About Us
What started as a tank in the living room
Badgerland Saltwater began the way most reef tanks do — with one aquarium, a lot of questions, and no intention of it becoming a business. That first tank turned into a second, then a frag rack, then a storefront on North Academy Street in downtown Janesville.
Today we're a locally owned aquarium store serving reef keepers across southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, plus customers all over the country who order online. We stock coral, saltwater fish, freshwater fish, plants, food, chemicals, filtration, heaters, and the everyday odds and ends that keep a tank running.
We're built for beginners and reef nerds alike
If you're setting up your first 20-gallon and you're not sure what a refractometer is, we'll walk you through it. If you're hunting a specific Jason Fox or WWC piece for a mature SPS system, we probably have something you'll want to see under the blues.
We keep our livestock in our own systems before it goes home with you, and we'd rather talk you out of a coral that won't work in your tank than sell you something that's going to melt in two weeks. That's the whole reason to shop local instead of clicking "add to cart" on a big box site.
Find us at coral shows across the Midwest
A big part of what we do happens on the road. We pack up the frag tanks and travel to shows all over the country, and 2026 is our busiest season yet:
| Date | Show | City |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 26–27 | Aquashella | Chicago, IL |
| Oct 10 | Reefing USA | St. Louis, MO |
| Oct 11 | Reefing USA | Kansas City, MO |
| Oct 17 | Reefing USA | Atlanta, GA |
| Oct 18 | Reefing USA | Louisville, KY |
| Oct 24 | Reefing USA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Oct 25 | Reefing USA | Milwaukee, WI |
| Nov 21 | Reefing USA | Chicago, IL |
| Nov 22 | Reefing USA | Indianapolis, IN |
| Dec 5 | Reefing USA | Nashville, TN |
| Dec 6 | Reefing USA | Memphis, TN |
Come say hi, bring your questions, and take a look at what's in the tanks.
Shipping and pickup
We ship livestock and dry goods across the continental United States — $30 flat rate to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, and $50 flat rate everywhere else in the continental US. Local customers can order online and choose free in-store pickup, usually ready within about four hours.
Come see us
Badgerland Saltwater LLC
11 N Academy St, Janesville, WI 53548
(608) 554-3473 · badgerlandsaltwater@gmail.com
Thursday–Monday, 11 AM–7 PM · Closed Tuesday & Wednesday