Biology class...

[tangboy]

Hello everyone,

For those of you who don't know me yet, my name is Geoff and I am a teacher over at a school on Kingston Pike just west of UTK. I found out I am teaching Biology next year and am wanting to get a couple project set up for the kids to work on year round.

I was wanting to see if anyone had any old gear or tanks that they would be willing to donate or "lend" to the school for use in the biology projects. The students would be in charge of learning how to set up fresh and salt tanks, maintain the tanks throughout the year, and have weekly online journals hopefully with pics of the progress.

This is a plan I am still thinking about and adapting to changes but am wondering if anyone has anything that would contribute to this plan. I know that Nano reef tanks are hard to keep but would be easy to get pieces for since smaller stuff is usually cheaper. I do not have much of a budget at all and I have to save some of the budget for typical biology "disection stuffs" to cover concepts and things.

I just thought this would be a neat way to learn a lot different concepts, content, and create a hobby and interest in how we can affect our environment. Everyone who has kept a salt tank knows how easy it is for things to go wrong and it can be a great learning lesson!

If you can think of any other interesting ideas, have something to share, something to "donate" please let me know. Private message me or email me directly. If this post is breaking a rule please let me know because I have gained some valuable insights from this site and do not want to create a bad reputation. I just love my students and have some fun ideas so they don't sleep through class next year *grins*

Thanks for your attention...
-geoff

 

[imsqueak]

If you could get one of the LFS to partner with you, you could raise Berghias and donate them back to the LFS for their support. Their support would be in the way of lending you live rock with aiptasia (food source for berghia). You would benefit them in 2 ways: 1) Cleansing their rocks of pesty aips which nobody who knows anything about SW tanks wants 2) Providing revenue in the way of berghias which sells for +15ea. Your benefit will be to show an "unknown to most critter" that is very food specific to the kids and see them through a life cycle. Even if it's just a 3-4 month project, both would benefit.

Several of us have tried to raise them but having a renewing food source prevents a long term success.

for info on these you can see:
http://berghia.net/market_berghia_view.html

Just a thought...

I'll PM you about a donation.

 

[tangboy]

Sounds interesting...

Sounds interesting...

Hey thanks for that reply, that idea sounds very interesting and kinda exciting. Kids always liked stuff eating stuff and this could be fun. I will read through the link you sent to get some more information.

 

[fishdoc11]

I got rid of most of my extra tank stuff when I moved but I would be happy to contribute a couple of frags to the cause. I would suggest a smaller tank (a 30 long or maybe a 29 would be easy to come by) dominated by easy to keep corals like mushrooms, GSP and capnella that you could get free, hardy fish and possibly some macro algae. That would make an easy to keep very interesting tank IMO....kind of an old school reef tank.

FWIW, Chris

 

[Lint_Licker]

If Matt is up to it, you could a field trip to Sustainable Aquatics to check out their grow out tanks on clowns etc.

back to what imsqueak, I think ANY LFS would help you out simply because you will create new interests in the hobby, which in return would create new revenue for all of the LFS's. Just like the tabacco companies, "ya gotta hook em young!", haha!

Another thing for you to look into is.... The tanks should be self sustainable during school breaks and something easily transferable during the summer break. You dont want to leave fish tanks at school during the summer. Ya might get a bad surprise when you return, lol.

 

[tangboy]

Sounds like some good ideas. This year I took my 6 Physical Science students to the Aquarium store to talk to the staff about the different chemical components of a reef tank and such. Talked about the Nitrogen cycle etc. and the kids found it all pretty interesting because it was a common day thing that reefers have to watch out for.

I will probably go to the Aquarium store today or tomorrow during their customer appreciate day to try and see what kind of things they would be willing to work on. Even if they loan a couple of tanks to work try and breed a specific type of species or whatever. I think the kids would dig that. See what factors help contribute to keeping a mated pair happy etc.

Time for lunch. Thanks for the input and keep th ideas coming, or fish supplies

Oh and I do have a 40g reef at home so I am gaining more and more experience all the time.

 

[Lint_Licker]

40g tank would be an appropriate size for a school classroom as well. You can pick one up pretty cheap, $100 or less for a new one. Build a stand and canopy, get a dual timer to run everything. T5 lighting so you wont have heat issues.

Once you get someting set up and going, I can donate some abalone babies, I have PLENTY of them. Ive had 2 types hatch sometime in the past 2 months. I might even have a frag or 2 to donate.

 

[tangboy]

Talked with my principle about my biology class project and was asking her if I could run grab an 8g nano cube from the Aquarium. She said that is fine because I needed to use a bit of my classroom fund from this year before the end of June. She then made the comment that she wishes we could have a large tank display in the hallway but was affraid people would tamper with it. I got so excited at this that I told her of an idea about knocking a few blocks (roughly up to a 4 ft wide by 2.5 ft tall section where we could make a wall tank.

Anyone know if they are getting rid of a 70-125g tank that would possible fit in that area? We could always try to rig something else but I told her I would come up with a proposal etc of some ideas. I would love to pick some of your brains a bit since I am still new to this about sumps, returns, closed systems, R/O unit etc.

I am tempted to go by the Aquarium and see what deals they could swing me and then tell ya what I find to see if that is good or not. I would love to just get a tank, possibly DIY a sump and fuge, set up some 55g barrels for R/O & premixed salt solutions etc.

My students would be in charge of helping me set it up at the beginning of the year and running maintenance on it over the school year. I thought it would be excellent for the rest of the school see it prosper and grow and they could also be involved in selecting names for the fish and whatnot.

If you have any ideas, know of people tring to get rid of equipment that we could purchase or have please let me know. PM me for my cell #. I am working on joining the club and would love to see some set ups that people have running and get some of my plumbing questions answered. I have talked to Don on the phone a couple weeks ago after your last meeting. I will be working on my Masters during next meeting so I will not be able to make that one.

I am excited about this project and do know that it is a huge undertaking. I know that this is a supportive group and am looking forward to joining the crew!

-geoff

 

[cee]

Geoff:

If you do decide to set it up, which school would it be at? Have you tried talking to Chris, Rob, or Dave at the Coral Reef to see if they could help? They often sell used equipment at substantial savings. If you decide to go through with a larger tank, I might be able to work something out with you on a DIY lighting setup. Your students would need to build a canopy, but you probably have a woodworking class which could do that for you. Also, don't forget the cost of a skimmer and LR as they will be significant for a larger tank, but if you're careful and tell people what you have in mind, I'm sure some of the retailers (local and online) could probably help you out. Also, if you're ever in the Clinton area, feel free to stop by.

Dave

 

[tangboy]

I teach at Knoxville Adventist School on Kingston Pike just west of UTK. Coral Reef and the Aquarium store are the closest reef stores for me.

No wood working shop for us, we are not that... developed? Would be an awesome feature to think about for the future though. I figured I would try and hook up with someone to DIY a sump and fuge out of some 20gs or whatnot. Still lots of ideas going through my head.

I don't work Monday but have "end of the schoolyear clean up" Tuesday-Friday so if anyone wants to come by and see what I'm thinking and sit down and chat let me know. I would love to brainstorm and get some advice from those who have been running large systems for awhile.

Sunday I will be at the Aquarium store looking around at some of the stuff they have as well as picking up a clown for my tank at home. Just took my two "cycle" damsels back and need a tank mate for my Bicolored Blenny in my 40g.

Still waiting for the rest of my LR to get in! Wow this is a fun hobby!

 

[ct_vol]

Nano's while cheaper to maintain and run, can be more difficult to have success with... The smaller water volume results in less stable conditions... And nothing good in a reef happens fast!!! Unfortunately this hobby has as many failures as successes... I do think its a good idea to have a SW system in the classroom... There is a lot to be learned from and your students would enjoy that learning... I just want you to be prepared for failure as well as success... I'm not sure how long you've been in the hobby, and its easy to be overzealous...

Pitstop is a middle school teacher and very knowledgable in reefkeeping... He's a good guy, and would be a good resource to pick his brain and see how he went about setting up his classroom reef... But even very knowledgable people have freak incedents happen... I'm reminded of the Oregon Reef...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1126765

 

[ReefRacer]

I have a six foot stand I will donate if you find a 125 or similar. There may be a fellow wanting it so let me know.

Mike

 

[tangboy]

We are going to pick up a 70g tank out in Nashville. So unfortunately I will not be able to use the stand. I REALLY appreciate your willingness to donate such a valuable piece. Thank you once again!

 

[tangboy]

Alrighty... grabbed a 70g tank (48" wide X 24" X 17" tall), 20-25 gallon sump, return pump, bakpak skimmer, 2 PC ballast (4 bulbs each ballast pushing 65 watts), 5 gallon sand from the previous user. There are a lot of worms in the sand, so I will probably not use it.

If I can just get enough LR and LS to fill it up and place some stuff in the fuge that would be perfect. If anyone has anything that you think would be useful just let me know!

We're looking to get it all cleaned and hooked up tomorrow to check for leaks. Wish me luck!

 

[fishdoc11]

Worms aren't necessarily bad (although I am generally against reusing sand)....what type of worms are they?

That's a great size tank.

Chris

 

[tangboy]

One type of worm is basically a red earth worm.

One worm lookes like a centipede. Basically a worm crawling around in the grass and protein skimmer. I believe it's a Fireworm from checking google.

 

[Tennsquire]

The centipede looking worms (aka bristleworm or firworm) are detrivores, and are good critters to have in a sandbed (although some folks disagree).

 

[ct_vol]

I like a few of them in the sand bed... They take care of some of the grunge in your tank... But I've seen some tanks where they just swarm every time you feed... I think thats a bit too much for me...

 

[tangboy]

Yesterday I did the drive to Nashville. Picked up what the guy said was a 70g tank. Turned out to show as a 90g tank on the website according to the dimensions I measured. That was a nice perk.

I had a couple students who are avid fish fans come over to the school and help me with the art of clean up. They started scraping the crust off the tank while I went through the sand. Pulled out lots of empty turbo shells covered in coraline. I had already scraped the sump clean the night before so that was fine. Cracked open all the electrical stuff and gave it a good cleaning. It was pertty junked up but I got a lot of things running much smoother then if I hadn't.

After the tank was cleaned, sand thoroughly rinsed, everything put back together. We did a quick run to the LFS and grabbed some new clean piping and a few odds and ends. Plumbed everything together and turned it all on.

Woot everything hummed like a charm. Need to get some clean media in the skimmer, and a sponge or something at the bottom of the drop into the sump cause it's a little noisey. I kept the sand out of the tank because I was checking for leaks plus we're not keeping the tank where I was testing/cleaning. We need to paint the cabinet, back of the tank, etc. I have the cheato rolling around in my bare 8g nano in the corner of my room.

Need list:

1. R/O filter!!! This is one of the major concerns for me right now. The Aquarium store is asking $200 for their middle R/O filter machine. We don't have any extra money right now so I need to watch the forums for a used/cheap R/O filter.

2. LR!!! Need about 100-125lbs of the stuff but my principal said that's a "no-go" due to lack of funds.

3. Salt... Will probably ask a guy I know who works at a marine salt/chemical store if he will sponser our tank if we send him weekly/bi-weekly test results etc.

4. Sand... Would like a little more then the 5g bucket we have now.

If anyone knows of any of those items or other items that we might need down the road (i.e. Q-tank, test kits, chemicals, extra PC bulbs [65 w], 55g food grade barrels, fuge sand/algae) let me know so I can get in contact. We will try to hold a fundraiser to get some people involved directly with this.

I will be working on my Outdoor Education Masters from June 4-July 18 so the tank will be put on hold until then. Once I get back let me know if you want to see the set up we have. I do believe the kids will enjoy this! Thanks for the infor and whatnot people have been shooting my way, keep it coming!

 

[imsqueak]

1. RO/DI: Check ebay for a cheaper ro/di deal. You should be able to find something near $100 (and we have talked about doing group buys for replacement filters)
2. LR: Keep an eye out for people getting out of the hobby for LR ($2/lb can be found)
3. Offically join the club to get in on group buys on salt and other necessities.
4. HD/LOWES playground sand works and many of us have it in our tanks, but it leaks phosphates but that may be a good lesson for the kids to learn about. You just need a couple cups of LS to seed it or let the LR do it.

I've offered a 20g long that can be used as a QT.