Guest: David Gross, Director Via Aquarium celebrates aquatic biodiversity through exhibit experiences and public programs designed to connect people with the world of water.
March 29, 2016, 18th Year – Show #926, Filmed at Open Stage Media, Proctors, Schenectady
We hope that the aquarium will be completed in June, but these things are complicated to build. We have a lot still to do. Here is what is currently planned, but subject to change due to availability of species. The aquarium will continue to add new species over the coming years.
38 Exhibits; 78,000 total gallons of water, 50,000 gallons of saltwater.
Freshwater: Trout, Lake Malawi, Asian Rivers (Chao Phraya River), Hudson/Mohawk River, Amazon River. Piranha, Electric eel.
Marine: Fiji Pacific Coral Reef, North Atlantic, California Kelp Forest, Sea of Cortez, Caribbean Coral Reef, Australia Great Barrier Reef. Seahorses, Clownfish, Eels, Lionfish, Jawfish. Live Corals, Octopus, Cuttlefish.
Deep Water; Flashlight Fish, Pineconefish, Anglerfish, Nautilus.
There are three touch tanks; stingrays, koi, and invertebrates like horseshoe crabs, whelks, sea stars and club urchins.
There are 2 tunnel tanks that are 23’ long x 21’ wide with a 5’ diameter half cylinder overhead. We plan to have some cool interactive tech exhibits too.
From the Albany Business Journal: The aquarium will be significantly smaller than the National Aquarium in Baltimore or the New England Aquarium in Boston, but comparable to Merlin Sea Life Aquariums that are being built around the country by a British firm.
Gross grew up in Chicago and has had a long career in the marine sciences. He was part of the team that opened the National Aquarium in 1981, served as corporate curator for the Rainforest Cafe chain, and was curator at The Wild Center when it opened in Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks in 2006.
“I like the challenge of opening new aquariums,” he said. “At the moment I know of only two active projects. This one, and OdySea in Arizona. Opportunities to open aquariums don’t come up very often.”
Organization: Via Aquarium
Event: Grand Opening
Location of event: ViaPort Rotterdam Mall at 93 W. Campbell Rd, Schenectady 12306
Date/Time: TBA — July
Cost: Adult (age 18 – 64) – $16; Youth (age 4 – 17) – $10; Senior (age 65+) – $14; and Annual Pass: Single $40, Dual $70, Family $100
Contact Information: [email protected] or 518-280-5100
Facebook: Yes. “Via Aquarium”
Website: www.ViaPortRotterdam.com
