Local teacher in need of reef tank supplies

Cool project. :cool:

Really wish I still had my big tank, I'd set them up good with some corals. As it is, I know I could donate at least 3 kinds of zoas. I will have to see about getting in touch with them and setting up a way to get some frags to them.
 
This the same class that worked the raffle at the Decatur swap? What size tank do they have if doing 3-4 10gal water changes a week? An algae scrubber build might be a neat project and experament for them.
 
This seems like a great cause and if I still had all my tanks set up would have a bunch of frags to donate to them.

I do however have a big problem with this project. I had no income with 4 fully stocked tanks. I had to budget reef and everyone here had seen my 55 done on a budget.

First of all, I do not think that this teacher is educated in the reef hobby very well. Seems to be a newbie with little knowledge. Second of all why do you need 6 ecotech radions. There is no way you need 6 led's over a 120 or 180 or whatever size tank that you have. That is over kill!!! Also, it say that they have a MH that is in bad condition so you need 6 of the most expensive leds on the market. You should be happy with just a t5 or another MH fixture that works. You could even do the evergrow, reefbreeders, ocean rivive led's that work just as well as a radion and they are only $160-$180 a piece instead of $550-$650 for one radion. And you should only need 4 led's at the most and could get by with 3 led's. Also why do you need a chiller. This questions your skills and knowledge of the reef hobby. A reef tank can range from 76-85 degrees throughout the year. I think that they see 80F and freak out, like a lot of uninformed people do. Also back to the lights, a MH bulb can go longer than 1 year, just ask henry. I believe that he had on his nice 320 MH bulbs that were 4 years old. And another thing if you can't afford salt why do you do 3-4 10 gallon water changes a week. Cut that out. You can change the water way less than that. Unless the tank is skimmer less which I highly doubt. It looks to me that there are some nice corals in the tank. why don't the students frag them out to sell or trade for other corals. Hmmmm...... I am not trying to tare this apart as it is a great learning for the kids. But, there is plenty of stuff that can be done to cut cost and still have a really nice tank. Seems to me he just wants free handouts without trying. I would be more than willing to sit down with the guy and discuss a better way to go about this. So, he and his students can enjoy a beautiful reef tank for years to come.
 
I'm sure in the summer the schools going to be rather warm. On top of that he is using metal halides which will raise the temp a few degrees. I couldn't run my old 125 w/ halides and no ac without a chiller. The 6 radions is way overkill. A diy led unit is the way he needs to go. 40 gal a week water changes are also crazy. I agree with shorty that a ATS project would be great project or add a fuge and do 10 gallon weekly changes.
 
Daffej said:
I'm sure in the summer the schools going to be rather warm. On top of that he is using metal halides which will raise the temp a few degrees. I couldn't run my old 125 w/ halides and no ac without a chiller. The 6 radions is way overkill. A diy led unit is the way he needs to go. 40 gal a week water changes are also crazy. I agree with shorty that a ATS project would be great project or add a fuge and do 10 gallon weekly changes.
Click to expand...

It is very possible that heat is an issue, but you agree there are other issues going on with the tank. Just assuming things.... because, that's all that I have to go by. Still the best idea is to have someone or a group come in and talk to the teacher.... consult about what can be done to help the tank. Instead of sending him random items. I have seen a lot of people mis-lead in the hobby, when there are much cheaper or better options then wasting money or time on the wrong things.
 
logan 12 said:
This seems like a great cause and if I still had all my tanks set up would have a bunch of frags to donate to them.

I do however have a big problem with this project. I had no income with 4 fully stocked tanks. I had to budget reef and everyone here had seen my 55 done on a budget.

First of all, I do not think that this teacher is educated in the reef hobby very well. Seems to be a newbie with little knowledge. Second of all why do you need 6 ecotech radions. There is no way you need 6 led's over a 120 or 180 or whatever size tank that you have. That is over kill!!! Also, it say that they have a MH that is in bad condition so you need 6 of the most expensive leds on the market. You should be happy with just a t5 or another MH fixture that works. You could even do the evergrow, reefbreeders, ocean rivive led's that work just as well as a radion and they are only $160-$180 a piece instead of $550-$650 for one radion. And you should only need 4 led's at the most and could get by with 3 led's. Also why do you need a chiller. This questions your skills and knowledge of the reef hobby. A reef tank can range from 76-85 degrees throughout the year. I think that they see 80F and freak out, like a lot of uninformed people do. Also back to the lights, a MH bulb can go longer than 1 year, just ask henry. I believe that he had on his nice 320 MH bulbs that were 4 years old. And another thing if you can't afford salt why do you do 3-4 10 gallon water changes a week. Cut that out. You can change the water way less than that. Unless the tank is skimmer less which I highly doubt. It looks to me that there are some nice corals in the tank. why don't the students frag them out to sell or trade for other corals. Hmmmm...... I am not trying to tare this apart as it is a great learning for the kids. But, there is plenty of stuff that can be done to cut cost and still have a really nice tank. Seems to me he just wants free handouts without trying. I would be more than willing to sit down with the guy and discuss a better way to go about this. So, he and his students can enjoy a beautiful reef tank for years to come.
Click to expand...

Logan, if you come to the swap next September you could talk about this with him...
 
I agree with every one of Logan's points and wouldn't mind meeting at this school to discuss how this reef can be more efficiently maintained. Also, I see no reason to wait 7 months to meet at a swap to have this discussion, when we live no more than 15 minutes away.
 
I thought those tanks were pretty much didn't need anything else after all the donations/sponsorships he got.
I hadn't heard about a move either Brian.
 
I emailed the principal of the school he left. The tanks are no longer at her school. She believes the tanks were taken to his new school. She was emailing him for verification.

I feel bad for the students who helped set up those tanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
High Zinc in ICP Test & Switching to ATI Essentials – Need Advice
Replies
17
Views
2K
Reefing102
Reefing102
M
Another Reefer back from a 13 year Hiatus
Replies
12
Views
1K
Anemone
Anemone
H
confused
Replies
6
Views
1K
Timfish
Timfish
T
120 Gallon Mixed Reef Tank for Sale
Replies
6
Views
2K
vanbro1
vanbro1
Dogs442
NEED HELP WITH RO/DI SYSTEM
2
Replies
34
Views
3K
griss
griss
Back
Top