After aquarium defect: UKBB gets its clownfish and surgeonfish back

It's a sad picture that the children and staff at the UKBB have had to come to terms with over the past few weeks. Where colourful clownfish and surgeonfish and bright corals once floated in the water, there is now a gaping hole in the wall, covered by a grey protective film.

In June, the UKBB had to empty its in-house aquarium. The reason for this was a technical defect that had removed the vital salt from the water. As a result, the rescued clownfish and surgeonfish had no choice but to spend the summer in a pet shop and hope that their own home could be rebuilt.

There were sometimes doubts about this. Restoring a 3000 litre aquarium with seawater to a habitable condition is neither trivial nor cheap.

Saved with donations

But now there is good news from the management: the aquarium has been saved. Part of the damage was covered by the insurance. But without the financial support of the Pro UKBB Foundation long-term operation would have been unthinkable.

«I am very relieved that we have found a solution for the aquarium,» says Marco Fischer, Chairman of the UKBB Management Board and member of the Foundation Board. «The fish mean a lot to the children in particular, who have to come to UKBB more often.»

However, it will be a while before the fish can actually do their rounds again in their familiar environment. A marine aquarium is comparable to a small ecosystem. This needs a little patience until it can be brought back into balance.

The reopening will therefore take place in stages. Reconstruction will begin in mid-September and the corals can be placed in the water at the beginning of October. And then it's time: Wait another two weeks until the much-missed fish can move into the aquarium. There will be great joy at the first reunion.