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alright, this really makes me sad, at my old elementary school, they have a 55g w/ a tiny aquaclear, no heater, 2 ~1ft oscars, a yellow lab, and a BUNCH of minnows that you use 4 fishing, and the tank REEKS!!!! (which means it's FULL of ammonia) i got a sample to verify this i tested this and it was off the chart, (which goes up to 5), the tank was also full of rotten, like moldy cichlid pellets (they gobbled up the little treats i brought 4 them)

and at one of the high schools they have another 55G w/ about 8-10 africans, 2 ~10" plecos and a 6" salmontail catfish (ask FlameingPancakes more about this tank)

what should we do about this, and who should we go about doing this, and who should we probabbly talk 2 about it?

Thanx

Daka

Last edited by dakafall at 28-Jan-2005 17:42

Daka where is the tank located at? The entrance, the hall, a classroom? If it is near the front office, entrance, or hall, go and ask someone in the office who takes care of it...

Now be fair warned, if you want the tank to be well maintained you may be the only one who does. It may have been set up several years back, and the staff member who set it up and took care of it may have left, thus noone knows how to care for said tank. Thus the only thing they know to do with the tank is keep the water filled (and knowing how tanks are set up this is a chore in itself:%)) and occasionally throw food at them.

Now, as far as teaching the schools something, it isn't all educators that keep a bad tank, I to am a teacher, and I to have tank in my classroom, and I feel as though they receive wonderful care, as do the fish at my house. I was also carring for another teachers tank, but have pretty much given up at this point (YIKES!!!), but I must admit while the teacher has been out sick, the sub and aides have gotten together and cleaned the tank, and the fish seem much happier.

So go ask the school who cares for the tank, and be a good citizen and see if they would mind if you took care of it, I'm thinking they would appreciate it and just don't know what to do with it at this point.

Heidi



Last edited by heidi at 28-Jan-2005 19:10

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

i know not all schools have bad tanks, our HS has a BEAUTIFUL 135 discus tank, and i would be willing to try to do work on the elementary 55

Daka

Then let them know, because more than likely they will be willing to hand the chore over to you. Then talk to maybe a 5th grade science teacherand see if they would be willing to have you come in and teach something about fish care, and then you could possibly end up with some helpersSome how or another my 10 gallon has ended up with several up and coming Ichtheologist

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Hi,
A couple of things.
First, I would show them pictures of your tanks at
home to show that you have the experiance and knowledge
to assume the task, and then I'd ask to take over the
tank maintenance.

Second, find out what ONE person is responsible for the
care and feeding of the fish. I'll be willing to bet that
while one person might be, that many more are... including
the kids as they pass by the tank.

Be sure that there is a good, full cover, hood on the tank
to discourage the extra feeding.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I started out cleaning the tanks at the local school and library about 3 years ago... on a voluntary basis. Now I care for 6 tanks in my community ranging from 55 to 110 gallons. This was all through word of mouth. I now earn $130.00 a month cleaning and caring for them. I use the money earned for improvements, supplies, fishes,and mileage. If you really care for neglected tanks, then talk to the principal of the school. Sometimes funds are available to pay you for your trouble. Your beautiful tanks will speak for themselves!

________________________________________
The calming qualities of a good aquarium are irrefutable

That's a good point, upon closer examination of the tank i counted 10+ pieces of gum on the bottom of the tank, and random other various objects i was scared to investigate upon further, and 2day i just found out, (unbeknowst [SP] to me, that at my HS, one of the AP Bio teachers has a ~300g tank, that he puts natives from our lakes in everyfall, and the class spends almost an entire quarter studying and working w/ nothing but the tank, they also have 2 ponds in the green-house that they don't fill anymore because the direct sunlight causes 2 much algea)

Daka

daka, a good cure to the "yucks" you have found and don't want to think about is a putty knife, and some gloves if you want...The putty knife easily scrapes gum off the bottom of desks, so I'm sure it would do the same for the fish case...I still say you ask the main office who takes care of it, and do show them pictures of your tanks if you have the available...Someone needs to care for the poor fishies Heidi

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"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle