School Project

jagal · Post by **jagal** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:59 pm

My daughter's teacher is wanting to setup a marine aquarium in her classroom for hands on teaching of marine biology. Problem is, as we all know, school finances are always low. The teacher has to do everything out of pocket.

I will be helping her with some of the equipment and setup. I was wondering if anyone on here has any 29 to 40 gallon tanks that they are willing to donate or part with very cheap for this great project?

The school is Bellview Middle School in Pensacola. Any questions can be pointed my way.

Thank you in advance.

jagal

Post by **snoopdog** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:21 pm

Personally I think this could be a disaster. I could think of a hundred reasons this could go bad. Does she really know what to do for a reef tank, I mean the time involved and cost ? I mean you obviously are not going to be there all the time to take care of problems as they rise.

I am not trying to come off totally negative, but more concerned about killing live corals/fish when it can be avoided.

jagal · Post by **jagal** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:33 pm

I understand your concern. It is a valid one. From what I understand, the teacher has experience with freshwater aquariums but wants to make the move to marine. I see this as nothing more than any other Freshwater aquarist wanting to make the change.

This teacher is very conscientious. I am sure many people switching from fresh to salt have had unwanted deaths. She is wanting to take her students along with her on this learning adventure.

jagal

reefer21 · Post by **reefer21** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm

umm one of my teachers in HS had a marine aquarium and it didn't even last a month...maybe 2 weeks at the most.

Fishfood · Post by **Fishfood** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:37 am

He said Marine Tank not reef tank. I think he would advise her not to go into a full blown reef from the beginning. We are talking some LR, canister filter, live sand, PC or VHO lighting and Damsals, clowns and chromis to start. Throw in some shrimp and crabs and snails and you have a bigginner marine tank for school children. Thats as cheap as it gets for fish and critters right there.

Beaver · Post by **Beaver** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:48 am

I have done this for teachers at Faulkner in their office and lounge but a classroom takes on different circumstances. The main point is to find out if she uses a "chalk board". If she does then be prepared for wicked ph swings......also the maintance people play a role in the equation, and think about summer vaction......

I agree with snoop she should pass.
There are a ton of educational dvds on marine topics and the DISL has a sweet local setup any age would benefit from.....

Do me a favor and pass this link on to the teacher
http://www.disl.org/

Just my 2 cents
Beaver

Fishfood · Post by **Fishfood** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 1:36 pm

they still use chalk boards now adays? I haven't seen one of those in ages.

Amphiprion · Post by **Amphiprion** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:40 pm

The only time pH would become a problem with chalkboards is if the tank were located within 10ft of the board--even then, it would require a fair amount of chalk to make any sort of difference because it is primarily CaCO3, not readily soluble. Besides, schools are phasing out chalkboards due to proven respiratory problems. That is why most now use dry-erase boards.

SixLDfalcon · Post by **SixLDfalcon** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:12 pm

haha, the good old chalk boards...
I'm fairly new at this but any type of salt water aquarium, marine or reef, takes a fair amount of care. Definitely a lot more care than a freshwater. I'd say it would be a gamble for a teacher to be keeping one in a room full of middle schoolers. There are some really stupid kids that would drop in M&M's or whatever just to get a good laugh in.

Post by **snoopdog** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:35 pm

Definitely have to think about summer, and long breaks....mardi gras....hurricanes...etc.

Melissakins · Post by **Melissakins** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:41 pm

There's a lot of awesome DVD's too to choose from for educational purposes, maybe a smaller 10 or 5 gallon would be easier than a 29 or larger for a teacher with kids? There's also cleaning supplies to think of when the janitor comes in to clean after school/on weekends. That and you'd have to take into consideration no one around on the weekends, holiday's, etc.

Not too sure if a reef/marine tank would be a great idea considering the maintenance and delicacy of the whole thing.

Amphiprion · Post by **Amphiprion** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:57 pm

I wouldn't go too much under 29 for these sorts of applications. While I do not think that the idea shouldn't be considered at all (since it really is a viable, realistic option), I also don't think that it would help much to get such a small tank. The pitfalls and greater difficulties (at least for a novice--the teacher) associated with smaller tanks can be quite discouraging. So I think that a 29 should be the minimum for such an application, at least for someone maintaining it with no previous experience.