The Aquarium of Rhodes is part of the island's Hydrobiological Station, that is situated on the SE edge of the island. It has been constructed during the 30's, when Rhodes and the other Dodecanese islands were under the Italian occupation. Since then, no alterations have been made as far as the external and internal structure of the aquarium is concerned, apart from the addition of the museum and a seal tank. Despite the fact that no evidences have been found on who was the architect of the aquarium, it is believed that was the Italian architect Bernabiti. Based on historical evidences the ->	Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes (HSR), used to function as an Institute of General Biology. In 1938 it has been renamed to Reale Instituto di Reserche Biologiche di Rodi where as after the liberation of the Dodecanese islands it has changed its name to Greek Hydrobiological Institute and was under the supervision of the Academy of Athens. Since 1963, it belongs to the Oceanographic and Fishing Research Institute and in 1985 has been renamed to "Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes". After the World War II the Station began operating as as a museum too. This museum exhibits various invertebrate stuffed samples of fishes and sea organisms like sea tortures, dolphins, sharks, seals, corals etc.
The area of the Aquarium that is open to the public is of a round shape. It has 13 big and 15 small tanks with an overall capacity of 71m3. Further to the Aquarium's scientific importance and its touristic interest, the HSR has also a historical and architectural value. The novel internal design contributes to the special atmosphere that sets off to the thousands of the visitors. The external sides of the tanks are made of cement and are decorated with porous stones. The bottom is covered with shingles, shells, corals or sand depending on the needs of the fish and the organisms that are hosted in the tanks. ->	The big tanks are lighted with Grolux and day light. The tanks are also lighted with halogen vapour lamps (HQI). The day-night rhythm of 14 - 10 hours is automatically controlled. The water-circuit system is of an open type. The sea water that is filtered from the sand and the shingles comes from two separate sink water-traps that are made of concrete. This pumping station consists of three horizontal centrifugal pipes that operate alternatively. Their purpose is to concentrate the water into the master tank, which is found within the building, and from there the water is distributed by natural flow to all the other smaller tanks of the Aquarium.
Apart from the fishes and the other sea organisms that are exhibited, there is also an extensive underground area that serves the purpose of hosting new fishes (ie the Aquarium's stock) and also fishes that are transferred temporarily to the underground from other tanks or are in need of special treatment. Moreover, on a frequent basis this place is used for the hospitalisation of sea tortures of the nearby sea waters. A huge tank of 42 sq.m. that is found outside the Aquarium building, functions separately from the general water-circuit system. For 20 years now this tank shelters a ->	feminine Phoca vitulina (seal). The traditional way of fishing with a trawl-boat and the cages method are basically used for the fish-stock enrichment of the Aquarium. With a special licence from the Port Authority, the collection of the fishes is made during the fishing period by thearea of the Station so as to minimise any risks that may arise from the transfer of the organisms and fishes to the Aquarium. Right after the collection, the fishing is put in the underground tanks that are supplied with running water. Few hours after their adjustment to their new environment, a precautionary treatment is implemented for a week.
Based on the needs of the Aquarium the fishes and organisms are anaesthetised, selected, and then placed in the tanks for public view. Great emphasis is paid on the feeding process so that the fishes and the sea organisms will preserve a good health balance.	The quality and quantity of the food depends on the kind, the size, the preference of the fishes and the organisms as well as on the water's temperature. Frozen fishes like squid, octapus, mussels and shrinks are widely used for their feeding which takes place three times a week.
Open to public. Arpil 1st - October : 31st 09:00 -21:00 November 1st - March 31st : 09:00 - 16:30 Entrance Fees. Adults : 600dr. | Children : 400dr. | Students : 400dr. Groups of 15 persons or more : 400dr. Cos street, 85100 Rhodes tel: +30 241 27308 - 78320 fax: +30 241 78321 e-mail:hsr@rhs.rho.forthnet.gr
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