The 650-gallon saltwater aquarium featuring a living coral reef and more than 30 species of tropical fish and creatures will open to the public Thursday morning.
The $35,000 tank was built by Acrylic Tank Manufacturing of Las Vegas and paid for from a $76,000 donation from the estate of Phyllis Donner, a Wausau resident who died in 2011. ATM also donated the livestock for the tank. Crystal Finishing Systems of Schofield donated the frame and constructed and donated the cover for the tank frame. The $6,000 annual tank maintenance, provided by Tankmates of Wausau, will be paid for by the Friends of the Marathon County Public Library and the Marathon County Public Library Foundation. Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co. of Wausau donated transportation of the tank and frame from Las Vegas to Wausau.
"Just to see the looks on their faces and seeing the kids as they press their face up against the aquarium," says Amy Ryan, a Library Assistant. "It's really fun for us to see that excitement and wonderment on their faces when they see them."
Construction on the Phyllis Donner Aquarium began in mid-October.
The tank is located in the children's story room of the library, 300 N. First St., Wausau.
The library is is open Monday – Thursday from 9:00am-8:30pm, Friday – Saturday from to 9:00am-5:00pm
and Sunday from 1:00pm-5:00pm.
