Today we’d like to introduce you to Lou Foxwell.
Lou, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Father Fish is the creation of Louis Foxwell – pastor, educator, entrepeneur, and tropical fish enthusiast.
The YouTube phenomenon, Father Fish, has become a hallmark for Natural Aquariums. This is fish keeping to the max, with aquariums that are stable, healthy, and long lasting. The Father Fish experience went viral on YouTube with more than 350k subscribers to date.
After retiring from a ministry to deaf parishoners, Lou reached back to his childhood hobby. In truth he never left it.
While pastoring in Baltimore he was critical to gaining support from the people of Baltimore for a bond issue that built the National Aquarium. He served as chairman of the Community Relations Committee for 5 years, culminating in the coordination of a vast private collection of large fresh water fish as the Aquarium’s first residents.
Lou Moved to southwest Florida after retirement. This created the opportunity to join the heartland of tropical fish in the US. He worked at Shedd Aquarium which has since opened a magnificent public aquarium in Sarasota, Fl. He also worked for several fish farms and trop[ical fish wholesalers, learning about and creating friendships in the industry.
Lou’s growing private collection of tropical fish became an online business that led to a retail store in Venice,. Fl which he operated for 20 years. Helping folks set up their first aquarium, Lou soon realized the traditional system reccomended by the industry was a failure with 90% of new hobbyists unable to keep fish alive.
He began researching and implementing ideas developed byMerrill Cohen of Aquarium Products, a personal friend who advanced the work of Lee Chin Eng of Malaysia. Lee installed very large salt water systems in the op[en in public with no electric devices, no pumps, no filters, and no lighting. Lou followed Japanese aquarist Yoshitaka Amano who designed large natural fresh water systems. He became involved with an American coral farm, GARF, which developed coral farming based on nature. And he read the research of Diana Walstad, a lab scientist who researched the use of soil in an aquarium.
It was during that time Father Fish was born. The system and products that grew out of that store became the foundation for countless hobbyists. His followers achieve immediate success with their first aquarium. Advanced hobbyists are able to expand breeding and rearing capacity, The Father Fish experience went viral on YouTube with more than 350k subscribers to date.
A book, The Natural Aquarium based on the Father Fish Method, has been published by Covenant Press and is widely available. An online college level course is in the works. Wholesale operations have begun to move the Father Fish product line into retail pet shops. A new beautique aquarium store has opened in Salisbury with plans to franchise the brand across the country.
Father Fish has spawned a revolution in the tropical fish industry that promises to greatly expand the number and the enthusiasm of fish hobbyists. According to Father Fish. “We are just getting started.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
YouTube provided a unique opportunity to meet individuals who are passionate about The Father Fish Method. A team of skilled, energetic hobbyists has come together to expand the reach of the Father Fish experience. Through their efforts a help center, the Father Fish Shoal, has been developed as a Discord server. To date nearly 20k hobbists have sought advice and friendship in the Shoal. It also serves as a research center. Our book, The Natural Aquarium, was created by a team of researchers as a group effort in the Father Fish Shoal.
Finding the money to support the efforts of our team has resulted in the creation of an online store, fatherfishaquarium.com. Hobbyuists around the country are able to receive all of the Father Fish products as well as high quality aquatic plants and exotic tropical fish.
We’ve been impressed with Father Fish Aquarium, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We manufacture several unique products for the tropical fish hobbyist. These are elements of the creation of a natural aquarium,. Balance, diversity, and stability for the long haul are our objectives. Our products p[rivide more and longer lasting elements necessary for tank health. Among them are Aqua Preta Supplement, an addition to aquariumn or terrarium substrate that provides a wide range of nutrients sufficient to last for many years.
An important aspec t of our procxess is to create a biologically diverse community of organisms that will create balance among life in the tank.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Salisbury is a wonderful town for us. It is a midwestern town on the east coast, Surrounded by farms and watermen the feel is down home and friendly. This is a terrific place for us to grow our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fatherfishaquarium.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherfishaquariums/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/fatherfishaquarium
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/fatherfish
