My son's preschool classroom has a 10 gallon saltwater tank in it that's only got a little hermit crab crawling around in it. It doesn't appear that water changes are done with any regularity or even that topoff water is added consistently. Every time I see it, I get a nervous tic and want to go over and fix it.
I have been thinking about it quite a bit lately and am thinking about refreshing the setup and volunteering to take over the maintenance of the tank.
I'd like to put in a few pieces of LR, maybe a couple of Xenia, and one or two fish.
Since it's in a preschool classroom, I think it's also gotta be pretty low maintenance and tolerant of the occasional toy going for a swim.
I'm wondering if any of you guys have done this type of thing before and/or have any suggestions on how to approach this, tips for bulletproofing the tank, etc.
I think it would be pretty cool for the kids to watch the tank mature from bare live rock, through the cycle, to adding cleanup crew, fish, and hardy corals. Lots of opportunity to see little life all over the tank.
Chris that would be awsome thing to do I wish when I was a kid something like that happened. I could imagine now all the kids around looking at nemo or anotther butiful fish. I think you should do it plus it might get the teachers in it more to. I have a brother and some nices and nefews around my tank the one thing I do to protect it from the toy bath or even the hole container of food is duck tape the lid down so no little kid could get in it. other than that I have no clue to the scratching of the glass besides keep the kids away but that would defeat the purpose of the tank. Im so excited I defantly want to fallow this thread till the end. hopefully someone eles will chime is soon Im sure they will this is a great opertunity to get young kids into a wonderful project. Hope this helps alittle bit If I think of anything else I post it. Thanks
Raymond
hi i have ahd a few salt water tanks just go live rock 2 fish snails that it i use to top up with fresh water that how hardy my fish became so yes u could so it the less fish u have the less water changes i only eva did water changes when i felt like it lol bad i know but great in ways lol
Hi, I have volunteered to do this for a preschool once. My neighbor asked me if I would clean the tank in her doughters class. It was a fresh 10 gallon and the kids loved it. Talk about a rewarding way to spend some time. I maintain tanks for a living, but this was the most fun. The teacher asked me to be a guest and talk to the tots about fish and answer their questions. I think more tanks in classrooms might someday heighten public awareness about whats happening to fish in the environment. Your enthusiasm will spread through out the glass. I hope you have fun in the endeavor.
I think more tanks in classrooms might someday heighten public awareness about whats happening to fish in the environment. Your enthusiasm will spread through out the glass. I hope you have fun in the endeavor.
"Human subtelty will never devise an invention more beautiful,
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That sounds like a wonderful idea and I would imagine that the teacher would be just as excited as the children. What a wonderful learning opportunity for them also. I was also thinking about small expenses incurred in the maintenance whatnots such as salt water, food, etc. I'm wondering if any LFS would donate any needed supplies, with the school's permission of course. Neighborhood businesses are wonderful in supporting our children's special projects and interest in our schools and communities. Just an idea.
I talked with my son's teacher this morning and she agreed to give it a go.
The current setup has a little backpack style filter with some ceramic media in the filter chamber and a small submersible heater. There are some misc decorations as well. Lastly, the substrate is about 2" of what looks like crushed coral pebbles.
My plan is to replace the substrate with sand. Anyone have any thoughts on a DSB in a 10 gallon tank? Seems like 4-6" of sand in a tank that small would be excessive. Would 2" count as a DSB in that sized tank?
Next, the ceramic media in the backpack filter will be removed and I'll probably just use the filter for water flow purposes, and possibly as a place to put carbon, etc. I'll probably add another powerhead for flow as well. I've got a couple of little ones laying about.
One challenge will be the lighting and a hood. Right now, there's no hood and there are no lights in the tank, so I'll need to get something there. Probably an inexpensive PC fixture will do the trick. For safety sake, I think I'm going to want to find (or build) a hood of some sort as well. Be a good way to discourage little fingers from getting into the water or from adding unauthorized "supplements".
I think it's also important to get one of those GFCI pigtails to plug everything into. No sense electrocuting one of the kids -- might dampen their enthusiasm.
I like the idea of getting donations and/or discounts from local fish stores. Also, if there are any reefers in the Costa Mesa, CA area that have any gear they'd like to donate (including a larger tank), please let me know. I'm going to try and make it to a meeting or two of the local reef club as well.
With a setup this small, it seems like I should be able to find most of what I need in people's garages.
I think it's also important to get one of those GFCI pigtails to plug everything into. No sense electrocuting one of the kids -- might dampen their enthusiasm.
Good thinking That is a defitante need exspecialy at school. It looks like its going to come along great cant wait for everything to start. Thanks
Raymond
P.S. If you could get some pics of the tank before you start would be awsome so that way you and us can get a look on how far its come when your finished.thanks
Chris this is a capital idea! I love my DSB but in this instance I think I'd go for the 2" SSB and 10 lbs of LR. I agree with removing the bio-media from the HOB filter. I'd consider xenia and mushrooms for corals, maybe a couple of ocellaris clowns (kids and Nemo you know), hermits with plenty of extra shells and some snails. Kids would love nassarious snails at feeding time.
I have one of the mini lights and I think it would be OK. I also think a two tube NO fluorescent strip light may do for these hardy softies but I have not ever tried. Does anyone have any experience with that?
I am always a fan of adding tanks to classrooms! I did one study with high schoolers and tanks and have another one coming up! One word of caution from my experience: the students will likely really want to help you put the tank together. This is nice and i am sure it is fun for them but remember that the more hands are in the mix, the more difficult it will be to maintain some control over the situation. The tank is only so large and students can only fit so many student hands in there at one time! Especially with preschoolers: I would set up the tank when then are not in the room and just show them the final result.
With that age of students too, bright colorful animals are the way to go. Mushrooms might be okay, but personally i would go with longer wavy things like Xenia (particularly if they are pulsing). Clownfish are also classic, can't go wrong there. Even macroalgae will be fascinating to them. If a cleaner shrimp will fit, i am sure that would be a welcome sight as well. I also agree with Carmie on the Nassarius Snails. It is really cool to see them come out of the sand.
Good thinking on doing this for the school. I agree that exposing kids to this stuff early goes a long way towards reef awareness. Who knows, you may inspire a couple to be marine biologists
__________________ Samuel
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There is an article on beginner corals in the November issue of FAMA by Adam Blundell. He recommended green star polyps and mushrooms as great low light corals and it occured to me that we had not mentioned GSP in this discussion. In the section on 'shrooms he specifically said that they would do fine under NO fluorescent tubes.
I agree that pulsing Xenia would be fun for the kids and it would do fine under the mini PC light and maybe even NO's. It also likes comparatively dirtier water so might be a really good choice.
I wish when I was a kid something like that happened. I could imagine now all the kids around looking at nemo or anotther butiful fish. I think you should do it plus it might get the teachers in it more to. I have a brother and some nices and nefews around my tank the one thing I do to protect it from the toy bath or even the hole container of food is duck tape the lid down so no little kid could get in it. other than that I have no clue to the scratching of the glass besides keep the kids away but that would defeat the purpose of the tank. Im so excited I defantly want to fallow this thread till the end. hopefully someone eles will chime is soon Im sure they will this is a great opertunity to get young kids into a wonderful project. Hope this helps alittle bit If I think of anything else I post it. Thanks
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