Biology Teacher, in need of advice

[fatman]

Check with your local LFS's. At least up here we have been known to give complete tank setups with a few fish to primary education institutions, and even make guest appearances to talk to students when it is requested. I would think Fairbanks, Alaska is not the only city providing such gifts to local teachers classrooms. The stores benefit greatly when children convince their parents they want an aquarium and tell them which store provided a tank to their class room or school.

[possumpal]

Originally Posted by fishbait

welcome to living reefs. If you plan on setting up a tank for teaching, I would recomend something a little larger than a nano. that way you can build a large refugium for viewing. let that baby mature and get full of pods, bristleworms, feather dusters, etc. that's bound to get their attention for the "smaller" things that live in the ocean.

Hi and thanks. I would like to set up something for teaching, but so many people have told me that it is very expensive and hard to maintain a healthy tank. I don't want a tank with just fish in it. In fact, I really don't care if I have fish (unless they are necessary for a healthy tank)... Kids know what fish are... they don't know what bristleworms and feather dusters are. (Shoot, they don't even think of housework when you say feather duster, much less of a living creature.... )

Can you give me an idea of the cost and what kind of maintenance you do on your own tank? Thanks so much, I appreciate all the replies...

Jessica

[possumpal]

Unfortunatly, I live in a very, very small town.... the local "fish shop" is the local pet store, and I wouldn't spend money there if my life depended on it.... any other suggestions? Can you recommend a place I might contact via email or the phone with this kind of inquiry?

Thanks!!

[fatman]

Just do not look in catalogs with teaching supplies or scientific equipment for universities the charge 4 to 5 times as much as a reputable fish store. I would contact some of the large or intermediate sized pet stores. I am sure some place like Marine Depot at marinedepot.com or Drs. Foster and Smith at drsfostersmith.com would offer you very good prices on such a school display tank as long as the school would verify that you are employed by them as a teacher. It is a great sells promotion for them and a complete right off. Even with a very small tank of 10 to 12 gallons you are looking at a minimum of 2 to 4 hundred dollars when considering minimal lighting filtration circulation and maintenance supplies. I would definitely consider the donation aspect. A large firm could send you everything needed from their inventory without you needing to go to several different sources.

[yote]

It would also be a good idea to check around to see if there is a reef club in your area.If there is,check and see if any of their members would be willing to help.

[possumpal]

Thanks... I am probably going to try to write a grant to the Science Council. They give grants to some teachers for up to $1000. I will try some of those places and see if they can help me get set up. Thanks for all your help.

[Matti]

I think Marine Depot has the most competitive prices, plus look under the education tab. I just read a great article today. You could get all the kids to subscribe to Marinedepot's website by going to: MarineDepot.com

I also agree with the grant writing part. Grant writing does take time, however. If I ever get enough American Airlines miles saved up I'd happily come set up your aquarium.

Each student could be responsible for testing for something like Ammonium, Nitrites, Nitrates, Phosphorus, Calcium, pH, etc. In my college biology days we had to spend half hours describing the behavior of certain animals, and drawing them! Your students likewise could do this, and maybe present to the class what they have learned by observation about fish behavior, how the nitrogen cycle works, the purpose of live rock in a salt water aquarium, and why a 2 degree increase in the oceans temperature is killing our coral. Coral is something else that would well be worth mentioning because of the tiny polyps that live within the hard structure of the coral.

Each kid could create a scientific notebood and be taught about recording observations properly. This could light a fire for future marine biolgists.

I wish you so well as you endeavor to follow your dream. I am happy to give you whatever I am not using. Just post a list; maybe you don't know all that you need--just thought of that. Let me know.

Take care, and have a relaxing Sunday, cordially,

Matti

[possumpal]

Yes!! You have just described all that I wish for my students! I want the to learn, I want them to enjoy, and, most of all, I want them to take an interest in animal that they have never been exposed to before!

Are you a teacher? You have some great ideas!!

Yes, I kind of do need to know where to start and what I need. I read and read, but there is sssooooo much to take in! It is rather overwhelming... I would definitely get the class involved in caring for the tank. That would be great "real life" experience for them.

You have been such a great help. I really appreciate the great advice and help. Thanks so much!

Jessica

[Altohombre]

Depending on the tank size I would try to get fish that have different swimming motions/swimming routines. I know my clownfish swims around totally different than my Flame Angel does. Partially because of body shape, fin size, feeding needs, etc. It is quite interesting to watch the differences.

[dustin_P74]

you could also have the students set up in groups and each group do a project on a different part of the set up like the skimmer, wet/dry filter, the power heads etc. and then present to the class the importance of each to the health of the tank and what would happen if that part were not to be there or if it failed in the tank.