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View Full Version : Where are the best public Aquariums in the US w/ Reef Exhibits?

smleee
03/31/2006, 01:55 PM
I'm looking for the cities with the most spectacular Reef exhibits in the US. . . (or saltwater fish exhibits)

Please post location, any photos, & aqaurium website if applicable!

Thanks!


:D
30mini
03/31/2006, 02:01 PM
Newport Aquarium in Norther Kentucky/Cincinnati Ohio

http://www.newportaquarium.com/
mbbuna
03/31/2006, 02:13 PM
http://www.atlantismarineworld.com/
Chelsey
03/31/2006, 02:22 PM
I'm fond of Waikiki Aquarium :) It's not in the continental US, but it's pretty cool! Another favorite is the Baltimore aquarium. I haven't been to that one in a long time but I liked it when I was there!
smleee
03/31/2006, 02:29 PM
thanks for the feedback everyone!

I'm going to try to make a point to visit some of your suggestions! I'd visit them all if I had the time!

:D

sml (Shannon)
Mariner
03/31/2006, 02:34 PM
The new Atlanta Aquarium is supposed to be awesome --haven't seen it yet, but I've heard that the curator used to be over the Waikiki Aquarium.
I have seen the Tennessee Aquarium (Chatanooga) and the Ripley's Aquarium (Gatlinburg, TN) which are both very nice but may not be THE NICEST in the country.
FWIW,
Lordhelmet
03/31/2006, 02:34 PM
the monterey bay aquarium soesn't have the best tropical reef display, you really see better at any lfs. but it is one of the best aquariums in the world.

http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/cam_menu.asp
Mariner
03/31/2006, 02:36 PM
Oh, here's a link (http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/). It's called the Georgia Aquarium.
Mariner
phlipper84
03/31/2006, 02:39 PM
It seems that many times the aquariums have beautiful fish, but do not have the time to handle more than one reef display. I often think that I might spend more time messing with my reef tank than they do theirs.
kclewis
03/31/2006, 02:54 PM
shedd in chicago. non reef exibit - the indianapolis zoo has an awesome sea horse exibit.
smleee
03/31/2006, 04:29 PM
Very cool! Marine tank suggestions are welcome too!

I've been to the aquariums in CA, since that's where I'm from (Long Beach & Monterey) My husband is from Boise & sadly we don't have a public aquarium here, but we have GARF!

MY favorite aquarium so far is the Long Beach Aquarium, but then again I haven't seen a lot of Marine displays.

Also, totally agree with the time spent on public displays. That's why you'll find fake corals :D can't fool us right?
Nathan
03/31/2006, 04:59 PM
Atlantis Marine World in Long Island, New York.

They have an absolutely massive reef tank!

http://www.atlantismarineworld.com

Here is a shot from their tank:

http://www.atlantismarineworld.com/img/coral.jpg

-Nathan
cj7jeep81
03/31/2006, 05:01 PM
I wasn't too impressed with the Newport Aquarium, but its been a couple years since I was there, so maybe it changed. The Ocean Journey aquarium in Denver was pretty cool
raynist
03/31/2006, 05:03 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7083874#post7083874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nathan
Atlantis Marine World in Long Island, New York.

They have an absolutely massive reef tank!

http://www.atlantismarineworld.com

Here is a shot from their tank:

http://www.atlantismarineworld.com/img/coral.jpg

-Nathan

A very respected person in the industry told me that for reefs, the atlantis marineworld aq is the best.

The TN aq had no real coral at all. I have heard that the Atlanta/GA aquarium doesn't have a lot of live coral at this point.
todd2000
03/31/2006, 06:55 PM
The only Aquariums I've been to worht mentioning are the Mystic Aquarium in CT, http://www.adventureaquarium.com/ and The NJ State Aquarium (Now called Adventure Aquarium) In Camden, NJ, http://www.adventureaquarium.com/ . I don't really remember the NJ one, but the Mystic one is nice, if I recall their reef display was very nice, and the Belugas are very cute LOL :)
jjwarfly
03/31/2006, 06:59 PM
The shed Aquarium in Chicago was awesome. http://www.sheddaquarium.org/
huggett
03/31/2006, 07:18 PM
I agree.......Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is pretty cool. I was there a couple weeks ago. The traffic will keep me from ever going back, though. I'm used to driving in traffic, but holy crap Chicago was ridiculous!
tom obrecht
03/31/2006, 07:18 PM
Here's a few pics of the Henry Doorley Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. Have some really nice exhibits. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=811869
saltym3
03/31/2006, 08:15 PM
Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco.. 700,000 gallon walk through tank. Its unbeliable. Took some pictures when I was there last year.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/dsheir/DSCN2550_resize.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/dsheir/DSCN2549_resize.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/dsheir/DSCN2557_resize.jpg
Nathan
03/31/2006, 08:56 PM
saltm3,

NICE!

(although it's not a REEF, but hey, it's still kick A$$!)

-Nathan
Nathan
03/31/2006, 08:58 PM
By the way, I believe that the Atlantis Marine World tank is 20,000 gallons! It's something like the largest reef tank in USA and the 3rd largest worldwide. Something like that... :)

-Nathan
whiteshark
03/31/2006, 09:32 PM
Could you imagine if this was a reef tank?!?!?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8952&page=1&pp=10

:eek1: :eek2: :eek1:
Billy1234
03/31/2006, 10:40 PM
Here are some more pictures from the Atlantis reef tank. I think it's 20,000 gallons. I was there for NERAC and couldn't help but take a lot of pictures ;) Some are not the best pictures though.. I'm not a very good photographer, but here goes:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures002.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures004.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures039.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures059.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures001.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures040.jpg
Billy1234
03/31/2006, 10:40 PM
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures041.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures042.jpg

The left half of the tank (there is a divider in the middle)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures036.jpg

The right half:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures006.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures005.jpg

This one is a picture of the halides they use to light it:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures047.jpg
Billy1234
03/31/2006, 10:42 PM
These next two are from the 200,000 gallon (I think) shark tank.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures023.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures026.jpg

For size perspective, note the little girl's hands, and the woman in the reflection.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/Farinon/NERACIIPictures024.jpg

Hope you enjoyed the pictures :)
Sk8r
03/31/2006, 11:22 PM
Seattle, Boston, Baltimore, San Francisco, Atlanta, Monterrey Bay, Disney Florida, are some of my favorites and I've always wanted to see the one at Atlantis Resort.
dogstar74
04/01/2006, 12:13 AM
May I second the Henry Dorely Zoo in Omaha Neb. Really, it's quite a nice exhibit compared to all the other ones I've been to. It beat the crap out of the Monterey bay aquarium,(which really doesn't have a reef tank at all.) It also beat out anything in Minnesota that I saw. It's probably the only reason in fact to stop along I80 in nebraska. Oh except to make a pit stop:)