The 70,000 square foot facility will feature 42 different tanks. The largest tank will hold a quarter of a million gallons of water.

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium will open its doors to the public on January 21. But if you can't wait until then, annual passes are now on sale and they include a sneak peek two days before the public.

It will be the first time Marinescape will transform an aqua dream into a masterpiece in North America. Not to mention, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium will be the first independent one in Ohio.

The aquarium will be home to more than 5,000 fresh water and salt water fish. And as you walk through the glass sea tube tunnel, you won't be able to avoid seeing sharks.

Those who purchase an annual pass for $50 can get a sneak peek at the aqua paradise on January 19 and 20, 2012. 

With its grand opening in early 2012, the aquarium will feature a quarter-million gallons of water in 42 different tanks over 17,000 square feet. A special exhibit focusing on waterlife found in Ohio's lake and rivers will be one of the highlights.

Prior to the agreement with Cleveland, Marinescape would be hired to design and build aquariums by other communities but after it was built, they'd hand them the keys and tech manuals and they were out of the mix. But the Greater Cleveland Aquarium will be the first Marinescape will own and operate. It's possible Marinescape will expand in North America.

The facility will be developed and operated by Marinescape Eco Aquariums, which has created 23 major walk-through aquariums world wide. This will be its first facility in the United States.

The 70,000 square foot facility will feature 42 different tanks. The largest tank will hold a quarter of a million gallons of water.

The aquarium will also feature sharks and rays and all the colorful coral fish that you see out in the ocean, while retaining much of the original architecture found inside the historic Cleveland Powerhouse.