Sea Cave · Erie, PA · Since 1975
We keep your tank crystal and thriving.
The catalog
6 aisles, salt & fresh.
Build guides
Build it right, parts and all.
Step-by-step tank builds — what you need, why you need it, and the exact parts priced from our shelves. Read it, then come pick it up.
Saltwater · Any reef or saltwater tank
Where to Buy Live Coral and Saltwater Fish in Northwest Pennsylvania
Saltwater and coral specialists are thin on the ground in NW PA, so most reefers from Meadville to Oil City drive to Erie. Here's how to find a good shop, buy livestock with confidence and get it home healthy.
Read the build
Fresh & Salt · Any size
Erie Tap Water and Your Aquarium: What NW PA Fishkeepers Need to Know
Erie tap water comes straight from Lake Erie: moderately hard, chlorine-treated and fine for most community fish once you condition it. What that means for your tank, your corals and your water changes.
Read the buildSaltwater · 125 gallon
How to build a saltwater sump for a 125-gallon reef tank
The full sump build for a 125-gallon reef: protein skimmer, 700 GPH (gallons per hour) return pump, 300W of heat, media and flood-safe plumbing, priced part by part from the shelves at Sea Cave, Erie PA's aquarium shop since 1975.
$958.82
Common questions
Asked at the counter.
- Is Sea Cave a public aquarium or a fish store?
- Sea Cave is Erie's retail aquarium store — a sales floor of live saltwater and freshwater display tanks you can walk through, with fish, coral, plants, and equipment all for sale. There's no admission; just stop in at 660 East 14th Street and browse the tanks.
- What are Sea Cave's hours and where are you located?
- Sea Cave Inc. is at 660 East 14th Street, Erie, PA 16503, open Monday through Friday 12:00–6:00 PM and Saturday 11:00 AM–4:00 PM, closed Sunday. Call (814) 456-9445 before driving in if you're coming from out of town — livestock rotates daily.
- Do you sell both saltwater and freshwater fish?
- Yes — Sea Cave stocks both saltwater and freshwater livestock under one roof, including community freshwater fish, reef-safe saltwater fish, captive-bred coral, invertebrates, and live plants. Most tanks are visible from the sales floor so you can see exactly what you're buying before you commit.
- Where can I buy live coral near Erie, PA?
- Sea Cave Inc. at 660 East 14th Street in Erie carries captive-bred coral frags and colonies, plus does in-house propagation so the stock rotates weekly. Buying local means no overnight shipping shock and you can inspect polyp extension and coloration in person before bringing a frag home.
- How much does saltwater aquarium maintenance cost?
- Professional saltwater service is priced industry-wide at roughly $1.25 per gallon per month with a $150 minimum, usually visited weekly or bi-weekly depending on livestock bioload. Sea Cave quotes per tank — call (814) 456-9445 with your tank size and we'll price it; most homeowner tanks land between $150–$400 per month.
- Can I get a custom-size aquarium through Sea Cave?
- Yes. We don't build tanks in the shop — custom-size aquariums are built by the manufacturer and shipped direct to you. We help you spec it and handle the rest: stand, filtration, lighting, rockscape, and a stocking plan. Stop by 660 East 14th Street or call (814) 456-9445 with your dimensions and what you want to keep.
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed