Distributor Program

At The 2Hr Aquarist, distribution is a partnership, not a transaction. We are building a global community around planted-tank mastery, and our partners are central to that. Here is how we work, and who we work best with.

Who We Partner With

We are a methodology-first brand. We don't simply sell fertilisers; we help hobbyists achieve results they didn't think were possible, and our products exist to make that mastery accessible. The partners we grow with think the same way. We look for:

A genuine connection to the planted-tank community. Our strongest partners are embedded in the hobby- close to the hobbyists, the aquascapers, the clubs, and the conversations. That proximity is what lets APT grow naturally in a market.
Experience with marketing high-value, differentiated products. We value the ability to build demand for a premium, results-driven product far more than the ability to move large volumes of commodity stock.
A real growth commitment. We are serious about growing, and we partner with those who share that ambition and a long-term outlook.
A collaborative mindset. We work most closely with partners who communicate openly, share what they are seeing on the ground, and treat the relationship as a two-way exchange.

If that describes how you operate, we would like to hear from you.

Shipping Support

For partnerships we're especially invested in growing, we often help offset freight by providing free products of equivalent retail value. We see this as a gesture of shared commitment rather than an automatic entitlement - discretionary by nature, and varying by region and the character of the partnership. Wherever we're genuinely building a market together, we'll always look for ways to make it work.

Pricing

As a broad guideline:

Retailers earn a 40–50% margin (earnings ÷ retail price)
Distributors earn a 15–30% margin (earnings ÷ sales price to retailers)

Exact pricing depends on several factors. As a rule, distributors that focus purely on distribution -and do not also operate retail or sell directly to consumers - earn higher margins than those who do both.

MOQ / Minimum Orders

Per shipment: minimum 30 boxes - approximately US$6,000+ in value before freight is factored in. This minimum is driven primarily by the cost of freight; smaller quantities are accepted, but the per-unit shipping cost rises accordingly.

The base unit of orders are in BOXES.

Each box has fixed quantities:

10 x 1000ml
40 x 100ml
20 x 300ml
20 x 500ml
40 x 200ml
40 x jazz-9
30 x jazz-18
12 x jazz-54
30 x start-45
40 x sky 70
30 x sky 150
10 x sky 800
6 x feast 2000
3 x feast 5000

Each pallet (1mx1.2m) can hold ~60 boxes (max 70 boxes).

Shipping & Customs

We supply on an ex-works basis from Singapore. Depending on your location, we generally provide free products of equivalent retail value to offset freight costs. The mix is discretionary, though your preference is taken into account.

Important:

Outside the US and EU, distributors must have the know-how to clear their local customs. While we typically ship directly from Singapore to our distributors, we have warehouses in the US and EU that service our Dealer-Direct retailers.

Our products are accompanied by their respective MSDS. In Europe, applicable products are CE compliant. In the US, applicable products are registered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Sales Platform

APT products are not to be sold on third-party marketplaces - Amazon, eBay, Shopee, and similar. Approval may be granted on a case-by-case basis, so please reach out to us before listing on any third-party platform. This protects pricing, brand presentation, and the partners who invest in building the brand properly.

Strategic Accounts

We reserve the right to supply directly to selected Strategic Accounts via our Dealer Direct program. These are retailers where, due to their deep focus on freshwater planted tanks (and/or social media influence) we have a collaborative relationship beyond supply- involving new plant species, aquascape designs, techniques and/or marketing.

These partners keep our ear close to the ground on hobby trends, feedback, and preferences. They are closely tied to the planted community, and the marketing we do together lifts APT sales for every retailer in the market.

Industry Partner Program

Similarly, where applicable, we reserve the right to supply directly to partners who are part of our Industry Partner Program.

Our Approach To Exclusivity

We believe in cultivating a small number of deep, lasting partnerships rather than spreading our products thinly. We do not indiscriminately supply multiple sellers in the same market and leave them to compete on price - that erodes margins, weakens brand presentation, and ultimately disadvantages the hobbyists we all serve. Protecting our partners is part of how we grow together.

Where exclusivity exists, it is earned, never bought. No single large order can secure it. It develops naturally over time - through sustained growth, open communication, genuine collaboration, and a shared understanding of where the brand is heading. A partner who consistently builds the category, supports the community, and represents the brand well will, over time, become the natural centre of gravity for APT in their market.

We also pay close attention to the people who matter most: the hobbyists. We continuously monitor user feedback and preferences, and in many ways the community's response is the single most important factor in how we evaluate a partnership and how we review and adjust it over time. The community's vote guides our decisions.

This is why we do not lead with rigid, blanket exclusive contracts. Our focus is on brand building and long-term relationships, not short-term volume. Our philosophy is simple - Grow Together - and we respect the investment and trust that our partners and customers place in us.