Construction on Sea Life Orlando Aquarium at the I-Drive 360 complex took a big step Tuesday as aquarists started filling the tank with water.
Sea Life Orlando Aquarium said it will take two days to fill the Aquarium’s Atlantic Ocean habitat with 192,000 gallons of water.
Once filled, the water will go through a customized filtration system where salt will be added. Afterward, the salt water becomes acclimated to safely hold the aquarium’s sea animals will begin to arrive in the coming months.
Sea Life Orlando Aquarium is part of Merlin Entertainments new I-Drive 360 complex that also includes the Orlando Eye, a 400-foot-tall observation wheel and Madame Tussauds wax figure museum.
All three attractions will open May 4.
Sea Life Orlando Aquarium shared these fun facts:
- 45,000 pounds of sand have been placed inside the aquariums
- More than 90,000 pounds of salt will be used to create the saltwater
- SEA LIFE Orlando will have temperate habitats which will help create a more diverse ecosystem to house colorful and vibrant animals
- The 360-degree tunnel, weighs eight tons and has a buoyancy of 60,000 pounds lifting it like a bubble
- The animals that will call SEA LIFE Orlando home include: Sand Bar sharks, Pacific Black Tip sharks, Grey Reef sharks and Bowmouth Guitarfish sharks
- The aquarium’s windows are approximately four inches thick
- More than 40,000 gallons of water are held in an underground reservoir beneath the aquarium