Unique double-arched aquariums – each containing nearly 61,000 liters of water – greet shoppers.
Shoppers at the Scheels Sporting Goods stores in Sparks, Nevada and Springfield, Illinois are met at each of the stores' entrances by something a bit out of the ordinary: a crystal clear 61,000-liter double-arched aquarium.
ICM custom built each freestanding aquarium to fit precisely in the entrance – and be structurally sound. The result is a double-arched aquarium supported by three massive clear acrylic pillars, all designed, fabricated, and installed within a six-month time frame. At 63.5 millimeters thick, the acrylic in the aquarium is 17 times stronger than glass and four times stronger than concrete. All columns and archways are filled with water, rockwork and other habitat necessities, providing shoppers with a nearly unimpeded viewing of the marine life within the tank.
The saltwater aquariums at both locations feature tropical reef fish such as clown fish, triggerfish, and porcupine puffers, as well as a bamboo shark. The Sparks store also features something extra: a freshwater aquarium that's home to fish native to Nevada, such as perch, sturgeon and freshwater bass.
To care for the marine life and the tank structures, the tanks are accessed via a catwalk on top of the arches, while water filtration and quarantine takes place in a separate room. Nearly 284,000 liters of water are filtered through each tank every hour to keep it fresh, requiring little effort on the part of the store staff. That's a lot of water, a lot of fish – and a lot of fun for the shoppers at Scheels. Soon, shoppers at the store's Sandy, Utah location also will get in on the fun: A third saltwater aquarium is scheduled to be completed there in October 2012.
