Question 1

What is Fast Aquatics?

Accepted Answer

Fast Aquatics is a multi-vendor online marketplace for live aquarium fish, coral, invertebrates, and aquatic plants in all 50 US states. Vendors ship overnight via FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air, every order is covered by carrier-tracked Buyer Protection, and a 4-hour DOA claim window with photo evidence is supported. Operated by WETYR Corporation.

Question 2

How does Fast Aquatics protect buyers if a fish or coral arrives dead?

Accepted Answer

Every order has a 4-hour DOA window starting at carrier-reported delivery. Buyers submit three photos (sealed bag with specimen, closeup of the specimen, shipping label visible on the box) through the Fast Aquatics claim portal. Vendors must respond within 24 hours (48 on weekends). Approved claims result in full refund, store credit, or replacement on next available shipment. If a vendor does not respond, Fast Aquatics mediation steps in automatically using carrier tracking, weather data, and photo evidence.

Question 3

What are the best beginner saltwater fish?

Accepted Answer

The top beginner saltwater fish are ocellaris clownfish, royal gramma, firefish goby, and banggai cardinalfish. All four are hardy, peaceful in community tanks, accept frozen and pellet foods, and tolerate the typical parameter swings of a new reef tank. Yellow tangs and chromis are common second additions once the tank has matured 90 days.

Question 4

How much does a reef tank cost to run per month?

Accepted Answer

A 75-gallon mixed reef typically costs $45 to $180 per month to run: salt mix $20, frozen and pellet food $15, RO/DI membranes and resin $5, electricity for lighting plus pumps plus heater $25 to $40, and supplements like alkalinity, calcium, and trace elements $0 to $100 depending on coral load. Initial setup runs $1,800 to $3,500 for tank, stand, sump, lighting, and rock.

Question 5

How do I treat ich in my aquarium?

Accepted Answer

For saltwater, copper-based treatment with Cupramine in a hospital tank for 14 to 21 days is the gold standard. For freshwater, Ich-X or heat plus salt for 10 to 14 days. The tank transfer method (moving fish between two tanks every three days for 12 days) treats saltwater fish without medications. Display tank must run fallow at 78F or higher for 76 days to ensure parasites die without hosts.

Question 6

What PAR levels do SPS corals need?

Accepted Answer

Acropora colonies need 250 to 450 PAR depending on species. Montipora prefers 200 to 350 PAR. Stylophora and Pocillopora do well at 200 to 300 PAR. Light acclimation is critical: even a 50 PAR jump can cause STN, RTN, or bleaching in established colonies. Use a PAR meter or rent one from your local reef club to verify before placing high-light SPS.

Question 7

How do I cycle a new aquarium quickly?

Accepted Answer

Fastest cycle uses live rock from an established system plus Dr. Tim's One and Only nitrifying bacteria plus an ammonia dose to 2 ppm. The cycle completes in 7 to 14 days versus 4 to 6 weeks with dry rock alone. Test ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate daily; the cycle is complete when ammonia and nitrite both read zero within 24 hours of dosing 2 ppm ammonia.

Question 8

Which fish species are illegal to ship to my state?

Accepted Answer

Fast Aquatics enforces state-by-state legality at checkout via a 52-rule database. Examples: piranha banned in 38+ states, snakeheads federally prohibited under the Lacey Act, Hawaii requires permits for most non-native saltwater livestock, California Fish and Game Code 2118 prohibits piranha, snakeheads, walking catfish, gar, and mosquitofish, Florida bans freshwater stingrays without permit. The system blocks restricted items at checkout and recommends legal alternatives.

Question 9

How do vendors get paid on Fast Aquatics?

Accepted Answer

Fast Aquatics uses a multi-payee PayPal model (also supports Square and Stripe Connect). When a buyer checks out, payment is split atomically: the vendor's portion (subtotal plus shipping minus take rate) lands in the vendor's PayPal account at the same moment Fast Aquatics' platform fee lands in the Fast Aquatics PayPal account. Fast Aquatics never holds buyer funds. Vendors stay merchant of record for tax purposes.

Question 10

What is the Vendor Trust Score?

Accepted Answer

Every vendor on Fast Aquatics has a public Trust Score from 0 to 100, calculated daily as a composite of DOA performance (30%), shipping speed (15%), claim response time (15%), customer satisfaction (20%), order volume (10%), platform tenure (5%), and verified credentials (5%). Top 5% (Trust Score 90+) earn the Fast Aquatics Top Vendor badge. Trust Score appears on every listing card and vendor profile and influences search ranking.

Live aquatics.
Shipped right.

Pick your hobby. Start your tank.

Freshwater Fish

Saltwater Fish

Coral (SPS / LPS / Soft)

Shrimp + FW inverts

Marine inverts + anemones

Aquatic Plants

Dry Goods

Food & Supplements

Care guides, species, equipment.

If it doesn't arrive alive, we make it right.

Delivery is timestamped

File with photos

Vendor responds in 24 hours

Refund or replacement

Shop and ship to all 50 states.

Shipping this week.

Quick answers to the questions that decide $50.

Live aquatics.Shipped right.