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Bottled Ocean’s New Modular Reef System Seeks to Transform Man-Made Marine Environments

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums releases information about Bottled Ocean’s Modular Reef System:

 

Mar 30, 2016
Orlando, Fla. — Bottled Ocean today announced the launch of the Modular Reef System, an innovative series of manufactured reef structures that unlike reef and rock formations in most large aquariums, can easily be floated, submerged and moved at will.

Each individual reef module, which can be of almost any shape or size, features a self-balancing buoyancy chamber making it the first reef product that can be removed from its aquatic environment for regular cleaning and maintenance. Because algae growth and other particulate matter removed during cleaning aren’t released back into the water, burdens on filtration systems and stresses to resident animals are greatly reduced. The Modular Reef System’s iso-resin construction also helps reduce fluctuations in water quality often associated with traditional materials like concrete.

The full-service aquatic management solutions company already has a contract with a theme park in Orlando to produce at least 50 modules of its revolutionary Modular Reef System. Product delivery is being implemented in several phases and extends through 2017. Bottled Ocean recently delivered phase I and plans to deliver phase II in June of this year.

“We know the industry is always striving to improve animal habitats and the resulting guest experience,” said Greg Lund, President and CEO of Bottled Ocean. “The Modular Reef System represents an evolutionary step forward in that effort. Our clients tell us they’ve seen an incredibly positive response from animals toward the Modular Reef System, and that guests love the authentic and natural animal behavior they get to view because of it.”

Bottled Ocean plans to debut the patent-pending Modular Reef System at the annual Regional Aquatics Workshop (RAW) in New Orleans, La., March 22 – 25, 2016, where a large module will be on display. Bottled Ocean’s Integrated Communications Manager Justin Ritchey will deliver a conference address and video presentation on the “Fish First” philosophy that inspired the Modular Reef System. A portion of the video can be seen at http://www.bottledocean.com/abandoned-aquarium/.


custom aquariums orlando

Bottled Ocean debuts modular approach to large-scale aquarium decoration installations (Reef Builders)

A recent news article from Reef Builders writer Brian Blank comments:

Although we appreciate real rock and coral installations in large aquariums, sometimes it is more affordable and efficient to utilize artificial rock and reef structures. But even the fake structures can be difficult to move, clean or remove from a system, Bottled Ocean recently unveiled its Modular Reef System that can easily be floated, submerged and moved as needed for cleaning, re-positioning or even swap out displays altogether with just a couple of people .

According to the company’s press release, each individual reef module (which can be of almost any shape or size), features a self-balancing buoyancy chamber making it the first reef product that can be removed from its aquatic environment for regular cleaning and maintenance.

“We know the industry is always striving to improve animal habitats and the resulting guest experience,” said Greg Lund, President and CEO of Bottled Ocean in the press release. “The Modular Reef System represents an evolutionary step forward in that effort. Our clients tell us they’ve seen an incredibly positive response from animals toward the Modular Reef System, and that guests love the authentic and natural animal behavior they get to view because of it.”

Some good points they make is removing the system for a wholesale cleaning reduces the algae and other particulate matter dislodged during cleaning from being released back into the water, and then having to rely on the filtration system to remove. It also makes it more manageable for service companies and maintenance teams keeping display downtime because of maintenance, cleaning or updated to a minimum.

Another obvious benefit of the iso-resin system like this is less curing time (and permanency) and leeching into the system making balancing pH and such.

Click here to see the video and read more information about Bottled Ocean’s Modular Reef System:

https://reefbuilders.com/2016/03/11/bottled-ocean-debuts-modular-approach-to-large-scale-aquarium-decoration-installations/


New Orlando Restaurant Hires Bottled Ocean to Create A Custom New York City Themed Aquarium

Bottled Ocean, an aquatic solutions company, is pleased to announce its latest commercial aquarium project with New York Diner, a new restaurant by A&D Food Group with a 24/7/365 concept that is scheduled to open in June in the Gateway Village Plaza on Semoran Boulevard. New York Diner has contracted with Orlando-based Bottled Ocean to design and construct a custom, themed fish tank to bring a real flair of New York to Orlando.

“We’ve always put fish tanks in all of our restaurants, they have a great look and appeal to everyone from children to seniors,” said Manhattan-based restaurateur Walter Kumar of A&D Food Group. Kumar’s business partner Dean Edelman went on to say, “Bottled Ocean seemed the perfect fit from the start. We were looking for something as unique as our new concept, and after looking through the competition the people at Bottled Ocean were far and above in terms of flexibility, style and their pricing is more than fair for the quality received.”

New York Diner’s 310-gallon tank will feature a rendition of the famous skyline complete with illumination features. The fish will complement the City’s colorful culture, complete with yellow tang fish that will resemble New York’s ubiquitous taxicabs as they swim atop Bottled Ocean’s custom coral and several famous NYC landmarks, including the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty.

“Our business has been steadily growing over the last few years, but with the influx of reality TV shows like Animal Planet’s Tanked, themed aquarium business has just boomed,” said Greg Lund, President/CEO of Bottled Ocean.

Under the leadership of Lund and his business partner Baron “Bear” Kozy, the Bottled Ocean team recently designed and built ‘Swamp in the City,’ a 5,600sf live Louisiana swamp exhibit at New York City’s Chelsea Market in promotion of HISTORY’s Season 3 premiere of Swamp People. The team is also working on several large-scale Central Florida projects, including Discovery Cove and Nemours Children’s Hospital at Lake Nona.

Bottled Ocean is an innovative leader in full-service aquatic management with an unwavering commitment to environmental conservation. From custom residential and commercial tanks to large-scale waterway management, Bottled Ocean’s aquatic expertise is unmatched. Designing world-class tanks for celebrities and Fortune 500 companies, Bottled Ocean currently manages the world’s largest known Euryhaline exhibit at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla. and is constructing a 16-foot tank for the new Nemours Children’s Hospital at Lake Nona, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.

New York Diner

Manhattan-based restaurateur Arun “Walter” Kumar, of NYC’s Kumar Foods Group, which has a varied mix of nearly 100 restaurants across the NYC/Tri-State area, plans to bring a slice of the Big Apple to Orlando. Partnering with Dean Edelman, who has been providing interior and exterior design consultations to the retail and food service industries for 30 years, the two have created the A&D Food Group, to provide the South with great new restaurant concepts.

“The biggest issue I found when I moved down here was that after 10pm there’s nowhere decent to eat!” said Harrison Edelman, V.P. of Operations of the New York Diner concept. “Dean, Walter and I are dedicated to bringing what we think are the best parts of New York to wherever needs it, and the thing that Orlando desperately needs is a quality restaurant that is willing to stay open all night to serve red-eye travelers, commuters and local employees.” Harrison went on to explain that New York Diner attempts to reflect the melting pot of it’s hometown with a wide variety of diner classics, regional American specialties and even international selections. “Our tagline is ‘Our Home Brought to Your Home’, and I want to be able to give everyone a feeling of being ‘home’ here, whether you’re from Liverpool, Shanghai, Buenos Aires or Maine.”


Orlando’s Bottled Ocean living exhibit for HISTORY’s Swamp People wins 2012 PRO Award

Orlando-based aquatic management solutions company Bottled Ocean was recently lauded for its living exhibit, “Swamp in the City,” in promotion of HISTORY’s Season 3 premiere of Swamp People, winning a 2012 PRO Award for “Most Innovative Communication Strategy.” Season 3’s successful promotion efforts resulted in a 20 percent increase in premiere viewership over its previous season, and the exhibit attracted tens of thousands of visitors and more than 100 millions impressions.

In partnership with HISTORY and Civic Entertainment Group, the aquatic management specialists at Bottled Ocean transformed 5,600 square feet within New York City’s Chelsea Market into a living replica of a Louisiana swamp, where nearly one million acres of flooded forest, marshland and bayous are home to the Swamp People. The 12,100 cubic foot exhibit features over 6,500 gallons of water, live cypress trees upwards of 15 1/2 feet, over 1,000 plants indigenous to the region.  Visitors were able to view the prime attraction; American Alligators and Red-eared Slider Turtles from a dock extending above the water.

“It was quite an adventure,” said Greg Lund, President/CEO of Bottled Ocean, who designed and built the living exhibit in less than 25 days with his partner Baron “Bear” Kozy and their team in Florida.  Having created some of the industry’s most noted aquariums and commercial waterway projects, Bottled Ocean’s team of experts worked tirelessly to ensure that the living exhibit would accurately reflect the uniqueness of Louisiana’s natural habitat and provide a rare glimpse into the deep southern swamps.

Bottled Ocean is an innovative leader in full-service aquatic management with an unwavering commitment to environmental conservation. From custom residential and commercial tanks to large-scale waterway management, Bottled Ocean’s aquatic expertise is unmatched. Designing world-class tanks for celebrities and Fortune 500 companies, Bottled Ocean currently manages the world’s largest known Euryhaline exhibit at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla. and recently constructed a 16-foot tank for the new Nemours Children’s Hospital at Lake Nona, which opens next month.

To read more about the exhibit and the award, visit: http://chiefmarketer.com/promotional-marketing/2012-pro-award-winner-civic-entertainment-group-30sixty-history

To view photos of the exhibit, visit:

http://clients.perfectphotovideo.com/g/ceg_chelsea_swamp_panos

http://clients.perfectphotovideo.com/g/ceg_chelsea_swamp_20120131

http://clients.perfectphotovideo.com/g/ceg_chelsea_swamp_20120202

http://clients.perfectphotovideo.com/g/ceg_chelsea_swamp_20120203

 


Bottled Ocean Alumnus Greg Lund finds aquatic success in large-scale aquariums and gator exhibits

Flagler College Magazine

Published: September 21st, 2012

Author:

Flagler College Alumnus Greg Lund, '85

Flagler College Alumnus Greg Lund, ’85

Louisiana bayous don’t just appear in New York City, and the closest you get to seeing an alligator is when its hide is wrapped around a designer handbag.

But in February both popped up in Manhattan’s Chelsea Market as a promotion for the History Channel’s reality show, “Swamp People.” Behind the transplanted swamp — complete with live gators, 7,000 gallons of water and 15-foot-tall cypress trees — was none other than Flagler alumnus Greg Lund, ‘85.

Lund isn’t a gator hunter, but co-owner of the Orlando-based Bottled Ocean. The aquatic management company was hired to design and construct the elaborate exhibit promoting the third season of the show that chronicles alligator hunters as they troll Louisiana’s endless bayous.

“That was a really, really fun event to do,” Lund said. “It had to be done in 30 days from the day we got the project. We had to rent a warehouse out here in Orlando. We built the whole exhibit then tore it down, put it on to two 18-wheelers, drove it up to Manhattan, set it up for 12 days and then broke it down again.”

The 12,100-cubic-foot bayou included more than 1,000 plants indigenous to Louisiana swamps and that sat below docks that visitors walked along.

“We had to engineer it,” he said. “We had to figure out how to make a lagoon and line a storefront so it would hold water. We found an alligator supplier in the New York area. … It was a feat of coordination, and to get it done in the timeframe was a miracle in and of itself.”

Large, unique projects — especially that sport gators — have become the norm for Lund and Bottled Ocean, which expects revenue of $1.2 million this year. The company has evolved from humble beginnings as an aquarium builder to designing and managing massive aquatic displays stocked with any number of underwater critters.

“We’ve been building the business, and all of a sudden last year it started taking off,” he said. “It’s going to be a record year for the company.”

Bottled Ocean manages the 360,000 gallons of sprawling waterways inside Orlando’s 1,400-room Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. The company is working on a project with Sea World’s Discovery Cove and also helped develop a gator-filled Louisiana bayou in the $500 million expansion at Paragon Casino in Marksville, La.

All total, Bottled Ocean oversees more than 400,000 gallons of man-made waterways, both salt and freshwater. To put that into perspective, an average pool holds 8,000 to 10,000 gallons.

“It’s a big trend right now, and it’s a high-dollar trend,” said Lund about the popularity of large aquariums and aquatic displays. “Our average fish tank is $40,000-plus. … Anytime you can bring animals and people together, especially fish, it’s a combination that works. Now you even see reality shows on TV about aquariums.”

Lund wasn’t always in the aquatic management business. In fact, he landed in it by chance. After graduating from Flagler, he spent 17 years in financial services as a stockbroker in Miami and Orlando, escaping whenever he could to the Bahamas.

“I ended up in downtown Orlando, land-locked,” he said. “One day we decided we would all have fish tanks put in our offices.”

They struggled to find good help to clean and service the tanks until he came across his current Bottled Ocean partner, Baron “Bear” Kozy. Kozy pitched the idea for starting a business to build and maintain aquariums, and in 1996 Lund started managing the fledgling business on the side while selling stocks during the day. Only in 2004 did he jump ship and go full time with Bottled Ocean.

“I put my flip-flops and shorts on and haven’t looked back since,” he said.

The company landed its first big break when it won a contract to build lobster and fish tanks for Red Lobster restaurants around the country.

“That really kind of propelled us to another level,” he said.

Ever since, the company has been diversifying, moving away from standard aquariums and into managing larger, more unique projects like Gaylord Palms. Lund said when they signed on with the resort, the chlorinated waterways running through the hotel property held nothing but fake fish.

“We approached them after we got the service contract and proposed turning it into a live waterway. They really liked the idea and ran with it. Now we have seven waterways with different animals and alligators, so it’s pretty exciting.”

At Gaylord they handle everything from the massive filtration systems to finding new fish that are introduced into the exhibits.

“You’re creating an eco-system, a life-support system essentially for these animals,” he said. “We design the habitat around the animals that the customer wants to put in the tank. We’re very conscientious of nature. We do a lot of work for conservation.”

Kozy is the designer and engineer, while Lund runs the business side. But as with most small businesses, he often finds himself getting his feet wet, and even handling the gators.

“I’ve been to gator school,” he said. “I know how to handle a gator and so does everyone on the team. We’re constantly having to jump in to the waterway with seven, eight, 10 alligators. … They’re not as scary as everyone makes them out to be. … You just need to know how to handle them and how to approach them.”

Lund is now hoping the exposure from the History Channel job will lead to even bigger projects, not to mention more time fleeing land-locked Central Florida in search of fish.

“Bear and I always said that one day we’re going to get paid to go fishing,” Lund said. “It happened. There’s nothing better than being able to go out on the water in Tampa Bay and collect stingrays or do work over in the Bahamas.”

To view the original article, visit: http://flaglermagazine.com/2012/09/21/bottled-ocean/