The Brutal Reality of Owning an Aquarium Store...

[@Texasbiologyhelp]

"Most owners are fish people, not business people" Very wise words.

[@iceicetimmay]

What I have noticed as well

[@hyfy-tr2jy]

you couldnt be more right and with that...a shop run by "fish owners" tend to focus on the wrong things for the health and wealth of their business. This video even underscores it. The idea of "good price" is brought up far too much. If you pin your business success around price you will always struggle. You MUST sell at a price that builds enough profits to sustain the business and if that means you have to charge a bit more then so be it..... its all about service not price. People will pay reasonable premiums for service. No different that in EverytownUSA you can buy a $3 cheeseburger and a $30 cheeseburger....they are both cheeseburgers its the service you get with that burger that justifies the price

[@MickyTubbs1985]

Being an entrepreneur in the "tropical fish business and hobby is truly a "labor of Love." To all those courageous individuals who invest their time, energy, and finances to provide all that is needed to enjoy this hobby I commend and thank you.

[@georgiana6598]

It's not a hobby. These are sentien beings pets and making money is selling starter tanks to keep a goldfish in. Integrity and selling goldfish are not good bedfellows. Acceptable behaviour is watching this. It's keeping filthy water clean, warm and glass and friends. Fish should not be sold. Ppl should not buy them. You need absorbs to buy a 5 ft tank and keeping the water clear warmish, filtration care knowledge and reality hits these ppl. U v filters glass. Overhead drip unforgiving nature. Or if you do care. Knowledge of what you do is easier than hard work and in my house I have a lifestyle geared towards not having stupidity. If I know my babies are very important. So am I. You have to be rich and learn how to kill your pet. He doesn't give a shit.

[@TankSizeMatters]

This is a great video to give anyone an idea of running a small business. All of the tips apply.

[@jocool47]

exactly

[@tommywolfe2706]

The brutal reality lol. My family started a small chain of pet stores back in the 80's that were pretty successful. Fast forwards 30 years and my grandparents were getting divorced, they were both tired of the stores and so they sold them. They knew what they were doing. My uncle ran the main store and everyone knew him as the pet guy. He could get you any animal you wanted basically and knew everything about everything. Their salt water room was amazing, it was his job to keep all of the coral. They also had a shark there that I got to feed goldfish to as well. They sold the stores and the new owner tried to take on a petsmart type of approach. After Petsmart had already opened a branch in the area. My grandparents were successful because they knew how to navigate around the big stores and fill the holes in the market left behind. Plenty of people bought fish from walmart that were diseased or sick from overcrowding. Those same people would try again at Meijer and then Petsmart and then make their way to the our "little" local store where they would...somehow....have a lot of luck with their fish. Once they got the hang of it, we could provide more variety of actually healthy fish that they were wanting and willing to take on. One example. The stores all closed within a few years of being bought. The new people just couldnt make it work. It was strange seeing it go from where it was at its height to what it was like towards the end. That is the brutal reality. If you got a good working model, know how to take care of your customers and your pets in the store as well as providing great after sale care too, you will be just fine. Once you start trying to match "the other guys" like the bigger chains, you are just chasing your tail then and it wont end well.

[@rwvisuals]

Both of you have inspired me in the hobby, along with other creators. Love what you guys are doing!

[@LaurenceDay-d2p]

Wish these guys all the best of luck and success!

[@fatheadpr]

A little late but a simple backflow preventer separates tank water from supply water. Dont be afraid to ask a plumber haha

[@mpg1fam]

“Not all heroes wear capes, some wear floral shirt 🙌🏻🙌🏻. Also this setup for plumbing and water circulation is very helpful for the future generation that would continue fish business. Thank you so so much sir . Wish you all the best and God bless you more 🙏

[@lurklingX]

(for Corey*) i love hearing the whole backstory of how things started. but also how you came to know dean and start working with him like you do today. what a great friendship and blending of this hobby!! AMAZING what you've accomplished. and kudos to your wife for supporting you in this, and your carpenter friend. :) *oops, thought i was on the co-op channel LOL.

[@MettaTrance]

So bizarre seeing Nick at aquarium co-op! Living your dreams mate

[@JessMcCrossan]

I got confused seeing Dean in one of these vids and thought I'd switched to co-op's channel haha

[@OtsoNick]

Corey is awesome, glad you got to meet him and chat!

[@sharonjack8582]

EXCELLENT VIDEO. I enjoy watching both of your channels so it is wonderful to see you both together. Amazing thought-provoking info. THANK YOU. USA

[@thedampestcrib6004]

When he said bigger you get more flood will hurt I felt this 😢 only 40 tanks but had over 100 gal on the floor when I woke up 😮

[@DanielMiranda-lu2bn]

You should've hired a plumber to do the water change system, so he could have pulled a permit and simply install the back flow. To prevent any contamination fear from your system to go into the city, it's very common. It might cost more, but it sounds cheaper than building a whole wall with stuff that the inspector might want

[@mja2239]

Yeah. The authorities were doing their job. Cory just casually dismisses their concern with the backflow of contaminated water.

[@nicocrinkleburg]

Great to see your hard work is paying off! You’re living the dream, man ✌️

[@sandydimond3363]

Your both absolutely wonderful people, thank you for sharing you're knowledge, thoughts and experiences

[@UltFrizz]

When you said you had a budget of 80K, Cory took a big gulp.

[@jeffkane4391]

Great video, Nick. There's a lot more to the equation than most people think of. I worked for a pet store during expansions and attempted second locations. Expansions went well, and second locations not so much. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@mja2239]

Because you worked at the expansion. Now go work at the second location.

[@jeffkane4391]

@mja2239 if that was for me, I did that two and a half decades ago. The pet store was sold 20 years ago and failed less than a year later. The new owner didn't want to actually work at the store but had employees run it for him during a local economic crash. It was a doomed venture when he decided to take it over, unfortunately.

[@mja2239]

@@jeffkane4391 what happened to the fish?

[@jeffkane4391]

@mja2239 at that store, I'm not sure, I only stopped by the new owner twice. I kept salt water fish at that time, and he was fresh only

[@jfe1985]

I really like this video and this whole channel. I just started to plan for having a fish tank again. So far this is my favourite channel I found. It has a great, relaxed vibe and still gives you all the relevant insights.

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

Cory has helped this hobby so much. I love his business outlook and style. He gets it. Listen carefully. This said, some folks just don't belong in retail or any business. LOL Like me ;-)

[@jamesbryan1285]

This video is pure gold. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom!

[@colekinser407]

Really cool to me seeing these guys in the flesh at the co-op together. I have been watching Cory since I was a young warthog and Nick for a couple years now. lol feels like my KZbin fish keeping cool uncle/father figure is meeting up with the guy I relate to the most. Nick always has such an appreciation/sponge vibe like he’s soaking it all in when around other experienced fish keepers I really appreciate.

[@mja2239]

You were a warthog?

[@fredfred2363]

This video is now a part of history. A good documentary of how you started.

[@jtkeepingfish]

Great interview you have done there Nick! Very insightful in what running a store really means! I'm currently in the process of building my store up, so this really helped me! Thanks!

[@CoralsAndMoreAquatics]

Two legends in the room. Great video big man.

[@TheFishingNomad]

I've got a lot of respet for Cory as a fishkeeper, but I've got even more respect as a businessman.

[@laurafratoni7931]

Wish the products weren’t Chinese made garbage though.

[@TheFishingNomad]

@@laurafratoni7931 What products of theirs are garbage?

[@juliemcgugan1244]

They have a whole range, from utter cr@p to never needs maintenance or new parts…you just have to find out which are the best. Try other people’s review videos on here. That’s what I do.

[@jamesshepard4743]

@@laurafratoni7931 Chinese made is no longer synonymous with garbage. Over 30% of global manufacturing is now made in China.

[@hazlemarina]

Thank you so much for this. Love this hobby and we need you guys. I'm from London and am so happy for the family run business in the east end. I wouldn't be in the hobby if it wasn't for them & you guys on KZbin xxx

[@dlyman95]

33 minutes in and loving how Cory is just casually dipping his hand in the water repeatedly

[@kurtisstutzman7056]

I still use bedframes for a number of things... I have a pile of them out back...! All my racks are modeled after his store... Those early videos are where my fishrooms construction came from...! Thanks for sharing...! Keep up your awesomeness...!!

[@AllanNodd]

Love supporting small business. I was totally shocked when my local pet store Aquarium co-op product in Merrillville, Indiana, The Ark. Out of all the choices for my new tank, i picked your filter because i know corey did the research. It was nice to talk to the employee about the channel too! Good job guys!

[@laurafratoni7931]

The sponge filters are nice, though the big sizes holes invite snails to get trapped. Just stay away from the usb air pumps and definitely the heaters and you will be ok.

[@mja2239]

What's wrong with the USB air pumps?

[@AllanNodd]

@@mja2239 cant handle much current i believe vs ones with an actual transformer in the plug i would assume

[@chesian]

i love seeing how big your channel has grown. hard work pays off.

[@ScootLogix]

good video. Loved how you were both down to earth and it was a solid conversation.

[@notatopyoutuber]

Like always nice audio quality

[@asphyxiated1242]

The urge to go to aquarium co-op again after watching this. It's just such a nice little store. I love watching the fish.

[@nobody342]

I have 2 empty tanks ( 30 and 55)that I have not even bother to set up, been sitting there for 10 years for the one and 5 years for the other. The pet/fish store went out of business when petco moved into town, and the Petco has about 20-30 tanks of which 6 are glowfish and a couple tanks of goldfish. and the rest of the tanks have so few fish that its not even worth trying to set the tanks up with. ( 35 mile drive for me just to see what the petco may or may not have) Sure with there was a fish store near me like yours, or even 1/4 of what yours is. Wonderful to see you store!

[@joseCalderon1976]

Just like any small business, it's a lot of work. I know people that have their own business and they are always working. I have nothing but respect for those individuals. Thanks for the video.

[@mja2239]

Not just small business, big business people too are working.

[@MIKoenig44]

This was great. To hear Cory's logic and reasoning behind things was so enlightening.

[@handemhan]

Another dream collab. Great work mate

[@later_daze_4080]

Corey seems like a really good dude, for sure. The whole "'breaking even" thing is ok because it helps the hobby in general is righteous.

[@rocket5557]

Since you were a little kid??? Like a couple years ago?

[@Fantasygod19999]

dont poop on a young mans dream he had for his entire life. Takes balls to start a buisness

[@LaurenceDay-d2p]

Any kind of small business is a huge hassle, what with taxes, expenses, problems with suppliers, bureaucratic red tape, etc. I admire people who have the determination to maintain a small store, despite the struggle and disappointments.

[@DannySchultz013]

Fantastic insight and great work with the video! Happy to get an opportunity to see into the background!

[@chrisrose5853]

That's a great slogan and i agree, i have an aquaponics system, it has been a real treat watching the ecosystem evolve and adjust to the environment

[@yates656]

I got into planted tanks after high school and shopped at this place that was one of the biggest in the southeast. They had everything. It blew my mind. I was in college and getting a job there was my dream, I eventually got a job there and achieved that, it was great for about a year. Then they started selling bread and butter fish and dry goods you could get anywhere, running out of this or that constantly. Lost a ton of customers who would drive hours just to come to the store for expertise/niche products/livestock you couldn't find at most others. They went out of business obviously.

[@TheRealTMar]

My experience with the frozen food freezer in The Netherlands is that they tend to be somewhere at the back. You actually have to look for them to find them or ask an employee where to find it. But most people just go with flakes and pellets. I really like that Diebo has a very nice selection of live foods and I often pick some up.

[@Babyboomer_59]

I'm in my mid 60s now but way back when in my mid 20s I had gotten into aquariums for my own personal enjoyment starting off small and as I went, I got into the massive tanks and became a fresh (South American and African) along with salt water Cichlid breeder selling back and providing fish for my local aquarium business owners. Living close to the bayous of Baytown, I would Seine minnows and filter clean them before feeding to my cichlids. I would put the minnows in a 5 gallon tank feeding and constantly changing out the water to clear them of any bad bacteria, it's been so long I don't remember if I fed them to all of my cichlids because I do remember having to purchase brine shrimp and those may have been for my saltwater?

[@jamesedmonds6526]

You’re a good business man! You earned it.

[@australianbiotopes4563]

Cool video Nick and Cory! I always enjoy watching these 🙂

[@hasiktirordan1]

A place like this in Turkey is usually dirty but this place looks great.

[@juliemcgugan1244]

Same experience of many LFS (little fish shops) in Singapore, where I grew up.

[@mja2239]

Same in India.

[@nostalgia1672]

0:24 that clap tho

[@JessMcCrossan]

I love that he has stickers to show which ones are locally bred!

[@tinadorminy4086]

My two favorite fish guys together!!

[@justinoakrauton213]

And like my voice goes higher when I’m telling a scenario of what happened in the past.!!! lol Good video!

[@bradleydishner9698]

Went ito a local shop the other day and was very dissappinted. He had 10 inch bala sharks beating up discus. Plants all full of algae. More dead fish than alive probably. Place almost looked abandoned and the prices were crazy high. Im greatful for shops that care for the plants and animals.

[@JeffreyHaas-v4y]

Great video and facts on opening a small business.

[@davethebrave.]

The fact that Cory is a fisherman, he's not the only one who can afford to build his own aquarium

[@lacrosseguy108]

i used to watch KG tropics, aquarium co op and prime time aquatics all the time. over the last year i havnt been on as much and seen an older KG video and got me wondering what happenbed to all my reccomendations lol

[@richardkarl6727]

28:15 he says if you're not getting $750,000 or more to a 1000sq feet per year, then you haven't Optimised enough. So true. He gets 1.2 to 1.4 Million dollars per 1000sq feet per year.

[@hkk3656]

I was just in Cory's store a few days ago. I'm guessing the store was closed when you were making this video. Welcome to America.

[@j.t.cooper2963]

Cory said it was Saturday night after hours in the video.

[@laurafratoni7931]

What does America have to do with it?

[@juliemcgugan1244]

Nick is from Australia. He is visiting the US. They are a local person who is welcoming him to America.

[@mja2239]

I think Laura took it like this - Bad this, bad that, bad the other thing, huh, welcome to America.

[@MiraSubieGirl]

Love you both

[@den-yc3hv]

I really enjoyed this video . I’m not in the aquarium buisness but in the sales buisness, it’s definitely relatable . Super cool, that you were in Seattle.

[@S.Trades]

*business

[@Sh0gunnn]

Love your videos, mate!

[@simonbutler377]

its insane to me that thoose big tanks dont have a whole surface they sit on, they are only supported on the short sides.

[@gibshredcamel]

That’s one of the biggest advantages to framed tanks. They are designed to hold their own weight

[@simonbutler377]

@@gibshredcamel even metal bends. glass doesnt.

[@lilgrey]

that video was so informative! thank you!

[@mistersir3020]

Valuable info from a real businessman

[@MikeyColon]

SUPER INTERESTING! THANKS FOR SHARING

[@theblindfishkeeper]

i've been watching Corey just about since he started. And I've watched you since you were at your folks house. I think it's truly amazing to see how far the both of you have come. And inspiring tale of determination and passion coming to life. Good on you, mate. 🐠🦯🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@titanau]

We have started a new pet supply store recently and we we also breed and sell fish, great insight and info for a new business.

[@Nemesis0513]

How has everybody else managed to finish the video already it’s been TWO minutes

[@audrameyer9558]

😂😂I always wonder that!!

[@awcm1507]

watching on faster speed

[@audrameyer9558]

@@awcm1507 Must consume Co-Op and Keeping Fish Simple posts STAT!!! 😁🤣🐡🐠🌿🌱

[@Nemesis0513]

@@awcm1507 it’s a 37 minute video you’d have to be watching 18.5 times faster than everybody else even if you clicked immediately

[@josepolanco1228]

Great video, always good to know behind the scenes. Saw on real speed 😁

[@kimgilbertsen8216]

My question is - how do you guys ever take a vacation? I am only running about 20 tanks in my home Fish room, but I can never leave town for more than a couple of days! BTW, getting both of you in ONE video is pretty darn amazing! Thank you!

[@beatatarczon1402]

don't you have family to feed your fish? get a teenage neighbor

[@kimgilbertsen8216]

@@beatatarczon1402 well I am a single guy and when you’re raising baby angelfish, black calvus, cories and plecos, it gets kind of scary to ask a teenager to do that! I used to have a guy who rented a room in my basement and he was there for many many years, learned how to feed the fish properly, etc. Unfortunately, he died of cancer almost 2 years ago and oh my gosh it has made things really tough!

[@monishbeck3859]

Get automatic feeder.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Fish can easily manage a week without food. Run the lights with a watch and make sure the filtration is up to date and enjoy the vacation. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jodip719]

It really helps to have planted aquariums. All of my 18 tanks are full of plants, daphnia, scuds, shrimp, and snails. I run sponge filters on all my breeding tanks. The only thing I have that makes it harder is fry. I keep frozen repashy on hand if I need someone to feed them. Fortunately, all my fish eat repashy. Lights are on timers that you can run from an app(tapo timers from best buy).

[@shelbytaylor4634]

This is a great video! ❤

[@meep2576]

I wish we had an aquarium store in my city instead of a petco and PetSmart and a owner that actually knows their products and cares about the fish ❤

[@ellesnyder942]

Cory sounds just like Phil McKnight of the "Know Your Gear" guitar channel lol.

[@bajafins]

1:53 what's up with that door at the back? lmao ACO is haunted

[@dandybounddandybound1064]

I wished i had more time to watch KZbin,........Only give a few options entry,middle ,top Stock mostly Entry items as most Shoppers don't have deep pockets. Only a few Store's make it too 10 years plus,many people start with a dream but don't have a plan to get there. You need to listen and have what locals need and try to buy from local breeders. One of the points in this video which is a major reason most Stores fail is giving ample time for Cleaning /Maintenance. Cory covered this in video every corner needs to pay its space.Never run out of the breed and butter sellers,this will cover your rent and most overheads,don't Stock more than a few fish with big Price Tags unless you are firm you can move them.

[@TidalSide]

Yo love your videos

[@LucyLucy69]

this dude is a legend in the hobby

[@redcherries93x2]

So great seeing these two together. Found out about Corey and Dean through you. All the favorites in once place has been awesome

[@akademikz23]

I dont eben own any fish but i wiah this place was open for business when i lived in edmonds as a kid. Very cool little shop.

[@chasstauffer4883]

Both of you inspired me to get into it Among some others

[@fauzanazhima]

6:24 You know it's your passion and not just any business, when you just casually put your hand wet inside an aquarium and continue talking without even drying it after....

[@TheMrWadikus]

Will there be a second part of this video? It kind of just ended. I did enjoy it thoroughly however

[@trevorcannon5699]

I've always wondered what happens to the fish that start getting big after no one buys them

[@josiahrodriguez3633]

Facts

[@mja2239]

It goes into depression and then the store keeper has to tell it everyday "you are as beautiful as any other fish out there".

[@garden_creature]

@@mja2239 you're weird

[@Teabone3]

Love you guys. Glad to see these worlds finally collide :)

[@Xulez]

Would've loved to see the sign for the plants

[@NeoMichael-d7z]

I love my aquatic community

[@Outside-InAquatics]

Harbor freight builds so many small businesses

[@aarong2660]

you clapped your hands at 25 seconds and made a cool noise. Keep it up!

[@yearofthegarden]

I dont know or care at all about fish, but i really enjoy the dynamic of self made entrepreneur and one that inspired the next generation, because that's what we need as men and business owners, people to look up to an improve upon ideas and business concepts, as well as show how it's done on a budget while grinding towards stability. I grow mushrooms and salad and all of the same philosphies still apply, what he said about not expanding to quick is on par with my experience, I noticed a lot of mycology farms going under because they went to big on a niche product, but the one in particular that I advised to take a step back and refine the efficiencies to get mroe out of the space he had, and to redesign their grow areas to be more efficient and easier to service, made all the difference and he is one of the largest mushrooms growers in canada now for specific varieties.

[@MrCreeperrr]

The colab we all needed! 👏 👏

[@matthewblankenship7968]

I wish there was a fish store like aquarium co op where I live ..

[@ScaRlaK319]

using the color coded system on plants is great. use color zip ties and its even better

[@castianplagued]

cool as going to the fish place that inspires you. awesome vid team

[@Misterjenkinsnovelty]

Amazing advice..thank you :)

[@carlfox8362]

Great video guys never taught id see yous together

[@DonaldHill87]

1:54 - Door opens by itself!!!

[@alanpalacios7303]

Two of my favorite fish keepers!

[@justingaglio4194]

Really appreciate the committment

[@AlaskanAWD]

You may have been able to install a reduce pressure backflow preventer and not need an air gap.

[@RajDarshan]

at 9:15 are those UV sterilizers in the first row second tank and second row first tank?

[@sleepershark8816]

I love to see the strugle thank you for sharing😂❤