Sandy Seafloor Eelgrass Exhibit
Our Sandy Seafloor / Eelgrass exhibit is designed to replicate the shallow bays found off the coast of California where eelgrass is an important indicator species. Calm waters and sandy substrate provide an ideal habitat for flatfish, rays and skates. The eelgrass, small rocky outcroppings and occasional debris washed off the coast provides structure for other open water fish and a variety of invertebrates.
System Characteristics
The Rocky Reef is a 420-gallon exhibit that is part of a 3,000-gallon recirculating temperate system that connects many of our temperate-water exhibits. The water temperature is kept at approximately 63 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees C), a salinity of 35 ppt, a pH near 8.1 and has two airlines to increase dissolved oxygen concentrations. The temperate filtration system that this tank is a part of includes a central sump, a biomedia sump, a main and emergency chiller, a large protein skimmer, a fluidized sand filter, a Polygeyser bead filter, a UV sterilizer, a macroalgae reactor, a wet-dry trickle filter, filter socks and two cartridge filters that can house activated carbon, diatomaceous earth, granular ferric oxide, or nitrogen sponge media.
Species Profile
Eelgrass is a unique flowering plant that lives its entire life cycle underwater. It flourishes in two types of environments including shallow waters with sandy sediments and deep waters consisting of cold, muddy conditions. Shallow environments promote shorter leaf growth while deep waters promote longer leaf growth. The species provides various biological and ecosystem services such as sheltering juvenile fish, stabilizing shorelines, and improving water quality.
Water type: Temperate marine
Exhibit Size: 420 gallons