Exhibit Spotlight: JMZ Fish Tank
Questions for John Aikin, JMZ Executive Director
What is unique about the JMZ’s fish tank?
The fish tank was inspired after a visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. The hippopotamus exhibit there is home to hundreds of Lake Malawi cichlids in various vibrant colors. The tank is positioned so that visitors face south looking into it. This allows light to shine through and illuminates the water all day, and it is gorgeous. We wanted to recreate a similar experience at the JMZ— without the hippos! Now, the JMZ’s cichlid tank is probably the largest of its kind in Northern California.
Large fish tanks are incredibly difficult to construct. There are multiple layers built in the process in order to ensure there will be no leaks once filled. It takes a lot of time and specialized knowledge. We really wanted visitors to feel like they were underwater with the fish when the tank was built. The acrylic barrier that contains the water is actually slightly concave, which gives the illusion of being underwater and closer to the colorful fish inside. Our tank is roughly 6,000 US gallons.
Not only are these tanks hard to build, but they are also difficult to maintain. The cichlids inside have their own unique care needs and environment that has to be monitored. We actually have specialists visit every week to check the water quality for the fish! We hope to introduce turtles into the aquarium sometime in the future, which is why the artificial branches in the tank are vertical, so that turtles cannot escape. Fly river turtles are a great option for the tank since they enjoy the same warm, alkaline water that our cichlids do.
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