A: Working at Aquarium Co-Op has been quite different than my last couple jobs which were in more of a corporate setting. The amazing people that I work with each day is one of my favourite aspects. There is never a dull moment, from brand ambassadors to local club representatives to my co-workers. I love to make people happy doing what we do and to see the reactions from surprising people with goodies! I love the relaxed attitude of everyone here. We get a lot done but it’s great being surrounded with friends.
My degree was a Bachelor in Science in Digital Communications from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. My hobby is aquascape. However, I have only competed once. I placed sixth in Aquatic Experience’s nano aquascaping competition. I will continue to compete as much as possible!
A I’m certain I’ll have more as I’ve only been here for a while… But, I think my favourite so far was seeing our brand ambassadors receive their first care package. Seeing their surprise and excitement was so rewarding!
A: In my daily job here, I work to complete many of our on-going projects and programs in the pipeline. These include improving the product pages of the website, sending care packages out to ambassadors and members, coordination with local aquarium clubs in order to donate and organize events, and many other daily tasks and reminders that Cory can use to help him focus on bigger picture items. Though I am still learning the ropes, I hope to get as many projects completed as I can to continue driving business forward.
A: My absolute favorite fish are Golden White Cloud Mountain Minnows. They possess so many wonderful aspects. They are happy in tanks that don’t have heaters. I prefer them to be in an aquarium with no equipment. They’re just so cool to me!
A: My dream aquarium would probably be a giant aquascape in a nature aquarium style. I have always wanted the opportunity to see Florestas Submersas by Takashi Amato, his largest aquascape. I would like something like that in my house with a couple thousand nano fish schooling around, preferably ones to go with the native habitat of the plants in my giant aquascape. It would be a great idea to hire staff to look after it.
– Tanks Type This is a high-tech planted aquascape. How many years has it been in place? 2! It has been re-scaped once though. – List the fish in it: Right now, I have green neon tetras, celestial pearl danios, blue dream neocaridina and black rose neocaridina shrimp, Amano shrimp and a couple nerite snails. – What is your biggest goal or challenge with this aquarium? Easily the biggest challenge was avoiding algae in the beginning when I set it up. Although it was easy to establish my cycle, I still have occasional outbreaks when the balance of light, nutrients, and CO2 is adjusted. Most recently, staghorn algae caused by too much light.
A: I have never met an Aquarium Co-Op product that I would not recommend. My favorite filter is the sponge filter. I have a small size one and it’s perfect for my betta fish, he is never bothered by flow and his water stays really oxygen rich, so he doesn’t have to swim to the surface for air continuously. Easy Green is a great product that I love. I’ve been using it in my aquascapes since they were new. I only need to do two pumps each time I water my plants. They are lush and healthy. In fact, they’re growing like weeds.
Don’t rush it. This is true for all aspects of aquascaping: spawning, cycling, and growing plants. This hobby is not instantly gratifying, in order to properly take care of your fish buddies and plants, take your time! Rushing through processes usually results in losing expensive livestock or equipment. – Research, research, research. It’s important to research everything before you buy anything. The internet is your best friend – also, generally take your LFS’s advise with a grain of salt and do your own research at home. Although they aren’t always right, they have a vested financial interest. Do what makes your heart happy. If you want artificial plants, get them! You can also get rainbow gravel. Everybody has a different style, so your aquarium should be unique. You don’t have to follow the advice of others on what your aquarium should look like. Let your imagination run wild! – Don’t jump to conclusions about your fish. Although this is hard for me to do, if something seems wrong with your fish, don’t assume that you have the right answer. Always think about all possibilities. Do some research. Talk to other people. There is a high chance that someone has experienced the same problem or experience as you. Learn first, and then make informed decisions. – Do more water changes. This is one of my biggest pieces of advice. Your fish, plants and other livestock appreciate nice, clean water. Don’t you? Less waste/nutrient buildup = less algae too.