Looking to start a campaign for a Planted Aquarium room at Meijer Gardens

[Planted Meijer]

Hello all,

I am looking to put together a campaign to get Frederik Meijer Gardens to start a planted aquarium room. Ideally I'd like to see them hire at least one person (me) to coordinate and maintain it, then look for volunteers to come in and design the tanks for the room. I'd like to have a mix of Amano, Dutch, and perhaps some other styles.

This is a hard task to undertake on my own, so if this sounds like it is interesting to you, please reply and let me know if you would definitely volunteer for something like this, or if you'd help out in convincing the administration at Meijer garden to implement this idea.

[Otis]

The Grand Valley Aquarium Club donated a 180 gallon planted tank to the Gardens over 10 years ago. It started in the cafeteria where it was a big hit. With the expansion and increased attention on the art side of things, the aquarium was relegated to a classroom in the basement of the educational wing. My company donated the time, fish and plants to maintain the aquarium which was recently removed because storage became a higher priority than the aquarium. You literally could not get to the aquarium to see it because of the stuff piled in front of it. We still maintain a turtle habitat at the Gardens.

[tritan]

I wish this habitat was in site up stairs in the public eye, I think a planted tank or turtle tank would be great.

[cott]

I can't even get the Meijers in Cadillac to stock ferts for their crappy plants they sell. Why carry plants if you won't carry ferts? Makes for a one hour drive to Traverse City.

I'm already mad at them for the 38 fish (neons and gold tetra's) I bought from them two weeks ago that were covered in ick and all perished. That's a lot of fish to loss in one gulp.

[wildman]

Hey, I live in the Grand Rapids area as well. I'm a member of Meijer Gardens and I'd looove to see something like that! I just recently got back into the aquarium hobby and have just started with planted tanks. I don't know how much expertise I could add--what about a petition? That might get their attention. I would think some animals (fish, shrimp, etc.) might be something that would really attract kids and adults.

[BigA]

I too live in Grand Rapids, My friends got married at the gardens this summer. It had been a long time since my last visit. Nice place but does lack in the aquatic department. I saw the turtles, loved them. I would love to see some more aquatic life, might have a reason to go back and spend more money.