Classroom update

[Briney Dave]

Greetings all,
I just wanted to give an update to my student's zoanthid research projects and with our touch tank construction.

Right now we are in a "grow out" stage with all the frags that have been donated to us (many of them coming from C-sea members!) The frags are doing great, I estimate that we have something near 500 polyps in small frag groups) I am fairly sure of at least six varities and will post picks on Zoa Id and Club zoa for expert conformation later this summer.

We are waiting on starting the actual research projects until the fate of my room has been determined for sure. There is talk of me moving to another (larger room with A/C !!) of gutting my room and re-tooling it, or of just nailing me in and pretending that I am not here. I am betting on the last LOL

Anyway I think we are about a week or so away from being able to be up and running once we get the all clear. I have a good central sump/refu that is running right now on our frag tank to share with all the research tanks so they have common water and parameters.
I will have to order some return pumps and the first set of lighting (power compacts) for each tank.

I will run the tanks for six weeks then begin to measure growth and reproduction and for color expression etc.

I did win a grant award to build a touch tank for my room My students and I will be setting that up this summer too. I have settled on having the tank built rather than try it myself. I have done a very small amount of acrylic work and am too concerned of blowing it and wasting the money. If it were my money I may feel differently about it but its not so I don't want to take the chance on my own.

Thanks again so much to all those who made zoanthid donations or have shared advice etc. I would not be able to offer my students a 1/10 of what I can without all of your help.
I will be having an open house this fall and will be extending an open invite to all of you to join my students in an offical tour of the tanks and work. (plus free snacks and pop LOL)

thanks again so very much
David Bowers

 

[itZme]

Dave I may have to make the drive up there. What kinda snacks are we talkin about :lol:

My only question would be the choice to use power compact lighting which is very much on it's way out of the reefing hobby and being largely replaced by T5 lights which have much more PAR per watt used therefore being more efficient at growing corals and also more efficient on the electric bill. Also the T5 bulbs are recommended to be replaced every 18 months for about $22 each while the PC bulbs are suggested every 12 mos and cost roughly $30 each.

Hope I didn't add to the confusion but I would hate to see you make a choice that may cost more and produce less for the students in the long run.

-- Kevin

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Sounds like a great project! What grade do you teach?

For the touch tank, why are you using acrylic? I'm sure you put alot of thought into it, but I would imagine that you could build an above ground pond or use one of those KOI show pools for alot less money.

 

[cowcio]

Sounds like you and the students are having a lot of fun with this project. I hope that success will find it's way into your classroom.

A larger space with air conditioning sure sounds nice!

 

[Briney Dave]

Kevin, was not aware of the differences in prices and in the trend away from PC. Thanks so much to the info. I should reconsider the lighting then, because I want the results to have the biggest impact possible.

To the pool suggestion; true it would save a bunch of money but I would really like to have the nicer looking traditional tank. More importantly though, I want the students (little ones and high school) to be able to look down and across the tank to be able to watch interactions as well as getting wet

Students taught: I teach at the High School and have 9-12 in different classes, but think that my program will impact most every grade at some point or other through out the school year.

I hope to have my upper classmen to team teach with the elem. teachers lessons in ecology, species relationships, and general biology.

Thanks for the kind words they always help!!

your pal
Briney Dave