The smaller of two interconnected tanks, this aquarium was designed to house a diverse assortment of marine plants, including turtle grass as well as green, red, and brown algae. These marine algae are representatives of major phyla of organisms that are extremely important in marine ecosystems.
Organisms visible in photo:
Seagrass tank specifications:
Dimensions: 24" x 28" x 23" (l x w x h)
Lighting: One 400W 5500K metal halide bulb, plus two 28 W power-compact actinic bulbs.
Marine plants:
To most Midwesterners, the word "algae" conjures up images of pond scum and slippery green slime. In the ocean, however, there is a tremendous diversity of large "macroalgae" that are quite unlike the algae found in freshwater. Many of these macroalgae are very large, with complex forms rivaling the most intricate of land plants, but quite unlike anything found on land or in freshwater. From a Midwesterner's perspective they're like aliens from another planet! Students are often surprised when they learn that these strange and beautiful marine algae are in fact alive and not plastic aquarium decorations.
Turtle grass, the tall plants in the seagrass aquarium photo with the strap-like leaves, forms extensive beds in shallow tropical and subtropical coastal areas, including the shallow lagoons adjacent to coral reefs. While the vast majority of marine plants are actually algae (commonly referred to as "seaweeds"), seagrasses are unusual in that they are flowering vascular plants more closely related to the plants found on land or in freshwater habitats.