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A Tour Of My Aquariums That He’ll Never Forget

By King of DIY on

Speaker 1:
The fun part, he doesn't know I'm coming. Okay, I see him. Hope he doesn't spot me, I wore normal clothes so he couldn't pick me out easily. Yes, he's over there. The youth of the hobby certainly is the future of it as well, isn't it? Here's a prime example, I was seven years old when I unboxed my first aquatic animals.

28 years ago I got four turtles and I couldn't have been more excited. Truth be told, I'm still as excited when I unboxed fish to this day, but that's only half of the point of today's video.

You see, it was only 12 years later that I would meet my future wife and she would get me into the hobby, and it would do two things for me. One, it would change my life forever. Two, it would also save my life during a dark time that I was going through. I've mentioned this several times in the past, and I think that it's touched base with many of you. I can't even describe how many people have messaged me saying that my videos helped them through stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the hobby in general does that for them.

I think in large the hobby means so much more to some people then it does to others. Some people just enjoy the hobby, it's very relaxing, very zen. To others it's a place of refuge, it's a calming hobby to be involved in, something to take your mind off of things. For me, that's what it's always been. With the focus of today's video being the future of the hobby is our youth, completely. Of course, look at me now, at seven years old nobody would have been able to tell me that in just a few years you'll have hundreds of thousands of people watching you share your hobby with them. The second thing being that the hobby can take your mind of things, and it means so much more to some people.

With that said, I got a message last week and it went a little something like this, I'm going to summarize and leave out some of the details. There is a young man in town by the name of Sam. He's only 14 years old, and just a couple of months ago he lost his older brother in a tragic accident. They're wondering if I would be willing to meet up with him and possibly bring a little joy into his life right now. Absolutely. I thought, let me pick him up from school, we'll spend some time together. The fun part, he doesn't know I'm coming.

Okay, I'm here. His mother sent me a picture of him, so I know his name and what he looks like. Let's hope I get the right kid. Okay, I see him. Hope he doesn't spot me, I wore normal clothes so he couldn't pick me out easily. Yes, he's over there. I'm looking for a Sam.

Sam:
Right here.

Speaker 1:
Hey, buddy. I heard you're a fan and you could use some cheering up.

Sam:
Dude, yes.

Speaker 1:
Yes? What's up buddy?

Sam:
Holy man, I can't believe it.

Speaker 1:
Nice to meet you buddy.

Sam:
No way.

Speaker 1:
Here's the plan, we are going to go get something to eat, and then we're going to take you to the gallery.

Sam:
No, no.

Speaker 1:
Yes? All right. Thanks guys.

Sam:
No way. I've been watching you forever. Holy.

Speaker 1:
You got your own fish thanks, do you?

Sam:
Yes.

Speaker 1:
Awesome.

Sam:
I've got a 10 gallon, 30 gallon and 3.75 gallons. Mom. That's awesome. Yes, I've seen him get out of the car and I was like, "Oh."

Speaker 1:
Well, we ate. You full?

Sam:
Yes.

Speaker 1:
Are you ready for this? Ready to go in the gallery?

Sam:
Hell yes.

Speaker 1:
It's everywhere. See it over here. Look over on this side here manzanita.

Sam:
Man. That's a lot.

Speaker 1:
Yes.

Sam:
Holy, that is crazy. Oh my gosh. Holy, I never thought it would look like this in real life.

Speaker 1:
The better or worse?

Sam:
That's way better than I thought. Man. Those Arowana look awesome. Holy. That looks so cool, look at that thing. Look, it's coming over to you. Cool. White Diamond, yes, right there.

Speaker 1:
Does all this look familiar to you?

Sam:
Every day, yes. He's like a foot. How long you have him for?

Speaker 1:
I don't know, few months, maybe a year. I'm not sure.

Sam:
Man, big lip. There's a big biter. That's awesome. Where did you get him? Is that one from?

Speaker 1:
Yes.

Sam:
That's what mine will look like?

Speaker 1:
Yours will eventually look like that

Sam:
You don't have all the fish back in here, yet?

Speaker 1:
No. Still got a bunch in quarantine that got to go in there.

Sam:
Look at that. Man, look at all the.

Speaker 1:
It is a lot. Just made a video on that today.

Sam:
Did you have?

Speaker 1:
Yes, I ruined the tank. It's a mess. Yes, the 2000 is definitely my favorite. What's your favorite?

Sam:
The Cichlids.

Speaker 1:
Hey, my man, we should get going. Before we go, I got you a few things. One, you look like me now. Put the buddy on the back. Then, told you [unintelligible 00:06:00]
book, right?

Sam:
Cool.

Speaker 1:
It's all projects you can do. The shirt's signed too. There's some money in here.

Sam:
Money?

Speaker 1:
Yes, so you can get yourself some new fish. All right?

Sam:
Thanks. Can I shake your hand? Thanks man.

Speaker 1:
I'll make you a deal, you're allowed back under three conditions.

Sam:
All right, no problem. I'll do anything.

Speaker 1:
One, you increase your grades at school. Two, stay out of trouble. Three, respect your mother, and you're welcome back any time.

Sam:
All right, fair.

Speaker 1:
Yes?

Sam:
Yes, deal.

Speaker 1:
Shake on it.

Sam:
I'll shake. Thanks.

Speaker 1:
You're welcome.

Sam:
This means way too much. Holy.

Speaker 1:
Now I have to admit I contemplated making this video, several times I didn't know if I would show it or not. I don't want it to come across the wrong way, however, this isn't the first time I've done these things. Outside of YouTube I don't just make three videos a week, I take my position in the hobby entirely seriously and I know that these little things mean so much more to people than they do to me. A few hours of my time is nothing compared to what it could mean to somebody else. With that said, I wish I would have filmed this, but I didn't.

Beans tank, empty right now. You see, just a couple of weeks ago I had an even younger fan come over and we toured the gallery. When he's seen Beans and he interacted with Beans my heart broke, and I knew that Beans would be in such great hands and bring this little guy so much more joy, so I decided to hook him up with a setup and Beans. Beans is now being treated like royalty in his new home. I guess in conclusion I just would like to say that there's no greater resource in this hobby then our youth right now. Of course, I think it's a good idea to always take a step back and realize that the aquarium hobby means so much more to some people, and it truly is changing lives.

I couldn't be more proud to be a part of something like this on a continuous basis, to be able to have this platform like I do, to be able to share these stories. With that said, I would love to know what the hobby means to you, or what it does for you, or how you got into the hobby, why you got into it and so forth. Leave me your story in the comment section below.

About King of DIY

Joey is THE King of DIY, and when he built his gallery of aquariums he chose the Custom Aquariums rack system with 120-gallon tanks...a lot of them!

Joey Mullen is also known as the king of DIY, uarujoey or the DIY fishkeeper on social media. Providing education and inspiration for aquarium enthusiasts on YouTube, he is also the author of The Ultimate DIY Handbook; for the DIY Aquarist. His channel is about educating all levels of fish tank hobbyists who are passionate about caring for fish and keeping an aquarium of their own. Joey's aquarium rack systems were custom made by our professional fish tank engineers, here at Custom Aquariums.

Please watch the King of DIY's videos for some helpful information and great tips on diy aquarium keeping.

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