Industry Partners & Collaborations
Uniting the Aquatic Community Through Independent, Practice-Based Research
The Aquarium Industry Census™ is an independent initiative dedicated to improving clarity, consistency, and long-term success in aquarium care. Our mission is to support better outcomes for aquatic life—and the people and organizations who work with it—by listening to real-world experience across the entire aquatic community.
We welcome collaboration from:
- National retail chains and aquatic departments
- Independent local fish stores (LFS)
- Aquarium installation and maintenance companies
- Public aquariums and accredited zoos
- Marine and freshwater research or aquaculture programs
- Conservation and environmental organizations
- Aquarium manufacturers and product companies
- Clubs, societies, and organized communities
- Universities, educators, and scientific institutions
Why the Aquarium Industry Census™ Matters
For many new tank owners, aquarium advice is fragmented and often contradictory. Different stores, online
sources, and individuals may provide conflicting guidance on critical topics such as cycling, stocking, feeding,
quarantine, and water changes. This confusion contributes to livestock loss, poor early experiences, and
reduced confidence in aquarium keeping as a whole.
The Aquarium Industry Census™ is designed to help address this by:
- Collecting large-scale, neutral data from across the hobby and industry
- Identifying areas of strong agreement, and areas with significant disagreement
- Highlighting practices that appear to support better outcomes over time
- Supporting clearer, better-aligned educational materials for beginners and staff
Why Zoos, Public Aquariums & Scientific Institutions Are Important Voices
Public aquariums, zoological institutions, and research organizations manage some of the most sophisticated aquatic systems in the world. The standards, protocols, and welfare considerations used in these environments provide an important reference point for the broader aquarium community.
By participating, these institutions can::
- Contribute advanced husbandry perspectives to industry-wide discussions
- Help inform more accurate and welfare-focused guidance for home aquaria
- Support better education around water quality, disease prevention, and responsible stocking
- Encourage stronger connections between hobbyist aquariums and conservation awareness
Benefits for Retailers, LFS & Manufacturers
For retailers, local fish stores, and product companies, improved clarity and consistency directly support better business outcomes. When customers succeed, they remain engaged, confident, and active in the hobby over the long term.
Participation can help:
- Reduce early livestock loss
- Lower return rates on livestock and equipment
- Improve customer satisfaction and retention
- Strengthen staff training with clearer, data-informed guidance
- Build trust by aligning recommendations with broader industry trends
Ways Organizations Can Participate
1. Provide Non-Sensitive Input or Experience
Organizations may share general approaches or high-level practices related to cycling, water quality, husbandry, stocking, feeding, or educational challenges. This input supports a more accurate interpretation of survey data and helps identify where additional research is most useful.
2. Promote Participation
Partners can share the Census survey with staff, volunteers, members, customers, or affiliated groups. This helps ensure that a wide range of real-world perspectives is captured across different regions and types of operations.
3. Advisory Participation (Optional)
Organizations may choose to provide occasional feedback on future topics, survey framing, or ways to make the research more useful for their sector. Advisory input is flexible and can be tailored to each organization’s level of interest and available time.
4. Educational and Outreach Alignment
Where appropriate, Census findings may help inform future staff training materials, beginner guides, or public education content. Partners who wish to incorporate insights into their own educational efforts are welcome to discuss alignment and appropriate use.
5. Ethical Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorships, where applicable, may support the formatting and distribution of public reports, educational initiatives, or expansion into additional research areas. Sponsorship does not influence survey questions or conclusions; research independence is maintained as a core principle.
Research Independence
The Aquarium Industry Census™ is committed to neutrality and transparency. Participation in, or support of, the Census does not imply endorsement of any specific method, product, or brand, and sponsors do not determine the content of surveys or analyses.
Partner Inquiry
If your organization would like to explore participation, collaboration, or simply stay informed about future developments, please use the partner inquiry form on this page. We will review your message and follow up with more information. Together, we can help build a clearer, more consistent, and more welfare-focused future for aquatic life and the people who care for it.