Novalek

Novalek Profile

The initial company from which Novalek evolved was formed by biological scientists in the California Academy of Sciences and Steinhart Aquarium, San Francisco, in 1950. Associated with the original company were various enterprises in California continuing through the years: Brine Shrimp Sales Company (1950s-60s, harvester of live brine shrimp in San Francisco Bay, Great Salt Lake Utah, and elsewhere), Jonco, Inc. (1960s, manufacturer of aquarium gravel), Kordon Corporation 1960s-1970s, variously manufacturer and marketer of water conditioners, aquatic foods, etc.), AquaScape, Inc.(1960s, importer of Koi from Japan), Tetra Sales U.S.A. (1960s-1970s, exclusive agent in U.S. for Tetra products from Tetra Werke, Germany), and most recently Novalek, Inc. (1980s-, wide range of aquarium, ornamental pond, aquaculture, and small pet animal products).

The early companies (1950s-1960s) were formed primarily by Mr. Maurice Rakowicz, formerly an aquatic biologist at the Steinhart Aquarium. The later companies were formed primarily by Dr. Robert Rofen, (also in Kordon, Jonco, AquaScape and Tetra Sales with Rakowicz). Rofen was involved with the origins of brine shrimp harvesting in San Francisco Bay at the California Academy of Sciences and Steinhart Aquarium, and at Stanford University. Rofen continued the companies (except for Tetra) after Rakowicz's retirement from them in the mid-1970s.

Associated with Novalek is the not-for-profit Aquatic Research Institute, established in 1961, which maintains an extensive data base and library on aquatic sciences and technology.

The name "Novalek" is from scientific terminology - "Nova" (latin for new) and "Lek" referring generally to a group getting together to show what the individuals in that group can do or accomplish. Novalek, Inc., was incorporated in California in 1981 as a for-profit R & D company for the development of aquatic and small pet animal products. It included all of Kordon in home aquarium and ornamental pond products, AquaVet in aquaculture and professional aquatic products, and Oasis, a division manufacturing small animal waterers and other products formerly started by an engineering company in scientific laboratory watering devices.

Novalek develops, manufactures and markets its products world wide, primarily to wholesale distributors in the U.S. and Canada and to agent/distributors internationally.