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Where to buy in the Midlands.

Hi All,Shirley aquatics ten years ago was the place in the midlands,but it has really gone down hill, on my last visit (may 08) it was dirty, the plants were by tropica but absolutely useless,and the staff (What a joke) well lets just say i wont be going there again unless they get their act together ,john
 
Shop name: Maidenhead Aquaics

Location: Dukeries Garden Centre, Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 3LW

Specialises in Tropical, Koi, Plants

Rating 8/10

Comments;

Excellent stock of tanks, dry good, foods, pond stuff, pretty much everything to get you started, good advice from the shop workers, the ones we spoke to had good all around knowledge of fish etc, were happy to stand and chap even when it was very busy Prices were OK for a shop, not as cheap as some internet companies, bit all in all very good. Fluval FX5 was £165.

Plants were good selection of, mostly aquafleur, but also had other different from other suppliers which was nice to see, dedicated tank for plants which had co2, light and ferts first time I have seen a shop take good care of the plants

Fish, had an excellent layout of tanks, starting on the right hand side with a section of tanks with high pH(8) for the African Mbuna and Tangs. I don't know much about these fish, but all look in excellent health no sign of any that were in poor shape, good selection too, must have been 15-20 tanks of them all well stocked(possibly too over stocked???)
moving to the left side, pH in the tanks was 6.2 for the soft water species, not too many 'bread and butter' fish maybe 4/5 tanks with livebearers, some lovely Endlers too, had some nice corys, just normal bronze etc nothing special, several tanks of 3" discus all kinds of colours on these, stunning
Had some other lovely not often seen around here, Black Neon Tetras, Panda Garra(stunning, I am going back to get some) Chocolate Gourami
Small selection of inverts, Japonica Shrimp(bought some) apple snails and Rock shrimp including a green variant?

Overall, an excellent shop, why 8/10, its small like a long porta cabin, made looking at some of the tank difficult, as the gape between dry goods and tanks wasn't very wide, especially when people want to bring a huge pushchair through apart from that, a good trip, also has a beautiful garden centre there, lots to look at and see. excellent few hours spent there.

Cheers,
JOHNNY
 
went to birstall today , the tropica plants in there tanks werent the healthiest specimens but overall if you go on delivery day of the plants it would be a v good choice if your after plants and you're in the midlands.
Also they have quite a wide range of tanks for sale.
 
The thing is that pets at home's tropica plants unless you get them on the day they're delivered are as good as dead by the time we get to buy them.
 
Maidenhead Aquatics @ Wheatcrofts Garden Centre, West Bridgford, Nottingham.

I've just paid a visit to this new branch to the south of Nottingham today. There was a really good range of planted tank equipment, including a lot of JBL gear (including a range of CO2 kits) and I had a good chat to the guy behind the counter who was very keen to hear all about extra flow in a planted tank as we chatted about various things. The fish range, especially the shoaling species, was good and the plants were healthy. Overall it seem to be off to a very good start.
 
CHEAP TROPICA PLANTS £1.50 a pot, Usually £3 or 3 for £8

Shop name: Dobbies Garden World

Location: Atherstone, Warwickshire

Directions: Off the A5 into Atherstone
Dobbies Garden World
Nuneaton Road
Mancetter
Near Atherstone, Warwickshire
CV9 1RF

What they offer or specialise in: Tropica Plants, tropica substrate, tropica ferts, plus many tropcical/Marine fish.

Over all verdict of the shop: I thought that this was pretty much the best store I have been to for Plants, many Tropica plants, I suppose it depends on what you are after but mainly the normal type of Tropica plants. They had a deal of Tropica pot plants for £1.50 which I thought was amazing. Got lots of Crypt wenditti 'Tropica' They also sell the ferts as well. Fish actually pretty good as well, selection not bad, some really nice tank setups. Well worth a visit.

If you travel up the A5 through Nuneaton, worth visiting A5 Aquatics as well, usually great fish selection, not many plants though.
 
HobbyFish
Hobby Fish, Towcester Rd, Old Stratford,
Milton Keynes, MK19 6BD.
Tel: 01908 543210 Fax: 01908 542149
www.hobbyfish.net

CO2 refills for, and i quote "£20 normally but £25 on the spot"? don't understand that but hey ho.
 
Clearwater Aquatics Green Lane Road, Leicester.

Excellent, informative, very helpful staff with good quality livestock at very good prices. They tend to specialise in marine but tropical fish are also very good, I would recommend them for livestock. Prices for hardware are very competitive but not really worth a visit if you're just looking for plants (unfortunately).

Birtall Aquatics Leicester

Supply Tropica plants (their saving grace!) and have a plant only display tank but it doesn't do Tropica any justice. I order plants via them and collect them quick! Shame they also have lots of non-aquatic plants on display/for sale in their tanks. Staff aren't very helpful probably due to lack of knowledge. Livestock is overpriced and not very inspiring. I don't think they do any Marine. Only one chap there knows what he's doing but he's a bit backward on coming forward. You can get information out of him if you use torture!

FISH (Freinds In Soggy Homes) Wanlip Road, Birstall

Sell an abundance of non aquatic plants. Livestock is average but overpriced. Marine fish look good (maybe a bit neglected, tanks could be cleaner) Staff are very unhelpful and tend to hide when a customer comes in probably due to lack of knowledge.

Ocean Commotion, Clarendon Road, Leicester.

Plus: Realy nice display tanks, freshwater tropical, marine and coldwater. Staff are knowledgable and can go into great detial on things like light spectrums and lux.

Minus: Hardware and fish are overpriced. They will sell you any fish without asking where you're going to put it. (My brother-in-law bought ,or actually was sold, a couple of red tail sharks, a common plec and about half a dozen others fish that grow large, even though he told them it was for a 20 ltr nano). And this was by the owner, he said they'd be fine!

Overall best in Leicester Clearwater Aquatics by far, excellent value and great advice. Hopefully they'll get more into planted aquaria.
 
Simon D said:
Clearwater Aquatics
Ocean Commotion, Clarendon Road, Leicester.

Plus: Realy nice display tanks, freshwater tropical, marine and coldwater. Staff are knowledgable and can go into great detial on things like light spectrums and lux.

Minus: Hardware and fish are overpriced. They will sell you any fish without asking where you're going to put it. (My brother-in-law bought ,or actually was sold, a couple of red tail sharks, a common plec and about half a dozen others fish that grow large, even though he told them it was for a 20 ltr nano). And this was by the owner, he said they'd be fine!
Click to expand...

Not sure I'd agree with that as they have always been pretty good for me. Always advised me of nippers and what might be best for my aquarium when i was a noob!
 
Aeropars said:
Not sure I'd agree with that as they have always been pretty good for me. Always advised me of nippers and what might be best for my aquarium when i was a noob!
Click to expand...

Ok, maybe unfair to say that the livestock and hardware is overpriced, but cheaper alterntives are available locally. With regard to the advice given about compatibility of fish, I can only report what I witnessed first hand.
 
shop name: Fish Inc

Location: Sheffield

Directions:
number: 0114 244 4433

Fish Inc.
Unit 3
Finchwell Close
Sheffield
Yorkshire
S13 9DF

They are tucked away in a corner on a back road, quite easy to miss.

located just 5 minutes from the Sheffield parkway, and 10 minutes from J33 of the M1

What they offer or specialise in: Fish in General

Over all verdict of the shop: It is nothing special from the outside, but inside they have 170 tanks with a wide range of fish, suitable for all tank types. They had some of the less common teras, rainbows and rasbora sp. And also a good range of malawi cichlids.
They had some fantastic oddballs in too, including a 1ft figure 8 puffer, 1ft FW stingray (and smaller species available), electric fish, loads of catfish, arowana's, mudskippers... see website for more info on stock available.

Plants were nothing special, nor did they have a wide range of products, but they did have some fantastic pieces of driftwood available.
Nice to see them feeding the fish a varied diet including flake, pellets, frozen foods and veg rather than just flake which most LFS do

Website: http://www.fishinc.co.uk/index.php

thanks
 
Shop name: Maidenhead Aquatics @ Wyvale Garden Centres

Location: Northampton

Directions: Just off the A43 Hardingstone turn off

Wyevale Garden Centre, Newport Pagnell Rd,
Wootton, Northampton,
Northants, NN4 6HP

number: 01604 875011

What they Stock: They specialize in community aquariums, but carry some nice, unusual L-number plecs as well.

The stock description for this store on the website is very limited compared to actual stocking, as well as the usual Aquariums, equipment, ferts, substrates and hardscape items they have a regular supply of very nice Discus and quite frequently a supply of Altum Angels as well as the usual domestic vareties.

The staff are friendly and are made up of hobbyists that have spent many years both keeping, breeding and selling fish. Outside of the usual guppies etc anything non-mainstream requires a water test prior to selling particularly the discus and Altums.

There are a good supply of plants usually in stock with a double cascade of 4 tiers.

They also recharge Co2 (not sure on price) and supply RO Water.

Hope this helps.

Simon.
 
Shop name: A-Z Aquatics

Location: A-Z Aquatics: The Garden Centre, Balterley Green Road, Balterley, Crewe. CW2 5QF

What they offer or specialise in: Huge stock of Tropical, Coldwater and Saltwater fish and invertibrates. 4-5 large tanks full of tropical plants. Marine corals and rocks. Pond equipment.

Over all verdict of the shop: Fantastic shop, has great choice of dry foods, live foods, huge range of filters, lighting equipment and other electrical equipment, as well as many other accessories. Friendly and helpful staff who do not force you to buy. Incredible stock of fish that amazes me every time I visit. Good prices too 🙂
 
Re:

Dave Spencer said:
CO2 Supplier: Bryland Fire Protection ltd.

Location: Unit 3, Peartree Lane, Dudley, W. Midlands, DY2 0QY. tel. 01384 573301.

Service: They charge £25 for a full 3kg cylinder and £30 for a full 5kg cylinder. A 3kg refill costs £5.20.
Click to expand...

Hi all,
popped here today and got my two 3kg cylinders refilled cost has changed slightly £5.65 each which i think is very good,
they also gave me a new price list,if you buy a new one already filled and lightweight aluminium,
2kg and 3kg £20
4.5kg and 5kg £30,
these cylinders are actually made for aquarium use,aparently normal fire extinquishers have an inner tube inside and if this is not removed the co2 is delivered in liquid form not in gas form,worth remembering,
regards john.
 
Shop name: Lincs Aquatics.

Location: Woodthorpe Hall, Woodthorpe, Lincolnshire, LN13 0DD.

Stocks coldwater, freshwater and marine fish, tanks and equipment. Tanks nice and clean. Large amount of tanks.
It used to be an aircraft hangar so it is very big.
 
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