Mote Marine Tropical Research Laboratory
Project Description
The new Ocean Acidification (OA) Testing Facility for Mote Marine’s Tropical Research Laboratory located on Summerland Key, Florida was designed, built, supplied and commissioned by IAS. Mote Marine Lab is currently using this system for coral restoration, and has nicknamed the system the “The Ocean Simulator”. Mote ML has seen explosive coral growth and has planted thousands of coral fragments back into the ocean with a 90% success rate. With this method, Mote is attempting to restore coral reefs in a few years rather than the thousands of years that it would take for nature to restore itself.
The custom flow through system features a total of seventy-five aquaria. Each aquarium is individually equipped with pH and temperature monitoring and control systems. Automated pH control systems allow researchers to set raceway pH to any 1 of 3 levels using a sophisticated CO2 dosing system. User defined pH levels are controlled in combination with any temperature setpoint in order to mimic different conditions found in the changing ocean environment.
The “Ocean Simulator” system includes a robust Ethernet-equipped water quality monitoring and control system to allow researchers and site operators remote access to data and control points via internet. Alarm notifications are sent via text/email to management personnel and data-logging functions allow real-time monitoring and graphical evaluation of control points.
An efficient centralized temperature control package for both heating and chilling was included with independent precision heat exchangers for each raceway system to ensure stable water temperatures throughout the coral life cycle. All systems were built to last in harsh salt-air environment found in the Florida Keys.
Project Details
CLIENT
MOTE Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
LOCATION
Summerland Key, Florida
PROJECT TYPE
Aquatic Research
PRODUCTS
Integrated Temperature Control System
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