It's a new year, and the UC story is still being written, but it's fun to take a little look back and see where we've been and how far we've come. Here's a quick look back at the first year of Unique Corals...
October, 2011: Joe and Scott meet at Reefapalooza, to discuss the groundwork of re-launching/rebranding Unique Corals in Los Angeles.
November, 2011: The search begins for a suitable location. We looked into areas that were close to major freeways, reasonable drives for both Joe and I (thanks, Michelle, for suggesting this!), and a facility that provided us with good features and good space to expand.
December, 2011: We find our facility in Van Nuys, CA, with perfect proximity to the 405 freeway, LAX, and other amenities. It's a 6,000 square foot warehouse, with room to expand. A long-term lease is signed. A great place to start an empire!
January, 2012: Work begins on the inside of the facility. Electrical modifications, drains, and other necessities are installed.
February, 2012: After a very long collaborative process, noted creative guy/fish geek Johnny Ciotti designs the Unique Corals logo.
March, 2012: Design configuration is finalized, and construction of holding systems begins. After much searching, timing, and just good luck, we located six 30-foot-long fiberglass aquaculture raceways, with capacity of over 1,200 gallons each. With each raceway mated to it's own sump and filtration pallet, we're able to isolate each system for maximum health of our corals. Jake Adams designs an ingenious horizontal gyre flow system for each raceway. The raceways are delivered and primary plumbing begins. Scott, Michelle, and Johnny attend Reefstock 2012 in Denver, revealing the new UC for the first time. Interest is high among attendees.
April, 2012: Metal Halide lighting on movers is installed over the soon-to-be SPS raceways. Water and corals are in the raceways for the first time. The gyre works brilliantly! Initial fragging begins! Website design begins.
May, 2012: Additional infrastructure is added to assure greater environmental stability. A state-of-the-art bagging and packing station is constructed, oxygen, water supply manifolds from each raceway, and a clip machine for bagging efficiently and quickly.
June-July 2012: Agreement is reached with Eco Aquariums PNG. Unique Corals will be the North American launch customer for ecolabeled fishes from Papua New Guinea. Coral Magazine and Reef Builders feature in-depth articles about Unique Corals and our work with this sustainable market. The first fishes, such as the coveted Gold Nugget Wrasses, will be arriving in July!
October, 2011: Joe and Scott meet at Reefapalooza, to discuss the groundwork of re-launching/rebranding Unique Corals in Los Angeles.
November, 2011: The search begins for a suitable location. We looked into areas that were close to major freeways, reasonable drives for both Joe and I (thanks, Michelle, for suggesting this!), and a facility that provided us with good features and good space to expand.
December, 2011: We find our facility in Van Nuys, CA, with perfect proximity to the 405 freeway, LAX, and other amenities. It's a 6,000 square foot warehouse, with room to expand. A long-term lease is signed. A great place to start an empire!
January, 2012: Work begins on the inside of the facility. Electrical modifications, drains, and other necessities are installed.
February, 2012: After a very long collaborative process, noted creative guy/fish geek Johnny Ciotti designs the Unique Corals logo.
March, 2012: Design configuration is finalized, and construction of holding systems begins. After much searching, timing, and just good luck, we located six 30-foot-long fiberglass aquaculture raceways, with capacity of over 1,200 gallons each. With each raceway mated to it's own sump and filtration pallet, we're able to isolate each system for maximum health of our corals. Jake Adams designs an ingenious horizontal gyre flow system for each raceway. The raceways are delivered and primary plumbing begins. Scott, Michelle, and Johnny attend Reefstock 2012 in Denver, revealing the new UC for the first time. Interest is high among attendees.
April, 2012: Metal Halide lighting on movers is installed over the soon-to-be SPS raceways. Water and corals are in the raceways for the first time. The gyre works brilliantly! Initial fragging begins! Website design begins.
May, 2012: Additional infrastructure is added to assure greater environmental stability. A state-of-the-art bagging and packing station is constructed, oxygen, water supply manifolds from each raceway, and a clip machine for bagging efficiently and quickly.
June-July 2012: Agreement is reached with Eco Aquariums PNG. Unique Corals will be the North American launch customer for ecolabeled fishes from Papua New Guinea. Coral Magazine and Reef Builders feature in-depth articles about Unique Corals and our work with this sustainable market. The first fishes, such as the coveted Gold Nugget Wrasses, will be arriving in July!
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