Oceanic Aquariums, Are They Still Good?

Last Updated on October 2, 2022 by cmoarz

If you’ve ever been out tank shopping at yard sales or on eBay, You may have encountered some fancy-looking, high-quality aquariums made by Oceanic Aquariums.

These were a high-end brand of aquariums that were very popular and regularly sold up until 2007 (with some exceptions up to 2014).

But are they still any good today, and should you consider them if you’re in the market for a new aquarium?

Background of Oceanic aquarium tanks and products

Oceanic brand aquariums (owned by Central Garden & Pet) was a high-end brand of aquariums built alongside a lower-end brand of aquariums, Aqueon.

Oceanic was known for its “reef ready” tanks which included features that were conducive to keeping saltwater corals.

The company also had a wide range of freshwater and saltwater aquariums as well as an array of aquarium supplies.

At a certain point in the lifespan of these businesses, it was realized that the cheaper less “high tech” Aqueon tanks were outselling the more expensive Oceanic aquariums by 100 to 1.

This eventually prompted the company to discontinue manufacturing the more expensive higher quality tanks and create more focus on the lower-end market.

However, Central Garden & Pet still produce custom-ordered high-quality tanks for specialty applications and private buyers under one of their current brands.

Does oceanic still make aquariums? No, the company was absorbed back into its parent company (CG&P) which creates aquariums under a different brand name, Aqueon.

Is a high-end oceanic aquarium system still a good product? Yes!

While the manufacturing of these tanks is discontinued, A lively secondary market has emerged for used and new Oceanic aquariums.

These tanks are still seen as some of the best quality tanks you can buy, with many people saying they’re “built like a tank”.

While it’s true that you’ll be paying more for a used or new old stock tank compared to modern ones available today, The quality is undeniable and these tanks should last you a lifetime if properly maintained.

If you’re in the market for a high-quality aquarium and don’t mind spending a little extra, an Oceanic aquarium is definitely worth your consideration.

Should you buy a used oceanic aquarium for your saltwater or freshwater fish tanks?

This comes down to a personal choice and the condition of the tank itself.

Generally speaking, a used freshwater aquarium is going to be less of a concern than a used saltwater one.

But both could potentially need to be re-siliconed (all aquariums will eventually need this) and have their pumps and other electrical components replaced over time.

With that being said, if you’re set on getting an Oceanic aquarium and find a good deal on a used one in decent condition then it could be worth your while.

Just be sure to inspect it thoroughly before making any commitments. Resealing an aquarium is generally pretty straightforward, But rejointing a tank becomes a larger and possibly more expensive project.

Our personal opinion on the design thought & technology that went into these products and the downfall of the business

We loved oceanic tanks and aquarium products. They were the top-of-the-line marine aquarium when it came to technology and design for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums at the time.

These are solid tanks that when taken care of can last decades. Their designs were often beautiful and complementary to any home.

Unfortunately, the hobbyist world’s need and desire for cheaper tanks, and various economic factors during that period in history lead to the discontinuation of this once great brand.

We’re sad to see them go, but we understand why it had to happen.

We still think they’re great products and feel that if you can find one at a good price, it’s definitely worth your while.

Where you might still be able to find used Oceanic Aquariums for sale

Your best bet for finding these tanks is definitely going to be eBay. We’ve seen many of these larger tanks pop up for sale there over the years.

You might also find some for sale on Facebook marketplace or other classifieds websites.

A quick google search will also reveal a few online retailers that are still selling new old stock tanks and parts.

If you’re patient and do your research, you should be able to find what you’re looking for without too much trouble.