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UK Shops for the Planted Tank Hobbyist

You may have been thinking of the green machine that was in Wales (now closed).

AG is only 45 mins from kings cross on the train, then a 10 min bus/taxi ride!
Hi Siege, i’ve joined recently and I’m working my way through some of the interesting posts on here and just saw your comment that TGM is now closed and that was as of two years ago. Did they go bust or did they price themselves out of the market or something? Or did the owners just decide to move on? I seem to remember it used to be considered the one and only aquatic planting retail outlet. I did wonder because I tried to look up their YouTube channel and noticed that there have been no recent videos.
 
I think James Findlay retired!

🙁
Well he was at the forefront for quite some time, although I think you had to either love or hate the green machine. Whatever your opinion of it was it was still an incredible resource. It used to crease me up how he referred to himself in the third person when he was narrating his aquascaping videos. At the end of the day though he obviously put a lot of effort into TGM I’m just surprised he didn’t sell it on rather than just retire. I wouldn’t mind opening up my own place, but I wouldn’t be able to call it the green machine I would have to call it the algae machine😂😂😎.
 
This thread is pretty long. Is there a list or summary anywhere that has all the stores? I am looking for a planted aquarium store in the South West, I live in Bath. Currently I have to drive up to my partner who lives in Cambridge and go to Aquarium gardens
 
Ah, nevermind about the above post, just found the where to buy section

Although if anyone has suggestions of stores that have a scaping dojo near bristol that would be awesome. Cheers,
 
Only proper aquascaping stores in the UK are Scaped Nature, Aquarium Gardens, Horizon Aquatics and Riverwood Aquatics.

Tbh we are very lucky to have so many. If you go to the USA or the continent thr chances of you being relatively near one are extremely low.
 
Only proper aquascaping stores in the UK are Scaped Nature, Aquarium Gardens, Horizon Aquatics and Riverwood Aquatics.

Tbh we are very lucky to have so many. If you go to the USA or the continent thr chances of you being relatively near one are extremely low.
Don't forget UKAPS new sponsor @Captive Worlds !
 
This thread is pretty long. Is there a list or summary anywhere that has all the stores? I am looking for a planted aquarium store in the South West, I live in Bath. Currently I have to drive up to my partner who lives in Cambridge and go to Aquarium gardens
There's the aquatic store Bristol or aquajardanier in Newent Gloucester that both have a great range of aquascaping and fish essentials. Less of a drive bud down our way. Or a new one in sailsbury- they sponsor the forum as well now. Captive world's. We are limited with true aquascaping shops round the South west
 
There's the aquatic store Bristol or aquajardanier in Newent Gloucester that both have a great range of aquascaping and fish essentials. Less of a drive bud down our way. Or a new one in sailsbury- they sponsor the forum as well now. Captive world's. We are limited with true aquascaping shops round the South west
Thanks for this. I will have to check them out!
 
Popped in to Friends in Soggy Homes in Birstall, Leicestershire today. It’s been well over a year since I last visited and was very pleasantly surprised. The store has been around for decades and always been a mainstay of the high street serving many as a decent LFS.

But it’s taken a slightly different direction recently toward planted tanks and aquascaping. It was great to see a selection of hardscape and some pretty cool wood on display, along with a well stocked and well maintained aquatic plant cascade. The fish tanks in the back were also well stocked with the usual trade staples and more besides, all in excellent health.

If you’re ever in the area it’s definitely worth a visit, and it’s always good to help support bricks and mortar stores.

 
Popped in to Friends in Soggy Homes in Birstall, Leicestershire today. It’s been well over a year since I last visited and was very pleasantly surprised. The store has been around for decades and always been a mainstay of the high street serving many as a decent LFS.

But it’s taken a slightly different direction recently toward planted tanks and aquascaping. It was great to see a selection of hardscape and some pretty cool wood on display, along with a well stocked and well maintained aquatic plant cascade. The fish tanks in the back were also well stocked with the usual trade staples and more besides, all in excellent health.

If you’re ever in the area it’s definitely worth a visit, and it’s always good to help support bricks and mortar stores.

Can't believe they are still going, I worked in their Harlestone store for a while (first job) around the late 90's.
Will pop in when I visit the folks next. Thanks!
 
I expect this may have been mentioned earlier in the thread, but just wanted to shout out for Maidenhead Aquatics at Dummer. They aren't a specialist store, but they have a very good range of hardscape, are expanding their selection of plants (though you do need to get there when they're newly delivered, and have recently increased their range of nano fish quite dramatically. They also have a range of botanicals and more unusual harscaping materials, like huge bamboo roots!
 
Anyone aware of any decent shops in Yorkshire? All the sponsors are at least 3 hours drive from me....., though my plants are coming from Aquarium Gardens, Dave has been the only sponsor bothered to respond to my emails ref plants.
Already done Finest Aquatics, Wharf Aquatics, Pier Aquatics & Ferrybridge Aquatics.
 
Anyone aware of any decent shops in Yorkshire? All the sponsors are at least 3 hours drive from me....., though my plants are coming from Aquarium Gardens, Dave has been the only sponsor bothered to respond to my emails ref plants.
Already done Finest Aquatics, Wharf Aquatics, Pier Aquatics & Ferrybridge Aquatics.
Horizon Aquatics in north off you.
 
Thanks for that Mike, but l was looking for somewhere a little closer.
Abyss Stockport and Swell in Hyde aren't far from you. Not aquascape shops but have the usual wood, rocks, Tropica plants etc. Abyss had a few nicely planted tanks last time I went.
 
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