Marine Biology Aquarium Lab photos

Hawaiian Tank

01 Dec 2000 - The Hawaii tank is set up and awaiting life. A few pieces of live rock have been added.

05 Dec 2000 - 30 lbs of live rock from Fiji has been added. Other than the live rock, all specimens added to the tank will be species that occur in Hawaii. However, Hawaii prohibits the collection of live rock in order to protect its reefs.

28 Dec 2000 - A yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavencens), named "Old Yeller" has been donated to the tank. This species is abundant in Hawaiian waters.

At left, 12 Jan 2001 - Two coral polyps on the live rock. Center, 17 Jan 2001 - A new arrival, Lysmata amboinensis the Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, tends a case of Tang Turbellarian disease (Paravortex sp.) on Old Yeller. The disease is caused by parasitic flatworms, which the shrimp clean off of the fish. The infection cleared up over the next couple of weeks and has not recurred.

17 Jan 2001 - Hawaiian eyespot shrimp, Saron neglectus (center), Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp (upper left), and Yellow tang (lower right)

Installation of the coldwater lab

December 2000 - Some supplies and one tank are in place. We are awaiting purchase of the larger tanks. Plumbing for the 45-gal tank is being installed below the shelves.

15 Feb 2001 - The system is up and running, including a 150-gal octopus tank, 100-gal sump are in place, and the 45-gal tank. Lids, built by Rachael Theile, have been installed on the large tanks; and the 3/4 HP chiller may be seen behind these. Note the signs of life in the 45-gal tank. This tank is holding the teaching collection for the course Invertebrate Zoology.

10 Feb 2001 - The lab was designed and installed with student assistance. Here, lab assistant Rachael Theile puts insulation on the 150-gal tank. This tank is intended to hold a Giant Pacific Octopus for feeding studies.

May-Aug 2001 - Our first Cephalopod resident in the North Pacific (cold water) tanks was Bob, a Sepiolid (bob-tailed or stubby) squid (Rossia pacifica; more info). These squids are generally short-lived. Bob was mostly nocturnal, hiding during the day under the gravel, and roaming the tank at night in search of his main food, small shrimp. This tank now houses our second Cephalopod, Ocho, the Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini). Ocho weighed eighty grams when captured in September 2001.

We thank the At-Sea Processor's Association and Alaska Garden & Pet Supply for their generous contributions to the development of this lab.