My Atlantis Marine World Visit (A.K.A Dream reef)

[GlassMunky]

So this past weekend, I went to Long Island to visit a friend, and we headed out to visit Atlantis Marine World and check out their INSANE 20,000 Reef tank. After getting there, another friend of mine put me in touch with Joe, who runs the coral tank, and he came and met us and gave us a tour of the workings of the tanks. This tank is truely something to behold..... its sheer size alone is one thing, but the amount of coral colonies, just growing everywhere..... this is the closest thing ive seen to a mini ocean. And to be able to walk out over the tank on a platform is definatly a weird feeling, but a good one 2,240 Watts of MH lights durring the day.... and a 400W 20K as the "nightlight". hahaha. They also had an AWESOME 2,000 Gallon Nem tank that had more nems then i had ever seen in one place, and ones with discs wider than me..... Anyway, heres the pics, and a few videos (ignore the sound, its mainly the crowd noise).

First off heres the Nem tank

The BEAST, the 20,000 Gallon "tank"

 

[GlassMunky]

And my favorite, from above

 

[GlassMunky]

And lastly, a few shots of random tanks. Mantis, Non-Photosynthetic, Tube Nems

 

[PIMPALA]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jpsika08]

:drooool:

 

[jjmoneyman]

Wow amazing.

 

[GlassMunky]

2,240 Watts of MH lights durring the day.... and a 400W 20K as the "nightlight". hahaha.

wow, just realized i forgot a "0". that should read 22,400 Watts:dryer:

20 X 1000W 10-14K
6 X 400 W 20K "actinics"

400W "Nightlight" 20K

 

[DesertOrchid]

Nice photos and Great opportunity to catch the inner workings of that tank. I bet it makes you want a bigger tank eh?! LOL!! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Thanks for sharing ! Very Cool !

Bet that Parrot fish chows down on some of thier corals

 

[Robzilla]

I see the wheels inside Juan's head turning now....lol. Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[GlassMunky]

Nice photos and Great opportunity to catch the inner workings of that tank. I bet it makes you want a bigger tank eh?! LOL!! Thanks for sharing!!

I walked out of there compleatly speechless...... dumbfounded even, lol. and yea, I've been running out of space as is, and seeing this didnt help..... the only thing keeping me in controll is the fact that i'm not sure i could fit a bigger tank into my apartment.

Thanks for sharing ! Very Cool !

Bet that Parrot fish chows down on some of thier corals

Yea, he was nibbleing here and there. But he's colorfull enough, and has personality, so hes ok. plus its a HUGE tank, and he cant do MUCH damage. it was funny though to watch the some of the powder brown tangs chase his away when he came to close to "their" patch of algea.

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

I saw a special on them...

Parrotfish
Parrotfish are very brightly colored and have beaklike mouths made of “teeth” that are fused together. They are sometimes called the “cows of the sea” because they are grazers. In search of small plants called algae, parrotfish will eat the coral reef. The reef is digested and passes out of the parrotfish as sand. One parrotfish can create as much as 1,100 pounds of sand each year that ends up on tropical beaches around the world

 

[mbdave]

With the size of that tank one lovely parrot wontmake much of a dent. Did you see any file fish by chance such as the orange spot?

 

[GlassMunky]

dont think i saw any filefish..... my 2 favorite were the parrotfish, and then the male bird wrasse. Beautifull fish

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Parrotfish sure are pretty !

 

[jedi82knight]

wow, just realized i forgot a "0". that should read 22,400 Watts:dryer:

20 X 1000W 10-14K
6 X 400 W 20K "actinics"

400W "Nightlight" 20K

I would probly go into cardiac arrest just from seeing the monthly utilities bill. Nice pics GM, looks like a fun place

 

[tnwillia]

WOW! Looks like a great trip, thanks!

 

[soco]

Wow is all i can say. I have been to a quite a few big aquariums ( Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Charleston, Atlanta, New orleans) And been behind the scenes at a couple of them and this coral reef tank makes all of them look like no one at any of those places had any idea of what they were doing. lol That place is awesome i cannot wait to go there!!!!!

 

[Stretch]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[GlassMunky]

this tank is the largest living coral reef tank in the eastern hemisphere...... Atlanta just opened a larger display, but they dont have anywhere neer the amount of corals..... Joe was actually telling me that he helped them out by consulting on their setup., and also sends them out coral "frags" if thats what you can call them at that point haha