Whether you are a longtime aquarium enthusiast or you just learned about planted tanks and want to find out more, there is something for everyone at Sweet’s Saltwater.

The fish and aquarium supply store at 443 E. Main St., Suite 3, has everything needed for both fresh and saltwater setups.

The store is open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from noon to 6 p.m. Friday. On Saturday the store is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

Devin Sweet is more than a business owner, he is also a lifelong participant in the hobby. His love of aquariums and fish goes back to when he was just a small child.

“I was given a turtle that was not cared for properly and from there I just started filling my mom’s house with fishtanks,” said Sweet. “It got to the point that I had to sneak them in because I had so many in my bedroom.”

Once Sweet discovered aquariums, his imagination took flight. At one point, he even brought in a plastic pool and filled it with water, plants and small fish.

“It was a little indoor pond on her floor,” laughed Sweet. “Looking back, I can understand why she got a bit upset over that one.”

Over the years, Sweet has had many freshwater and saltwater tanks. In pursuit of his hobby, he has visited many aquarium supply and pet stores all over New York and Pennsylvania.

“I saw a lot of things that I didn’t agree with so I decided to open a pet store that was run the way that I think a pet store should be run,” said Sweet.

Sweet believes that every animal deserves care, dignity and respect for their wellbeing.

“At the end of the day I believe we should be focused on the care of the animal,” said Sweet. “Yes, they are for sale but they are also alive and they have feelings too.”

It is a strategy that is working well with customers, who appreciate knowing that they are shopping at a store that lives up to an ethical standard, in addition to providing quality products.

“I think people like knowing that our fish are healthier because they are well cared for,” said Sweet. “They also like knowing they can get the supplies they need close to home.”

In addition to saltwater and freshwater aquarium supplies, Sweet offers aquarium installation and maintenance.
“It is perfect for someone with a busy schedule or someone with mobility issues who still wants to enjoy having an aquarium,” said Sweet. “I take care of all the maintenance and they can relax and enjoy their nice clean underwater world.”

Sometimes people can be put off by the hobby because they are reluctant to care for a tank month after month.

“And conversely, sometimes people schedule a maintenance appointment with me, see how I do things and eventually take the cleaning over for themselves,” said Sweet. “I am happy to have people learn from watching me.”

For Sweet, who is a wealth of information about everything aquariums, it is rewarding to teach others.

“I enjoy helping people make their ideas come to life or troubleshooting their problems,” said Sweet. “It is rewarding to know that fish are being well cared for in clean environments.”

When it comes to the difference between saltwater and freshwater, Sweet said there are rewarding aspects to both types of aquariums.

“With freshwater tanks I am really into the planted tanks right now where they are really whole landscaped ecosystems,” said Sweet. “But once you get into the saltwater it can really open your eyes up to all the options of fish out there.”

Sweet pointed out that even he is still learning. It is part of what keeps the hobby exciting year after year.

“There is always something new to research or some new style of plant becoming popular,” said Sweet. “There are a lot of trends in the aquarium world, actually.”

He recommends fishkeeping and aquariums to anyone as a great way to learn more about the complex ecosystems that make up the world.

“You start to really appreciate how fragile and complex nature is when you start trying to keep a tank alive,” said Sweet.

To keep up with Sweet’s Saltwater, follow them on Facebook and TikTok at Sweet’s Saltwater.