While back home for the holidays in South Florida, our plans for our usual post-Christmas fishing madness were cancelled by days of high winds. I used the time to visit the new Frost Science Gulf Stream Aquarium and was very impressed. The Gulf Stream-themed exhibit spans three stories and consists of informative displays, many individual species tanks, ecosystem tanks, interactive ray pool, and related exhibits such as an aviary and reptile area.
First and foremost, you just can't beat the location:
Many of the ecosystem tanks are outside in open air under the cover of the giant roof enclosure.
Inside, as you wind your way around the various displays, you'll find many species specific tanks with explanations on the animals they contain.
They had a separate section dedicated to jellyfish. I'm not a big fan of jellyfish, particularly, but I was drawn to these beautiful animals during my visit. One of the marine biologists on staff had just begun to feed the tanks with baby brine.
But without a doubt, the most stunning feature was the huge 500,000 gallon disc-shaped main tank which housed pelagic species, sharks, rays, schools of baitfish and jacks, and even a bull dolphin-fish (mahi mahi for you out of towner's
) I have never seen a dolphin-fish in an aquarium before.
From above:
Here's the view from the windows on the level below. The tank is designed to provide a vortex-like movement of water to allow free swimming of the pelagic species housed here. You can see the water movement at the center from the 31' viewing window at the bottom level. The width and span of the tank is breathtaking.
Finally, here's a time lapse of the concrete pour for the tank. It really helps to put this massive aquarium in perspective.
First and foremost, you just can't beat the location:
Many of the ecosystem tanks are outside in open air under the cover of the giant roof enclosure.
Inside, as you wind your way around the various displays, you'll find many species specific tanks with explanations on the animals they contain.
They had a separate section dedicated to jellyfish. I'm not a big fan of jellyfish, particularly, but I was drawn to these beautiful animals during my visit. One of the marine biologists on staff had just begun to feed the tanks with baby brine.
But without a doubt, the most stunning feature was the huge 500,000 gallon disc-shaped main tank which housed pelagic species, sharks, rays, schools of baitfish and jacks, and even a bull dolphin-fish (mahi mahi for you out of towner's
) I have never seen a dolphin-fish in an aquarium before.From above:
Here's the view from the windows on the level below. The tank is designed to provide a vortex-like movement of water to allow free swimming of the pelagic species housed here. You can see the water movement at the center from the 31' viewing window at the bottom level. The width and span of the tank is breathtaking.
Finally, here's a time lapse of the concrete pour for the tank. It really helps to put this massive aquarium in perspective.
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