Featured Business - Aquatic Dreams

Thursday, 31 December 2009

Aquatic Dreams – Saltwater and Reef Specialists 510 East 1700 South, Ste. 301 Clearfield has its very own aquarium on the south side of the city; at least it feels that way when you enter the doors of Aquatic Dreams, Saltwater and Reef Specialists. Owner Ryan Vickers has turned an ordinary retail space into a magical world of aquaculture including exotic coral, purple algae-covered rocks, an indoor “tide pool”, and walls filled with aquariums sporting vibrantly colored fish and invertebrates. “The beauty of saltwater reef tanks is that everything is alive,” explained Vickers. “You can watch everything grow and propagate, and the colors are so beautiful. The biggest challenge is keeping the fish alive and growing the coral.” What started out as merely a hobby turned into a lucrative business for Vickers. He opened his original store in Ogden in 2002; when he needed more space he relocated in 2007 to his current location in Clearfield on Antelope Drive (1700 S.). “The majority of our customer base was in Davis County so it made sense,” explained Vickers, who in addition to the retail store maintains 120 tank accounts from Idaho to Park City to Tooele. Vickers has a maintenance crew who spend one to two hours every other week at each customer’s home or business changing the tank water and filter, and scraping them down. The customer just feeds the fish. Doctor and dentist offices, as well as personal residences are popular locations for saltwater reef tanks because of their calming affect. “Studies have shown that aquariums can provide a stress-reducing opportunity – fish gazing can be soothing and relaxing to most people,” offered Vickers. The practice of aquaculture, that is growing coral and raising reef livestock of fish and invertebrates such as snails, sea anemones, shrimp and crab in a tank environment, has replaced a lot of the ocean harvesting practices of the past. “Customers can purchase a ‘frag’ from us, which is a small piece of coral, and start their own living coral colony,” Vickers explained. The fish that Aquatic Dreams sells come from Indonesia, Bali, Hawaii and Fiji. Aquatic Dreams grows their own coral in the backroom of their store which houses a large, shallow aquaculture tank. The tank provides the optimum growing environment by regulating light, temperature, filtration, water quality and flow. Families may find it fun to stop by Aquatic Dreams and view all the different species of coral, fish and invertebrates in the tanks lining the walls. In the coral section you’ll find candy cane coral, electric blue sponge, True Red Koko Worms, Aussie war paint Scolymia, Octo-Peall Bubble, war coral and more. In the “invert” section (invertebrates) you’ll see Turbo snails, Peppermint shrimp, Arrow crabs, sea urchins and Tiger Tail cucumbers. In the fish section you’ll see all shapes and sizes of fish, including Long Horn Cow Fish, Scissortail Goby, Lawnmower Blenny, and Purple Fire fish. “Because of the popular animated Disney movie “Finding Nemo”, some of the most popular fish we sell are percula clowns, which was Nemo in the movie, and blue tang which was Dori,” Vickers said. Vickers and his four full-time employees can answer most any question when it comes to caring for fragile marine life. Most of what Vickers knows has come from years of trial and error, and a lot of reading. Aquatic Dreams sells new and used aquatic tanks, as well as in-house, custom tanks. A saltwater reef hobby can be a pricey hobby with a complete tank (used), including filter, starting at $500. That’s not taking into account the live rock, fish and invertebrates. “This hobby may not be for everyone,” concurred Vickers. “However, once you start creating your own saltwater environment it can be addicting!” Aquatic Dreams is located behind Madbrooks Donuts and Deli and next to Pinnacle Academy of Martial Arts at 510 East 1700 South, and is open Monday through Saturday, 11am – 7pm. You can visit their website at www.aquaticdreamer.com, or call (801)525-0033.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 February 2010 )

 

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