The staff at Mote Marine Laboratory are responsible for the maintenance of the custom built tank in Selby Library. Aquarium Facts Volume: 3,200 Gallons of salt water Weight: 10,000 pounds (empty) Dimensions: Arch-shaped structure, four feet wide, 12 feet tall, 16 feet long Material: Four-inch thick acrylic walls Maintenance: Closets on either side of the tank provide access to a stationary platform, suspended above the aquarium. There are three removable panels through which the fish are fed and the tank is cleaned. Mote Marine Aquarists perform the maintenance five days per week. Feeding: The fish are fed a variety of tasty morsels, including shrimp, squid, silversides, vegetables, seaweed and vitamins. Fish: Mote Marine aquarists selected over 20 types of tropical fish for their beauty, unique appearance, and nature; descriptions may be found in a notebook located at the youth desk. Aquarium History The Dee and Charles Stottlemyer Children’s Aquarium was installed at the entrance to the Youth Library on July 8, 1999. Tropical fish were introduced into the tank Aug. 16. The official dedication of the aquarium, “The Big Splash!,” was held on Oct. 23, with a community celebration in the library and Five Points Park. Design: The aquarium was designed by architects Gary Hoyt and Jeff Hole, with technical assistance from Kevin Curlee, Mote Aquarium Curator. Approval for the project was granted by the Sarasota County Commission, dependent upon private funding. This funding was subsequently provided by Dee and Charles Stottlemyer, as a gift to the children of Sarasota County.