Classroom tank 14g Biocube

goody

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For the past 3-4 years, I have set up a tank in my 5th grade classroom and some of the local reefers in my area have generously donated frags. This year, my plan was to go a bit bigger and bring in my 20g Nuvo, but I decided to stay with the 14g Biocube that I set up last year because it's pretty easy to tear down at the end of the school year.

After reading a thread on here from another teacher setting up a tank in the classroom and getting a lot of donations from businesses, I decided to give it a shot. I did a few positive responses, including a Kraken lid.

Two weeks ago, I came across a grant application for teachers who want to have pets in the classroom, so I applied for the one for fish and was awarded the $125 rebate grant, so I'm looking forward to spending this money at some of the LFS.

Even though I'm staying with the 14g, I wanted to do a tank thread because this grant money will help improve the livestock and I'm doing a few changes to the tank, including trying my hand at a floating aquascape. After watching a few videos out there, I grabbed a piece of acrylic and drilled some holes and bent it. I then siliconed it to the back wall last weekend and used glue and putty to attach the rocks today. I hope to have it cycling in the classroom next week and bring in the livestock that have been in my planted tank all summer long.

The students in the past have loved taking on the responsibility of caring for the tank. They test the water, keep a log of parameters, feed the fish, and clean the tank. I can only hope that our little 14g Biocube inspires them to become reefers in the future.

I will probably keep my black ice clowns in my planted tank at home. Any fish recommendations?
The only photo of the tank from last year was near its beginning stages.

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goody

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Tank is wet. A local reefer is donating a new bag of Caribsea sand that I should have in next week, then I'm going to add Dr. Tim's One and Only to speed up the cycling and get livestock in sooner. The students are excited!
 

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goody

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Added some Caribsea Fiji Pink that was generously donated from a local reefer. Going to bring in a couple of frags from home this week to add to the tank. And will probably purchase some livestock from LFS this weekend.
 

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goody

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The tank is going through a bit of an ugly phase, but I still brought in a few frags last week. A couple of toadstools, colt coral, rhodactis, orange monti cap frags and purple torch. Broke off a small frag of German blue digitata and goldenrod anacropora. I also bought a small cleaner shrimp that the students are trying to decide on a name. Haven't had any luck at the LFS as far as fish selection. Going to grab a few snails from my DT and planted tank at home. Not sure about hermits since they wouldn't have any way to get back up on the rocks.

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goody

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@goody please post some of the kids comments. Subscribed.

-Mitchell.
They're definitely excited. Every morning and after lunch they go to the tank to see if I put anything new in. Added a combo of snails today: astrea, nerite, and cerith. Also a frag from my space invader pectina.
 
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goody

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Today I went to a LFS I have never been to and they had a decent selection of "nano" fish, so I bought a few. The students will be so excited. They've been asking every day when the fish will be added.
I ended up choosing a tailspot blenny, small yellow watchman goby and tiny pistol shrimp, and a small target mandarin which I asked to see eat frozen before adding to my purchase.
I have never had any of these particular fish in my own tanks except a red mandarin a few times which always ate prepared foods.
Do you think I need to be concerned about the blenny being able to jump through the Kraken mesh lid?
Also, since all my rock is "floating", I am bringing in a few pieces of rubble for the pistol and watchman to make their burrow.
 

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The tailspot has found a couple of spots he likes to hang out. I haven't seen the pistol shrimp since putting it in the tank. Do yellow watchman gobies and pistol shrimp always pair up?

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Following! Cool rock setup!
 

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