Archives

Bottled Ocean debuts custom living swamp exhibit in NYC to promote HISTORY’s reality television show Swamp People

Bottled Ocean Senior Vice President, Engineering/ Projects Manager Bear Kozy and HISTORY’s Swamp People Cast Member Bruce Mitchell

Bottled Ocean Senior Vice President, Engineering/ Projects Manager Bear Kozy and HISTORY’s Swamp People Cast Member Bruce Mitchell

Today in New York City, Orlando-based aquatic management solutions company Bottled Ocean unveiled its latest project, “Swamp in the City,” in promotion of HISTORY’s Season 3 premiere of Swamp People. The hit reality television show returns to the Network at 9pm on Thursday, February 9th.

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 can view the prime attraction; American Alligators and Red-eared Slider Turtles from a dock extending above the water.

“It’s been 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.

HISTORY has also partnered with Louisiana Tourism to bring the culture, music, and excitement of Louisiana to this West Side landmark. The campaign kicked off today with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Chelsea Market.  Special guests included Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, renowned Cajun Chef John Folse, Louisiana State Parks Naturalist Erin Sullivan and popular Swamp People Stars Bruce Mitchell (Feb 2-3); Trapper Joe & Tommy (Feb 5-6) and Troy/Jacob & Chase Landry (Feb 7-9).  Following the Ceremony the “Swamp in the City” Experience will be open to the public and will remain open daily through Sunday, February 12th.

HISTORY has also installed a live Gator Cam, allowing fans to keep tabs of the gators at www.history.com/gatorcam.

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.

The Age of Aquariums: Orlando Home + Leisure Magazine

Orlando Home + Leisure Magazine

Published: June 2011

By Harry Wessel

The centerpiece of the Conroys’ living area is a 500-gallon aquarium, which is populated by fish who are, their owners claim, as happy as they are beautiful.

The centerpiece of the Conroys’ living area is a 500-gallon aquarium, which is populated by fish who are, their owners claim, as happy as they are beautiful.

Dive into the saltwater world of pampered puffers, clownfish, triggerfish, eels and tangs.

Showtime at the Conroy family’s Orlando home arrives every evening around 7. That’s when Lips, Frenchy, Hollywood, Dory and a dozen or so other salt- water fish are fed.

“It’s a blast to watch,” says Claudia Conroy, who has made the 500-gallon custom aquarium the focal point of her family’s lakeside home. Her 25-year-old son, Bobby, often does the honors at mealtime, pouring a bit less than a cup of thawed shrimp and crayfish into a small holding tank hidden in cabinetry below the 3-by-8-foot aquarium. As soon as the food reaches the fish, says his mom, “you can understand where the expression ‘feeding frenzy’ comes from.”

While plenty of hobbyists still sprinkle fish food into 30-gallon tanks purchased at pet stores, the world of large custom aquariums takes the experience to a luxurious level. With light- weight acrylics that can be molded into any shape an enthusiast can imagine and afford, tanks can be built into walls, made into room dividers, fashioned into headboards and even hung from ceilings. Pumps, filters and other essential equipment can be hid- den away in cabinets, utility rooms or outside. No noise, no mess – just beautiful saltwater fish on a synthetic coral reef that’s as colorful as the real thing.

Custom aquariums are almost always saltwater. Saltwater fish are more difficult to maintain than freshwater varieties, but they’re far more colorful. And with an appropriately liberal bud- get, maintenance can be a breeze.

For Conroy, a petite, self-described “high-strung” woman with a gift for interior design, a saltwater aquarium was part of her second home even before it was built in 2009. She wanted the family’s home-away-from-home to be all about water and tranquility.

The primary residence for Claudia and her husband, Bob, is in Long Grove, Il., where they run a successful recycling business. They have three adult children – Chrissy, Brittney and Bobby – and a granddaughter, 13-month-old Ella, who already has the word “fish” in her vocabulary. Their second home, from which they can watch Disney fireworks nightly, includes a boat dock; an infinity-edge custom pool in the backyard; a wall-of- water fountain in the foyer; and colorful glass bubbles dangling playfully in the great room. At the center of it all is the aquarium, framed by maple cabinetry with crown molding.

Conroy is the first to admit that keeping her finned family healthy takes out- side help. She gets it from Bottled Ocean Inc., a 15-year-old Orlando company specializing in the design, construction and maintenance of residential and commercial aquariums. The company visits the Conroy home weekly for routine maintenance and cleaning, and once a month pumps out part of the tank and refills it with freshly treated water.

“We supply the tank, the fish, the food and [the maintenance] service,” says Greg Lund, Bottled Ocean’s president. Despite the economic downturn, Lund says the rarified world of high-end, custom aquariums – costing $25,000 and (way) up to design, build and install, plus $300 to $700 a month or more for service – is going strong. Lund names Windermere, Isleworth and Gotha as communities where “we’ve seen a lot of growth.”

Orlando and its environs are a relative bargain when it comes to maintenance costs, Lund says. Aquarium owners here pay on average about $1 monthly for each gallon of water their tank holds: A 300- gallon tank costs roughly $300 monthly for regular service. In South Florida the typical charge is closer to $2 per gallon,

Lund says, while in Chicago and New York City it’s as high as $4 per gallon.

Lund says the best custom aquariums are built into the home’s design. Jim Robinson’s Windermere home is another case in point. An empty 700-gallon aquarium sat in Bottled Ocean’s warehouse for two years while his house was being construct- ed. It required a crane to install, along with careful planning by Winter Park architect Mark Nasrallah, to make sure the home and foundation would support the filled tank’s 41/2 tons.

Robinson, owner of Electro-Magic Productions at Universal Studios, has no regrets. “It took me four years to design the house, four years to build the house, and I’ve lived in the house for four years. The aquarium has been the centerpiece the whole time.” His aquatic menagerie includes several varieties of tangs and a rare Brazilian dragon eel that set him back $200. “It’s not aggressive; it gets along with the other fish. It just looks real mean,” he says, noting that many of his other fish cost under $20. The trick is buying them young and small.

Robinson has learned some painful lessons. He lost a 20-pound grouper, which had grown from 2 inches to 2 feet in his tank, in a daylong power failure. He lost a few other fish when he left town and forgot to turn on his central air conditioning. His system now includes an aquarium chiller and a battery-operated air pump that kicks on when the electricity kicks off.

He also now knows to seek advice when- ever adding fish to his tank. “I made the mistake one time of buying a fish myself,” he says. The small queen triggerfish was fine for a while, “but when it grew in size and aggressiveness, it killed any new fish in the tank. The guys at Bottled Ocean know which fish play well with others.”

Barring calamities, Bottled Ocean’s Lund says the typical lifespan for a cap- tive saltwater fish is roughly 8 to 12 years, about the same as in the wild. Aquarium maintenance services not only make week-

If you’re looking for an eye-opening custom aquarium, give Waterlife Design Group® a call. Our team’s experience in the public zoo and aquarium industries ensures a high-quality system in your home. And you’ll get your design, supplies and installation from one company, so all your questions can be answered with a single call.

2395 Apopka Blvd., Apopka, FL 32703 Phone: 407-472-0525 Fax: 407-886-1304 Email: WaterlifeDesign@AquaticEco.com Web: www.WaterlifeDesign.com

ly visits, for an extra charge most will come daily when owners leave town, and make emergency visits whenever necessary. “We answer the phone 24/7,” Lund says.

But even with such personal service, would-be custom aquarium owners need to understand the commitment involved be- fore taking the plunge, warns Nasrallah. He estimates that of the roughly two-dozen custom homes he builds each year, fewer than a half-dozen include custom aquariums. “The payoff is great,” Nasrallah says, “but it’s definitely a high-maintenance item.”

Maintenance goes beyond keeping fish healthy, says Claudia Conroy. She wants them happy, too. Yes, she can tell when her fish are happy and they really do have distinct personalities, insists Conroy. Her current BFF, a puffer fish dubbed Puff Daddy, is at times aloof, at other times eager to annoy the resident hermit crab – and always hungry. Conroy still pines for her former favorite, a blue-and-gold majestic angelfish that took sick and died last year. “When it was sick, all the other fish seemed to know; they’d come and stay by it. Maybe I’m projecting, but even though they’re fish, they become part of the family.”

That’s why – like her pet Labrador, Duke – her fish have names: There’s Hollywood, a Blue-faced angelfish that “looks like he’s wearing sunglasses”; Dory, a blue hippo tang recognizable to anyone who’s seen Finding Nemo; and Frenchy, a French angelfish that last year was one of the tank’s smaller creatures but is now easily its largest. Lips, a naso tang with a come-hither smile, even has a nickname: Betty Boop.

For granddaughter Ella’s enjoyment, Conroy would like to add a clownfish – to be named Nemo, of course – to the mix. And she thinks a lobster would be really cool. She won’t rush anything, though. She doesn’t want any new additions up- setting her happy tank. After all, it’s her lifeline to a favorite pastime.

“I have extreme claustrophobia, so I’ll never scuba dive,” she explains. “This is the closestIcangettothesebeautifulfish.”

 To view the original magazine article, click HERE.

Fish Heaven: Coastal Angler Magazine

Coastal Angler Magazine

Published: May 2011

By Jessi Blakley, APR

Living in Central Florida, the state’s tourism capital, we often take for granted the various entertainment options available to us. From Mickey Mouse to Harry Potter, Central Florida’s got it covered. Within our tourism mecca, however, there are a number of “hidden” amenities and perks available to locals and visitors alike from some of the world’s best hotels and resorts, from first-class spas and celebrity run restaurants to Vegas-esque entertainment.

Among these hidden gems is one referred to as “Fish Heaven” – and although its unique features may be unknown to locals, its presence certainly is not.

The Gaylord Palms Resort sits adjacent to Interstate 4, a mere mile and a half from the gates of Walt Disney World®, and only twenty-five minutes from downtown Orlando. A world-renowned luxury hotel, Gaylord Palms is one of Central Florida’s finest. Featuring a top-rated steakhouse and first class spa, many Orlandians visit the resort each winter to experience the ICE! exhibit, where one can channel their inner-Eskimo and view a display of award-winning ice sculptures in a room kept at a bone-chilling 9 degrees! And coming this November, the world-class resort will offer live interactive appearances from DreamWorks Animation characters, such as “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda,” and “Madagascar,” including character breakfasts, newly themed Christmastime events, poolside activities, birthday parties and more.

However, should you stumble into the resort you will uncover a breathtakingly beautiful setting that replicates the natural splendor and beauty of Florida’s one-of-a-kind environments. From the old-world charm of St. Augustine to the funky and vibrant Key West, the four-and-a-half acre indoor atrium features lush, tropical gardens, waterways and live species that showcase the sights and sounds of the Sunshine State without having to traverse across Florida.

It is within these exhibits that you will find winding waterways and lagoons that, unlike most displays in our animated town, are natural exhibits. Showcased in three distinct natural themes — Everglades, St. Augustine and Key West — more than 200 marine animals live within pristine habitats that would surely be envied by their lake- and ocean-bound friends.

As the fishing capital of the world and with some of the most unique ecosystems, it should come as no surprise that Florida’s natural resources are the main attraction. But as obvious as the theme may seem, the exhibits are truly one-of-a-kind and offer guests the unique ability to observe various marine life in their natural settings from the swamps to the coasts.

“Gaylord Palms wanted to bring the best of Florida’s outdoors, indoors,” said Baron “Bear” Kozy of Bottled Ocean that created and maintains the resort’s aquatic exhibits. “We created a one-of-a-kind Florida experience for visitors, where you can stare at alligators, pet friendly koi fish, watch catfish swim and tarpon splash around, all under one roof!”

A full-service aquatic management solutions company based in Orlando,

Bottled Ocean’s clients span the globe and feature the industry’s most well-known custom aquariums and waterways, including the largest known euryhaline exhibit at the Gaylord Palms. Bottled Ocean created and maintains the 360,000-gallon attraction, which features nine individual waterways and lagoons, including world-class koi ponds and a GATORLAND® exhibit.

However, Bottled Ocean’s centerpiece at the world-class resort is the Key West lagoon, which houses various marine species from mangrove snappers, redfish, snook and stingrays to a 95-pound, rescue tarpon named Stamos. The lagoon is the largest known euryhaline exhibit — where saltwater fish have been accustomed to live within a relatively low salinity habitat, which makes the display much easier to maintain.

The Key West lagoon was designed to showcase three of Florida’s most sought after game fish: redfish, snook and tarpon. Anglers travel from all over the world to fish these species. Catching all three in the same day is considered one of Florida’s most desired “Grand Slams.” The bull reds featured in the world-class exhibit are Florida-record size, tipping the scale at close to fifty-five pounds.

Standing on the Marlin Dock overlooking the 161,000-gallon lagoon with its live grass bottom and baby red mangrove trees, you could easily fool yourself into thinking you are polling across the grass flats somewhere in Florida. Visitors to Bottled Ocean’s fish heaven can watch mangrove snapper and sheepshead nibble at the mangrove roots; see the reds as they tail in the grass for little snails. Kids can marvel as the tarpon come alive for the feeding show.

“Watching these interactions up-close and personal, seeing how the fish react in their natural habitats might just make you a better angler,” says Greg Lund, president and CEO of Bottled Ocean and avid fisherman.

Many of the fish within the Key West lagoon are supplied by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), working as a partner with Bottled Ocean to use the natural exhibit as an educational tool for visitors.

Bottled Ocean’s professional staff members are avid anglers, and are self-governed and approved by the FWC to collect some of the species in the exhibit. Spending a great amount of time out on the water, the experts at Bottled Ocean are great supporters of education for and the conservation of our waterways, natural resources and fisheries. In fact, the company’s success is directly tied to this mission.

In addition to the Key West lagoon, Bottled Ocean also manages the St. Augustine and Everglades’s ecosystem exhibits.

The St. Augustine Atrium features three individual koi ponds, a striped bass display and the GATORLAND® exhibit, which also includes several local turtle species such as common, red ear and painted turtles.

On the opposite side of the resort sits the Everglades Atrium, where cypress trees hover above a rugged wooden walkway that leads down to the waterway within one of Florida’s most well-known ecosystems. The Everglades Atrium is home to a number of keystone species to the environment, including catfish, tilapia, and leopard garr. The Sawgrass Shack in the Everglades Atrium houses baby alligator grunts, turtle hatchlings, and even a few indigenous snakes.

Fish Feedings

Bottled Ocean hosts fish feedings from the Marlin Dock, located in the Key West Atrium, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Be sure to stop by with your family to watch Stamos make his splash. The Key West Atrium also boasts a nightly celebration at 6p.m., where live music and festive drinks offer visitors the experience of traditional sundown festivities of the Southernmost City.

Bottled Ocean hosts weekly baby alligator grunt feedings from the Sawgrass Shack, in the Everglades Atrium, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday following the Key West fish feedings.

To learn more about Bottled Ocean and the Gaylord Palms, visit www.BottledOcean.com and www.GaylordPalms.com