Red Sea vs Zoo Med:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Zoo Med had more branded searches than Red Sea among aquarium brands worldwide. Zoo Med had about 18,100 branded searches, while Red Sea had 9,900. Zoo Med made up 13.6% of all aquarium brand searches we track, and Red Sea accounted for 7.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about aquarium brands, Red Sea appeared in three of the five answers and Zoo Med in none.
Who do people search for more?
Zoo Med, about 83% more searches than Red Sea
Who does AI mention more?
Red Sea, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Zoo Med in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Red Sea, the only one of the two named
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Top aquarium brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Red Sea was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Zoo Med did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Fluval1st
Waterbox Aquariums2nd
Ultum Nature Systems3rd
Aqueon4th
Innovative Marine5th- Red Sea6th
Seachem7th
Eheim8th
Tetra9th- Zoo Med–
- +1 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Fluval4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Ultum Nature Systems4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Waterbox Aquariums4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Aqueon4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Red Sea3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Innovative Marine3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Eheim1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Seachem1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Tetra1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Zoo Med0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about aquarium brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which aquarium brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best aquarium brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best aquarium brand for a home aquarium?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“aquarium brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“saltwater aquarium brands”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Red Sea or Zoo Med more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Red Sea and Zoo Med by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 aquarium brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Zoo Med, Red Sea. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Fluval | Zoo Med | Eheim | Red Sea | Seachem | Ultum Nature Systems | Aqua One | Innovative Marine | Waterbox Aquariums | Tetra | Aqueon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 31.2% | 14.2% | 14.7% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 4.7% | 3.5% |
| Nov 2025 | 31.5% | 11% | 16% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 4.9% | 6% | 5.8% | 3.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 32.1% | 11.2% | 16.3% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 3.4% | 4.1% | 5% | 5% | 4.5% | 3.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 32.7% | 11.8% | 14.9% | 7.9% | 6.4% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 6.2% | 3.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 32.7% | 11.5% | 14.5% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 4.3% | 3.4% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.6% | 3.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 31.9% | 11.9% | 14% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.8% | 3.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.9% | 13.1% | 12.7% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.9% | 4.4% | 3.9% |
| May 2026 | 29.8% | 13.2% | 12.8% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 5% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 5.9% | 4.6% | 3.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 31.9% | 14.5% | 11.5% | 6.5% | 7.9% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 3.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 30.3% | 13.8% | 10.9% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 5% | 5% | 7.6% | 4.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 29.9% | 12.8% | 13.2% | 7% | 8.5% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 6% | 3.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 30.7% | 13.6% | 13.2% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 5.1% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 4.1% | 3.3% |
How has the Red Sea and Zoo Med comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Zoo Med was ahead of Red Sea in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Red Sea’s share of searches among aquarium brands worldwide moved from 7.7% to 7.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 9.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Zoo Med’s share of searches among aquarium brands worldwide moved from 14.2% to 13.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for aquarium brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Zoo Med overtook Eheim to rank 2nd among aquarium brands worldwide, with 13.6% of the searches.
In September 2026, Red Sea rose from 5th to 4th among aquarium brands worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Red Sea’s and Zoo Med’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among aquarium brands
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