Aquatic Eco-Systems

About Pentair AES 

Founded by Robert "Bob" Heideman in 1978, Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc., started as an Orlando-based lake improvement company specializing in aeration and destratification. Through his research, Bob developed highly efficient synergistic airlift diffusers for lake aeration.

In 1981, Bob published the first AES catalog. It was 36 black-and-white pages and contained approximately 65 products. The catalog also included handy reference information, establishing a longstanding tradition of providing technical expertise to customers.

The company branched out from lake aeration and began to sell aquaculture, aquarium and pond and water garden products as well. AES quickly became known across several aquatic industries as a premium source of goods and technical advice. And our cost-conscious philosophy—recycling packaging material, buying in bulk, focusing on energy efficiency—resonated with a community passionate about economy as well as ecology.

Many of the top aquatic system designers around the world started using AES' equipment and expertise to build everything from public aquariums to fish hatcheries. The company proved that it was able to serve them while keeping its commitment to less experienced customers and everyday aquatic needs. Further becoming a source for all things aquatic, AES added system design and equipment repairs to its list of services.

As the business grew, so did the catalog. The current incarnation of the Aquatic Eco-Systems Master Catalog showcases more than 13,000 products and a wealth of technical information in over 400 full-color pages.

In 1994, AES was purchased by the Hoffinger family. This extra financial support helped the company grow even more. Between 1995 and 2000, AES expanded 5 times, adding between 6,000–17,000 sq.ft. each time. The company settled in its current, state-of-the-art building at 2395 Apopka Blvd. in June 2004. The 120,000 sq.ft. building contains both office and warehouse space, providing enough room for all 100+ AES employees to work under one roof.

In 2012, AES was acquired by Pentair, Inc. Pentair is an $8 billion global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of equipment, technology and engineered solutions for the handling and treatment of water, thermal management and equipment protection.

With the new Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc. (Pentair AES), our core elements will remain the same. Our Master Catalog will continue to be an annual tradition in the industry, and will still be your best source of equipment and supplies for aquaculture, aquaponics, lake management and laboratory animal housing. Our trusted technicians are still here to help you troubleshoot and select the right equipment. You'll still get exemplary customer service, including same-day shipping and our Price Match Promise*.

Additionally, the new Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems will strive to be the number one innovator, developer and provider of aquaculture equipment and solutions in the world, all while making environmental preservation a chief concern. As depleting wild fish stocks fail to meet rising demand from population growth and trends toward healthier eating, the aquaculture industry is experiencing rapid expansion. With the right tools and preparation, you can enjoy new levels of success and help feed the world at the same time, and we want to provide the resources that help you achieve your goals.

Whether you're running a commercial operation, public aquarium or research project, our mission is to cater to any aquatic interest you have with the highest quality products, solutions and support. We want to help farmers, from small hatcheries to large growout systems, put more low-cost, healthy fish on plates around the world while solving the ecological challenges of fish production. As we move toward this healthier future—for people and the environment—we want to see customers using Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems products and services to have the highest quality, growth rates and profit margins in the industry.

What this will mean is an increased focus on the "service and solutions" aspect of our business. You can call us for anything and everything, whether you need equipment upgrades or a new system designed from scratch. We'll design life support systems for public aquariums, build multi-rack laboratory research systems and install complete lake aeration systems—WaterLife Design, Aquatic Habitats and our Lakes Department are still here and providing unsurpassed aquatic solutions.

As our range and reach expand, we will always remain committed to providing you with the best selection and service in the industry, and our complete system solutions will ensure clean water and healthy fish without all the headaches.

Through it all, Pentair's global reach and world-class resources will ensure that we remain your one-stop shop for years to come.

Welcome to Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems.

*Price Match Promise is not applicable to pool equipment.