Hi my name is Yusuf, I’ve been around the aquarium hobby for as long as I can remember. I got my first tank when I was five years old, and from that moment, these incredible underwater worlds became part of my life. What started as a kid staring into a glass tank turned into a passion that shaped who I am.

By twelve, I was already breeding fish and teaching myself everything I could — water chemistry, ecosystems, behavior, how to properly care for living animals. These weren’t just fish to me. They were lives in my care. They became part of my daily routine, my responsibility, and honestly, my family.

Now I’m 19. After moving from apartment to apartment for years, I finally felt like things were coming together. In December, my brother and I launched 6IX Aquatics, turning my lifelong passion into a small business. By January, I had built up amazing stock and a huge personal collection. My tanks filled my home with life, color, and peace.

Aquarium keeping wasn’t just a hobby — it helped me survive some of the darkest times in my life. During deep depression, when my mind felt heavy and everything seemed overwhelming, my fish gave me purpose. Feeding them, maintaining their tanks, watching them swim and grow — it gave me something to hold onto. Every fish had its own personality. Watching them thrive felt like I was growing with them.

When I moved into my new place in November, I saw it as a fresh start. I worked even harder toward my goal: building an aquarium business not just to sell fish, but to share what this hobby did for me mentally and emotionally. I wanted others to experience the peace and healing I found in it.

Then everything was taken away.

A fire started in the restaurant below my apartment. My home became unlivable. Smoke, damage, and power loss wiped out most of my tanks. My coral reef system — something that took years of learning, patience, and care — is gone.

I lost hundreds of freshwater fish: platys, guppies, cichlids, and more. I lost marine fish I was proud to care for. I lost five pairs of clownfish, my tangs, my wrasses — fish I raised, watched grow, and cared for every single day. So many lives that depended on me are gone.

Only a few survived: my lionfish, an angelfish, and some of my plecos.

In one moment, I lost my home, my business inventory, my personal collection, and the one thing that helped me cope through my hardest mental battles.

Right now, I feel lost — financially and emotionally. I’ve always tried to help others, share knowledge, and build something positive in my community. All I want is the chance to rebuild my home, my tanks, and the peaceful environment that gave me strength when I needed it most.

Aquarium keeping didn’t just give me a hobby. It gave me purpose, healing, and hope. I’m praying for the opportunity to build that life again.