ORSANCO’s Life Below the Waterline, a traveling freshwater aquarium, is available for public events. The aquarium holds 2,200 gallons of water and Ohio River fish. With two 5′ X 10′ viewing areas, this display is designed to highlight the diversity of fish sustained by the Ohio River Basin and its tributaries as well as the importance of protecting our great natural resource.
The Ohio River Basin contains nearly half of the fish diversity in North America and is a reliable source of drinking water and ample recreational opportunities to over 25 million people.
The aquarium is filled with locally caught fish, which are returned to their habitat after each event.
ORSANCO’s Life Below the Waterline Mobile Aquarium program is now booked for 2026! Bringing the aquarium to an event involves significant coordination — it involves collecting and caring for live Ohio River fish, transporting a 2,200-gallon trailer, coordinating site logistics, and securing funding to support the event. We typically need at least four to six months’ notice to plan an event properly, and we can’t accommodate short-notice requests.
If you’re interested in 2027, now’s the time to start planning. Learn more about guidelines and aquarium requirements and apply for future events here.
Sponsorships are needed to fund major renovations, annual maintenance on the aquarium, and to keep costs down for event hosts. Check our event calendar and become a sponsor today! Learn more about sponsorship here.
