Kettering student sets new world record for largest Sea-Monkeys tank
A Kettering student has taken a deep dive into the world of nostalgia and broken the world record for establishing the largest tank of Sea-Monkeys.
Harry Faulkner, an undergraduate studying computer science at the University of Portsmouth, set up a tank with a usable volume of 27 gallons, beating the current world record of 24 gallons.
He was inspired to attempt the record after he set up a ‘joke’ Instagram account featuring the novelty aquarium pets, which originally rose to fame in the 1960s, to keep him entertained while he was in halls of residence.
His first post took social media by storm, going viral and amassing more than 23 million views, making it one of the most watched Sea-Monkeys videos ever.
In collaboration with Maidenhead Aquatics, Hygger and Bandai (the Sea-Monkeys distributor), Harry hopes this will help shine a light on the fascinating world of Sea-Monkeys by showcasing their life cycle and complex lives on a massive scale.
Kettering-based Harry said: “Although I never had any as a child, the concept of Sea-Monkeys had always intrigued me.
“I liked the way they allow you to enjoy the peacefulness and delight of a fish tank without the hassle of a huge, high-maintenance aquarium.
"I guess there’s some irony in that now that I’m about to take on the responsibility of the world’s biggest Sea-Monkeys tank, but that certainly doesn’t take away the magic and charm.”
Over the past few weeks, Harry has been documenting the set-up process for his new record breaking tank on his Instagram account, including how he plans to maintain it long-term.
The current record for the largest Sea-Monkeys tank was previously held by Jon Hicks with a 16-gallon set-up and he has more recently launched a tank with a usable volume of 24 gallons.
Harry’s tank has a usable volume of 27 gallons compared to Jon’s 24 gallons, making Harry’s the largest functional Sea-Monkeys habitat to date.
Fans can find Harry Faulkner on Instagram at @Some.Sea.Monkey and ‘Behind The Brine’ on YouTube.
The Original Sea-Monkeys – the brand name for brine shrimp – are marketed as ‘instant life’ pets, sold in small, desktop-sized kits, available online.