55g classroom local tank

[puckbs]

I have been pretty much out of the game for a while but this year I was very fortunate to be given Marine Sciences as my elective....sooo much better than character education. Not to mention its a passion of mine. The kids have been really into it so far and lit up when i told them I was going to set up a tank to show them all the great things that can be found right in our backyard.

So here it is...set it up last thursday after a quick collecting trip on wednesday. Lost a few favorites unfortunately...including a trumpet with beautiful blue spots and one spotfin butterfly (tiny, like fingernail tiny). Hoping to get a few more drags in before it gets too cold.

 

[puckbs]

Setup:
Aqueon 75 Filter - i had never seen it before, but like the design and am impressed so far
CPR bak pak skimmer
2 seio 820's
Light - nova extreme 6x18w T5

I have a 150w DE HQI on my 20 at home, but i'm thinking that might be better for the macros at school...opinions???

I would love to light the whole tank but funding is all out of pocket...I can probably use an old 96w pc fixture on my home tank (not much in there anyway) Then i could put the hqi on one half and the t5 on the other....ugly but it would work haha

If anyone has any input I am definitely open to suggestions...like i said, i've been out a while so i'm a little rusty and i'm sure there is some new stuff. my biggest questions at this point fall under keeping the macro alive. I plan on adding some more, inc: gracilaria, fucus, eel grass...

also, if anyone has any equipment they'd like to donate/sell that would help us out please let me know. I am hoping to do coral propagation tank, dogfish dissection(obv don't need any equip for this haha), was looking into cuttlefish eggs, phyto/rotifer cultures, culture amphipods/copepods.... If anyone has any other ideas or info on what I already plan on, they would be greatly appreciated