FOX LAKE, Ill. () — A dramatic aquarium rupture turned a quiet Monday afternoon into an emergency at Somethin’ Fishy Pets in Fox Lake, Illinois, after a 2,000-gallon fish tank gave way and sent water surging through the shop. Many of the more than 350 fish inside the tank did not survive.
The Fox Lake pet store was not open to customers at the time of the break. The owners said they still do not know exactly what triggered the tank failure, though they suspect a seam near the top may have suddenly split.
Surveillance video from inside Somethin’ Fishy Pets captured the moment the large fish tank burst without warning.
“I was just carrying something over here, and you just hear, like, a loud break. I can’t even describe the noise, and then a whole bunch of water rushing,” co-owner Derric Johnson said.
As water spread rapidly across the store floor, the owners moved quickly to try to save as many fish as possible.
“We were in the parking lot scooping up fish as water’s roaring out the foundation of the building. We did everything we could. Unfortunately, there was a lot lost, but we did save a couple dozen,” co-owner Nicole Georgean said.
The massive aquarium had long been a recognizable feature inside the business, which has been part of the Fox Lake community for nearly three decades. The owners said the tank was originally constructed by the pet shop’s previous owner, and they had been in the process of making updates before it failed.
Much of the flooding has since been cleaned up, and local residents have rallied around Somethin’ Fishy Pets as the store begins recovering from the damage.
“Lots of people come here. They go see a movie, come here, see the display tank. This is actually the heart of our business; so it was absolutely devastating,” Georgean said.
A family friend of the owners has started a GoFundMe campaign to help replace the tank. The owners also said customers and their landlord have offered assistance as the business works to rebuild after the loss.
