Please click on this link to access the website I created with my students. It details what has been happening with our reef tanks over the last few years and shows our students at work.

With these funds I will purchase 2 pumps to finish the upgrade of our current reef tank build.  I started this program with $600 and a 55 gallon tank.  I wanted to show the 450-500 students in our school a place on our earth that many will never get the chance to see, the underwater world of the coral reefs.  Through the past 5 years our reef set up has grown through donations from parents and community members, from the original 55 gallons, to a 72 gallon, to the 120 gallon.  I also received a grant to start a propagation system that teaches reef sustainability, showing students that we can create new colonies of corals for others to enjoy from the mother colonies that are growing so well in our display tanks.  Students became masters of their coral and created care sheets for hobbyists who purchased or traded with us.  We created a web site that is currently active on my webpage as well as a whole salers site who sells corals worldwide. 

Unfortunately, our 120 donation tank has taken a turn for the worst and is currently being held together with wood and clamps.  The from seam on one side is separating and water is slowly leaking out.  Our PTO purchased a 200 gallon system so we can combine all of our systems into one tank.  We have most of the supplies but the pumps purchased with this used system have frozen and cannot be refurbished.  This money would enable us to purchase 2 new pumps and a very good heater that will last for many years.  The amount of money received through the purchase and donated time adds up to over $1500. 

We are also going to use some of the materials in the current set up to create a breeding and hatchery for our snowflake clownfish who are laying eggs every 2-3 weeks.  We would love to be able to hatch these young fry and watch them grow and go through the metamorphosis that occurs around 14 days. 

My students are invested in these fish and corals.  Every lesson I teach has to start with a 10-15 minute reef tank update about the status of our fish, coral and eggs.  They can name the corals, they type of corals, and see a working live ecosystem every day.  This 200 gallon system would increase what we can observe and create in our classroom.  The corals would have greater stability and more space to grow, so we can create smaller colonies that will grow in other reef enthusiasts systems. 

I plan to purchase a titanium heater, 2 large pumps and if possible a controlling system that will automate the data collection process.  The Neptune Apex system monitors and saves data, creating graphs and charts of critical data necessary to be good stewards to the fish, invertebrates and corals in our care.  It would also give me the peace of mind to monitor the tank when I am home on weekends or holidays. 

If we don't meet our goal I will use the money to purchase the necessaties to get the system running, the heater and the pumps.  I would then create another account or wish list and save donations until we were able to purchase the Neptune Apex monitoring system.  Our reef cannot move to its new tank until the heater and pumps are purchased.  I have everything else that is needed. 

Back Up Plan