Wife's - 15g classroom dirt tank *summer update* 6-4-12

[SlammedDC2]

I want to start out by thanking a few members who have helped with this project.

Okay so about two weeks ago I set up a 15g to go in my wife's classroom. I figured I owed them a nice tank since I took the turtle home to put him in a bigger tank. This tank is planted, will be rescaped soon once the mailman brings me all my priority boxes (I've got to stay out of the SnS).
Anyway I picked this tank up off craigslist for $15. Wasn't to bad as it came with top, light, hob, and a 6' gravel vac. I dumped the gravel and decorations.

This tank will be in a 3rd grade classroom. It will come home for summer (it's kind of like shared custody) but in school the rest of the year. My wife has weekly jobs she rotates for the kids. One of those jobs is "petkeeper"
Their job will be to feed and dose (I really hope they listen when I come in to tell them how to do this). I will come in once every two weeks to redo the co2, do water change, prune, etc maint. Anyway we will see how this goes.

I am using diy co2, and will be dosing with green thumb aquatics.

Substrate -
MTS capped with PFS

Lighting -
kit light with 6500k daylight CFL's

Flora -
red tiger lotus
fissedens moss
christmas moss
java moss
south american frog bit
Cryptocoryne Balansae
Cryptocoryne parva
various crypts
various anubis
Staurogyne Repens - in transit
java fern
aluminum plant
peace lily
spider lily
other plants I don't know the name of (I just can't get the hang of that)

Fauna -
3 otto
20+ red rili
3 amano

Anyway on with a few pics. I apologize now for them being cell phone pics but I haven't got my new laptop cord in so I can't pull anything off the camera.

1-5-12 FTS


1-22-12 FTS


2-2-12 FTS


3-5-12 FTS


6-4-12 FTS


Setup pics

frogbit is getting some good roots






I will update this again before I take the tank to the school (still waiting for the cycle and then I will order the shrimp). From then on out I will update every two weeks. Thanks for looking.

[ValMM]

That's a great way for kids to learn about responsibility. My 6th grade teacher had a room full of pets. We had a rotating wheel with our names on it to dictate who cared for what pet. Giunea pig, hamsters, gerbils, angel fish, scorpion, or hermit crabs. We also got to take some of the pets home during vacation or summer time. Hope the tank goes well.

[SlammedDC2]

Originally Posted by ValMM

That's a great way for kids to learn about responsibility. My 6th grade teacher had a room full of pets. We had a rotating wheel with our names on it to dictate who cared for what pet. Giunea pig, hamsters, gerbils, angel fish, scorpion, or hermit crabs. We also got to take some of the pets home during vacation or summer time. Hope the tank goes well.

If I was a teacher I would have a zoo in my classroom.
I loved it when I was a kid and got to take a hamster or gerbil home for a weekend or christmas break. They can't quite do that with the tank but like you said. It will help teach them responsibility.

[Psionic]

My classroom growing up had small 10 gallons in the back of the classroom. They had fish and hamsters in them. They had to be in the back or kids would stare at them all day. We remembered to feed them every day because we just wanted to look at them. I remember I felt jealous when it wasn't my turn lol.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=29.515130,-98.564839

[knuggs]

Chili Rasboras or Galaxy Rasboras would go great in there and you could have a bigger school.

I would be careful about the betta and RCS though. I had seen my yellows take down my double half moon betta. They tried to eat him alive! He was kinda slow but still its a consideration.

[SlammedDC2]

I will look into both of those, the betta however will go to a new home when the shrimp arrive.
How many rasboras could I put in a 15?

[knuggs]

You could put 10-15 Chilis easy and probably 10-12 Galaxies. The chilis stay real small and the galaxy do as well but not as small.

[SlammedDC2]

Originally Posted by knuggs

You could put 10-15 Chilis easy and probably 10-12 Galaxies. The chilis stay real small and the galaxy do as well but not as small.

Okay so, do those two small schools, with the shrimp, 2-3 ottos, and maybe some SAE as this tank has gotten out of control lol

Keep in mind that I just moved a few plants so it's cloudy, I'll get some new pics up


How many algae's am I growing?




I'll take some more pics tonight with clearer water.
I'm hoping between the shrimp, ottos, and sae they will take care of the algae

[Psionic]

It looks really nice. The rasboras and galaxies will look nice and stick out well for them to see moving around. I wonder if thr schooling fish will school at a school. I couldn't help it lol.

[allaboutfish]

i would not do the CPD's theyre skittish as is and you wont see them much.

[knuggs]

The CPD will hideout a lil but not that much. My gf has some and they tend to be mid and bottow dwellers and the chilis are more mid top swimmers. A couple ottos wouldnt hurt but I would not get the SAE's, they get big! I would just give that tank a lil TLC cleaning it up and putting some elbow grease into it. Then maybe do a DIY Co2 that the kids can take care of, thats science and chemistry. The Co2 and shrimp should hep keep the hairgrass under control from bouncing back and the ottos will help keep new patches from forming. Id boil or bake that driftwood. Has great potential though. I can throw in a couple of crypts and some riccia in with the shrimp as donation to the class if you like.

Also, that has 4 CFL's on it? How long is it and where did you get it?

[SlammedDC2]

Originally Posted by knuggs

I can throw in a couple of crypts and some riccia in with the shrimp as donation to the class if you like.

Also, that has 4 CFL's on it? How long is it and where did you get it?

I'll do some cleaning on it tomorrow, and toss a few ottos in. I would like a few more plants to help it along. I need a little carpet to put in.
It has a diy co2, I just filled it up today.
No this tank only has 2 cfl's, the 55g has 4 cfl's.
It's 24L x 12w x 12 3/4t. found it on craigslist for $15

[knuggs]

Ah I've been wanting to rig up a hood with cfl's for longer tanks but want it on the same plug. I thought you may have found something already manufactured but they only come with two sockets. I could always DIY a vanity light or something or jus buy a T5 like usual.

[SlammedDC2]

Nope, just the cheapo hood/light that came with the tank. DIY is always a good route, cheaper and better sense of pride in what you built.

Picked up one otto today after work. All they had in petsmart. Oh well, maybe they'll get more in and I can add one more.

[SlammedDC2]

Here's a few updated pictures. The tank should be going to the school a week from today. Anyway here's an update




More when the shrimp get in.