The Tank Holds 6.3 Million Gallons of Saltwater

The Georgia Aquarium's main tank, called the Ocean Voyager, is 6.3 million gallons in total capacity. That makes it the largest aquarium tank in the world by volume. The tank is 100 feet long, 78 feet wide, and 30 feet deep at its deepest point. To put that in perspective, the tank could hold 9,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water.

The Ocean Voyager is home to the aquarium's two whale sharks, Trixie and Tardar, along with thousands of other fish species. The tank's size allows these massive animals room to swim naturally. Whale sharks can grow to 40 feet or longer in the wild, and the tank's dimensions give them adequate space for their size and behavior patterns.

Key Takeaways

  • The Ocean Voyager tank holds 6.3 million gallons of saltwater, making it the largest aquarium tank in the world.
  • The tank measures 100 feet long, 78 feet wide, and 30 feet deep, providing ample space for whale sharks and other large marine animals.
  • The tank's construction required 18 months to build and used 63 acrylic panels for viewing windows.
  • The aquarium maintains the tank's water temperature, salinity, and filtration continuously to keep the environment stable for all species inside.

How the Tank Compares to Other Large Aquariums

The Ocean Voyager is significantly larger than most other public aquarium tanks. The second-largest tank in North America is the Monterey Bay Aquarium's kelp forest tank, which holds 335,000 gallons—roughly 19 times smaller than the Georgia Aquarium's main tank. Even tanks designed for large animals like dolphins or beluga whales typically hold between 500,000 and 2 million gallons.

The sheer size of the Ocean Voyager was intentional. When the Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005, designers specifically built it to house whale sharks, which are the world's largest fish. The tank's volume allows multiple large species to coexist without crowding, which is important for their health and natural behavior.

The Tank's Construction and Materials

Building a tank this large required specialized engineering. The Ocean Voyager's viewing windows are made from 63 separate acrylic panels. The largest panel measures 24 feet wide, 18 feet tall, and 2 feet thick. Acrylic was chosen over glass because it is lighter, more durable, and allows for larger single panes without the structural problems that would come with glass of that size.

The tank's construction took 18 months to complete. The structure had to support the weight of 6.3 million gallons of water—roughly 52 million pounds—plus the animals inside. The walls and floor are reinforced concrete, and the entire system includes backup power, filtration, and life support systems that run continuously.

Water Filtration and Maintenance

Keeping 6.3 million gallons clean and safe requires constant work. The aquarium uses a multi-stage filtration system that processes water continuously. The system removes waste, maintains proper salinity levels (the water is saltwater, matching the ocean environment), and keeps the temperature stable at around 76 degrees Fahrenheit, which is appropriate for whale sharks and tropical fish species.

The filtration system can process the entire tank's volume multiple times per day. Staff members monitor water chemistry constantly and make adjustments as needed. The aquarium also has backup systems in case the primary filtration fails, because any interruption in water quality could harm the animals inside.

What Lives in the Ocean Voyager Besides Whale Sharks

The whale sharks are the main attraction, but the Ocean Voyager is home to thousands of other animals. The tank contains manta rays, sea turtles, groupers, jacks, and many species of smaller fish. The variety of species means the filtration and life support systems must maintain conditions suitable for tropical and subtropical marine life.

The aquarium carefully manages which species live together. Some fish are natural predators of others, so placement and feeding schedules are planned to prevent conflicts. The large size of the tank helps reduce stress on all the animals by giving them room to establish territories and avoid each other when needed.

Viewing the Tank from Different Angles

The Ocean Voyager is designed so visitors can see into the tank from multiple levels and angles. The main viewing area features the large acrylic panels that allow face-to-face viewing of the whale sharks and other large animals. There are also underwater viewing tunnels where visitors can look up and around at the animals swimming overhead.

The different viewing angles help visitors understand the scale of the tank and the animals inside. From certain vantage points, you can see how much space the whale sharks actually have to move, and how the other fish navigate around them. The design makes the tank feel less like an enclosed space and more like a window into an actual ocean environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 6.3 million gallons big enough for whale sharks?

The Ocean Voyager is larger than most whale shark habitats in captivity, but whale sharks in the wild swim across entire ocean basins. The tank provides adequate space for the animals' basic needs and allows natural swimming behavior, though it is smaller than their natural range. The aquarium's size was a deliberate choice to make whale shark viewing possible for the public.

How often do they change the water in the tank?

The aquarium does not drain and refill the entire tank regularly. Instead, the filtration system continuously processes and recycles the water. This approach is more practical for a tank this size and better for the animals, since a complete water change would disrupt their environment. The system removes waste and maintains water quality without emptying the tank.

Can you see the whale sharks from outside the aquarium?

No, the Ocean Voyager is indoors. The tank is housed within the Georgia Aquarium building, so you must enter the facility to view it. The indoor location helps the aquarium control water temperature, lighting, and other environmental factors that keep the animals healthy.

How deep is the whale shark tank?

The tank is 30 feet deep at its deepest point. This depth allows whale sharks to dive and swim vertically, which is part of their natural behavior. The depth also provides space for other species that prefer deeper water and helps create different zones within the tank for different types of animals.