Free Shipping

Aquarium Specialty offers free shipping on orders of dry goods over $175.00 in the continental US. Heavyweight and/or oversized box charges may be applied to some orders during checkout.

Live Stock Shipping

All live stock is shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight®, packed in plastic bags and shipped in insulated containers. We pack our animals to arrive alive. We charge a $35.00 flat shipping rate no matter how many corals you purchase. There is a $10.00 box charge per box to cover the cost of the boxes, packing material, heat packs or cold packs. Each box will typically hold 4 corals or 8 frags. You can mix and match frags and colonies on your orders.

Dry Goods Shipping

All dry goods will be shipped UPS Ground® unless specified by the buyer at the time of checkout. Actual shipping charges will be applied to your orders and there are no box charges on dry goods orders. Some items are custom orders (certain protein skimmers, calcium reactors, etc.) Please allowing for custom fabrication and delivery time.

We ship only to the continental United States. No overseas orders will be accepted.

Arrive Alive Guarantee

We guarantee our livestock to arrive alive. You must notify us within 6 hours of arrival to be eligible for our Arrive Alive Guarantee. A digital photo will be required within 12 hours of receipt of shipment. In some cases, we may require you to send back the dead animal via priority service. If everything checks out, your money will be refunded, minus the shipping charges and box charge(s).

Damaged Items

If your merchandise arrives damaged, please contact us within 24 hours of arrival. All damage claims must be filed with your carrier. We are more than happy to provide you with full assistance in this unlikely event. Please note that orders cannot be returned, cancelled, or rejected due to shipping delays unless express service was requested at the time of ordering.

If a package is damaged by UPS, FedEx or other carrier, Aquarium Specialty will file the claim with the proper carrier.

If a package is damaged via USPS, the customer will file the claim with the carrier. Aquarium Specialty recommends against using USPS as a carrier due to difficulty associated and variations in the claims process.

Please contact Aquarium Specialty via email or call us at 1-803-309-0234 ASAP so we can begin the claims process.

Return Policy

To avoid returns, we suggest you ask about any product you are unsure of and their warranties before you order.

For Unopened Packages:

Aquarium Specialty cannot accept returns of products once they have been opened. Before opening each product, please check its packaging and label carefully to be sure you received the correct product. If the supplier's original packaging and seal is still intact, you may return the product to us within 30 days from purchase for an exchange, merchandise credit or refund (excluding shipping and handling charges), subject to a 10% restocking fee. Return shipping charges incurred are the responsibility of the customer.

RMA Process (Returned Merchandise Authorization)

All products returned must be accompanied by a valid Return Authorization (RA) number issued by us within 30 days of your original invoice date. After 30 days from purchase, we can no longer issue an RA and will refer you to the manufacturer for warranty service. All returned products must be 100% complete in original packaging and in resalable condition, with all packaging, software, manuals, cables, components, blank warranty cards and other accessories and documentation included. A valid RA number must be written clearly and conspicuously on the outside of the shipping box.

Shipping and handling charges are not refundable. On items where shipping and handling is not billed or is free, shipping and handling charges will be approximated to 10% of the regular retail price of merchandise. Aquarium Specialty is not responsible for shipping charges and insurance on all return shipments including defective items. Under all circumstances, no use of Aquarium Specially shipping account numbers is permitted.

If packages need to be returned to us, please contact us via email or by phone.

Restocking Fee

All returns are subject to a 10% restocking fee. All refunds can be placed back into your credit card or as a store credit.

Highlights:

• Aquarium Specialty will only accept back new and unused items for a full refund, minus a restocking fee.
• Normal returns can take up to a week to complete.
• The customer is responsible for shipping charges and insurance on all return shipments.
• All original equipment, components, manuals, cables, and packaging will need to be returned in order for Aquarium Specialty to process your RMA.
• If the shipper damaged a package, Aquarium Specialty will file the damaged items claim with the carrier once we have been notified by you.

Custom Orders

All sales on custom order products are final. No returns will be accepted and no refunds will be given on custom orders.