Paislee Peyton first noticed a problem in the UF Reitz Union Bookstore in September.
In the fish tank along the wall, several of the fish had growths on their bodies. One floated lifelessly.
Peyton raised the concern to the Florida Aquaculture and Aquarium Club. After months of discussion, the club, which Peyton is a member of decided to renovate the 500-gallon fish tank. On Sunday, about 20 club members and volunteers began the process of removing the old fish and cleaning the tank. The final touches and new fish will be put in by May 1.
About 20 club members and volunteers with the Florida Aquaculture and Aquarium Club began the process of removing the old fish and cleaning the tank Sunday.
Peyton, a 19-year-old UF exploratory freshman, said before the renovation, she realized the tank’s filter didn’t work well. There was only a gentle flow of water when there should have been 2,000 gallons per hour pumping through the filter, she said.
As far as she knew, she said no one in the bookstore knew who was maintaining the tank.
The club members collectively decided to take on the renovations themselves. It will cost $1,800 and be funded by the bookstore, said T.J. Carbone, the club president. Afterward, an aquarist will maintain the filters and water chemistry.
Bookstore management could not be reached for comment.
The repairs involve polishing acrylic paint on the outside and installing new filtration and lights, Carbone said. Members will also be removing and replacing all of the old fish, rocks and plants.
The tank’s next inhabitants will be blue and orange African cichlids, which can grow to be 4 to 6 inches, Carbone said. Some of the old fish, which included 50 to 100 mollies, three angelfish and seven clown loaches, were traded at the pet store for supplies, while others went home with club members.
Peyton said the club wanted to model the tank after a lake because cichlids are freshwater fish. The club layered different sizes of gravel and sand as well as large rocks to give the impression of a lake floor.
Craig Watson, director of UF’s Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, said he helped install the tank about 10 years ago. The fish tank was installed as a focal point for visitors and a backdrop when the bookstore had a book signing or guest speaker.
When he visited it recently, he said he recognized some of the same fish. He was concerned the tank looked dirty and the fish looked unhealthy.
“At one point, it was sparkling and beautiful,” Watson said. “I just want to see it sparkle again.”
The club has a history of refurbishing tanks, Carbone said, including converting a tank in Dickinson Hall from saltwater to freshwater in December 2016.
“With UF on its way to becoming a top-five university, we decided that it should have a top-tier fish tank,” he said.
Members of UF's Florida Aquaculture and Aquarium Club are renovating the 500-gallon fish tank in the UF Reitz Union Bookstore.
