In October, we shared Part one of this article, which covered the science behind the creation of Instant Ocean Sea Salt, as well as insight into their manufacturing operation. We conclude with a look at how Instant Ocean works with some of the largest aquariums around.
Whether they reside in 50 or 500,000 gallon aquariums, marine life require quality product that offers them consistent, healthy conditions. The number one characteristic that those in charge of larger, public aquariums look for is consistency in product. They want to understand that the batch of Instant Ocean they receive today will be the same a year from now, or more, as the animals in their charge have very little tolerance for change, even with the most minor trace element.
In fact, Instant Ocean is the world’s most widely used aquarium salt not only at home but also trusted in 75 zoos, aquariums and marine adventure parks, such as: Sea World, Orlando; John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago; Wonders of Wildlife Museum, Springfield, IL; Columbus Zoo’s Discovery Reef, OH; Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta (The World’s Largest Aquarium); The Dallas World Aquarium, TX; Underwater Adventure in the Mall of America, Bloomington, MN; Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas; and many others.
Today, fewer and fewer aquariums have the ability to pump water directly from the ocean, which must still be filtered before use. And, while some still mix their own onsite, others value the consistency of working with manufacturers like Instant Ocean, along with the fact they do not have to store the necessary ingredients and equipment on their own properties.
Surprisingly, changing the water at large aquariums is much the same process as found in the home, just on a super-sized scale. The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, for instance, has over 750,000 gallons of aquariums. They may perform a monthly water change of 25%, just as most home enthusiasts would do. The aquarium dwellers, including mammals, never leave their environs. Through an elaborate system of brass valves that pump in the new mix while removing the old, a water change can be accomplished in less than one hour. Seeing the operation onsite and at scale showcases a process that is both efficient and impressive.
For over 40 years, the goal of Instant Ocean has been to produce a synthetic sea salt that mimics natural seawater, while providing optimal environments for all marine life. From the start, Instant Ocean was developed and improved upon by devoted scientists and aquarists who have a true passion for the hobby. That remains standard practice at Instant Ocean today and can be seen through its overall product consistency, dedication to innovative manufacturing processes and understanding of aquariums both small and large.
by Stan Owens, Division Vice President; Greg Valatka, Director of Operations; Melissa Wright, Quality Engineer, Chemical Products, all from United Pet Group