Waikiki Aquarium

I was interested in measuring temporal variation of DIN concentrations and their nitrogen stable isotope signatures in pumped-up well water and effluent water at Waikiki Aquarium. Those data will give us information about primary diagenesis in coral reef sediments and nitrogen dynamics in coral reef ecosystem. Then I asked Zac, who is PD researcher at Zoology Dept., to guide Aquarium and introduce me to responsible persons. Thanks to his supports, I finally could have time to talk with “director” Andy, “curator” Jerry and other workers Charles and Mike.

Zac’s experiment tanks in backyard
(Click following blue colored Japanese phrase, to jump next page)

Because the seawater to use for aquarium was acquired from the sediment at 14 or 15 m depth, but from water column, the water containing much nutrients and less organic matters is advantage for using at aquarium (Atkinson et al. 1995 Coral Reefs). Besides, most of the used water does not go to ocean, but sewage disposal. Do you have any idea, why they dump it in sewage disposal? Is it because it includes much nutrients and bacteria, which have potential to affect natural ecosystem? Nope. It is rather in terms of preserving natural species composition in local sea from being disturbed by other alien species (e.g., from Fiji, Samoa etc.), which were shown in aquarium. This information is worth, since we can not get them when we walk around inside the aquarium just as tourist.

This is "protein skimmer" When I found this word in paper, I could not imagine what this is. This is system to get rid of dissolved organic matter and ammonium in seawater at aquarium.