German guppies make a break for it - Alton Telegraph

Recently a gigantic aquarium tank burst, spilling a million liters of water (over a quarter of a million gallons to you and me) through the lobby of a hotel in Berlin, Germany.  

Holy mackerel!  Disaster was avoided because it happened at around 5:30 in the morning when most everyone was asleep.  Except the fish, that is.

Hotel guests reported hearing a loud bang and feeling the hotel shake when the aquarium collapsed.  Around 350 guests had to be relocated to other hotels in Berlin and were given a free tin of sardines and souvenir glass shards to remember their visit by.  Also, in a huge blow to the patrons, the bar will be closed until further notice due to its complete and utter destruction.  

First responders were called and the fire department was on the scene immediately bringing even more water with their pumper trucks, which didn't make much sense.   Too bad there was no fire.  

Among the fish kept in the tank were the well-known blue tang and clownfish from the Disney films.  The clownfish did not find the accident anything to laugh at.  Authorities are reportedly still working on finding Nemo and finding Dory.

Around 1,500 exotic fish were killed in the accident prompting outrage from animal rights organizations.  In an unrelated event, the price of fresh exotic, sushi plunged in and around Berlin.  Two Berliners who tried some of the cut-rate clownfish killed in the accident being served for dinner at a local sushi bar thought it tasted funny.

It was the world's largest cylindrical aquarium and even had an elevator that ran through the center of it.  The aquarium was considered stable while the elevator had its share of ups and downs.  The entire aquarium was shut down and drained a couple of years ago for refurbishment, which cost almost 3 million dollars.  

I wonder if the hotel will get a refund.  Evidently, the refurbishment left a lot to be desired since there is nothing left of it but shards of glass now.  I guess you can say the aquarium tanked.  

Some experts think the glass material suffered from stress fatigue while authorities consider the accident fishy and are looking into it.

Incredibly some fish were able to find refuge in small areas where the water had pooled enough for the them to survive in until the fire department could rescue them.  I've heard of the firefighters rescuing kittens stuck in trees, but fish in water?  

Some fish survived in areas where the water had accidentally mixed with alcohol from smashed liquor bottles from the bar and were found stewed to the gills.  

And finally, first responders claimed they were able to revive some using mouth to gill resuscitation, but I think this is just a fish tale.

Joe Crawford is a longtime Alton resident who writes weekly columns for The Telegraph. He can be contacted at crawfordjo@aol.com.