We recently hosted a Behind the Scenes tour for Solemates members, with 75 members (adults and children) enjoying a unique tour of the Aquarium with our staff members Vince Calder, Douw Steyn and Nic Nicholle.
Douw started his tour at the filter room, the heart of the Aquarium. Here members heard how the seawater is obtained from the Quay Four slipway area, traveling through underground pipes and filtered in the process, until it reaches the Aquarium. The water undergoes further stringent filtration before being distributed to the various displays in the building. Did you know that 10% of the water in the Aquarium is changed every day? And that we filter the water before returning it to the ocean again?
Nic, one of our aquarists, led his group through the kitchen, where members had a hands-on experience of watching and touching the food being prepared for the day’s fish feeding. The cold store held many treasures, from frozen squid to bird food, all in readiness for the week ahead.
He also took members to the jelly laboratory, where they discovered more about these mystical creatures. The moon jellyfish and upside-down jellyfish at the Aquarium are mostly “born” through a process called strobilation – the water temperature is dropped and this causes the parent jelly to divide asexually, forming separate miniature jellies with the same DNA. Absolutely fascinating!
Members continued on their tour to view places such as the engineering plant room, our classrooms and the boat room. Vincent, one of our technical managers, took his group to the quarantine area, showing and explaining how fish are introduced into their displays. When any sea creature is ill, it is transferred to quarantine where our aquarists care for it until it can be returned to the display. Animals in transit from one display to another are also in quarantine until their new homes are complete.
Members also got to see the juvenile turtles being fed. These turtles were found by members of the public, washed up on beaches, as they were adrift in cross currents. These turtles live in warm waters and cannot survive in our cold environment of the Cape. We rehabilitate them and once they are healed, transfer them to fishing boats going up the east coast who will release them in warmer waters.
Member feedback
This is what some members had to say about the tour:
I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the tour. Douw, our guide, was fantastic, we learnt so much and it was really interesting. Thank you once again for this unique opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes.
Nicola Shepstone
Myself and Vince had such a lovely time at the behind the scenes tour! Thank you for showing us the baby rescue turtles, they were definitely a highlight for me! Thank you so much.
Kate Ferguson
We’ll never take anything for granted any more and realise how lucky we are to have this wonderful facility right on our doorstep. I have been bringing Jessica, our granddaughter, regularly since she was 3 and now at 7 she still asks to visit regularly – in fact, it is top of her list. She just loved the experience of seeing behind the tanks and looking down from above on the sharks.
Sheelagh and Mitch Brown
We are regulars at the Aquarium, and it was very informative to learn what happens behind the scenes, where the water comes from, where it is filtered, etc. I got very motivated about doing a course at the Aquarium to become a volunteer one day ...
Georgia Schafer
12/10 for this event! The service was brilliant and the guide very informative. This event is very good value. People booking for this event care about the ocean, fish, etc. and would gladly pay more. We enjoyed most seeing the quarantine area and the little turtles that washed up.
Jacques Breytenbach
Become a member and enjoy a boatload of benefits
The Behind the Scenes Tour is available for events we host for our members throughout the year. Sign up now!
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