Questions and Answers
What is your favorite thing about working at Aquarium Co-Op?
My favorite part of working at Aquarium Co-Op is the sense of community and family. I really feel like everything I do really matters and is shown in things like views and sales. And it’s a good feeling to know people trust my judgement.
What are your professional background? I am self-taught. I learned everything I know through many hours of research and practice. My passion for cinematography has inspired me to learn more and create the best videos and photos possible within my skill-set.
What is your most memorable moment at Aquarium Co-Op, and why? Meeting with legends in this hobby, documenting their journey, and then putting it all out there for the rest of the world.
What are you doing every day at Aquarium Co-Op, other than being a cameraman? Editing videos from start to finish is my main job. This includes all graphics, animations, color, and sound. I also create graphics and labels for many of our in-house products and take all of the product photos for the website.
What is your favorite fish and why? My favorite fish are Celestial Pearl Danios because they look like a tiny brook trout, Pseudomugil luminatus (Red Neon Blue Eye Rainbowfish) because I like their amazing fin action and Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi (Yellow Rainbowfish) because I love rainbows, how they flash and because it’s really hard to find a nice yellow fish.
What would your dream aquarium be? An aquascaped 800 gallon with as many Celestial Pearl Danios as will fit.
– Type of tank: Community planted tank – How long has it been setup? About 6-8 months – Fish stocking list: Celestial Pearl Danios, Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi, Pseudomugil luminatus, cherry shrimp, ramshorn snails – What is your biggest goal or challenge with this aquarium? Evaporation is my biggest challenge because it’s open top
What products do you highly recommend?
Easy Green because it is very user-friendly and not too complicated. It’s safe for virtually every type of livestock and grows plants very well. It makes fertilizing aquarium plants easy. – Xtreme Krill and Spirulina Flake Foods – Flake food is very versatile because you can feed larger flakes to large fish, but you can also break them up to feed nano fish. Xtreme flakes look more natural than other flake foods. They have grooves, so they don’t appear processed. It was created by an experienced hobbyist and not a large company. The reason why I use both types of flakes is because you can’t just feed protein or veggies all the time, you have to mix it up so that your fish get a variety of foods. Coarse Sponge pad because it can be cut to fit any filter. It also has the perfect amount pores per square inch, so it doesn’t need to be cleaned as often.
Do not spend too much on livestock that you do not have the right habitat for. It will lead to disaster and cost you money. Be patient. Once you have the right setup, then you can spend the money. – Don’t jump to conclusions when your fish are doing something out of the ordinary, medication should be used as a last resort. If you don’t wish to cover your tanks, keep at least a covering on them overnight. In my experience, my fish always jump out of the tank at nighttime – especially rainbow fish. If you’re away for a long time or if you have other priorities, stock your tanks only to the extent that you won’t have a problem. A lighter stocking is always better, but always consider the worst case scenario. I.E. If you are away for 7 days, a good trim can make a big difference. Trimming plants keeps them healthy and will allow them to grow more bushy. Even if you keep jungle tanks, a nice trim will make sure nothing grows too out of control or shades out other plants. Don’t be afraid to use your scissors!