My love of aquariums all started with a 10-gallon tank with black and orange-colored gravel. The fish in my first tank were three colorful Glo Tetras with a bristle-nose pleco. I was in eighth grade at the time and was already bit by the “aquarium bug.”
That 10-gallon freshwater aquarium inspired me so much that I spent all of the money I earned refereeing soccer games on a 90-gallon saltwater aquarium. Once that aquarium was set up in my parents’ basement (thanks mom and dad!) there was no going back for me.
All of my free time was spent learning as much as I could about everything aquarium-related. In fact, this passion encapsulated me so much that I would later get a job at my local fish store when I was a high school sophomore.