Thanks To Everyone Who Contributed To Classroom Tank; Tank Update; Suggestions

[phatsonate]

Hey There- I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to our classroom tank:

Keep On Learning- multiple frags/colonies
Vuqchu- multiple frags
jrpdriver- Awesome Razor LED light- super easy programming
untico- multiple frags, RBTA
thegrun- multiple frags, dirt cheap nice frags, light bulbs
bvysochin- multiple euphyllias in generous trade
OG contributor of first corals - some Kenya Tree/Colt- sorry I can't remember the name- up in South Bay area

Hopefully I didn't forget anyone..

Of course definitely up for coral donations to help populate the tank :wave:

Update on tank: We had a mini-disaster during the summer. I had to move the tank for classroom painting. I built a stand to move it out from the wall just enough and put a tarp over the tank with the plan to come back the next day and put the tank back, but I ended up not making it back for a few days. I didn't even think about the heat that would be kept in from the tarp. The water got up to 100 degrees and lots of life perished- it looked terrible. But luckily not everything died- some fish, crabs, star, snails made it and some zoas have recovered as well.

Luckily I had a few things in my home tank to frag and try to repopulate. Also I had taken RBTA out to split into 2 so it is back.

Current pic:

Looking forward to some growth and more corals, but the kids love it even now and lots of random kids wander in to check it out. Also, one of my students is currently looking for a tank to set up at his house.

Full setup:

Sump Area:

I am planning on adding some mangroves and maybe phyto and zooplankton reactors to hang on wall and feed tank- haven't researched yet, so it is just an idea now. Thought then maybe the sump could sustain some seahorses, maybe dwarf? Also plan on adding dosing containers- anyone dose by gravity feed? Any suggestions/ideas?

Some other classroom pets/plans-

9' Jungle Carpet Python

<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/baXHnsJCSp0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

White's Tree Frog and Betta:

Future Vertical Garden with recirculating water/fertilizer by freshwater tank:

And either zoa or anemone tank as seen in right side of 2nd pic, hopefully to be funded by a grant.

 

[vuqchu]

Woah. MH for sump lighting. Good thing you don't have to pay for electricity. Looking good!

 

[phatsonate]

Woah. MH for sump lighting. Good thing you don't have to pay for electricity. Looking good!

Hey, it is a mere 150 watts. But really, even though I don't pay it, someone does, and the electricity has to be generated. So I do consider the impact of the electricity we use. I wish we could have solar at all the schools.

I am not sure I am going to use the light. I might go LED instead. But i had this light sitting around in my room after I changed to LED on my home tank. I really love the look of the disco ball light so I figured i would just put it up for now.

 

[BeanMachine]

Do you need anything else? I'm coral limited at the moment but probably have some powerheads or small items I can muster up.

 

[phatsonate]

Do you need anything else? I'm coral limited at the moment but probably have some powerheads or small items I can muster up.

Thanks Cory- I think I am mostly good on equipment now. It is too easy to horde for this tank when I have a bunch of drawers in my room so I have to resist. I am pretty good at staying clean with my home tank for lack of storage space.

Unless, you know, you have some extra Vortech laying around. He he. My old school Tunze setup kind of crapped out. Luckily I still had my Hydor wavemaker as a backup. (Fingers crossed) Those things have worked solidly for at least five years

 

[BeanMachine]

Thanks Cory- I think I am mostly good on equipment now. It is too easy to horde for this tank when I have a bunch of drawers in my room so I have to resist. I am pretty good at staying clean with my home tank for lack of storage space.

Unless, you know, you have some extra Vortech laying around. He he. My old school Tunze setup kind of crapped out. Luckily I still had my Hydor wavemaker as a backup. (Fingers crossed) Those things have worked solidly for at least five years

I'll be moving next month hopefully, so I'll see what I have in storage when the time comes.

 

[phatsonate]

I'll be moving next month hopefully, so I'll see what I have in storage when the time comes.

Cool, thanks!

 

[phatsonate]

Dang, was hoping for some feedback/suggestions.

 

[thegrun]

Nate, it looks great, not much I can suggest! I do have some new 150 watt MH bulbs you can have for free if you want them. They are Elos 14K double ended bulbs. Wish I had you for science back in the day!
-Mike

 

[Rakie]

Man, If I knew you 5-6 years ago I'd have been able to donate tons of tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes, frogs, lizards, snakes. I had a collection of collections for awhile.

There are some really cool and safe esoteric critters like Sand Fish which are lizards from the Sahara that live under sand -- When they move it looks like fish swimming through the sand, really cool, reminds me of tremors. Kenyan sand boa's are similar, a small boa that tops out around 9-11", doesn't need a huge area.

As for the tank it looks good. Water seems maintained and algae free, the frags you've got look great so far. Unless you're looking to pickup new stuff, it all seems pretty solid.

______________________________________________________________________

Suggestion! make your own fish foods by raising your own cultures.

Cultivate: Rotifers, Spirulina, Plankton, Brine Shrimp, Black Worms, Mysis Shrimp (if you can). Feed everything Selcon and Spirulina/Rotifers/Plankton. Combine a bit of everything and Freeze them all in flat packs.

I think it can become self-sustainable with a little work -- Who knows, people here might like to buy it too. But it could be a cool science lesson as well.

Once you start feeding your own foods you can take weekly shots of the fish to compare health, growth, coloration, etc.

 

[elvis142]

Hello, I have a bunch of monticap, the red/orange and green. I also re pumped my tank and have Jabao 60 laying around.

Johnny

 

[phatsonate]

Nate, it looks great, not much I can suggest! I do have some new 150 watt MH bulbs you can have for free if you want them. They are Elos 14K double ended bulbs. Wish I had you for science back in the day!
-Mike

Hey Mike, thanks for the offer- I have a couple of spares already, but much appreciated for sure!

 

[phatsonate]

Man, If I knew you 5-6 years ago I'd have been able to donate tons of tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes, frogs, lizards, snakes. I had a collection of collections for awhile.

There are some really cool and safe esoteric critters like Sand Fish which are lizards from the Sahara that live under sand -- When they move it looks like fish swimming through the sand, really cool, reminds me of tremors. Kenyan sand boa's are similar, a small boa that tops out around 9-11", doesn't need a huge area.

As for the tank it looks good. Water seems maintained and algae free, the frags you've got look great so far. Unless you're looking to pickup new stuff, it all seems pretty solid.

______________________________________________________________________

Suggestion! make your own fish foods by raising your own cultures.

Cultivate: Rotifers, Spirulina, Plankton, Brine Shrimp, Black Worms, Mysis Shrimp (if you can). Feed everything Selcon and Spirulina/Rotifers/Plankton. Combine a bit of everything and Freeze them all in flat packs.

I think it can become self-sustainable with a little work -- Who knows, people here might like to buy it too. But it could be a cool science lesson as well.

Once you start feeding your own foods you can take weekly shots of the fish to compare health, growth, coloration, etc.

Hey cool, thanks for the suggestion. That is a great idea and kind of what I was thinking about doing with the phyto and zooplankton containers. Would be cool to expand. Selling would be great to earn money for supplies. We'll see.. Have to do some research..

 

[phatsonate]

Hello, I have a bunch of monticap, the red/orange and green. I also re pumped my tank and have Jabao 60 laying around.

Johnny

Hey Johnny- thanks for the offer- would love to take you up on the Montis and the pump. Where are you located? I seem to recall that you aren't in San Clemente from another post.

 

[elvis142]

I'm in San Clemente. I work in Long Beach. I would be able to drop off 1 day next week. Oh, I forgot to mention that I have a plug that is jugged with Rasta Zoas.

 

[phatsonate]

I'm in San Clemente. I work in Long Beach. I would be able to drop off 1 day next week. Oh, I forgot to mention that I have a plug that is jugged with Rasta Zoas.

Oh wow, that is an awesome offer to drop off. And rastas would of course be welcomed. Thanks!

 

[elvis142]

I was out of town over the weekend. Sent you a pm