Brian Dunleavy had no Plan B. REEFCO Aquariums had to work.In this episode of The First Slice presented by SICCE, Brian shares how a six-gallon African frog aquarium sparked an obsession that eventually became one of New Jersey’s premier aquarium businesses.Brian opens up about barely graduating high school, working construction, learning inside local fish stores, and realizing that he could build something better. He takes us inside the pressure, mistakes, sacrifices, and lowest moments that shaped REEFCO Aquariums.We discuss what happens when a passion becomes a business, the personal cost of entrepreneurship, the responsibility of caring for living animals, and the ethical line between appreciating the ocean and profiting from it. Brian also explains how he built and leads his team, handles expensive mistakes, protects his family, and keeps moving when failure is not an option.More than 15 years later, Brian reflects on the people who believed in him, the lessons that nearly broke him, and what he would tell the 19-year-old kid staring into that first six-gallon aquarium.We recorded the conversation over an incredibly thin and crispy pizza from Chimney Rock Inn.This is not simply a conversation about fish tanks. It is a story about survival, responsibility, family, leadership, and turning an obsession into a legacy.You know the business. You do not know the person behind it.Subscribe for more episodes of The First Slice.Presented by SICCE.#BrianDunleavy #ReefcoAquariums #AquariumBusiness #ReefTank #Entrepreneurship #TheFirstSlice #SICCE

@Coralfish12g joins The First Slice presented by SICCE for Chicago deep-dish pizza and an honest conversation about the journey behind his success.George Mavrakis, better known as CoralFish12g, shares how he built an aquarium-focused YouTube channel with more than 2 million subscribers, developed @aquashella into a major aquarium festival, and handled the challenges that came with growing such a recognizable brand.We also discuss the lawsuit that affected his journey, his Division III college basketball career, the business behind aquarium content, and the person viewers do not always get to see on camera. All of it unfolds over authentic Chicago deep-dish pizza, eaten properly with a fork and knife.You know his content. You really do not know him. Subscribe for more episodes of The First Slice,Presented by SICCE.#CoralFish12g #AquaShella #Aquarium #TheFirstSlice #SICCE #ChicagoDeepDish #Fishkeeping💡Learn more:•https://www.sicce.com/en/products🐳 Become a part of the Family!•Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siccegroup•Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siccegroupℹ️ Warranty & Info •🌏Website: https://www.sicce.com•🇺🇸 Website: https://us.sicce.com0:00 Deep dish pizza and intro2:49 Early life and pressure4:08 Business, stress, and growth7:52 The origin of the aquarium10:21 Mentorship and passion14:33 Lessons from early employment17:34 Basketball and college life20:15 Content creation and viral growth23:51 Brand deals and monetization32:43 The transformative conversation35:37 New York, travel, and lifestyle39:08 The future of Aquashella

What happens when a 20-year radio career disappears overnight?For Remy @BahamaLlamaCoral the unexpected ending became the beginning of an entirely new chapter. In this episode of The First Slice, Remy shares how losing his longtime career led him to rediscover his purpose and write the children’s book Duncan’s Reef Rescue.His remarkable story also includes flying with the Blue Angels, singing onstage with Kelsea Ballerini, winning his high school talent show, and eventually finding a new home in the aquarium industry with @BrightwellAquatics Join us as Remy shares the surprising experiences, difficult transitions, and defining moments that shaped his journey all while enjoying a square slice of Imo’s thin-crust, St. Louis–style pizza.The First Slice is presented by SICCE.💡Learn more:•https://www.sicce.com/en/products🐳 Become a part of the Family!•Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siccegroup•Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siccegroupℹ️ Warranty & Info •🌏Website: https://www.sicce.com•🇺🇸 Website: https://us.sicce.com#Thefirstslice #followthewhale #familyowned