About Us

Aquatic Emerald

A small Hills District operation supplying healthy, home-grown freshwater plants, shrimp and snails to planted aquarium hobbyists across Sydney. Every specimen leaves our tanks thriving.

Lush planted aquascape

Pickup Locations

Crestwood Public School

Front Gates, Crestwood

Outside Coles, Castle Towers

Outside the main entrance

In Front of Baulkham Hills Library

In front of the library

Pickup Hours

Saturday11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Weekdays (Mon–Fri)4:30 pm – 7:00 pm

All pickups are scheduled in 30-minute windows. Select your preferred slot at checkout.

Care Guides

Stem Plants (Rotala, Ludwigia, Hygrophila)
Stem plants grow upward and require regular trimming to maintain shape. Plant bundles 1–2 cm apart in nutrient-rich substrate. Most benefit from CO₂ injection and fertiliser dosing. Trim the tops and replant for bushier, denser growth. Perform 30% water changes weekly for best results.
Rhizome Plants (Java Fern, Anubias)
Never bury the rhizome in substrate — attach to driftwood or rock using thread or aquarium-safe gel glue. These plants grow slowly but are extremely hardy. They adapt well to low light and thrive without CO₂. Brown or translucent patches indicate too much direct light on the rhizome.
Floating Plants (Redroot Floater)
No planting required — simply float on the surface. Provide ample overhead light for vivid red colouring. Remove excess growth regularly to prevent blocking light to plants below. Redroot Floaters are sensitive to surface agitation from strong filters — a calm surface is ideal.
Java Moss
Attach to hardscape using dark thread or fishing line, or leave free-floating. Thrives in a wide range of water conditions from low to high tech. Trim periodically to maintain shape and encourage dense new growth. Excellent natural refuge for shrimp, fry, and breeding fish.
Cryptocoryne
Plant in nutrient-rich substrate with the crown just above the surface. May experience 'Crypt melt' — leaves die back when first introduced — do not remove the plant. New leaves adapted to your tank parameters will emerge within 2–4 weeks. Extremely rewarding once established.
Bloody Mary Shrimp
Maintain water temperature 20–26°C, pH 6.8–7.4, TDS 150–250 ppm. Avoid all copper-based medications — fatal to shrimp. Drip-acclimate slowly over 1–2 hours before introduction. Feed algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and specialised shrimp food. Change no more than 20% water at a time to avoid shocking parameters.
Malaysian Trumpet Snails
No special care required — MTS thrive in virtually all freshwater aquariums. They reproduce according to food availability, so avoid overfeeding to keep populations in check. Beneficial in planted tanks for substrate aeration. Will not harm healthy plants. Excellent indicator species for tank health.
Aquatic Emerald

© 2026 Aquatic Emerald · Hills District, Sydney