aquarium

Animal Applications
Marine and zoological exhibits have always presented watershapers with a variety of specific technical challenges, not the least of which is devising a waterproofing system that will keep these vessels watertight, the viewing areas dry and the animal life safe.  Here, Michael Mudrick and Elena Danke of Aquafin discuss a variety of lessons to be learned in pursuing these projects – and how they apply to other watershapes as well. Designing, engineering and installing watershapes for zoological and aquarium applications is never a casual exercise, especially when it comes to waterproofing.   Not only do you have to find a product or combination of products that can accommodate various structural penetrations, adhere to all of the materials being used and, quite often, conform to irregularly shaped surfaces:  Whatever material or system you select must also
An Elevated Thrill: Nate Reynolds’ Platinum Standard Project
In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping…
Playful Paradise: Steve Kaiser’s Platinum Standard Project
Watershaping advanced by leaps and bounds from 1999 through 2004 – a journey of artistry…
Helping Habitats
It was a rainy Wednesday morning in January when I first toured the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.  I was on hand to inspect the recent installation of a pair of our horizontal sand filters for the facility's marine-mammal pool and see just how well the pool-filtration products were faring in this somewhat unusual (but not unheard of) application.   Located on Island Estates in Clearwater, Fla., the aquarium was bustling with activity from the moment the doors opened at 9 a.m.  On this day, a group of pre-school children had arrived to see the aquarium's newest dolphin, Presley, and his friend, Panama.  The staff also explained to me that the aquarium, like other indoor attractions, is always busier when the rain falls.  I joined right in with the crowd, fascinated by everything I was seeing. My guide, the aquarium's director of life support and marine facilities, Bill Meier, led me to the marine mammal pool - currently home to Presley and Panama but with the capacity to hold several more.  This was the vessel on which my company, Pentair Pool Products of Sanford, N.C., had installed the sand filters.  As I watched the children's faces as they in turn watched the dolphins, I began to realize that we were