08.17.10
Last Friday, the Pier Aquarium lost 35 fish due to a ground fault interrupter which cut off air pumps to the 3 circular tube aquariums just within 15 minutes. Because the system is already 15 years old, there was no back up system designed and one could not be adapted to work with the installed system.
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Since alot of locals and tourists come by the Pier Aquarium to visit the variety of fish in the tank, they are trying to raise funds to replenish the tube display and make it as nice as it was. To make a donation to "The Tube Fish Fund," click here.
PRESS RELEASE
A ground fault interrupter (GFI) late Friday afternoon cut off the air pumps to the three circular “tube” aquariums located in The Pier’s first floor lobby. Within 15 minutes time, Butch Ringelspaugh, The Pier Aquarium’s Curator of Exhibits, faced the loss of about 35 fish.
“It happened very quickly,” Ringelspaugh said Tuesday. “When the GFI went out, the electricity was cut to the air pumps, which meant no air.”
No air meant that the three “tubes” literally shut down. By the time power was back on, it was too late for the big 20-ft. tall tube, which featured a mix of small brilliantly-colored Damselfish, Vlamingi Tangs (Naso vlamingi), Koran Angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus), Cinnamon Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus), Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) and 12-inch long Orbicular Batfish (Platax orbicularis).
“I know people will question why the back-up didn’t work and what we could’ve done,” he said. The original design for “the Tubes,” which are at least 15 years old, he explained, didn’t have a back-up system. Also, one couldn’t be adapted to work with the installed system.
The configuration of the tall circular tank provided more swimming space for bigger fish. Fish that grew too large for the tanks in the aquarium and other “showstoppers” were moved downstairs. The “showstoppers” were attention-getting fish that “would catch peoples’ eyes” as they walked past the aquarium display. Some staff favorites and “old-timers,” fish that had been at the aquarium of a while, resided in the “big tube.”
The loss of the animals weighs heavily on Ringelspaugh, who works on maintaining the equipment and set-up of the 17 aquariums with his aquarist staff. The replacement value of the fish is about $2,000.
The plans are to clean, flush and provide mechanical upgrades for the “big tube” during the next two weeks. The process to replace the fish will be a slow and careful one. That’s to ensure that animals introduced to the tank will be free of disease and compatible with each other.
“The loss of animals due to electrical problems is frustrating,” said Ringelspaugh. “I would have hoped to upgrade the tank with a new air pump system and not expend funds on animals.
“But, we love our fish. Our visitors love our fish,” he added. “We’ll have the tube display up and have it as nice as before, but it will take some time… and some money to do that.”
Persons who would like to help and make donations to “The Tube Fish Fund,” created specifically to pay for the exhibit, can go to: www.pieraquarium.org/tubefishfund. All supporters will receive a thank you certificate.
Photo courtesy of StPete.org
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