Smithsonian's reef tank.

[likwidglostix]

My gf and I took a trip to DC on Saturday. In the museum of natural history, the new exhibit is the Sant ocean hall. They had a reef tank that I would estimate at 500gal. Standing in the middle, the side walls go straight back and the back wall is flat. Technically it's a bowfront, but the curve of the glass sweeps through a full 90 deg. I just thought I would share the pics we took with you all. Some of them are a little fuzzy. We only had her camera. We were already on the train when she remembered mine was still in the glove box.

FTS

This shrimp was easily 3" from eyes to tail.

I absolutely fell in love with this Watanbe's angelfish. I took this pic for an ID, but it was in my book.

I wish we had gotten a better picture of the tang in the lower right. It's mostly black with dual orange spines on the tail. It had a little white spot between the two orange patches. ID?

Appears to be a flasher wrasse, can anyone ID it for me?

If you're in the area definetly go check it out. They had a giant squid preserved in a case that was quite impressive. We went to see the IMAX film Deep Sea 3D. It was my first 3D movie and it was so cool. I won't give away any spoilers, but mantis shrimp fans should definetly make the effort to see it.

 

[billdogg]

nice pics! the tang in question appears to be a Naso. the wrasse is an orange back flasher wrasse - i've had one now for several years - easily one of my favorite fish - however - if i didn't have glass tops - he would have carpet surfed long ago.

 

[reeferkiss]

Thanks for sharing I live close to DC and will def check it out!!!
That clam looks HUGE

 

[usmcmp2006]

that would be a great job taking care of all that

 

[reefwizz]

NO!!! That tang is a bristletooth tomini tang. I have one in my 90. Great fish, grazes the rock constantly and there is barely any algae. Great overall fish.

 

[fishgeek12]

I went there as well! Nice little reef tank but if you want to see a real one, come to New York and take a trip down to atlantis aquarium in long island! 20,000 gallon reef tank! I also went to the National Aquarium.... they should be ashamed of themselves! One of the most dirty aquarium i've ever seen!

 

[bigworm175]

I think billdogg and reefwiz are talking about different pictures. the one above the ID question looks like a naso and the one below is indeed a bristletooth tomini. I think (judging by the other quotes) he was referring to the naso above? Correct me if I'm off here.

 

[YoungReefer06]

Yeah, I think he was talking about the Naso because they have the dual spines on their caudal-peduncle.

 

[macronut]

I saw this tank featured in a recent marine publication. Can't remember which magazine, maybe Coral, but if I remember correctly they are raising mandarin.

 

[Wind Seeker]

Jeff Turner from RAD inc designed and built the tank and system. Seems like he has a successful system given te growth and health of the inhabitants. Nice guy too.

 

[BuddhaKiss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15385745#post15385745 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishgeek12
I went there as well! Nice little reef tank but if you want to see a real one, come to New York and take a trip down to atlantis aquarium in long island! 20,000 gallon reef tank! I also went to the National Aquarium.... they should be ashamed of themselves! One of the most dirty aquarium i've ever seen!

I agree, but I believe they operate mostly through public donations, so I think that's the reason why it looks rather ghetto

 

[likwidglostix]

I've looked up the naso and that seems to be the type. All my captions are for the picture above, as they should be. Sorry for the confusion, it's my first post with pics. I don't even have any on here of my tank.

fishgeek, are you talking about the aquarium in Baltimore? I've been wanting to go to that one, but four hours for a bunch of dirty tanks doesn't seem worth it. If you're talking about the one in DC, my gf's dad grew up there and said it was crap. I've been to the New England Aquarium in Boston many times growing up, so I know what a public aquarium should be like. I'm hoping to get to Atlanta to check that one out.

macronut, I didn't see any mandarin in the tank, but that doesn't mean they're not in there. We stood in front of the tank for about ten minutes before I noticed the sixline. Same with the flame angel. My gf tried to get a pic, but he was too shy.

On a side note, anyone who does go should get to the National history museum next door. Even if you just go check out the "Star Spangled Banner" exhibit right off the mall entrance lobby. It's the actual flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the song. They don't allow photography, but after getting a bit choked up I think a photo just wouldn't be worth it.

 

[BuddhaKiss]

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is fairly decent, plus you get a dolphin show. The one is DC is pretty crappy, but its free

 

[jenglish]

THe Smithsonian had a great collection of coral skeleton's once