healthy and tanks were very very clean. I like how their labels all had the date when the fish came in and price clearly printed. Freshwater stock also looked great, lots of plants in the tanks which I love to see. If you are in the market for a large tank they have a bunch in stock. I wish I knew about this place a few months ago when I got my 75 gallon (bought used with scratches for $300 on craigslist), they had the same tank and stand for about $400. Would have bought mine new from here. Very reasonable prices read more

it ate its brother infront of me. they shouldn't do that. overall its alright! fish are so fucking weird #wine mom moment

This store is brand new, but already has so much to offer. With even more coming soon... high quality fish and supplies, both fresh and saltwater. Beautiful store with a great atmosphere. Despite limitations on supply from current affairs, they still have tons of great stuff and new stuff coming in every week. Amazing, competitive pricing (even to online!) on both livestock and dry goods. I can't wait to upgrade my tank in a few months :) read more

Nova Tropicals - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Dale City, Virginia

Since I was a little kid, Id always wanted a saltwater tank. Ask my family - instead of coming home from school asking for a puppy, I wanted a lionfish... I was excited to finally be in one place for an extended period, since Ive been relocated every year for work until now. That meant I could finally build my dream tank! I researched all of the places around this area and decided I would start by visiting NOVA Tropicals. By the time I walked out of that store, I had been taught more about getting started than I could have ever found on my own. The owner, Dave, is so knowledgeable and really mentored me with the products I'd gathered prior to coming in, rather than selling me on their products from scratch. Staff is so nice and approachable. Not only that, but the customers in the store are very community-like as well, going out of their way to help each other. Most say they have been coming to Dave for YEARS! I never visited another place after that first day because I found a place that shares my interest, cares about the wellbeing of these animals, and is focused on doing it right the first time. I am all-in with NOVA Tropicals! - Delivery / Setup - Freshwater / Saltwater - Fish, corals, equipment read more

I went to this new local pet/fish store and was wowed! It is so clean & spotless, the fish tanks are so clean & clear and the fish look so healthy & pretty. The owner is very educated on fish and gives you very good information. You can tell by his passion he has a great store with great fish. It was such a good experience. read more

Nova Tropicals - Pet/fish store - Local Fish Stores Near Me - Dale City, Virginia

See all

We are new to the area and we needed some fish for our new 55 gallon tank. Madison was so friendly and patient helping us make our selections. This is a wonderful store. All of the tanks are in pristine condition. The fish all seem to be very healthy. Tons of selection...they seem to have 100 different kinds of fish! The big box stores are likely okay for buying some supplies, but the folks at Nova Tropicals really know how to care for fish and that makes a big difference. Plus they really have good manners. As we were checking out, the owner came to the register to make sure we were happy. VERY classy. These are good people providing good products and services. We will be back for sure. Thank you! read more

If you are new to the hobby, TREAD WITH CAUTION. After trusting this store with their expertise on how to start a saltwater tank, we soon realized we were given incredibly terrible information. I STRONGLY recommend utilizing other aquatic stores if you are new to the hobby. Thankfully my family recognized we had been given bad information before anything bad happened to our fish. The store is clean, but I cannot comment on the experience for someone already knowledgeable with the hobby. read more

Nova Tropicals offers services for introductory to seasoned fish keepers! Upon entry, the establishment is clean and well kept. Every guest is greeted by a fish tank over 100 gallons with a small collection of their inventory. The fish in the large welcoming tank change every few weeks allowing guests to have a new surprise with each visit. Once you pass the welcoming tank committee, guests can enjoy rows of clean well maintained freshwater tanks. Nova Tropicals stocks fish keeper favorites for different levels of fish keeper including angelfish, rainbow fish, gourami, tetras, freshwater gobies, plecos, goldfish, corydoras, and guppies. In addition to these favorites, Nova Tropical also offers a variety of African Cichlids from peacock cichlids (Lake Malawi) to julidochromis (Lake Tanganyika). If you're looking for cichlids but aspire to branch outside of the African cichlids, Nova Tropicals typically offers a beautiful selection of Electric Blue Acara (Central/South America). Occasionally, Nova Tropicals will offer Silver Arowana, fancy goldfish (ie. pearlscale, lionhead, pom pom), and high quality plecos (ie. L200 Green Phantom) but they are not always staples in their stocking. However, if you ask the owner (or one of the friendly employees), he will work to order specific requests from customers so don't be afraid to ask! A beautiful plant based tank is located in the rear of the freshwater section for those looking to bring their "green thumb" into the aquarium hobby. As you can tell, I personally enjoy keeping freshwater tanks, but don't let my bias fool you: Nova Tropicals also offers a beautiful selection of saltwater fish along with two large coral frag tanks! I am not well versed enough to review the full stock of fish available in the saltwater section but Nova Tropicals ensure variety beyond the standard clownfish and yellow tangs. In the recent months, I have observed the following fish available in the Nova Tropicals saltwater selection: humuhumunukunukuāpuaa, Blue Spotted Jawfish, Powder Blue Tang, and Coral Beautys. Nove Tropicals works to be a one stop establishment as they offer tanks of varying sizes, a full size freezer filled with a variety of frozen foods, and even medication for fish requiring treatment (ie. EM Erythromycin,Fungus Cure, and Prazipro). If you are not certain what they have in stock, Nova Tropicals is very active on Facebook and posts frequent videos reviewing their inventory for the week. From their fish stock, to their supply stock, and the friendly customer service, Nova Tropicals works to ensure everyone feels welcome! read more

Hands down the nicest Reef store I've visited in Northern Virginia! Always lots of specimens to see and choose from. Actually they really have both beautiful salt and freshwater displays and stock. I need to be dragged out by wife when I visit. Dave, the owner, was more than generous with me when I had an issue with a past coral purchase. He really cares about the quality of his store and his customers satisfaction. I'd highly recommend anyone with a reef or freshwater aquariums to check it out for yourself. read more

This is an amazing place! I was blown away by the selection and friendly staff. As a novice, I had many questions regarding the best fish for beginners. The wonderful staff answered my questions and gave me recommendations. They also have s host of nice accessories from driftwood to rocks and live plants. I will definitely return...often. read more

See all

I will be honest and factual. You can get any fish supply,s like food , medicine and general items WIIdly cheaper on Amazon. They do have a very nice supply of in-stock fish tanks and gravel. They do not sell live food like brine shrimp. The service that they have is only average. They appear not at all outgoing nor do they seem interested about you or your purchases. I've been in there at least 4 times in the last couple months and yea, I do observe how they interact with people. I have seen people buy overpriced items and rack up a 150.00 bill and no "thank you" or anything. Now where they utterly fail and couldn't care less. The fish they sell are sick. I have bought fish 2 times and they introduced pathogens like ick or fine rot to my healthy fish and have killed off a LOT. The joke is they assure you that their new fish have been quarantined. Keeping new fish in a dark tank in the back, yea you can go and look, is not quarantined them. Sorry, your full of s##$. The sad truth is you can go to Petco, not petsmart, and get healthy fish that are about 2/3's the price. Look at some of the other reviews!! This isn't just me. So to sum it up. Need supplies? Amazon. Need a tank and stand? Go here, maybe but I would still shop. Need fish? Don't buy them here and if you insist on that then remember i told you so. read more

Tired of sick fish and corals from Petco? NOVA Tropicals should be your next stop. Beautiful store that is cheaper than the chains and everything you need to build a reef tank. Thanks for the beautiful hammer frag today. read more