Ocean Hall Opens at Smithsonian

[MLazar]

Read an article in today's paper about the opening this Saturday. The article included the following excerpt:

 

"Plenty of life is also on show, with a 1,500 gallon aquarium containing an Indo-Pacific coral reef featuring more than 1,000 species of live fish an other marine life".

 

If anyone makes a visit, please post your thoughts.

 

Thanks,

 

Maureen

[Kevin Garrison]

It won't be this weekend, but I can guarantee we will likely make the trip in and take lots of pictures.

[DDiver]

Exciting...I will have to make a trip this Saturday if it doesn't rain...

[Amuze]

I've been waiting for this to open for a while now so I can take the woman & kids. (and myself).

Edited September 25, 2008 by audible

[Leishman]

nice. The reef is sick. Full sps set up

[fishcam]

nice. The reef is sick. Full sps set up

 

I cant wait. This made the nytimes too...

 

What impact might it have on the national aquarium?

[Leishman]

took a 30 sec video - @ air and space now.....

[DDiver]

that's what i forgot to do today....

[MLazar]

took a 30 sec video - @ air and space now.....

 

Surprised you didn't run into Jon and our son Chris, they were at air and space just a couple of hours ago.

 

Can't wait for you to post video, thanks in advance.

 

M

[extreme_tooth_decay]

Read an article in today's paper about the opening this Saturday. The article included the following excerpt:

 

"Plenty of life is also on show, with a 1,500 gallon aquarium containing an Indo-Pacific coral reef featuring more than 1,000 species of live fish an other marine life".

 

If anyone makes a visit, please post your thoughts.

 

Thanks,

 

Maureen

 

 

Thanks for posting this, I'm headed that way tomorrow. Think I'll check out the NADC while I'm at it.

 

tim

[luan67]

I saw it today with my family. They did a masterful job. The reef tank is spectacular. Lots of colors from all the fish, SPS, LPS, etc. I was lucky to be there during feeding time and it was great to see the swarm of fish around the food.

 

I remember the aquarium they had before the renovated. Is that the same gigas clam from years back?

[Leishman]

I went back for a second look and ended up getting a behind the full tour from jeff turner (the designer and builder) - all after hours.......

 

Lots of pix and video, jeff also gave me copy of "the most beautiful aquariums of the world".

 

All this because I wore my mr. Coral t-shirt

 

Here are the pics:

 

FTS

 

 

FTS

 

 

Left

 

 

Middle

 

 

Right

 

 

Top Down

 

 

Top Down

 

 

FTS Video

 

 

Clowns hosting in (and biting) clam

 

[MLazar]

Luan67, thanks so much for posting after your visit!

 

Rik, Awesome pictures and video clip. Thanks for sharing. Definitely on our list of places to visit soon.

 

Maureen

[GaryL]

wow!! love the clown swimming in and out of the clam mouth. lol clown fish hosting on a clam

[extreme_tooth_decay]

Read an article in today's paper about the opening this Saturday. The article included the following excerpt:

 

"Plenty of life is also on show, with a 1,500 gallon aquarium containing an Indo-Pacific coral reef featuring more than 1,000 species of live fish an other marine life".

 

If anyone makes a visit, please post your thoughts.

 

Thanks,

 

Maureen

 

 

I saw it today. It's a nice tank.

 

Not sure where that "more than 1,000 species of live fish an other marine life" comes from unless they are counting bacteria and zoozanthaellae. I'd estimate about 1/10 of that.

 

I saw the clown bite the gigas and make it almost totally close about 3 or 4 times. Mean suckers. That is a nice clam. I do believe substantially larger than when I saw Chip's clam.

 

The tank is also about 90% SPS, which is blah for me, but I know I'm in the minority there!

 

tim

[DDiver]

Im jealous of u Rik..wish I couldve had a tour..went there this morning with my gf..awesome looking tank..did anyone happen to see the Goby and pistol shrimp at the right bottom corner?

 

actually if u look real close in one of Riks pictures u can see the goby peeping out of it's burrow.:

[extreme_tooth_decay]

Im jealous of u Rik..wish I couldve had a tour..went there this morning with my gf..awesome looking tank..did anyone happen to see the Goby and pistol shrimp at the right bottom corner?

 

actually if u look real close in one of Riks pictures u can see the goby peeping out of it's burrow.:

 

 

I saw the goby but not the shrimp. I noticed about a 12"x12" area of little mounds of sand around the goby.

[capsfan]

That, my friend, is a sweet tank!

[MisterTang]

I may try to stop by and visit this Saturday before the NZ event.

 

My only question is "Would Bob Fenner scold them for having a tank too small for that many tangs?"

[Leishman]

My guess on gal's would be ~1000g with 500-600g back stage in the sump and refugium. I was not able to take pics of the fish room due to Smithsonian policy, but it is a CLEAN set up, well laid out and built like a tank.

 

 

 

Lights: (From what I remember)

 

 

 

4x400w Hamilton 14k SE in pendants

 

2xTEK T-5 fixtures (36")

 

1xSolaris 72" LED fixture

 

 

 

Skimmers:

 

 

 

2xASM's

 

 

 

Flow:

 

 

 

Didn't look at what the return pump was but there are several reutrns all over the tank.

 

 

 

In the tank there are 6 tunze in reef deco rocks and 2 Korilla 8's

 

 

 

Other Stuff:

 

 

 

Large UV

 

Huge Heat exchange unit

 

~200g ro tank

 

~200g salt h2o tank

 

5 stage quarentine set up

 

frag grow out tanks

 

 

 

 

 

The sump is a 3 chamber raceway that spins an algae conatiner (made from a laundry basket)

[trockafella]

How long is this exhibit open for..? Or is it gonna be there forever..? Do you all ever go to the bmore aquairium..?

[Leishman]

How long is this exhibit open for..? Or is it gonna be there forever..? Do you all ever go to the bmore aquairium..?

 

 

Built with a 25 year goal

[Steve G]

I saw the pistol shrimp/goby combo. It was cool.

 

I took photos and videos too, but (a) there were too many kids in the way and (b) someone already posted good shots.

 

Seriously, aren't people worried that the clam will have the clownfish for lunch?

[Leishman]

Seriously, aren't people worried that the clam will have the clownfish for lunch?

 

 

Here's a quote from RC on the topic:

 

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13787699#post13787699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blackthunda77

im actually a member of FMAS here in Ft Lauderdale and this past tuesday we had our monthly meeting and Jeff was our guest speaker. the back end of that system is a beast! the sump alone is i believe 400 gals and all the work that went into it was amazing. Jeff is an awsome guy and really loves this stuff. i cant wait to see it in person. and FYI that clam DOES close on those clowns believe it or not Jeff said. it actually stays closed for a couple mins at a time sometimes with the clowns in it, and then they swim out going about thier buisiness like nothing ever happened!!

[Jon Lazar]

I stopped by the Natural History Museum yesterday and took a few tank update pics...looks like it's really growing in.