Greene's Classroom Build

As a High school Biology teacher and a saltwater hobbyist I felt that it was my duty to put a tank in my classroom. (another excuse for another one) One reason was to use it as a teaching tool for the many cycles the students must cover. ( Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Carbon) Also I can use it to teach about marine ecosystems and ecology. Teaching students life skills such as environmental stewardship is also important .

So I found an up and running 40g breeder on craigslist for $250. Came with tank, stand, light and pumps and some live stock.

Planning to do a mixed reef, mostly soft and lsp might try sps.

Details:
40g Breeder w/ black stand
Eshopps hang-on overflow
Eshopps WD-75CS sump with Bioballs
Mag 5 Pump 500 gph
36" Coralife T5 HO Lunar fixture
Hydor Koralia Evolution Pump 1105


I have some additional funds for more equipment. Recommendations for ?

Auto-top off?
Protein skimmer?
Wave controller?
Another Hydor Koralia Evolution Pump?
UV Sterilizer?
Reactor?

Should I opt out of anything?

Any fish recommendations? I have two cardinals and a tomato clown now, I might put those in a tank at home.

Could I do a tang?

 

I would get a skimmer and a reactor for bio pellets. I wouldn't do a sterilizer since it kills a lot of the microorganisms you might be teaching about that's important in a reef tank. Beautiful setup, your kids are lucky to have a cool teacher. Also, looks like a clarkii clown and pajama cardinal Add another power head would be good too.

 

also dump the bioballs and add some rock and chaeto to the sump along with a fuge light.

Just my 2 cents

 

Your right it is a clarkii.

Any recommendations for a protein skimmer? It needs to have a pretty small foot print since its a smaller sump.

Down the road I'll get switch the bio balls around with live rock slowly.

Whats a good ATO to get?

 

If your looking for something small and not expensive look at coralife skimmers. ATO I'm not sure of, never used one. Since you have a classroom I'd think you have around 20 ATO's. Another idea and it's what I did is to take established live rock and break it up to put in place of the bio balls.

 

I wouldnt put a tang in that small of a tank, maybe some flasher or fairy wrasses though! very pretty fish!

 

my standard recommendation - flame hawk, midal blenny, possibly a goby/pistol combo and wrasses. I wouldn't suggest all in that tank but some ideas to consider.

Congrats on getting this going in your classroom! Your students will really enjoy it and I may have actually been interested in chemistry way back when if somebody used this as a teaching tool