A TROPICAL fish supplier has drawn up a secret list of species to provide the wow factor for a proposed $50 million aquarium in Cairns.

Cairns Marine director Lyle Squire Jr said he would be keeping the list under wraps so that it would be a surprise.

"We’ve been working on some research and development of a number of species that have never been exhibited before," he said.

In yesterday’s The Cairns Post businessman Daniel Leipnik, who has moved his family and corporate head office to Cairns from Melbourne, revealed his proposal for the aquarium on a 1ha site yet to be decided in the Cairns CBD.

He hopes to open the 10,000sq m venture in 2015, subject to planning, approvals and finance.

Mr Leipnik said he was keen to involve Cairns Marine.

"Cairns Marine would definitely be the likely choice for a working partner for the supply of marine life," he said.

Mr Squire said he fully supported the aquarium and believed it provided a valuable opportunity to educate people about the Great Barrier Reef and to protect the environment.

"I really believe this will showcase the icons of the Reef as well as rare and endangered species," he said.

Mr Squire said there were some freshwater sharks and rays that would make ideal exhibits.

Other species include Maori wrasse and potato cod.

Cairns Regional Council economic development manager Fiona Wilson said her team was fully supporting the proposal.

She said she had held several meetings with Mr Leipnik.

"We are doing everything we can to help them," she said.

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