Science as an art: Brian Blake and his research-backed aquarium designs
Photo by Brian Blake
Having a beautiful aquarium can be a wonderful addition to a home—but for the average family, maintaining a luxury fish tank is no simple task. Building a thriving and attractive tank requires a deep understanding of aquatic life plus an eye for design.
Local businessman Brian Blake has just that: With a degree in Biology studying aquatic ecology and a creative mind, he’s found his niche helping Kansas Citians design the tanks of their dreams.
Blake got his start working as a technician for aquarium stores in the area and quickly discovered the lack of customer service and attention to detail in the industry.
“Some of them were doing things right, but for the most part it was just par for the course,” Blake says. “Everybody was doing what everyone’s always done, and I saw an opening for a market where people were being underserved in terms of the amount of expertise that was being given to them.”
Photo by Luke Benson
Common problems in fish tanks often have more complex solutions than the typical store would prescribe, since most employees don’t have a research background. Blake’s specialized experience in studying aquatic microbiomes helps him diagnose these issues.
With his unique background, Blake realized he could fill this gap by starting his own business, serving customers with the expertise they deserved.
“There are all of these logical fallacies culminating in issues with the aquariums, and with my scientific background, I was able to apply the scientific method to all of these issues,” Blake says. “As a result, you get a more defined and realistic solution to problems that take a lot longer but, in my experience, have been a lot more successful.”
In 2020, Blake started Boodleshire Aquatics. After a couple of months working from his garage and writing multiple blogs a week, the business took off. His customer base has continued to grow exponentially since. Now Blake operates out of a showroom in Lenexa.
From the hue of the tank lights to the organization of the pipes, Blake puts thought into every little aspect of his customers’ aquariums.
Photo by Luke Benson
Experiencing his gallery firsthand, you can see the purposeful design behind each tank’s unique vision.
Each tank starts with a marked tape outline on his worktable that Blake fills with cutout plaster rock in different shapes until the tank’s structure comes to life.
“It’s a thrill to build forms out, then knowing it in my head, picturing what it’s going to be, then planning all those plants, filling it up, and letting it do its thing,” Blake says. “Then you’re surprised as to what it actually turns into.”
The creative side of a tank is just as important to Blake as the scientific thought, as he views each tank as a working piece of art.
“They say an artist’s work is never done, and I feel like that’s true. You create a painting; there’s always something you could do to it, but with a painting, it doesn’t continue to paint itself. With aquariums, they do,” Blake says. “They continue to grow and do their own thing without your input.”
According to Blake, beauty in a tank isn’t just from the plants, fish, and outward design but from the behind-the-scenes organization as well.
“There is beauty in the cleanliness of the plumbing and the color of the pipes you choose; there’s beauty in the cleanliness of the wire management and how you open up the stand; there’s beauty in all of that,” Blake says. “Then there’s the obvious artistic part of it, which is the aquascape.”
Brian Blake (left) // Photo by Taylor Wilmore
Each customer wants to be involved with their tank in different ways, so Blake adjusts his services based on their preferences—allowing customers to be as hands-off as they would like. Blake says the main goal is providing white glove service.
“We really go beyond good customer service. We try to overdeliver; we include extra services. We’re really high-touch, full-service,” Blake says. “We’re in constant communication with our clients. We like to check up with them if we haven’t heard from them in a while.”
Photo by Brian Blake
Getting to run his full-service business gives Blake a space to share this passion with others and add to their lives.
“One of the things we love about the services we perform is that we can provide aquariums for families who can appreciate the beauty, the wellness it brings, and the restoration it provides,” Blake says. “Aquariums really are excellent tools for education, culture, and wellness.”
An aquarium is the gift that keeps on giving as it changes over time, and Boodleshire Aquatics guarantees that satisfaction with their meticulous upkeep.
“We love pouring ourselves into the creation of a piece of art that’s greater than the sum of its parts. We love using science and technology to maintain and watch that piece of art grow into something completely different than it was when we started,” Blake says.
Boodleshire Aquatics is hosting an open house and artist talk on June 19th from 6-9 p.m. for local artist Oliva Helms‘ collection “Optical Yearnings.”
