My name is Nico and I have had a fascination with nature for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Germany before moving to California to marry my wife, Lauren. My grandpa owned a cabin with a few small ponds, and that is where my obsession with fishing, plants and anything nature related truly began. My parents still love to remind me that no matter where we went, I always needed a dip net and I never came home from a walk without finding a prized stick. Today I have my adult version of that childhood tool, my own “Jonah’s Dip Net”, and I now collect driftwood so others can enjoy it in their tanks.

Aquariums were a huge part of my childhood, but I had to pause the hobby during my college years. Once I settled down in California, the longing to return to aquatics came back stronger than ever. I convinced my wife to let me start again with a simple ten gallon tank. It definitely did not stop there.

While hiking in California, I was blown away by how much beautiful Manzanita wood this state has to offer. Just like when I was a kid, I kept bringing home sticks, except now they were impressive pieces of driftwood from the mountains. Wanting to share these locally collected treasures was the spark that started Nico’s Nature.

My passion for creating living ecosystems has grown beyond a single tank. After moving to a bigger place, we now have a dedicated rack of aquariums, plus a variety of tanks, paludariums and everything in between scattered across the jungle that is our home. Outside, you will find ponds, plants and more piles of driftwood than I would like to admit.

We collect unique pieces of Manzanita in the mountains of Northern California and debark each one so its natural texture can shine in your aquarium. We also breed Neocaridina shrimp, as well as a range of nano and community fish. To round out our selection, we grow a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial plants that help bring life and balance to home aquariums. You can explore the full selection on our page called Nico’s Fish Room.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the Sacramento Aquarium Society, one of the most active aquarium clubs in the country. I also help organize our annual FIN DIG event, which will host AGA 2026 next year. Being part of this community has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Nico’s Nature is more than a hobby for me. It is a way to connect with other nature lovers, share the joy of the aquatics world and build a community of hobbyists who inspire one another every day.