San Francisco 200,000 gallon Philippine Reef

[rayray]

Just sharing some recent shots of the "Philippine Reef" at the California Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
IMO, this reef ecosystem display is the Best in the West! I try to get up there twice yearly, its soo nice.
http://video.calacademy.org/details/222

overhead view of the crescent-shaped reef crest (look at all those 1000 watt 10,000K and 14,000K metal halide lamps!)

shallow tidepool at the top

required giant clam display

nice anemonae hosting the appropriate clownfish for the region

overhead shot of the large mangrove on the reef shore

large mangroves doing their bio filtering job

212,000 gallon display tank

lots of fish!

center

left side

right side

 

[xthunderx]

Absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing RayRay. Great pics, love the giant clams.

Question, from the pics it looks like people could drop things right into the the tank. Is it as wide open as it looks? Just curious. I picture a kid with an ice-cream cone wanting to "feed the fish."

 

[pgr11]

Very Very cool!!! This is now on my must see list. Thanks for sharing

 

[El Dude]

Thanks for sharing. I had to do a double take on the first pic. It didn't occur how big it was till I noticed how small the mangrove leaves are!

 

[rayray]

yes the top is open. one could dive in & die, but there's a small army of academy workers keeping an eye out. the scale of this reef is so unbelivable, the first time I was just in awe for hours. it was ingeniously and meticulously thought out.

for freshwater tropical fish lovers, the academy also has an amazonia biosphere. its a giant hamsterball as wide as city block and 5 stories tall. you enter on the jungle floor and ascend the jungle levels via a spiral walkway with butterflies and amazon plants and animals all around you. when you get to the jungle canopy you're looking down at the lake with enourmous amazonian fish. then you take an elevator down BELOW the lake and look UP at fish that are larger than people.

plan to spend 8 hours for your first time. its very well done.

 

[Reef Bullet]

Wow! Thanks for sharing, rayray! Looks like an amazing place that I hope I'll get the opportunity to visit someday! As much as I LOVE saltwater, the amazonian biosphere sounds incredibly awesome!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[dorkymk3]

Nice Share! I would like to make a trip and see that tank in person.....

 

[evad1]

man i didnt even know that this was there
i go to the bay area once a year and this is on my list next time i go..

thanks RR

 

[jbaeza83]

Nice ill be in SF in two weeks! Is it open all day? Is there an entry fee?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[SchnitzelReef]

that is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Spinner]

Didn't know that was there..+1 for letting us know! Will see it next time i am in SF. That would be a fun place to work and learn

 

[rayray]

its open until 5pm most days. entrance fee is upto $30 per adult. There are free entrance days, for 2012 September 16 & December 9 are totally free. needless to say, im a member LOL.

the academy was reopened just a few years ago after a modernization project. before that it was still neat. in one if its wings, part of the year it displayed regional elementary school science fair project finalists. shhhh, my 7th grade project was there LOL:embarassed:

 

[Armen]

amazing thanks for sharing

 

[solitude127]

Looks like a great place to visit.

 

[rainbowclownfish]

Truely awesome! Im going up that way in Jan. Hopefully I can check it out. Thanks for sharing