New Tank Setup

bosborn1

bosborn1

In Memoriam
Well I am going to setup another system. To explain, after seeing the sign recently at my daughters daycare (THe Perinton Child Time) asking for a donation of a aquarium for her class room so that they could place Goldfish in it. I asked about the sudden interest in Aquariums I was told that the new ciriculum was going to be about the life in the eco-systems around us. While Goldfish do show one of the eco-systems around it..Its quite limited. I approached the director today and inquired about the likelyhood of setting up a simple reef. She was very interested in it and thought that it would be ok. The upper management seems to have no proplem with it either. In the interest of furthering education and introducing new people to the reef I think I am going to try to get something going there. I have some odds and ends such as a 55 gallon tank, homemade skimmer, and a couple of small items. First I am not to sure about how to go about building the stand so that its safe and provides a vantange point that would be ideal for 3-6 year olds. I am thinking about having some sort of shelf in front of the tank like at the zoo so I can provide area for some affixed learning material. Once I get that locked down I need to source the rest of the equipment for the system. I was offered by the director a area above the tank where we could place something that would give reconition for the URS with this I am asking if anyone has any small parts or thing that they have no use for it they could consider donating it. I am also looking to see if anyone would like to help out in building the system as well. I am having the daycare check into if they can give donation vouchers for items donated to serve as a tax write off. This is in the very early stages so I am open to suggestion. But I ask that we keep the suggestion positive I really don't want to hear from any detractors.

Thanks Everyone
Scott
 
I just made a stop at ABC Pets and Alex has donated a smaller airstone skimmer, 15 gallon tank,heaters,and some powerheads. Boy I thought this was going to be harder but it seems like I am almost half way there.

Still looking for some insight on stand design. Also if I can't find an overflow Does anyone out there who knows how to drill want to donate some time to a good cause??

This donation certainly has me upbeat about the project. I can't wait to start getting more of the plan together.
 
Am I going about this the wrong way??? The URS is normally a more supportive group when it comes to spreading the hobby amongst people. I mean this is for children. I thought that I would hear from some more people with ideas and suggestions to help me along. I am really searching for some ideas about the optimum viewing angle of children. I doubt that the standard height of an aquarium stand would be good for people who are at the average 3 feet tall. I am not so good at Microsoft paint otherwise I would try to come up with a diagram of what I am considering. Also without installing a RO/DI how can I properly maintain the water levels? I was thinking of a small gravity feed system that I can refill every 3 days or so. Also If I go with mostly soft corals would biweekly doses of B-ionic work? I don't think I will be able to come up with the lighting to support Hard corals with the exception of a few LPS. I am mainly just looking for something that will give the kids a basic intro to the Coral Reef. Ofcourse with all suggestions I am trying to keep this on the cheap and use as much DIY stuff as I can. I don't have much money for this and I am relying of some old stuff that I have and donations to make this a reality. I seem to have atleast a commitment from the director to provide the money for the food and more than likely the salt. As far as much else they tell me that they don't have the resources.

Thanks
Scott
 
Hey Scott, my experience here is limited, but I'll offer what help I can :). Youn children like you're describing are pretty short, so as short of a stand as is possible would be the way to go IMO. I'd go for one no taller than 2' for the stand as most of those kids are 3-4 feet tall. The real difficulty is to make a tank that is as maintenance free as possible and locked down so that adventurous children doing get themselves or the tank hurt. I'd try and stick to things like mushrooms and leathers as far as corals go, think indestructable ;). As for RO/DI, I'd setup a massive capacity auto topoff system somehow. Without it you'll be going back and forth too often and it'll be a little stressful to say the least. SOmething with enough capacity for at least a week's worth of topoff water.
 
Scott,

It sounds like a good cause and I have no doubt that with sufficient time, effort and resources you can make it work. Honestly though, my first thoughts go to the whole series of concerns that relate to the combination of water, glass, electricity and young kids... not to mention the health/care of the livestock. Not being a detractor here, just a realist. You face many of the same concerns we had in putting together the zoo tank, with less resources at your disposal.

Three suggestions: 1) safety first, 2) make it so you're not required to maintain the tank, and 3) make sure everyone involved knows what will happen if the power goes out.

I also strongly suggest you contact zooqi. He has put several tanks in schools and could probably offer you some very useful advice.

Good luck, it sounds like a neat project.

- Mark
 
sometimes its easier to stick with the goldfish or maybe consider a fish only with a few inverts and skip the corals. Shrimp,damsels,crabs, snails and brittle stars are very hardy and interesting to watch. Stay as simple as possible ........
 
My sugestion on the stand would be to make shure it completly covers the tank and the back of the tank, as in no places for small hads to thorw things in, or get ahold of a wire or hose. It would be best to make the stand larger than the tank so there is no chance of it getting tiped over. This comes from much experience with my own children.

Great project...

Big Comitment.....

Wish I was closer to help you out.
 
The tipping thing was a concern. Thats why I am thinking of using a stand that is wider at the base than the tank is. I also plan on a canopy that will prevent them from gaining access. As for the stocking I am really only planning to put easy to maintain low light corals such as mushrooms and leathers.

As far as the maintaince goes at first I will maintain the system but in time I will train someone at the center to take care of the minor stuff I am always there 5 days a week picking up my daughter and dropping her off so its not like its out of my way...Not to mention it is about 2 minutes away from my house.

I have also been through the liability with the director of the center. I wanted to make absolute sure they know what they are getting into. Things like utilitys and salt are continuing expenses that I will not be paying for.

I am going to try to draw up a stand of some sort.

Concerning Zooqi..I was hoping to see him chime in on this but with the swap forth coming I think he might be a little busy.

Thanks All
Scott
 
Still looking for input on this. Got busy this weekend and didn't have time to draw up a plan.

Thanks
Scott
 
I would use the garf stand, then give the entire thing a shell of plywood. front & back. I would keep the stand short, Skifletch is right about height IMHO. 2' is ideal. I wouldn't be too concerned about a shelf for learning material, it would keep kids to further from the tank. The curriculum probably has appropriate learning material already provided.

Go with soft coral & other durable specimens with a low replacement cost (fish will die). Use lower intensity lighting & cooler running temp to reduce evap. Find out what type of water treatment if any is applied to the water at the center, you may be able to use bottled water (if they get it in bulk or water out of the tap if you're willing to run phosphate remover).

I would recommend an easier maintenence tank tho, FOWLR or freshwater may be more appropriate, especially freshwater given the higher density & visual diversity of fish it can support.

I'd especially like to put a plug in for mbuna as a learning tool.

They are easier to keep alive, have active & interesting behavior. Support a larger density of fish. Have a visible habit of grazing on algae. Form social groups & hierarchy & spawn in the tank readily. A female carrying eggs is a strong example of parental behavior & their bright colors are very kid friendly.

Just my 2 cents.

In short, if it must be a reef. Forget about a sump and make the tank 2' high. a cabinet that short can't accomodate a sump well anyway. Don't worry about the info shelf, let the kids get up close and personal so you'll need a cleat around the tank. Look into bottled top off water of some kind w/ manual top off as part of the feeding regime. Low maintenence corals & no heavy feeders. Low light intensity & cooler running temperature to minimize top off.
 
I obtained the sump today from ABC. Its a low 15 gallon and I think that it would be able to support the lower stand profile that I am looking for.

Dalbrecht, I too love the Mbuna species of Malawian Cichlids but I am trying to make this a simple soft dominated reef. I will be maintaining this tank atleast for the time that my daughter is enrolled in this center.....Quite Frankly I wil try to keep up with it after that but with the coming and going of managments it wouldn't be hard to take it down at some point and then re-donate it to an elementary school or the likes. I am thinking about scraping the idea of the info shelf to allow a up close and personal veiw. I value your input because I was intrigued by your take of the Atlanta aquarium that you shared with me at the last meet.

All in all I am still very involved in this and I am still seeking donations of plumbing and especially lighting. I am willing to pay a reduced amount for a ballast that would run VHOs, PCs, or T5s. It seems that the lighting will be the most difficult to source. I have also secured permission to allow the tank to wear the pround badge of the URS through support reconisation though a small plaque. I would hope that I could gain some more support through both material donation and knowledge. Please remeber that the best way to spread our hobby is to educate children about the world of the Ocean reef. Being inland most of them only ever see this miriacle of nature in books of movies.

Thanks All
Scott
Scott
 
Now thats my kind of price. I have very little money to donate to this...Its mostly my will to expose people to the reef that keeps me going. With all of the donations that I've gotten from ABC its certainly put me in the right direction. I was thinking of going with the t5s but I wasn't too sure about the initioal cost.

As far as equipment I currently have

55 gallon tank (me)
15 gallon sump (abc)
amircle skimmer (abc)
Rio 2100 return (me)
heaters (abc)
2 maxi-jet600s (abc)
Lumber (me)
I am placing a notice at the center so that I can try to draw some moneitary donations from the parents of children at the center.

Seems that I will have to try to buy the rest of the stuff I will need.

Dalbecht, I will take you up on those donations once the system is up.

Also has anyone seen Jediphn??? I gave him the overflow for the 55 and I think that he is out of the hobby now. I am trying to get it back if its not in use.

Thanks
Scott
 
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