If a fish lives 4000 or even 1000-2000 meters underwater, how do aquariums simulate the pressure of that without having the exhibit be actually that deep? Or are the fish able to adapt to the lower pressure environments?
In: Biology
Until a 2012, there was no such thing. The Abyss Box in Brest (France) is, as far as I know, the only aquarium in the world designed to hold true deep sea marine life, at the pressures they are accustomed to 1,800 metres below the sea surface.
So how does the tank stay so pressurized? A system of pumps and valves maintains the pressure at the necessary 18 megapascals (180 atmospheres of pressure). High powered pumps push water into the tank, while steel encasings and valves keep the water inside. The glass of the one single 15 cm wide viewing window has to be 10 cm thick to withstand the immense pressure of the water inside. It only holds 16 litres of water.
Latest Answers