St. Lucie Aquarium Celebrates the
1-Year Anniversary of the Rebuilding of the Coral Reef Tank
A year ago this week, the Caribbean Coral Reef Exhibit at the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit inside the St Lucie County Aquarium re-opened, bigger and better than ever.
Aquarium-goers may remember that a leak in the tank shortly after Christmas 2017 caused the exhibit to be closed. Repairs were made to fix the leak, but the Smithsonian’s husbandry team at the aquarium also took the opportunity to make some needed improvements as well: The plumbing system in the tank was upgraded; scratches on the inside of the glass from years of use were buffed out; and the reef structure was expanded to create more habitat for reef inhabitants. Fast forward a year, and the exhibit is thriving. Fish spawn in the tank and all of the corals and fish have been growing, both signs of a healthy and thriving ecosystem. Stop by the Aquarium to check out the Caribbean Coral Reef Exhibit and see how far it has come.
Upcoming Events:
- Earth Day Beach Clean-Up event on Saturday, April 20, 2019 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Aquarium. We will be doing a beach clean-up at South Beach Causeway and Museum Pointe Park behind the aquarium. All clean-up supplies will be provided – all we need is you. Help keep our beaches clean and our Earth green. No registration necessary.
- There are still spots available for this year’s summer camps. Smithsonian summer camps are purposely kept small to create extraordinary learning opportunities for each camper. These weekly day camps feature field experiences, visits to other nature centers, crafts and much more. Camps for ages 6-16 are available depending on week. For more information on each camp and how to register, visit www.stlucieco.org/Aquarium.
The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit is located in the St. Lucie County Aquarium at 420 Seaway Drive on South Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce. The Smithsonian Marine Station has teamed with St. Lucie County and other community partners to create this unique educational facility. The Exhibit is an outreach effort of the Smithsonian Marine Station, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fixture in the Fort Pierce community for more than 45 years, the Marine Station is dedicated to understanding the character and diversity of the marine and estuarine habitats of Florida. For more information, visit www.stlucieco.gov/Aquarium.
