FAQs

Marine Concepts Inc specializes in custom aquarium design, installation, and maintenance for both saltwater and freshwater tanks, along with a full-service aquarium supply shop in Wheeling IL and an online store at marineconceptsupply.com.

Yes. We create fully customized aquariums tailored to your space, style, and specific marine or freshwater needs, from residential living rooms to large commercial displays.

Popular saltwater fish include clownfish, tangs, wrasses, angelfish, gobies, and blennies. Our team can recommend species based on your tank size, filtration, and compatibility needs.

Freshwater favorites include tetras, guppies, cichlids, angelfish, gouramis, and bettas. We help match fish to your tank size, water conditions, and desired look.

Cycling a tank means establishing beneficial bacteria to process waste. This process takes 4–6 weeks and involves running your filtration, adding an ammonia source, and testing water parameters until safe for fish.

Yes. Through marineconceptsupply.com, we offer a wide selection of live corals including SPS, LPS, and soft corals, shipped safely nationwide or available for local pickup in Wheeling IL.

SPS (Small Polyp Stony) corals have small polyps and require high light and flow, LPS (Large Polyp Stony) have larger fleshy polyps, and soft corals lack a hard skeleton and are generally more beginner-friendly.

For new tanks, test 2–3 times per week. For established tanks, once weekly is ideal to monitor pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and other parameters. Reef tanks may require additional tests for calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity.

Yes. We provide professional maintenance services for both saltwater and freshwater systems, including cleaning, water changes, equipment checks, and livestock care.

Yes, but it requires replacing substrate, filtration, and decor, along with upgrading to saltwater-compatible equipment. We can handle the conversion from start to finish.

A 20–30 gallon tank is a good starting size. It’s easier to maintain stable water conditions than in smaller tanks and allows for more fish and aquascaping options.

Yes. We carry pumps, canister filters, sumps, protein skimmers, reactors, and other filtration solutions in-store and online at marineconceptsupply.com.

Maintain proper lighting schedules, avoid overfeeding, perform regular water changes, and use quality filtration. Adding algae-eating fish or invertebrates can also help.

We carry smart controllers for temperature, lighting, pH, and dosing, allowing you to monitor and manage your tank remotely via smartphone.

Most saltwater aquariums thrive between 76°F and 78°F. Stability is key, and heaters or chillers may be required depending on your environment.

Tropical freshwater fish typically do best between 74°F and 78°F, while coldwater species like goldfish prefer 65°F to 72°F.

Yes. We stock a wide variety of frozen, flake, pellet, and specialty diets, along with medications and supplements for fish health.

Use the drip or float method to gradually match water temperature and chemistry, reducing stress and preventing shock to your fish.

Most corals require moderate to high-intensity reef lighting for photosynthesis. The exact need depends on the species, with SPS needing the most light.

Most fish do well with 1–2 small feedings per day, only as much as they can eat in 2–3 minutes to avoid excess waste.

Yes. We safely move aquariums of all sizes, handling livestock, equipment, and water to minimize stress and downtime.

Yes. Reef tanks are designed to house both corals and compatible reef-safe fish species that won’t nip at or damage coral.

Use test kits to monitor levels and supplement with calcium, alkalinity buffers, or dosing systems as needed to support coral growth.

A sump is an open tank under your display for filtration and equipment, commonly used in saltwater setups. Canister filters are enclosed units that sit outside the tank and work for both freshwater and smaller saltwater systems.

Yes. We carry equipment to maintain stable tank temperatures, including adjustable heaters and chillers for high-heat environments.

Absolutely. We design and maintain aquariums for offices, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and other commercial spaces.

Quarantine new arrivals, maintain clean water, avoid overstocking, and feed a balanced diet. We also offer treatments if illness occurs.

Yes. Live rock provides natural biological filtration and habitat for beneficial organisms in reef tanks.

Gravel or sand are popular choices, with certain fish like cichlids benefiting from specific mineral-rich substrates.

Aragonite sand or crushed coral helps maintain proper pH and provides a natural look for marine environments.

You can shop at our Wheeling IL aquarium supply store or online at marineconceptsupply.com for saltwater tanks, equipment, coral, and more.

Yes. We provide full-service aquarium installation in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, including design, setup, and stocking.

Marine Concepts Supply offers a large selection of live coral for pickup in Wheeling IL or shipping anywhere in the U.S.

Yes. We deliver and install aquariums of all sizes throughout Chicago and the suburbs.

Yes. We stock a variety of live freshwater plants to enhance your tank’s look and provide natural filtration.

Clownfish, damselfish, and gobies are hardy and colorful, making them great starter fish for new saltwater aquariums.

Yes. We provide urgent aquarium services for leaks, equipment failures, and livestock emergencies.

Our Wheeling IL store stocks a variety of aquarium pumps, powerheads, and wavemakers for all tank sizes.

Yes. We offer in-sump and hang-on protein skimmers to keep your reef tank water clean and clear.

Yes. We design and install custom reef tanks, including advanced filtration, lighting, and aquascaping.

Yes. Orders from marineconceptsupply.com can be shipped anywhere in the continental U.S.

We carry premium reef salt mixes that maintain stable parameters for coral health, including brands like Red Sea and Instant Ocean.

Yes. We carry LED lights for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums, including programmable reef lighting systems.

Yes. We design, install, and maintain aquariums for corporate offices and commercial spaces.

Our shop offers a full range of fish food, from flakes and pellets to frozen and live options.

Visit marineconceptsupply.com, choose your corals, add to cart, and select your preferred shipping or local pickup option.

Yes. We carry dosing pumps for automatic supplementation of calcium, alkalinity, and trace elements in reef tanks.

We offer professional water testing at our Wheeling IL store to help diagnose and fix water quality issues.

Yes. We offer in-store and on-site consultations to plan new tanks or troubleshoot existing setups.

Yes. We create natural and artistic aquascapes using rocks, plants, and substrate to fit your vision.

A sump increases water volume, hides equipment, and improves filtration efficiency, making it ideal for larger tanks.

Yes. We carry adjustable aquarium heaters for tanks of all sizes.

Yes. We install smart controllers for lights, pumps, and dosing, allowing you to manage your tank remotely.

Yes. We can hold and observe new fish before adding them to your main display to prevent disease.

We stock quality live rock for saltwater aquariums at our Wheeling IL location.

Yes. We provide maintenance services for reef tanks in restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality businesses.

Yes. We carry programmable fish feeders to ensure your fish are fed on schedule.

We stock reef-safe fish species both in-store and through our online shop.

Yes. We design and install custom in-wall aquariums for a seamless, high-end look.

Yes. We accept certain fish, coral, and equipment trade-ins depending on condition and demand.

Our Wheeling IL store and marineconceptsupply.com offer a wide selection of reef-safe fish ideal for saltwater aquariums.

Yes. We regularly stock healthy captive-bred clownfish, available for pickup in Wheeling or shipped nationwide.

Yes. We design and maintain nano reef tanks with compact equipment and coral-friendly lighting.

Yes. We carry complete saltwater setups including tanks, filtration, lighting, and salt mix.

We stock popular freshwater shrimp species like cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp in our Wheeling IL shop.

Yes. We design and install large-scale aquariums for museums, public spaces, and attractions.

Yes. We carry magnetic and acrylic frag racks for coral propagation.

Our Wheeling store and online shop offer aragonite and live sand for marine tanks.

Yes. We set up dosing pumps, auto top-off systems, and controllers to reduce manual upkeep.

Yes. We carry reef-safe epoxy and glue for securing coral and aquascaping.

We stock African and South American cichlids in various sizes and colors at our Wheeling IL location.

Yes. We create custom aquariums to match your home or office style, from modern to rustic.

Yes. We carry chillers to keep tanks cool during hot Illinois summers.

Yes. We design fish-only marine setups with vibrant species and minimal maintenance needs.

Yes. We offer printed and 3D backgrounds for freshwater and saltwater tanks.

We carry betta tanks, food, and care accessories at our Wheeling store.

Yes. We deliver pre-mixed saltwater and RO/DI freshwater to customers in the Chicago area.

Yes. We stock RO/DI water filtration systems to produce pure water for your tank.

Yes. We design predator tanks with species like lionfish, triggers, and groupers.

Yes. We carry live copepods and phytoplankton for reef nutrition.

We stock premium reef lighting systems in-store and online, including AI, Kessil, and Ecotech brands.

Yes. We design and install both acrylic and glass aquariums depending on your needs.

Yes. We offer professional aquarium resealing and repair services.

Yes. We carry select brackish species and can help you set up the proper environment.

Our Wheeling IL shop has frozen, flake, pellet, and specialty diets for marine fish.

Yes. We create customized livestock plans to ensure species compatibility and balance.

Yes. We fabricate and install custom sump filtration systems for any tank size.

Yes. We carry UV sterilizers to reduce algae and harmful pathogens.

We stock hang-on-back, canister, and sponge filters for all freshwater tank sizes.

Yes. We design and maintain live-planted aquariums with proper lighting, substrate, and CO2 systems.

Yes. We carry frag plugs and discs for coral propagation and frag swaps.

Yes. We assess your current setup and recommend upgrades for performance and efficiency.

Yes. We offer custom and pre-built stands in various finishes to match your décor.

Our store stocks snails, crabs, shrimp, and other reef-safe inverts.

Yes. We build mesh and acrylic lids to prevent fish jumping and reduce evaporation.

Yes. We offer vacation aquarium care and monitoring in the Chicago area.

Yes. We carry small tanks and equipment for quarantining new livestock.

We sell comprehensive test kits for marine water parameters both in-store and online.

Yes. We install ATO systems to maintain stable water levels in your aquarium.

Yes. We offer beginner-friendly frag packs with a mix of hardy coral species.