Owners: Andrew Bunya Ananta.

Product or service: We sell aquariums, filters, supplies, freshwater fish, saltwater fish, hard and soft corals, coral fragments, live plants, koi and pond plants, as well as custom aquarium furniture.

Location: 3200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks.

Date established: February 2008.

Hours open: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.

Telephone: 497-3444.

E-mail: andrewbunya@theaquariumconnection.com.

Web site: http://www.theaquariumconnection.com.

Employees: Five.

Startup capital: $350,000-plus.

Estimated annual gross revenue: $400,000 to $1 million.

Questions to Andrew Bunya Ananta: What prompted you to start your own business? I wanted to carry out the family tradition and own my own store since I was 16. Now at 23, I am able to offer my knowledge of aquariums and spread education and passion to foster a new generation of hobbyists and aquarists. It is my goal to help consumers understand the beauty, science and art behind aquariums.

What is your educational and career background? I grew up in the tropical fish business and have been in this environment for as long as I can remember. I watched my father run his aquarium business and started working for my parents at a young age.

I graduated from Royal High School in 2003, and was recruited to work for Marineland Aquaria Inc.

I worked in the aquatic research lab conducting scientific tests and developing new product ideas for the aquarium industry. I stepped out of the industry to take a job for a Realtor, managing his marketing and client database. I quickly realized that my true passion, aquariums, was very much missed, and I decided to resign from my position and pursue my childhood dream of owning an aquarium showroom. I recently graduated from college with a degree in business administration and entrepreneurship.

How much research did you do before starting your business? I did not research the business aspect much since I was already familiar with the industry. However, I did watch the Thousand Oaks community for years and realized there was a market for the products and services that the Aquarium Connection has to offer. I also did market research and demographic studies to back my assumptions.

What were the most helpful sources, including Web sites? The best sources were working at Marineland Aquaria Inc. and my parent's store, Peter's Tropical Fish. Working for my parents throughout the years exposed me to a great network of clients and business contacts that would later be very valuable when opening the Aquarium Connection.

When were you the most discouraged? The most discouraging time was when we were scheduled to open our doors one month after getting the keys and it took nearly six. During this time we had many unexpected costs and delays. It was a tremendous deal of stress and anxiety watching our working capital deplete before we could even open our doors.

What company or individual do you admire? I admire and thank my parents for always supporting me and for teaching me the essence of hard work, determination and perseverance.

What will make your business stand out from competitors? Aquarium Connection specializes in high-end aquarium design and aquarium services. We have a Jelliquarium, a coral reef aquarium, 1,000-gallon shark tank and our koi pond backyard.

We stand out among our competitors because we believe in changing the public outlook of aquariums. Our customers are instilled with a stronger knowledge of fish and aquariums, heightening the true beauty and passion of fish science.

Who is your target client/customer base? We cater to everyone from the typical fish lover to kids who love goldfish, mollies and guppies to the person who demands the aquarium of their dreams. We also do high-end, specialized work for the entertainment industry, high-profile executives, celebrities, restaurants and professional athletes.

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