9 replies to this topic

[gcbryan]

The Pacific Coral Reef tank at the Seattle Aquarium is the scene of some unfortunate trauma these days. Someone on the maintanence staff apparently bumped into a valve letting chlorinated fresh water into the tank where it went unnoticed for several days.

The result is the loss of two baby Blacktip Reef Sharks, 1 Batfish, 1 Goatfish, 1 Unicornfish and a few others. This was the only Batfish and now the Aquarium has no BT Reef Sharks. The previous two large adult BT Reefsharks were flown to the Atlanta Aquarium just days before this accident or they to would have been lost.

The chlorine was tough on some internal organs as well as the increased ozone which I'm told increases with the lowering of the water temp and then of course there was the lowering of the salinity.

Hopefully, the Aquarium will get some BT Reef Sharks soon as these are some of the main attractions of that particular display. The Aquarium had just taken the baby BT Reef Sharks out of the quarantine tank where they had been for several months as replacements for those to be shipped to Atlanta. Now the process must start over.

Edited by gcbryan, 10 August 2007 - 08:53 PM.

[pir8]

This is truly tragic

[annasea]

Very sad news indeed.

[Terri]

How tragic!!!

I may show my ignorance here, but wasn't there a way to test the water daily (or multiple times a day) on the water content? I would think you could pick up chlorine or changes in salinity with simple water sample tests?

[WreckWench]

I think Terri is right. It seems that testing may not be done on a regular basis...but then that may be a cost savings for normally underfunded facilities such as aquariums. Perhaps such a thing as to create a volunteer network to do things like this of say 'divers'?

And perhaps some protective measures to ensure that a valve is not accidently bumped again. It may be as simple as fencing or caging off the valves.

Regardless this is tragic...

[gcbryan]

I don't know the answer regarding water testing. That's one of the questions I have as well but haven't had time to ask it. It's not a manpower issue as the Aquarium is virtually run by volunteers and it's not a money issue I don't think. Money is an issue but not at the testing stage.

Regarding a cage around the valve, some changes there will certainly be made. The problem with that particular exhibit is that all the equipment needed to run it has been put together piecemeal over many years and the room it is contained in is very crowded.

Since I'm interested in the testing issue I'll ask and post the answer when I have it.

[gcbryan]

Regarding testing, I understand testing is done daily but it doesn't pick up chlorine (which shouldn't be in there) and while they do check for the salinity level since it is a big tank it takes awhile for that to change. That's all I know at this point.

[Cold_H2O]

Very sad news.
I know a few of the staff and I am sure it was not taken lightly.

The blacktip sharks were some of my favorites. I will miss them.

[drbill]

Maybe they should put the fish in charge of their own life support systems... like we do with our SCUBA equipment.

[shadragon]

Maybe they should put the fish in charge of their own life support systems... like we do with our SCUBA equipment.

OK, so who certifies him...?