Maidenhead Aquatics

There's three within a decent driving distance from me - Stockport (aka Manchester), York & Beverley (aka Hull).

With them having loads of stores all over the UK I'm thinking that they are pretty good but don't want to go some distance and getting there and it's a waste of time.

If you been to any Maidenhead Aquatics store could you give some reviews?

Cheers

 

It depends really some are good and some not so good. It depends on the manager IME. On the whole I find them to be good. If you have three try them all and use the one you like best. Ask lots of questions , you'll soon know which it is

Sam

 

I've decided to take a trip to the Stockport Maidenhead Aquatics and then pop to Harrogate Aquatics as I'm in Leeds on Saturday evening.

 

Cool, I'm starting to build up a list of my Saturday visit. Off to World of Water too now

 

Was up at Harrogate Aquatics last weekend and was disapointed . THe tropica plants that they had in looked as if they had been there for weeks and were ratty at the best.

I would ring them to see if they have had a delivery before wasting a trip.

 

I'm not really going for plants, mainly hardscape type stuff and a general look.

I'm thinking of ordering plants online from greenline (I think that was the name).

 

Wow what a day so far. Up and out at 8am this morning and scrapped a load of snow off my car.

Managed to visit all five on my list of places...

Cockfields Farm - nice place, massive inside but only half of it used for aquatic stuff. Nothing really of note in there for what I was looking for but had a lot of fish and general stuff.

Maidenhead Aquatics (Stockport) - My impression of MA was that it was a massive place. Was surprised that this was a rather small size of similar size to my usual LFS. However, they had all sorts in and walking outside I found a massive box full of SUMATRA DRIFTWOOD! Managed to pick up two nice pieces which will be on the forum with photos soon. So I bought a few bits and bobs. The only downside was on of the blokes who worked there was very annoying so didn't buy everything I wanted from there.

Wilmslow Pets & Aquatics - Small area inside a garden center. Wasn't really impressed so didn't spend much time in there.

World of Water - WOW! Massive place, loads of massive pieces of bogwood and nearly bought some more. For equipment and decor items this would be the place to go. Large selection of fish too.

BAS, Bolton - I thought that WOW was massive. This was twice the size. They had so many blooming tanks, I couldn't spend much time looking around. They didn't seem to have any specialist planted tank stuff which I was looking for but was well impressed with the variety of fish and they seemed at a reasonable price.


So all in all, a very productive day, but couldn't find any ECO-Complete substrate.

 

MA used to have a forum years ago but took it off line because they were getting a few negitive comments about them selves,the same with shirley aquatics.I remember years ago going to shirley and being amazed by the place but not now its gone right down the staff aint got a clue and it is well expensive has no fish and looks very scruffy.sorry off topic a bit.Back to MA i had been looking for a java fern mother plant for ages and had 3 lfs by me trying to get me one but to no avail.walked into MA in earlswood and he had 3 which i bought for a tenner which was very nice.they do have the most tanks and largest selection of fish i have ever seen so guess i would have to give them the thumbs up

 

My local Maidenhead has excellent staff.

One of which regularly hunts for me when I visit for an update. Glad to know they take younger people seriously.

He's very good and is currently into Marines (he did plants when he was young), he always says that there is nothing he can tell me, which makes me feel good.

 

The Peterborough branch has got to be one of the best Aquatic stores in this country. The variety of species is not matched by many and the store is well run...not to mention very busy (thats the only negative lol).
If you are a loach lover this is the place ot go and if you like rarer imports agin this place is very good.

I have also been to the ones in Harelstone(nr Northampton) and Earlswood (nr Shirley, Brum) and they are also good, think Harelstone specialises in Rift lake cichlids.

I spent my first 10 years of life in Maidenhead, I wonder if these have grown from that store i visited occasionally?

 

I used to work at MA, some years ago.. I think they were just about to ope their 30th store when I left and now have about 60!

Maidenhead was the first shop, but Bourne End was the first serious shop. They ran the head office from there up until I left.

The original in Maidenhead burnt down some years ago (yes, even aquatic centres can catch fire), I'm pretty sure it wasn't resurected.

My opinion - about half are very good, half are much smaller than you would expect and the staff in these are sometimes hopeless!

In their favour I would say each store is still quite unique, mostly due to the managers being allowed to mould the shop to suite the local fish keeping demand, unlike PAH which is just cloned up and down the country.

I would say if you want a bargain use an online shop If you want a decent LFS however always check out the local MA, might be a very good one...

David

 

I have several within a few miles of me, the nearest is Farnham, they stock Tropica plants and substrate, the fish are OK but they keep their discus in tiny tanks that I dont like, Ascot is also good for plants as is Guilford, Bracknell have some good discus and plants, Southampton is OK but not for plants although not been there since Maidenheads started stocking Tropica so it might have got better, I am planning on visiting Fareham in the future too see the tank George reveiwed in PFK !!!!!!!!

 

Went to Morden today, really good planted section, best I've seen in London.
Bit pricey with hardscape, but I guess thats what you get for being able to see what your buying.
Fish area was a bit sparce but they had notices up saying they were low in stock for maintenance.
Had Eco-Complete which I saw for the first time there. Plants weren't great.

Got some good wood. Normal bogwood, don't like Sumatra wood (which they had a lot of) and I didn't like the Redmoor they had (lots of too)

All in all I'm impressed by how they seem more up to date with the planted area. Had a nice display tank too.

 

MA eastbridgeford is good. although a little misinformed on certain subjects :? plants are ok at times. MA @ whisby...mmm....do i have to answer that? plant wise, there awful. fish wise?...there ok.

there's a new branch opening at Nottingham which will cater for tropica plants apparently.

mark

 

I keep asking my local @ Wembley about stocking Tropica, Just don't think they're interested. Their plants are horrendous!!!

 

Don't suppose you know where in Nottingham this is likely to be do you? I heard a rumour that there was to be a MA in a garden centre near my school in West Bridgford. Could I be that lucky?

 

i was told, but to be honest i'd forgoten by the time id left the shop. im going this weekend. i'll ask again ed.

mark