world’s ten BEST public aquariums?

Acolin · #1 12/13/2004, 08:49 PM

OK, New England & Tennessee sure, Monterey Bay of course, Japanâ€™s Ring of Fire, but what are the worldâ€™s ten BEST public aquariums?

Jamesurq · #2 12/14/2004, 12:16 AM

who knows.... I had fun at the Shed in Chicago. I guess you'd need to know what exactly you're looking for: IE: biggest, most water, most corals, most sharks, etc...

chipmunk · #3 12/14/2004, 01:16 AM

L'OceanogrÃ*fic in Valencia, Spain. 11 million gallons of salt water.

scubadude · #4 12/14/2004, 07:24 AM

Havent seen them all yet but Im really impressed with the Waikiki aquarium and the new coral system @ Seaworld in Orlando.

Acolin · #5 12/14/2004, 07:43 AM

wow, thanks for the great pics, excellent choice, what new coral system?

Misfit6669 · #6 12/14/2004, 09:56 AM

I went to Birch Aquarium at Scripps the last time I was in San Diego. That was a couple of years ago and before I got into salt water aquariums. I loved the place but I wish I knew then what I know now, might have been able to enjoy even more of it.
Brian

rustang · #7 12/14/2004, 11:06 AM

Tampa Bay Aquarium is pretty nice. I am a member at Shedd, I have been there so many times it is not interesting anymore... I am going to be in the Keys for xmas, we may shoot up into Miami and check out their Aquarium.

Acolin · #8 12/14/2004, 11:45 AM

kinda small but cute, nice shows, do a lot with a little, don't miss shark feedings

Choson1 · #9 12/14/2004, 02:22 PM

I checked out Shedd Aquarium in Chicago last week. Was more impressed with their freshwater stuff than saltwater (cuz they barely had saltwater stuff). They have this one huge tank right in the middle of the museum full of saltwater fish...but all the corals in there were plastic fakes.

Jamesurq · #10 12/14/2004, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Choson1
I checked out Shedd Aquarium in Chicago last week. Was more impressed with their freshwater stuff than saltwater (cuz they barely had saltwater stuff). They have this one huge tank right in the middle of the museum full of saltwater fish...but all the corals in there were plastic fakes.

huh? Did you not go downstairs in the elevator???

zrograviti · #11 12/15/2004, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chipmunk
L'OceanogrÃ*fic in Valencia, Spain. 11 million gallons of salt water.

Holly Molly!!! that's crazy.
Now I have to save money to travel to Spain.

clavery · #12 12/15/2004, 06:46 AM

Can't comment on the best, as I haven't seen many, but we were in DC on vacation recently and went to the National Aquarium. It was terrible. Only exhibit we went to that charged, the tanks were filthy and the fish looked miserable. Corals, when they had any, were dying. we wanted to bring them all home with us to take care of them properly.

What a pity!!! But it might be great job opportunity for someone who lives down there!

cheryl

jdieck · #13 12/15/2004, 06:47 AM

I will drop the Singapore aquarium in.

amcarrig · #14 12/15/2004, 09:03 AM

I visited Ripley's in SC last year and thought it was pretty cool

http://www.ripleysaquarium.com

alphaferret · #15 12/15/2004, 01:50 PM

have not been to any other- but boston has a great aq. and the town aint bad neither

Gawain1974 · #16 12/15/2004, 02:08 PM

The downstairs coral exhibits at the Shedd aren't too bad. I suppose you have to use fake corals in the truly huge exhibits because it'd be impossible to light them properly. The public aquarium in Nancy, France is pretty awesome, but it's been years since I've been to it, so I don't know if I'd count it in the world's top ten. I'm so mad...when I was in Valencia I didn't make it to that aquarium...didn't have enough time :-( In Houston, there's
The Aquarium Downtown, it's actually a restaurant, and the corals are fake, but it's truly an amazingly huge aquarium. Patrons sit around the tank walls that run two stories high. I felt almost guilty for eating all the yummy seafood with their compatriots looking on. But hey, I suppose that's some way to deal with a problematic fish...if it acts up, it's tonight's special! I wonder if it acts as a deterrent? lol

Bullredchaser · #17 12/15/2004, 02:43 PM

Scubadude are you refering to the tanks that are set up at the exit of the Atlantis ride at Sea World if so I concur.Now I think in the main aqaurium section they can do much better with the reef set ups.Honorable mention should go to the Aquarium of Americas in New Orleans,very nice!

Scuba Dog · #18 12/15/2004, 03:14 PM

I dont know about the worlds top 10...but the top three that I have had the fortune to visit in the states is ..

1. monterybay
2. the aquarium of the americas in New Orleans
3. Moody Gardens in Gavelston Texas

Have been to some smaller aquariums that are worth a vist if your in the area ...the one in the west end of Dallace its pretty cool...there is a little one at the Houston zoo...and one in corpus christe...

alwayswanted to check out the one in frisco the stienheart...but just havent made it a priority

Long beach is supose to have a real nice one....

I think its either boston or baltamore that has a nice one,...Im just not real familier with the North East part of the country....

The only world renound one that stands out is the one in japan that has the two whale sharks..!

fish_taste_good · #19 12/15/2004, 04:09 PM

i like tampa's, mainly because i live here.

I have been to MBA in Cali and i must say, it is wonderful.

greenfroggiespawn · #20 12/15/2004, 09:07 PM

MORE PICS !!! please

chipmunk · #21 12/16/2004, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by greenfroggiespawn
MORE PICS !!! please

Since you asked, here are some of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, another great place, I'm a member and visit often.

Outer Bay Exhibit

Jellies

Great White Shark

Kelp Forrest

jun41 · #22 12/16/2004, 02:05 AM

I might be heading down to monterey on monday during vacation. I can't wait to see that shark.

Don't forget this place. http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...osaka+aquarium

tacocat · #23 12/16/2004, 02:16 AM

I've been to shedd (great FW), Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach (great reef setups), but our local club just returned from an awesome behind the scenes tour at Monterey Bay.

Behind the Jelly Tanks

Feeding the Mackerel

Feeding the Outer Bay Tank

Scuba Dog · #24 12/16/2004, 06:26 AM

Monterey is hard to beat....just the drive alone down Hiway 1 is breathtaking....then spending an afternoon checking out the aquarium....then head over to Bubba Gumps for the Bucket of Boat trash, miniture fried lobster tails and shrimp and fries, and wash It down with a few glasses of carmel wheat micro brew! Done that a few times over the years a day that I love to repeat whenever possible...and hey if Im fortunate enough to have time, Ill grab up some bubble time and get a dive or two in....nothing like seeing the kelp forrest up close and personal, being actually in it!

cloudjockey · #25 12/16/2004, 07:01 AM

I can only say the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is a waste of time. I waited about 45 min in line to see the "brand new reef section". Most of the fish there can be found at a LFS and all the corals were plastic.