It is time to reveal what is behind the curtain, and why i have not been on here so much. I am currently working on my Ph.D dissertation studying how preinstructional activities influence learning with a simulation. Yes yes, nerdy. What may be of more interest to TR peeps and reefers in general is the nature of the simulation itself. And this is the reason for the post.

Our simulation will be 5 salt water tanks representing different types of marine ecosystems: 1) reef (obviously :) ), 2) cryptic zone of a reef, 3) macroalgae "bed", 4) seagrass bed, 5) hmm...not sure about tank five yet, maybe a mysis breeding tank. We have hand-picked several students to participate in this special class. The preinstructional activities is my main focus, but of course the students want to know about reefing, which is why they agreed to this craziness!

As this is American education at its best, the project is drastically underfunded. We have some supplies (tanks, one skimmer, 2 RO/DI units, one return pump, and a few powerheads) but we are in serious need of everything else from sand and critters to ideas and suggestions.

If you just happen to have any extra stuff hanging around looking for a good educational cause, now is your chance! Free those extra bags of sand, rock, snails, and frags from the torment and cramped conditions of your garage and sump! Send them to be abused by students instead! :)

Depending on the weight of the items, i can pay for shipping. Also, the school is a 501(c)(3) non-profit which means any items donated are tax-deductible (for those who pay taxes in America anyhow, i am not sure if that "other" country will count this). I will check with the school about how they accept donations and what paperwork there maybe (hey, this is the USA, of course there is paperwork! Haven't you seen Brazil?)

Additionally, and much easier if you like, we need some ideas and suggestions before we get underway. I will post a design of what we were thinking of building in the classroom next week (yes, we are that far along).

Lastly, if you wish to contact me directly (i don't check PMs that often) email me at astrivian (>at<) gmail (>dot<) c o m.

Thanks TR!

PS: We should get a LOT of DIY videos from this project as well. The first one: drilling glass.

Might I suggest a cold water marine region for the fifth tank. Cold water regions are probably one of the most productive marine habitats.

If you need any inf on drilling glass let me know, I work in a glass shop. Good luck it sounds interesting.

Hey thanks for the suggestions. I will look into doing a cold water system. The aquarium in Vancouver, CA had a bunch and i thought they looked really cool. Where do you get critters for a cold water marine setup?

Nay,kid:

Oh, i am so glad you mentioned this. I have lots of questions for you :) I have seen some stuff on drilling glass before, but i have never actually done it. My first question is where to get the drill bits for glass? The big box stores don't seem to have them, not surprisingly, so i guess i have to order one.

Also, in terms of actually doing it, i know we are supposed to keep the glass wet at all times and drill very very slowly. Do you have other tips though?

I have seen cold water animals from time to time in the order sheets that I get from my suppliers around the US. If you have a good relationship with your LFS then maybe they can find you some creatures. Most of the inhabitants are going to inverts and macro.

Oh, i am so glad you mentioned this. I have lots of questions for you :) I have seen some stuff on drilling glass before, but i have never actually done it. My first question is where to get the drill bits for glass? The big box stores don't seem to have them, not surprisingly, so i guess i have to order one.

Limited selection but here is a link to a site that sells a few diamond bits and a drill guide (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Plumbing-and-Pumps-Schedule-80-Plumbing-Diamond-Glass-Drill-Bits/c14_15_41/index.html).

HTH

I get my bits from Stained Glass Supplies & Tools - AmeriGlas (http://www.shopsmartxpress.com/AmeriGls/MAIN.htm) their not the greatest but they are inexpensive and should last for ten to fifteen holes.
I make a dam out of clay (like a doughnut) place the ring of clay around the hole with about an inch of space around the edge of the the bit. then fill with water about two thirds. start the hole at a 45 degree angle once you feel it start to make a groove straighten the drill perfectly straight up and down. as you go you need to pump the bit up and down every ten to fifteen seconds to let the water get down to the glass. be very careful to not tilt side to side. as you start to break through the water will start to drain so you need someone to add water as you finish. use very light pressure for the last third of the hole. just be patient! also put something under it to catch the plug. the thicker the glass the easier. hope this helps any more questions feel free to ask.

I get my bits from Stained Glass Supplies & Tools - AmeriGlas (http://www.shopsmartxpress.com/AmeriGls/MAIN.htm) their not the greatest but they are inexpensive and should last for ten to fifteen holes.

Cool link. I just noticed they have a tip section for aquarium drilling (http://www.shopsmartxpress.com/AmeriGls/M9a.htm#anchor240)!

Sounds like a wonderful dissertation. I think the cold water tank would be a good idea too. I watched a demo at my LFS and they used a drill press to keep the bit square to the glass.

I've kept cold water (Eastern Atlantic) systems before. It's great if you have a basement or cooler area to set up in. I got all my specimens from the estuaries :) Killifish (Mumchog), snails, macro, muscles etc.

They are real fun, and educational systems.

Dave

Hey thanks so much to all of you! With your help i successfully drilled my first hole through my old hex tank. It took about a half hour and five gallons of water, but in the end i have a perfectly sized hole for the 1 1/5 inch bulkhead. Later, this tank will a quarantine and then a fry tank. With this one huge hole (the tank is only 10 gallons) i could do a drain and return through the one hole i think.

And now, it is time to start drilling the real tanks. This should be interesting.

Drain and return...one hole? How so?

a little OFF topic, but not really ...

Matt ... we REALLY NEED to get together to make that tank drilling video !! seems like a lot of people are starting to do it on their own lately. let k=me know when you dont have class and i can supply the tank and water. you can bring the bit, clay, and drill (mine died).

back to your regularly scheduled insanity. (i miss Vs sense of humor) !!

Since the bulkhead is so huge relative to the tank (1.5 inches for a 10 gallon tank) it can drain far more water than i want it to. So, i will thread a flexible hose up through the pvc drain for the return water. The sump underneath will just be an old salt bucket, just big enough for a small skimmer.