With a quick cut of some shark-shaped scissors, the new Toledo Zoo aquarium is o-fish-ally open.

“This has been a long wait, but it’s been a wait worth waiting for,” Jeff Sailer, executive director, said in his opening remarks.

The aquarium closed in October, 2012, for its first major renovation since opening in 1939 as the largest freshwater aquarium in the world. The exterior of the historic building, constructed by the Works Progress Administration, was preserved, while the interior was completely overhauled during the $25.5 million project.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here for more photos from the grand reopening

“You’re going to love the exhibits,” Mr. Sailer told the crowd. “There are animals from all over the world, beautiful fish and sharks, you name it. They’re all here.”

Lucas County Commissioner Carol Contrada, Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, and Al Stroucken chairman and CEO of Owens-Illinois -- which sponsored The Reef tank -- also spoke.

”The return of the historic aquarium, which is more beautiful than ever, helps ensure that this zoo will continue to be a place where families gather for another 100 years,“ Mrs. Contrada said.

With cheers, the hundreds of visitors that had braved the bitter cold rushed inside as soon as the doors opened.

The new aquarium features nearly four times the total gallons of water as the previous design with 178,000, compared to 46,000. The largest tank, a 90,000-gallon behemoth featuring a Pacific Reef exhibit, is nearly 12 times larger than the largest previous tank with 7,600 gallons.

Visitors quickly discovered the aquarium’s new interactive features and were flocking to the two touch tanks to get a hands-on experience with sharks, rays, sea stars, crabs, and other creatures. The LED lights inside the moon jelly tank were flashing all different colors as visitors changed the lighting to highlight the translucent jellyfish.

There will be a line to get into the aquarium throughout the weekend. Zoo staff are limiting the number of people to prevent overcrowding in the building to allow everyone, especially children, to get close to the glass of the new exhibits.

On Saturday and Sunday this weekend only, Toledo Zoo members can visit the aquarium, Penguin Beach, and ’Keet Retreat with special early access starting at 9 a.m. All others can see it at 10 a.m. during normal hours.

First Published March 27, 2015, 1:52 p.m.