Fish Tank success
This aquatic shop has them
TRURO, N.S - Cleaning up a flood after a water leak is a normal way to start the morning at Truro’s newest aquatic pet shop.
“It’s the name of the game in here,” apologizes Mike Castein, who co-owns the store with Tyler Nilsson.
It has not been open long, but word is getting around. The fish owners offer their knowledge to anyone walking through the door of Hubtown Community Fish Tank with questions about caring for their fish and those looking for aquatic pets.
Based out of the Truro Business Park on Industrial Avenue, the business sells anything home-aquarium related, including more than 150 types of fish, bacteria, new and used tanks and all kinds of in-demand supplies. Though the business was registered in March, COVID delayed installation of power to the space, and the business only just expanded to fulltime hours after Christmas.
The business fills a gap for fish supplies that has not been in Truro since Pets Unlimited closed in 2016. For Nilsson and Castein, it is about bringing something back to the community.
“We got tired of running into the city for everything, so we decided to bring it closer,” said Nilsson. "It's nice to see something back, right in the hub of Nova Scotia. We can't pick a better spot.”
The shop has about 160 fish tanks, and some are custommade projects taken on by the pair themselves, such as two old floor-model wooden television cases dismantled and resealed with tanks inside.
“Everything we try to do is unique,” said Nilsson.
Upon entering, a person is met by a 25-year-old, 300-gallon tank encased in red painted wood, which originally came from a Chinese restaurant in Bedford. Unfortunately, it broke in November – all the fish were rehomed, and it is now occupied by a friendly bearded dragon.
Hanging by the cash register are two betta tanks, which look like big orbs. An aisle of fish tanks leads to two ponds housing large catfish rescued in Dartmouth by the two from a crowded tank. Plans are underway to build a large pond.
Nilsson’s family used to manage a Pets Unlimited in Bedford. He grew up in Bridgewater and started his hobby with a five-gallon tank. He met Castein, who is from Truro, through rockhounding and geocaching along the Bay of Fundy.
When Nilsson upgraded to a 10-gallon version, he gave Castein his old tank for his kids’ enjoyment and ended up roping him into the obsession. A competition started between the two over who could get the bigger fish tank until, eventually, they partnered to create the business.
“I went absolutely crazy with it at the start," said Castein. “I was like, ‘if I want to have stingrays and the big fish, I need I need to make some money so that I can properly house them.’”
So far, the business has been spreading through word of mouth, on social media and from a yard sale last summer. Even the Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus has purchased supplies from them.
The pair started with freshwater fish and will be moving onto saltwater fish next. From there, they plan to introduce reptiles.
The fish business can have lots of accidents like flooding and tanks cracking. And while Nilsson and Castein take diligent care of their fish, sometimes shipments will come in with at least one bag of dead specimens.
They are also working on partnerships with local suppliers.
“Things crack, tanks leak, lots of water all over the place,” said Nisson. “There’s always complications that come up, it’s just a matter of overcoming them.”
Currently, the two are working on a 2,000-gallon aquarium display. In the future, they hope to expand to the second floor as a place for dry stock and eventually start a fish rescue service. But for now, they are busy getting their new shop in order, building tanks, and cleaning up water.