We Started This Store Because We Needed It
We’re reefers first. Living in the Florida Keys gives you a deep, daily appreciation for coral reefs — and a constant frustration when you can’t find what you need locally. For years, anyone in the Keys who needed coral, livestock, or quality reef supplies had to drive to Miami or order online and hope for the best.
We built The Underwater Gardener to fix that.
Our passion started the way most reef journeys do — collecting fish for our own tanks, then frags, then full coral colonies, then building out display tanks we couldn’t stop staring at. Over time that passion turned into a business, and that business turned into Key West’s only dedicated saltwater aquarium store.
What We’ve Built
We didn’t want to open just another fish store. We designed The Underwater Gardener from the ground up as a true reef destination — a place where beginners can get real answers, experienced reefers can find something they’ve never seen before, and everyone can see coral the way it’s meant to be seen: in person, in water, alive.
Walk into our showroom at the Overseas Market Plaza on N Roosevelt Blvd and you’ll find:
- Multiple display reef tanks showcasing coral in fully established reef environments
- Frag tanks stocked with aquacultured, wild-caught, and locally collected specimens
- A complete selection of coral and marine fish — Soft Corals, LPS, SPS, anemones, invertebrates, and local Keys species
- Live rock, live sand, and R/O water
- Full aquarium supplies — lighting, flow, filtration, dosing pumps, testing, food, and cleaning equipment
- Authorized Red Sea dealer — we can help you build out a new Red Sea system or any major brand including Waterbox, Innovative Marine, Reef Casa, and Aquaforest
Florida Aquacultured & Locally Collected
We hold Florida Aquaculture Certificate #AQ0254072 and operate a working coral farm on Sugarloaf Key where coral grows under natural Florida sunlight before it reaches our tanks or yours. This is real Florida-origin aquacultured coral — not coral grown under artificial lights in another state.
We also hold a Marine Life Dealer (MLD) license, which allows us to legally collect native Florida Keys species directly from local reefs. We focus primarily on fish, invertebrates, gorgonians, and corallimorphs — including Ricordea florida, Rock Flower Anemones, and other Caribbean species that are native to the reef just offshore.
If you’re looking for a specific local species — a particular fish, a gorgonian, or local Ricordea — ask us. We offer special collection for specific species and can arrange private reef collection charters with a licensed captain for serious hobbyists who want to experience the source firsthand.
Custom Aquarium Builds & Service
Thinking about a new aquarium? We build and install custom reef tanks for homes and businesses throughout the Keys. From concept to completion — tank selection, aquascaping, plumbing, lighting, and stocking — we handle every step.
If you already have an established system, we offer maintenance and service to keep your reef in top condition. Water changes, equipment checks, parameter testing, pest management — whatever your tank needs, we’ve got you.
Classes & Community
We run monthly aquarium classes at the shop covering everything from beginner reef setup to advanced coral husbandry. We also bring in special guest speakers and industry experts right here to Key West for more advanced sessions.
Whether you’re setting up your first tank or chasing SPS under high-end lighting, there’s a class for you. Follow us on social media for upcoming dates and topics.
Follow the Reef: Coral City Camera & Coral Morphologic
When we’re not in the showroom, we love keeping an eye on Miami’s wild urban coral through the Coral City Camera, a live reef-cam project from our friend Colin Foord and Coral Morphologic — well worth a watch if you want to see Florida coral thriving right along an urban shoreline.
Come See Us
We’re located in the Overseas Market Plaza at 2816 N Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 1, Key West, FL 33040 — directly next to Five Guys on US 1.
Hours:
Mon & Fri: 10:30am – 6:30pm
Sat: 11am – 6pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm
Tue – Thu: Closed (maintenance & collecting) — appointment only, scheduled in advance
If you’re visiting Key West, stop in. We’ll walk you through the showroom, answer your questions, and if you fall in love with something, we can pack it up and ship it home for you overnight.
We look forward to meeting you.
— Jamie & The Underwater Gardener Team
Florida Aquaculture Certificate #AQ0254072 | Marine Life Dealer Licensed | Authorized Red Sea Dealer 2816 N Roosevelt Blvd Suite 1, Key West, FL 33040 | jamie@theunderwatergardener.com | 305-850-9949
