A Visit to a Dutch Aquarium Store

A Visit to a Dutch Aquarium Store : Aqua Complete (Near Rotterdam, Netherlands)

By Aquarticles Editor

Original to Aquarticles

Photo taken outside Aqua Complete, near Rotterdam, Netherlands (Holland)

On the advice of my Dutch host Nico (See: Interview with Frank and Nico), I paid a visit to an aquarium store called Aqua Complete. I was told that the store has been around for many years and just keeps getting larger. The store is currently in its third location, and judging by the amount of stock on hand may need to move again soon. Nico told me that he thinks it is one of the best run stores in Holland, and from what I saw I would guess he is right.

Occupying the main floor and basement of a smaller building, the store is pretty much bursting at the seams. Most dry goods, fish foods, and smaller merchandise are kept on the main floor near the front of the store.

Near the front of the store, right side

Near the front of the store, center Marine additives

Front of shop, left side; selection of frozen fish foods

Well stocked with foods and filters

The center of the main floor is reserved for marine set ups, while the back is filled with fresh water displays.

Coral tank

Various corals for sale

Coral tank, another view

Saltwater display tank, no fish or coral for sale here

Saltwater display tank, another view

Photo of one section of freshwater tanks, comprising 75 aquariums;
there were another 3 or 4 such sections

Moving downstairs one finds tanks, stands, and other large items for sale.

Moving downstairs

An overview of the basement

The selection of aquarium stands was great and they came in many colors and designs; there is also a wide selection of aquarium 3-d backgrounds for use on the inside back of aquariums. Perhaps it is just fashion, but I have noticed that these backgrounds are more commonly used in Europe than Canada.

Aquarium ornaments for sale

Ornaments and tanks for sale

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Aquariums, stands, canopies, and 3-D backgrounds for sale

Another part of the basement display

A display tank in the basement

A discus display tank in the basement

An African cichlid tank in the basement

One thing I really liked about the displays in the basement of this store was that instead of having just empty tanks for sale, most were fully set up with fish. Presumably if a customer wanted a particular tank then one would be provided from a back stock/room. In the basement I noted several African cichlid tanks, a couple discus tanks, and finally some live bearer and planted tanks. One aquarium had a fully functioning sump set up in an open display such that anyone could quickly see how it works. While I have seen displays like this in other stores too, I was impressed by how clean and well maintained everything is kept here.

A sump display tank in the basement

You can tell that the people running the store really know what they are doing and invest a lot of time and effort in keeping the tanks and fish looking great.

The prices in Euros worked out to be about on par with what I have found in Canada. The exchange rate at the time of my visit was approximately 1 Euro to 1.50 Canadian/US. I have provided a few photos below of various plants and fish for sale with their Euro dollar sales prices noted:

A sample of Marine fish prices (One Euro dollar was 1.5 $ US at time of writing)

Some "odd-ball" fish for sale

Some fresh water plants for sale

A few killifish for sale

Some nice Frontosa Cichlids on display

One "trick of the trade" I saw here that I have not seen before was the use of a hand/pressurized wand attached to a canister of water for use in cleaning the front of display tanks. Using a squeegee and a water sprayer, I noticed one worker was able to clean a bank of over 50 tanks in just a couple minutes.

Cleaning the tank-glass with a water sprayer, rag, and squeegee

I felt like I really should give these guys a bit of business and so asked about buying a valve for an old Eheim 2260 classic canister filter I have in Canada. While my hope of finding that particular Eheim valve cheaper in Europe was frustrated, the guys at the store suggested they assemble a hand/made valve on the spot out of PVC tubing. A couple minutes later I had what I needed at a fraction of the price I expected.

Some of the PVC piping used to make my "Eheim" valve

Service with a smile

In conclusion, I was really impressed by how well run this store is and felt I learned a bit by observing how things are done by professionals on "this" side of the Atlantic.