Help build a Kindergarten tank

[jellie]

I volunteered to set up a planted aquarium for my daughter's Kindergarten classroom. I think it will be good for them to have a little ecosystem in their room, as well as learn about proper fish care, as opposed to the ideas of disposable dyed fish and such. I'm still only in the planning stages but so far I'm donating a 10 gal, an HOB filter, driftwoods, shrimp and some of my big java ferns. And another member of this forum already donated some subwassertang and other plants (TY!).

But what I really need to get this project off the ground is substrate. Anyone out there have some plant friendly substrate that they are willing to give away? Left over MTS supplies? MGOCPS? Little sandwich baggies of flourite or eco-complete that you are tripping over?

You will have the extreme gratitude of 22 funny 5-yr-olds.


UPDATE: so...I upgraded their tank to a 20gal. LoL

[aokashi]

some miracle gro organic soil and a fine gravel cap will work wonders for a low tech tank XD

[gordonrichards]

Jellie I can donate some misc. stems and plants for the tank!
Let me know :^)

How is the 30 gallon tank doing?

-Gordon

[HighDesert]

Originally Posted by jellie

You will have the extreme gratitude of 22 funny 5-yr-olds.

That is a LOT of five-year-olds! LOL! What a great project! If you need any cholla or a few floaters, let me know!

[HighDesert]

Originally Posted by gordonrichards

Jellie I can donate some misc. stems and plants for the tank!
Let me know :^)

How is the 30 gallon tank doing?

-Gordon

♥ I love this forum!

[herns]

Let me know if you need variety of mosses.

[Davelybob]

Get some oil absorbant from an auto parts store. Like kitty litter but doesn't turn to mush. Should be like $4 bucks for a bag or something. Real cheap, works great. Need to rinse it well before you use it, and the water will be cloudy for a couple days but running a filter/doing water changes should clear it up fairly quickly.

[acitydweller]

5 gallons worth of eco complete here -> http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=190426

I have mts juvies 15-20 or so, floater plants

[jellie]

Albert, I PM'ed him/her a few days back but no reply yet, hence this thread And I would love some MTS for their tank! I only have 5, lol, that I got about a week ago.

Gordon, the 30 is my favorite tank. I spend hours in front of it.

Thanks for all of the wonderful offers and suggestions I'm mostly looking for substrate. The compressed clay such as oil-absorbant are my favorite to cap mineralized top-soil. I will be in my element if I get those two.

[ptr]

If you want kribensis for your tank, you know where to ask

[Monster Fish]

Be sure to take pics of your tank when you're done and post them here!

[jellie]

I'll be keeping a progression journal for the kids

[JoraaÑ]

How much substrate you need? Pm me further.

[msjinkzd]

i have sms here, happy to donate.

[jellie]

It's time for an update. So I upgraded their tank to a 20 gallon tank. I know, I am trouble.

As I write this, I have topsoil mineralizing and plants from various donors rooting in one of my established tanks, so they'll be alive when I replant them in their new home.

from gtu2004


Some of those baby tears are also from MrBrongher, as are these juvie livebearers below; and that crypt in the background is from Monster Fish, currently rooting in a yogurt container of MTS capped with sand.


From Heartnet is some substrate and driftwoods, and Joraan has pledged some of his homemade mix, as has msjinkzd!


Many thanks to these awesome people!!!

And here's the tank right now, hanging out in the bedroom. Dollar per gallon sale.