The Coral Reef Project At Stratton Elementary School

[bdottington]

I think this is an awesome program you're running! I had several teachers through middle and high school that really fostered my interest in aquatics. I attribute,in part, my favorite hobbies as an adult to starting in their classrooms. Keep up the the great work, and I'm sure your students will remember this as fondly as I remember everything I learned from the great teachers I had that you remind me of.

BTW, all of you have some gorgeous tanks. Keep up the great work!!

 

[NBcoralreef]

Hi Nipun
Hi Nipun

Hi Ms.Cass,
Today at school I did a few water tests for the water from my tank at home. The results were great.The ammonia is very low, the nitrite is getting high,the nitrate is pretty good, and pH level is ok. I was working on these tests with my friend Swapnil. Mr.Rutherford said that I will be ready to have fish in my tank soon.

 

[Brandon Rutherford]

Hi Ms.Cass,
Today at school I did a few water tests for the water from my tank at home. The results were great.The ammonia is very low, the nitrite is getting high,the nitrate is pretty good, and pH level is ok. I was working on these tests with my friend Swapnil. Mr.Rutherford said that I will be ready to have fish in my tank soon.

Your science power is strong young one, but you should probably quantify your test values with a numerical value. 'Pretty good' isn't a very accurate way to communicate your results.

 

[Brandon Rutherford]

I thought you couldn't drill tempered?

Got one hole done free hand. Two more to go.

 

[Brandon Rutherford]

When they say "do not drill" I think they just mean 'do not drill unless you want to hold an uncomfortable position for two hours' [emoji4]

 

[domination2580]

Hmm...and ur sure they are tempered?

 

[Brandon Rutherford]

Yes, I've drilled tempered glass multiple times, though as you saw, sometimes it doesn't work. It's still glass, just has pre manufactured stress points. If you exert minimal pressure when grinding it will eventually cut through without shattering.

 

[chickofthesea]

Hi Ms.Cass,
Today at school I did a few water tests for the water from my tank at home. The results were great.The ammonia is very low, the nitrite is getting high,the nitrate is pretty good, and pH level is ok. I was working on these tests with my friend Swapnil. Mr.Rutherford said that I will be ready to have fish in my tank soon.

cool beans! I'm excited for you. Do you know what kind fish you are going to put in yet? I'm sure it's a hard choice.

 

[chickofthesea]

I'm really happy that I have the resources to use this salt. I used to use a more common and cheaper brand and ultimately had to spend additional time and money to supplement calcium and trace elements to get the kind of coral growth I wanted. Now I can maintain calcium and alkalinity balance in my tanks with a lot of LSP corals without using 2 part or kalk dosing.

I always order salt online and if you buy in larger quantities, the lower price online (vs a dealer's store) makes up for shipping costs. This said, here's a link to the Tropic Marin dealer map. I also encourage you to email Lou Eckus, the US rep. He's a super nice dude and would be able answer any question you have.

I ordered salt on line. I actually qualified for free shipping. Thanks for the advice. I dose Kalk now. hoping to do away with that after changing brands. I'm a fan of the keep it simple club.

 

[chickofthesea]

Interesting presentation. I did know banggai cardinal fish were mouth brooders but i didn't know why. Did you know they can breed in captivity too. I think they are beautiful.

 

[NBcoralreef]

cool beans! I'm excited for you. Do you know what kind fish you are going to put in yet? I'm sure it's a hard choice.

Hi,
I think I'm going to put a firefish, 2 clownfish,shrimp,snails,and crabs. I am very excited my tank is almost fully cycled! Thankyou so much.

 

[NBcoralreef]

I try to setup my managers and other students who show continued interest and responsibility with tanks at home. Nipun is already a dedicated reefer and for his birthday last month I setup a 10 gallon marine tank at his house. He's still cycling his tank with fish food and trying to pick what goes in it. I'm sure he would be happy to take suggestions.

Special thanks to Robin Knapp for donating the tank, rocks and filter.

Mr. Rutherford, my teacher is the one who introduced this project to our school. He made my birthday special.In addition to his guidance,I intend to expand my knowledge about this hobby with help of the experienced members here at reef2reef.Learning about coral reef is awesome.

Hello r2r,
I had a question about my live rock. What is that white stuff on the rock? And why is the rock turning all kinds of colors?

 

[chickofthesea]

Hi,
I think I'm going to put a firefish, 2 clownfish,shrimp,snails,and crabs. I am very excited my tank is almost fully cycled! Thankyou so much.

 

[chickofthesea]

I really love fire fish too. Sounds like a plan. Yesterday durring a water change I accidently caught 3 mysis shrimp. I did not put any in though. Be ready to spot all the creatures even the the tiny ones lol

 

[chickofthesea]

Hello r2r,
I had a question about my live rock. What is that white stuff on the rock? And why is the rock turning all kinds of colors?

It looks like diatoms. That is just part of the cycle process. what is the temperture you have set? It should run it's course then die out when all it's food source runs out. Keep up the great observations.

 

[NBcoralreef]

It looks like diatoms. That is just part of the cycle process. what is the temperture you have set? It should run it's course then die out when all it's food source runs out. Keep up the great observations.

72.6 F but it becomes warmer if the temprature outside is warm.

 

[120reefkeeper]

Worth a study for your students....


This is just a short link to a very large and interesting subject. This was a noble prize winner . They are trying to use this fluorescence to map the human brain. They have already used it for cancer and for HIV.

 

[7hogwarts]

Hello r2r,
I had a question about my live rock. What is that white stuff on the rock? And why is the rock turning all kinds of colors?

I think the white stuff on the rocks might be a precipitate from the rocks or perhaps if something got added to the tank and wasn't in solution.
All the different colors- Think about the plant life that is part of your ecosystem.

 

[NBcoralreef]

Hi,
I think I'm going to put a firefish, 2 clownfish,shrimp,snails,and crabs. I am very excited my tank is almost fully cycled! Thankyou so much.

Here are the clownfish I got! BTW my tank is fully cycled!

 

[NBcoralreef]

Here I am acclimating the clownfish to my tank. I am so excited!!!