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December 12, 2002 — The Shedd Aquarium's new Wild Reef shark exhibit opens in less than four months and already things are starting to look a lot like the South Pacific. Some of the sharks have arrived on the scene and now the process of making 400,000 gallons of seawater is underway.
Just a quick glance at the Shedd Aquarium's loading dock tells you something unusual is going on here. Giant bags of something called instant ocean-- 46 bags of the stuff and each one weighs 2600 pounds. They are being used to turn fresh water into seawater.
"We are currently in the process of making 200 thousand gallons of synthetic seawater… for the new wild reef shark exhibit," said Brad Popovich, v.p. Shedd facility services.
The huge coral reef tank for the shark exhibit is already filling up and by Sunday they hope to have it filled to the brim with authentic seawater fit for hungry sharks. Speaking of the sharks-- many of them are backstage waiting for their move into their new home. But first all this manmade seawater cocktail has to be mixed with our Lake Michigan water.
"We have 200 thousand gallons of city of Chicago de-chlorinated water mixed with my 200 thousand gallons of synthetic seawater… the perfect mix just like it would be in the ocean," said said Brad Popovich.
From the 1930's to the 1970's the Shedd Aquarium used to bring their seawater up from Florida in a railroad car. But now modern technology has derailed that system.
A glass of plain old Chicago tap water and a saltshaker. Add the salt and you have saltwater. That's fine for dolphins and whales but Jaws needs the real stuff ... Seawater.
"The marine mammals like the whales and dolphins need saltwater for buoyancy. The Sharks, coral and fish need the real sea water so they can get the nutrients from that water to survive," said Brad Popovich.
So close to the real thing that when the sharks move in, they won't be baring their teeth. They'll be smiling.
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