KML's Sea Water Tanks

KML's newly-renovated seawater tank farm is once again ready for education groups and researchers! Coarsely filtered seawater is drawn from the lagoon in front of the wetlab seawall... ...into a holding pond (formerly Shallows 4). Seawater is pulled from the holding pond to fill our various tanks. Over-flow from the holding pond runs directly to the large 220,000 gallon capacity Shallows (formerly Shallows 5) which has an average depth of 32".

We monitor water quality (temp, DO, salinity) daily from 4 locations around the lab: our marina basin, near-shore Florida Bay off our outer seawall, the lagoon near our intake point, and the Shallows. Dissolved oxygen readings in the Shallows have been consistently between 60% and 85% throughout the winter, in spite of dense mats of rack along the seawall.

Phase I of KML's seawater system offers a variety of tanks and wet tables with water flow rates ranging from 300 gal. per hr. to 600 gal. per hr. Water levels in the tanks and tables can be adjusted by variable stand-pipes.

Tanks and tables under lattice shade structure:

A total of 6 wet tables (23"W x 6'L) - 3 outside and 3 under the Wet Lab Pavilion, maximum water depth 8", approx. 60 gal. capacity; ideal for smaller specimens and student group observations

A total of 6 fiberglass tanks (foreground, 26"W x 4'L), maximum water depth 12"; approx. 75 gal. capacity
Two 6' diam. round fiberglass tanks (upper left), maximum water depth 24"; approx. 350 gal capacity
One 8' diam. round fiberglass tank (upper right), maximum water depth 36"; approx. 1100 gal. capacity


4 black livestock tanks (3'W x 5'L), maximum water depth 18"; approx. 1300 gal. capacity
Two 8' diam round tanks, maximum water depth 18", approx. 530 gal. capacity

Tanks exposed to full sunlight:

1 fiberglass raceway (8' long x 21" wide), maximum water depth 12", approx. 120 gal. capacity

4 fiberglass raceways (12' long x 21" wide), maximum water depth 12"; approx. 160 gal. capacity

We anticipate continuing to expand our seawater system to meet the needs of our visitors.