Fish Story Aquarium and Rescue, Naples, FL; two 4500 gal 13'x13'x4.5'

[thebiggerthebetter]

Come together fast

Two full years. Is that fast?

Wow. You are very crafty. It seems like things hardly ever go to plans. So sad that you put so much time and effort into the shower head, for it to not work out. Great trouble shooting, and coming to solutions. This is very inspiring. Are your acharas in that pond now as well?

Thank you. Many things are trial and error, that's true. I am still experimenting with the aquasock / shower head.

No. Only koi are in there. ~110-120 of them. It's risky to put spiny fish, such as catfish, in a rubber-liner pond. Sooner of later, it will get punctured in more than one place, which could be ok for an in-ground pond but may not be for an above-ground or partly above-ground one. The liner would have to be protected, e.g. by concrete or acrylic sheets, etc.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

-- Pumping down the semi-natural koi pond, treating koi against external parasites with potassium permanganate, rehoming into the 25,000 gal exhibit;
-- catching freeloaders 10 cubic feet worth (!) - three kinds of Armageddon fish of steel tilapia, mayan cichlid, and walking catfish plus Florida gar and sunfish - most go into freezer, some into fish tanks;
-- in and out of water in 4500 gal and in the brand new koi exhibit with feeding.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Usually their enthusiasm is through the roof, so this is not the best example but will do for the first try at this video. The gang is used to feed on saltwater cuisine without bright lights (only dim lights in the back). Instead, they are being offered freshwater fish (colonizers from the koi pond pump down) in bright light. So they are showing their dismay.

 

[aldiaz33]

Wow, Viktor!
You're taking fish keeping to a whole 'nother level!
Nice work!
I would hate to see your power bill. Since you are operating a rescue, do you at least get to write it off as an expense (tax write-off)?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Wow, Viktor!
You're taking fish keeping to a whole 'nother level!
Nice work!
I would hate to see your power bill. Since you are operating a rescue, do you at least get to write it off as an expense (tax write-off)?

Thank you, Alex! Many other MFKers have done more and better

No, no tax write-offs for us. The Aquarium and Rescue cost us about $500-$700 monthly in electricity expenses. Long story but because we funded our venture with our own retirement funds, we couldn't incorporate as a non-profit. So we are a for profit Corp C. But we don't owe anything to anybody. Freedom has its cost.

 

[Matteus]

Thank you, Alex! Many other MFKers have done more and better

No, no tax write-offs for us. The Aquarium and Rescue cost us about $500-$700 monthly in electricity expenses. Long story but because we funded our venture with our own retirement funds, we couldn't incorporate as a non-profit. So we are a for profit Corp C. But we don't owe anything to anybody. Freedom has its cost.

So you get paid to do the rescue? If what I am hearing is true, I may be able to convince my wife to letting me do this some day. I was told to dream big, guess your name says it all...

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

So you get paid to do the rescue? If what I am hearing is true, I may be able to convince my wife to letting me do this some day. I was told to dream big, guess your name says it all...

Hahah... The only way we get any credit from doing the rescue is by charging adoption fees. Other than that, it is all debit, i.e., expenses. Financially, the rescue operation has not been self sustaining at all but we don't advertise as proper. We plan to once the Aquarium opens to public at large.

Still, I don't hope for the rescue to be profitable or even break even. This is a service to the community of fish-keeping peers which we offer and which only loses money but may help improve my image of otherwise just a fish junkie and hoarder

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

 

[PGJE]

wow!!! incredible!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

It's been 3.5 months since the last video. Sorry about that. Here is the latest: