800 gallon classroom build

[mudskipper1]

JJ21- At my school, we just found a science teacher...or two preferably... that are willing to be the leader of the club, and then you start the club. At my school, all of the coolest aquatic tanks and such happen in a class called science research, which is a class in which students learn how to carry out a research project, and then do one. There are students breeding seahorses, studying crab development, studying sturgeon, gar, striped bass, breeding tilapia in a 1000 gallon cylinder tank with a cone shaped bottom. I hope to do something with coral when I take that class. Our Marine Biology Club has written a grant, and got $800 for starting the system, since we already have tanks, and sources of livestock, that is a pretty good start. We also put the club dues toward the "tank fund" good luck...

 

[tbittner]

That's really awesome, Jonathan!

 

[jnarowe]

nice of them. I wonder if they ever were able to ID that shrimp though.

 

[kev apsley]

Do you realize how many new hobbyist you'll probably create with that project, every student who ever sees that classroom is going to look at it with pure amazement, not to mention how many go home and ask their Mom's and Dad's if they can keep a fish tank of their own! Where were you when I was keeping baby Oscars in Aquariums made out of 16" PVC and Plexiglass in the late 70's?

 

[limitdown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13216701#post13216701 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kev apsley
Do you realize how many new hobbyist you'll probably create with that project, every student who ever sees that classroom is going to look at it with pure amazement, not to mention how many go home and ask their Mom's and Dad's if they can keep a fish tank of their own! Where were you when I was keeping baby Oscars in Aquariums made out of 16" PVC and Plexiglass in the late 70's?

If I were a brand-owner I would totally sponsor your classroom with various pieces of equipment. Imagine if they looked at the words "Royal-Exclusiv Bubble King" all day everyday at school...

 

[chrisqueenz]

Any updates on how things are going?

 

[hobogato]

well, today is the first day for the students to come back, and the rock and corals that remained in the student tanks have matured nicely over the summer. this year we will definitly take the system closer to being a reel reef system. the students will start by learning the basics of nitrogen cycle and tank setup, followed by organism research and compatibility. only then, when they know the fundamentals, will they be able to take over a tank and populate it, so it will be a few weeks.

jonathan - no id on the shrimp last year, so the contest will continue......

the snails that you donated have really begun to reproduce, and i am finding them in tanks that no donated snails were placed into. there was some movement of rocks during the year, so some may have been moved that way.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

Very cool. Every school should have programs like this... these kind of hands on learning can ignite life long passions for science and marine life!

GREAT JOB

 

[turbois300]

WoW ...gardening and reef!!!!!!!!!! I wish my children could learn like this (other than from me)!!! Hats of to you!!!!! Awesome!!!!

 

[jnarowe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13222987#post13222987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hobogato
well, today is the first day for the students to come back, and the rock and corals that remained in the student tanks have matured nicely over the summer. this year we will definitly take the system closer to being a reel reef system. the students will start by learning the basics of nitrogen cycle and tank setup, followed by organism research and compatibility. only then, when they know the fundamentals, will they be able to take over a tank and populate it, so it will be a few weeks.

jonathan - no id on the shrimp last year, so the contest will continue......

the snails that you donated have really begun to reproduce, and i am finding them in tanks that no donated snails were placed into. there was some movement of rocks during the year, so some may have been moved that way.

Glad to see you back Ace and I hope your summer went well.

Interesting on the shrimp...so I wasn't out-of-my-mind when I couldn't ID it then! :lol:

BTW, I have urchins I have been meaning to pass along to someone and your post reminded me about you guys. DO you think that would be something your class would be interested in? These are short-spined "collector" urchins.

 

[Aj Flip]

if they find out about RC then they will prolly know everything in your lessons before u teach them!

 

[conorwynne]

"Sir" or whatever the kids in US schools call teachers

Is there any chance you could take pics so that we could see the summer growth & how the kids got on?

Thanks "Sir".
Conor

 

[hobogato]

thanks for the comments all...

jonathan - saw the shrimp yesterday, he is about the same size as when he got here. almost looks like some kind of pistol shrimp??

aj - i show them this thread as well as the one i have on our local forum. i change the class some every year some as well.

conor - i will get some new pics soon, once everyone has a chance to get the tanks in order and make em presentable again. as far as the student getting in the class, the only stipulation is that they are in 11th or 12th grade and have two other science credits already. that "sir" thing is a pet peeve of mine, they call me ace, mr. ace, or mr. shedd or i call them boy/girl they get the idea pretty fast....

 

[conorwynne]

I know what you mean, I've an Irish mate in France who teaches English in a Lycee (high school to you).

He makes the kids call him by superhero names only, and he makes them guess which hero he is that day. Usually easy to ID in fairness as he will dress up most days. Love this thread.

 

[AC11337]

This thread really makes me mad at my HS, they don't offer any classes that get that involved. Even our art class dosen't get to that level of hands on. Unfortunately, my Mom said we can't move to Texas.

 

[hobogato]

well, the students are almost finished with their research on the nitrogen cycle and how to set up a tank. next, they will be researching the organisms they want for their tanks and will soon begin picking and aquascaping the tanks. pic updates coming soon!

i started a thread in the reefkeeping discussion forum asking for inpirational rockwork to give my students some ideas - please post some pics there if you have some

thanks

 

[beaupierce]

Great to see you are getting your students into aquaria....

I don't know if this has been brought up yet, but I was just vacationing in Corpus Christi and at the Texas State Aq. they had a huge SW display....maybe try contacting them for some help in fish/ snails/ coral etc....... just a thought

good luck and happy reefing

 

[Aj Flip]

so how are the tanks now that school is about 2 weeks back?

 

[reefnewbster]

dang, wish my school did this. In our aquaculture class, we have a total of 3,700 gallons in fresh water, but not an ounce of Salt Water. I have been taking that class for 3 years, and am one of very few students that knows nything about the set up, and tyhe biology of how he tanks, and there cycles work. I have been bugging my teacher for the last 2 years to put in a salt water tank, and I may finally get a pair of clown fish to try to breed this year. Currently we breed, convicts, chiclids, brim, koi, and cat fish. We have 2 1000g tubs that are plumbed to each other, 2 500g tanks that are plumbeed together, and 700g of differnt sized tanks that are run on 3 seperate sumps (about 250g per sump each filled with bio balls, then carbon, then a spong, then returns to the tank). Hopefully this year I can expand some more, and try to get about 100gallons total of saltwater tanks added to the system. Good luck with your project, and keep us updated.

 

[spsfreak]

Update Ace.... Update This is nice, you are definitely earning your keep at this school - and having a great time to boot. Not many people can say that about their jobs. Kudos friend, job well done.