Hey everyone - looking to pick on the collective creativity and knowledge here.
I am looking to set up a small (16g display) tank to serve as a demonstration and observation tank for my class behind where I am doing my remote/video teaching. I currently have a 90 gallon mixed reef at home but can't use that (for various reasons) so looking to set up this small tank which the students will have some say in and will be used to model/teach lab skills and various concepts relating to environmental conditions in our oceans (this is for AP Environmental Science being taught to high school juniors and seniors). Starting a new tank talking about the importance of bacteria on the cycling of matter (nitrogen to start with) will, I think, be helpful in their understanding of the content. We would go from the start of cycling, through test results, understanding of what is going on in the tank to addition of inverts/fish/corals. Eventually we will end up at sulfur cycles, ocean acidification and the importance of ph/alkalinity.
So, looking for goals for the tank given the following parameters:
Using a used Red Sea Max Nano (16g, 18hx18wx14d) display
Tank will be situated on camera but behind where I teach
Want something they can see ('showcase' fish/invert?) in a small tank from a few feet away
Want something that can be set up and show progress on within short periods of time
Want something I an move easily and safely back to school should we return to in-person teaching
Some ideas but not sure:
Could go local (in California with colder waters and chiller won't fit so not sure)? Tempting though wouldn't know how to go about it.
Clown/nem is always good...don't know if there are any specific species that would excel at this?
Invert tank? Clams?
Some sort of larger fish that doesn't need much space?
Softie/Euphillia tank?
Basically looking for ideas! What would you do????
I am looking to set up a small (16g display) tank to serve as a demonstration and observation tank for my class behind where I am doing my remote/video teaching. I currently have a 90 gallon mixed reef at home but can't use that (for various reasons) so looking to set up this small tank which the students will have some say in and will be used to model/teach lab skills and various concepts relating to environmental conditions in our oceans (this is for AP Environmental Science being taught to high school juniors and seniors). Starting a new tank talking about the importance of bacteria on the cycling of matter (nitrogen to start with) will, I think, be helpful in their understanding of the content. We would go from the start of cycling, through test results, understanding of what is going on in the tank to addition of inverts/fish/corals. Eventually we will end up at sulfur cycles, ocean acidification and the importance of ph/alkalinity.
So, looking for goals for the tank given the following parameters:
Using a used Red Sea Max Nano (16g, 18hx18wx14d) display
Tank will be situated on camera but behind where I teach
Want something they can see ('showcase' fish/invert?) in a small tank from a few feet away
Want something that can be set up and show progress on within short periods of time
Want something I an move easily and safely back to school should we return to in-person teaching
Some ideas but not sure:
Could go local (in California with colder waters and chiller won't fit so not sure)? Tempting though wouldn't know how to go about it.
Clown/nem is always good...don't know if there are any specific species that would excel at this?
Invert tank? Clams?
Some sort of larger fish that doesn't need much space?
Softie/Euphillia tank?
Basically looking for ideas! What would you do????