Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how AquaMaris (referred to as "we", "us", or "our"), operating under the domain aquamaris-store.com, uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our ecommerce platform dedicated to Professional Aquatic Husbandry. We are committed to transparency regarding the data collected through cookies and your choices to control them. For any privacy-related concerns not covered in this policy, you may reach us exclusively at contact@aquamaris-store.com.

1. What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, smartphone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, improve user experience, and provide certain functionalities to the website owners. Cookies may be "persistent" (remain on your device until you delete them or until they expire) or "session" (deleted automatically after you close your browser). Our ecommerce platform also uses similar technologies such as local storage, pixel tags, and web beacons to support shopping features and analytics — all covered under this Cookie Policy.

2. Why we use cookies on AquaMaris

As a specialized ecommerce store for professional aquatic husbandry (including but not limited to aquarium filtration systems, water quality test kits, aquatic supplements, and husbandry tools), we use cookies for several essential purposes:

  • Essential / Strictly Necessary Cookies: These cookies are required for the operation of our ecommerce website. They enable you to navigate the site, add products to your shopping cart, proceed to checkout, complete payments securely, and access your account dashboard. Without these cookies, services like order processing, cart retention, and secure login cannot be provided.
  • Functional Cookies: These cookies remember choices you make (such as preferred currency, language, or region) and provide enhanced, more personal features like saving your wishlist and recently viewed aquatic products. They improve your shopping experience but are not strictly necessary.
  • Performance & Analytics Cookies: We use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our ecommerce pages — which products are viewed most, how users navigate categories (e.g., protein skimmers, UV sterilizers, live rock substitutes), and any technical errors. This helps us optimize the store's performance and user experience. All analytics data is aggregated and anonymized where possible.
  • Targeting / Advertising Cookies: As an ecommerce business, we may occasionally partner with trusted advertising platforms to show relevant offers related to professional aquatic equipment. These cookies track your browsing habits across our site and others to build a profile of your interests. You can opt out of these via your cookie consent manager.
  • Ecommerce-specific cookies: These include cart identifiers, session tokens, and checkout state cookies that remember items you have selected before final purchase. They ensure our online store functions properly for a seamless transaction process.

3. Types of cookies we use (detailed breakdown)

Below you will find a categorized list of cookie types that may be set when you use the AquaMaris ecommerce platform. The names of actual cookies may vary by version, but their purpose falls under these categories.

3.1 Strictly necessary cookies

These cannot be disabled because our store requires them to operate and comply with legal regulations (e.g., order processing, security, fraud prevention). They do not store any personally identifiable information beyond what is needed for ecommerce transactions.

  • session_id – unique identifier for your shopping session, allows cart and checkout continuity.
  • secure_token – ensures secure transmission of payment details (no payment data stored in cookie).
  • cart_currency – maintains your selected currency for product pricing consistency.
  • csrf_token – protects against cross-site request forgery during order placement.

3.2 Performance and analytical cookies

We use first-party and limited third-party analytics to improve our ecommerce store for professional aquarists. These help us know which product categories (e.g., coral propagation tools, marine salt mixes) attract the most interest.

  • _ga / _gid – used to distinguish unique users and track session metrics (Google Analytics aggregated data).
  • ajs_anonymous_id – helps us understand navigation paths without storing personal data.
  • store_visit_stats – records which landing pages lead to purchases, for conversion optimization.

3.3 Functional cookies

  • user_preferences – remembers display settings (grid/list view for products).
  • wishlist_items – persists items added to your wishlist across sessions.
  • recently_viewed – stores up to 10 recently viewed aquatic husbandry products.

3.4 Targeting / advertising cookies (optional)

These may be set via our ecommerce marketing tools. We limit third-party targeting to reputable partners relevant to the aquatic trade industry.

  • _fbp – used by Facebook/Meta to deliver relevant ads for professional aquatic supplies.
  • _gcl_au – Google Ads conversion tracking for ecommerce campaigns.
  • IDE / test_cookie – used by doubleclick.net to show personalized banners for aquarium equipment.

4. Third-party cookies and services

Our ecommerce platform integrates with third-party service providers that may set cookies on your device while you interact with AquaMaris. These include:

  • Payment gateways – to process orders securely (e.g., Stripe, PayPal). Their cookies enable fraud detection and payment authentication. We do not control those cookies but ensure they are necessary for transaction completion.
  • Hosting and CDN services – Cloudflare or similar may set performance cookies to deliver pages faster.
  • Analytics partners – as described above, to help us monitor store traffic and shopping behavior.
  • Marketing platforms – only with your explicit consent via cookie banner, we may engage partners that assist with retargeting campaigns.

Please note that each third party has its own privacy and cookie policies. However, the only contact regarding cookie-related inquiries remains our official email: contact@aquamaris-store.com.

5. Your consent and control over cookies

When you first visit our ecommerce website, a cookie banner will appear, allowing you to accept or manage your preferences for non-essential cookies (functional, analytics, targeting). Essential cookies are always active because they are required for ecommerce operations — such as adding items to cart and completing a purchase of professional aquatic products.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by:

  • Clicking the "Cookie Settings" link available in the footer of every page on aquamaris-store.com.
  • Adjusting your browser settings to block or delete cookies (note: blocking essential cookies will break core ecommerce functionality like checkout and cart).
  • Using opt-out mechanisms provided by third parties (e.g., Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on).
Important ecommerce notice: Disabling cookies entirely may prevent you from using certain features essential for purchasing, such as the ability to add products to your shopping cart, complete order checkout, or save your login status. We recommend keeping necessary cookies enabled to ensure the best Professional Aquatic Husbandry shopping experience.

6. How long do cookies remain on my device?

The retention period for cookies varies depending on their type and purpose:

  • Session cookies: Exist only while your browser is open. They are deleted as soon as you close the browser or leave our website. Examples include cart session tokens and checkout identifiers.
  • Persistent cookies: Remain on your device for a fixed period, ranging from a few hours to up to 2 years. For example, preference cookies (language/currency) last up to 12 months, while analytics cookies may persist for up to 26 months unless manually cleared. Targeting cookies often expire after 90–180 days.
  • Ecommerce-specific persistent cookies: The "recently viewed" cookie lasts 30 days; "wishlist" cookie persists for 365 days unless removed.

You can delete existing cookies via your browser settings at any time. Please refer to the "Help" section of your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.) for instructions.

7. Cookies and personal data

In the context of ecommerce and Professional Aquatic Husbandry, some cookies may collect information that could be considered personal data, such as IP addresses, unique device identifiers, or login-related tokens. We process this data in accordance with applicable data protection laws (including GDPR, CCPA, and similar regulations). Personal data collected via cookies is used strictly for the purposes described in this policy and is never sold or shared for purposes unrelated to operating our ecommerce store, except as required for payment processing or legal compliance.

For more details on how we handle personal data that may be linked to cookie information, please refer to our Privacy Policy (available separately on aquamaris-store.com). If you have any specific concerns regarding cookie-related data, you may direct your inquiry to contact@aquamaris-store.com.

8. Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legal requirements, or our ecommerce operations related to aquatic husbandry equipment. Any revisions will be posted on this page with an updated "Effective date". We encourage you to review this policy periodically. If we make material changes, we will notify you via a prominent notice on our website or by email (if you have an account with us). Your continued use of the ecommerce platform after the changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Cookie Policy.

9. How to contact us about cookies

If you have any questions, comments, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies on the AquaMaris ecommerce store, please contact us exclusively at:

Email: contact@aquamaris-store.com

For the avoidance of doubt, no other phone numbers, postal addresses, or contact forms are provided for cookie-related matters. This ensures your inquiries are handled efficiently and securely through our dedicated ecommerce support channel.

Cookie Policy summary for aquamaris-store.com ecommerce: We utilize necessary cookies to enable shopping and checkout, plus optional analytics/functional/targeting cookies to improve your experience in the Professional Aquatic Husbandry domain. You control non-essential cookies via cookie consent manager. Only essential cookies are mandatory for the store to work. Contact contact@aquamaris-store.com for any privacy or cookie concerns.