www.newportaquarium.com/

RESC members and guests wish to thank the team of Aquarium Scientists and Engineers, who treated us  a special behind the scenes tour. An amazing amount of science and engineering is required to maintain the one million-gallon environment for the marine animals.  This includes biologists, engineers, water quality specialists, veterinarians, and dive safety officers. Together they team up to provide the highest quality of care for the sea-life.

Over 200 miles of piping must be PVC and/or fiberglass to prevent contamination from the minerals contained in traditional metal piping. Copper, the size of a pencil eraser, would kill jellyfish because they are 95% water and absorb everything.  All pumps are duplicated and two separate power grids supply electricity with a standby generator, should both fail. Sand filters, activated charcoal filters and a host of specialized filters are required to process the million gallons of fun. To assure the highest standard of quality of life for the residents of the aquarium a water quality lab, veterinarian facility and engineering control room are in full operation.

The Newport Aquarium is a world leader in veterinarian care and has pioneered aquatic procedures now used in the USA and around the world. The vet examining room includes a wide variety of pharmaceuticals, even contraceptives to control population growth. After quarantine, special care is given to new residents while they are slowly introduced to long time residents by supervised visits to the acclimation tank. Animals are trained to feed at a specific place and time.

 To achieve saltwater equivalent to 99.8% like real seawater, a brine mixing tank facilitates the mixing of 166 - 50 pound bags of salt.  Water temperature is closely controlled by heat exchangers the size of a V W. The water quality lab is continuously sampling the water to maintain the delicate balance necessary for a high quality of sea-life.

On March 24, 2010,  Ric Urban- Bird and Mammal Curator, Crystal Phillips - Senior Aquatic Biologist , Marcus Barrett- Facilities Manager, Emily Margolen- Life Support Engineer and Jeff Gibula- Zoological Operations Manager provided a very thoughtful and detailed view of what life is like to maintain a daily quality of life for the residents of the aquarium.