Clearwater Aquatics CLEARWATERAQUATICS
MPI-approved transitional facility · New Zealand

Wholesale importers of live fish, corals and invertebrates

Wholesale supply to aquarium stores nationwide. Freshwater and marine fish, plus corals and marine invertebrates, cleared through our MPI-approved biosecurity facility in Christchurch.

Trade enquiries About the facility
MPI transitional facility
Managed quarantine & acclimatisation
Trade & wholesale supply
Christchurch, New Zealand
Why Clearwater

A dedicated biosecurity facility for the aquarium trade

We're a New Zealand-owned importer running a purpose-built transitional facility approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries, supplying stores nationwide.

Compliant by design

Every import is handled through our MPI-approved transitional facility, meeting the biosecurity standards required to bring live aquatic species into New Zealand.

Healthy livestock

Stock is quarantined, acclimatised and condition-checked in-facility before release, so trade partners receive settled, healthy animals ready for resale.

Wholesale only

We supply aquarium stores and trade buyers across New Zealand, never the public, so your shop isn't competing with its own supplier.

The facility

Built for biosecurity, run for the trade

Our Christchurch facility is a controlled environment purpose-fitted for receiving and holding imported aquatic livestock under MPI transitional facility approval.

  • Operated as an MPI-approved transitional facility for imported aquatic species
  • Dedicated quarantine, holding and acclimatisation systems
  • Managed water quality, filtration and life-support throughout
  • Traceable handling from arrival through to trade release

Facility at a glance

StatusMPI transitional facility
ImportsFish, corals & marine inverts
LocationChristchurch, NZ
SuppliesAquarium stores, NZ-wide
What we import

Freshwater and marine, from one supplier

We import right across the hobby: freshwater and marine fish, plus corals and marine invertebrates. That means stores can fill a full order from a single supplier. Availability varies with each shipment, and trade partners can view current stock through our dealer portal.

Freshwater fish

Community, planted and specialty freshwater species, from everyday staples that move off the shelf to rarer lines for the serious keeper.

Marine fish

Reef and marine aquarium species selected for condition and suitability, acclimatised in-facility before they reach your tanks.

Corals

Soft corals, LPS and SPS for the reef market, chosen with the eye of keepers who've run reef systems for over a decade.

Marine invertebrates

Marine shrimp, snails and other reef invertebrates, selected to suit reef and marine systems.

Special orders

Chasing something specific? We can often source particular species or volumes to order through our import schedule.

Live availability Dealer portal

Approved stores log in to see current stock and place orders in real time, replacing static stock lists.

Supplying stores

We supply the shops, not the public

Clearwater Aquatics is a wholesale importer. We don't sell to the public. Everything we bring in goes to aquarium retailers and trade buyers, so your store isn't competing with its own supplier. We work with a limited number of stores so we can look after the partners we have properly.

1

Get in touch

Send us your store details and we'll review your enquiry. We work with a limited number of stores, so we take on new partners as capacity allows.

2

Order from what's landed

Choose from current availability as each shipment clears the facility, or ask us to source something specific on an upcoming import.

3

We pack and send

Stock is packed for transit and dispatched to your store nationwide, having already been settled and condition-checked with us.

Coming soon

Dealer portal & live stock ordering

We're building a dealer login where approved trade partners can view live stock availability and place orders directly, with no more chasing lists. Register your interest and we'll be in touch as we bring stores on.

Register your interest
Our story

Built by two lifelong aquarists

Clearwater Aquatics was founded by Brian Donaldson and Scott Kale, two lifelong aquarists who between them cover the full range, from freshwater fish through to marine corals and invertebrates. Based in Christchurch and shipping nationwide, they're driven by one thing: getting healthy, affordable stock into tanks.

Both have spent years in the aquarium trade, largely on the retail side, and are now at the coal face themselves, importing directly from exporters around the world.

That means both sides of the hobby under one roof, a rare thing in a single supplier. Their hands-on experience shapes how every shipment is selected, acclimatised and cared for before it reaches the trade, whether it's bound for a specialist reef keeper or a first community tank.

A focus on health and variety for the aquarium trade.

BD

Brian Donaldson

Co-founder

A reef keeper of more than ten years with a deep passion for saltwater systems, Brian previously managed Coral Collective before turning his focus to importing directly for the trade.

SK

Scott Kale

Co-founder

A lifetime around fish, including more than ten years with Rodney's Tropicals, a well-known Christchurch freshwater shop. Scott's experience spans retail, breeding, and community, planted and coldwater setups.

Get in touch

Trade & wholesale enquiries

Retailer or trade buyer? Send us your store details and what you're after, and we'll be in touch. We take on new partners as capacity allows.

Facility
Christchurch, New Zealand
Company
Clearwater Aquatics Ltd