Tropical Marine Centre

Tropical Marine Centre Tropical Marine Centre was founded in 1970 by Richard Sankey. Unfortunately, not all livestock importers are equally conscientious!

Tropical Marine Centre (TMC) Supplies retail aquarium shops with the highest quality and widest selection of tank-raised and sustainable caught marine fish, corals and invertebrates. His vision was to ensure that the livestock reaching the UK did so ethically, safely and with zero losses, both during collection and transit, with all fish being in the best of health when finally available for sale in a local fish shop. Since day one TMC has had this zero-loss philosophy and instils this in suppliers, shippers and TMC staff. Importing livestock is an expensive and risky business. In the 1970s, TMC started researching transportation methods as well as collection and packing techniques, with the key objective of ensuring that the livestock is properly cared for and has the best chance of survival, rather than for any commercial gain. We firmly believe that the animals we are transporting deserve respect and should never have to suffer as result of our desire to keep them in our homes. It is for this reason that TMC livestock is collected by hand and net only and has been since the company began operating. We also researched the best methods for holding livestock during and after collection, finally perfecting acclimation procedures and then designing recirculation systems which would service the holding tanks. It may be hard to believe, but these things never really existed in the 1970s! Feeding practices came after, as did advances in filtration. We started manufacturing our own UVs in 1983, purely for the purpose of improving water quality at our premises, backing up our zero loss philosophy. We were the first company in the world to make UVs designed for aquariums and this was the first product in a long line of dry goods which we have subsequently brought to the consumer market. With regards to fish collecting, we only catch what we need and try to work with suppliers based as close to the reefs as possible to minimise the length of transport time. Our animals are often collected in the morning and, by the afternoon, they will be back in the catching station in properly filtered systems - we provide many of our suppliers with filtration systems and equipment so the animals they are holding are kept in the best conditions whilst in their care, something which is unique to TMC. This is in sharp contrast to many other companies who may work with suppliers that keep fish for days on a boat without any decent filtration or in a substation waiting to be moved to a larger station, then moved somewhere else, and so on, until sold. This reduced travel time means less stress, faster recovery and therefore healthier, stronger fish able to withstand onwards shipping to the UK. Ultimately these healthier, well cared for fish help the hobbyist to maintain a successful home aquarium!

The West Hawaii Aquarium Fishery needs your voice — and the window is closing.Submit your support at https://supporthawa...
20/03/2026

The West Hawaii Aquarium Fishery needs your voice — and the window is closing.

Submit your support at https://supporthawaiifishers.com/

After years of legal battles, the EIS is complete, approved by the Courts and the Land Board in Hawaii. A sustainable rules package covering quotas, species limits, and collector numbers is in place. This is the final hurdle — a public comment period that will determine whether permits are issued and fishing resumes.
TMC has supported this fishery for over 50 years. We know these collectors well and have given them our financial (with others) and moral support to their endeavours. They are inhereting the legacy of a fishery that has operated at the highest standards in the industry.
To those who feel aquaculture is the only viable option we say that sustainable wild collection and captive breeding aren't competitors. They're partners. The Hawaiian endemics this fishery produces can't be replicated in a hatchery effectively for all species involved, and the livelihoods behind them deserve defending. Allowing the fishery to be open will foster both academic, aquaculture and industry for a long time to come in a sustainable ecological model.
If you've ever kept a flame angel, a yellow tang, a kole tang, or a potter's wrasse — now is the time to say so.

19/03/2026

🌊✨ A soft coral paradise!

This tank is bursting with colour and life — a stunning mix of soft corals swaying with the flow, paired with a lively variety of saltwater fish. Perfect inspiration for creating a thriving, dynamic reef that’s as beautiful as it is healthy 🌿🐠

Explore our corals and marine livestock:
👉 https://www.tropicalmarinecentre.com

19/03/2026
If you are visiting Global Pet Expo Head over and see our friends Quality Marine with a range of TMC kit on their booth
19/03/2026

If you are visiting Global Pet Expo Head over and see our friends Quality Marine with a range of TMC kit on their booth

Please stop by our booth to chat with our team and see what's new. Whether you're hunting for new products or just want to talk fish, we'd love to meet you!

19/03/2026
19/03/2026
19/03/2026
19/03/2026

Your reef-keeping journey starts here.
Discover the First Wave aquariums – the perfect introduction to the captivating world of marine life.

Designed for simplicity, style, and success, it’s never been easier to create your own thriving underwater ecosystem

💧 Precision meets performance!Take control of your reef like never before with the TMC Reef AccuDose for automated, accu...
19/03/2026

💧 Precision meets performance!
Take control of your reef like never before with the TMC Reef AccuDose for automated, accurate dosing, and the Reef AccuStir for perfect mixing every time. Easy setup, smarter maintenance, healthier tanks. 🐠✨

🔗 Check them out: https://tropicalmarinecentre.com

🌟 Golden Polyp Gorgonia – Menelia spp.Add elegance and movement to your reef tank with the stunning Menelia spp.. Its st...
18/03/2026

🌟 Golden Polyp Gorgonia – Menelia spp.

Add elegance and movement to your reef tank with the stunning Menelia spp.. Its striking golden polyps and slow, graceful swaying bring a hypnotic, natural beauty to any aquarium.

Planktivorous and reef-compatible, it thrives on Gamma Foods’ premium plankton range, making it a vibrant, healthy, and responsibly sourced addition. Ideal for intermediate hobbyists, the Golden Polyp Gorgonia adds both colour and sophistication to your marine display.

Address

Solesbridge Lane
Rickmansworth
WD35SX

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 2pm
Tuesday 7am - 2pm
Wednesday 7am - 2pm
Thursday 7am - 2pm
Friday 7am - 12pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tropical Marine Centre posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram