Captive Aquatic Ecosystems captivates trade show traffic

CONROE, Texas -- With nearly 20 years of professional experience in designing, installing and maintaining custom aquariums, Ben Johnson, owner of Captive Aquatic Ecosystems LLC, (CAE) has successfully kept his company a manageable size over the nearly 13 years of its existence. His goal has always been to be able to provide a consistent, high-level of customer service for his clients. These endeavors have paid off after many years of hard work.

For the second year in a row, he’s been commissioned to set up a temporary aquarium display at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in order to showcase a piece of equipment for ITT Corporation.

The OTC, the largest oil and gas sector trade show in the world, is held annually in Houston since 1969, at the Reliant Center. 2014 attendance was 108,300, and with 680,000 square feet of exhibition space, grabbing the attention of passersby was crucial. ITT Corp. stopped attendees in their tracks the second year in a row with CAE's custom designed 60-gallon saltwater fish-only aquarium, that not only displays ITT's underwater valve, but depicts in a realistic setting complete with live fish. Not only did the valve demonstrate that it poses no threat to a delicate underwater ecosystem, it’s aesthetic appearance was definitely a show-stopper as seen in the video in the link attached. The display has been so popular at ITT's oil industry trade show booths, CAE was commissioned to install it at two other smaller shows, one in Galveston and the other at the George R. Brown convention center, in between OTC 2013 and the recent 2014 show. It’s no easy feat setting up a delicate saltwater tank which runs for just four days with numerous, delicate and colorful fish, but Johnson has done this for ITT four times now, with a perfect track record of zero fish losses.

This high attention to detail and willingness to take on difficult challenges has set Captive Aquatic Ecosystems LLC, apart from it's competitors, and opened doors to other high-end clientele.

“Some of my big commercial clients have required local, state and federal background checks as well as drug and alcohol testing, and even signing non-disclosure agreements in order to work for them." said Johnson.

All this in addition to providing installation and timely maintenance for his regular clients. The majority of his clientele are saltwater systems, but CAE also installs and maintains numerous freshwater systems.

“In truth, the majority of my business, about 80%, is re-doing pre-existing systems which were installed and designed improperly,” said Johnson. “Obviously my preference is to meet a client before another company has done a hack job, but unfortunately, this is often the case."

Founded in 2002 while employed as a zookeeper at the Houston Zoo, Captive Aquatic Ecosystems LLC has been based out of The Woodlands since 2004.

"I worked at the Houston Zoo from 2002 to 2004 as a keeper in the Kipp Aquarium section of the zoo. I was hired by Dr. Nelson Herwig (then the curator) to rehabilitate the badly neglected 4,000 gallon reef zones exhibit. I was also in charge of a 12,000 gallon flooded Amazon freshwater system as well as many other exhibits during my time there," said Johnson.

What began as a hobby since high school has evolved into one of the highest-quality, custom aquarium installation/maintenance companies in the Greater Houston area.

"In 2002, my entrepreneurial father and I went on a road trip and he told me that I should start my own company. I began with just a handful of small-time clients that I would service after work,” said Johnson. “I quit the zoo two years later when my side job was making more than my zoo job."

Johnson’s business takes him all over the Greater Houston and surrounding areas.

“For high-end clients, you’ll go the distance. I have clients from Lake Conroe to Kingwood, to Clearlake, Sugarland,and Tomball. Obviously, I try to keep them closer to me but good contracts are good contracts,” said Johnson.

To view other breathtakingly beautiful videos and pictures, visit their Facebook page and website at the links provided.