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Interested in Reef Tanks?
PROFESSOR SEAN’s REEF TANK PROJECT
To those of you who indicated an interest in helping with the reef tank, please read below. Then let me know via e-mail or in class dates that you might be available. Thanks!
History: Professor Sean’s Reef Tank project got its start as part of a Marine Biology class he taught in Fall 2005. The 125-gallon tank was donated to the college by Tropical Reef, an aquarium store on State College and La Palma. The tank’s life support and monitoring systems, as well as its inhabitants, were donated by Professor Sean. Originally located on the second floor of the now-demolished 400 Science Building, the reef tank was moved in Summer 2007 and now resides in the Annex in the Nature Garden. Throughout its history, Fullerton College students have assisted maintaining and monitoring various aspects of the reef tank. Of four original corals, only two remain, due to neglect of the tank over summer and holiday periods. Nevertheless, a diverse and profuse invertebrate community persists in the tank. Seasonal blooms of copepods are common. Various worms, gastropods, and other invertebrates also appear from time to time.
Goals: The Reef Tank provides a hands-on, minds-on, hobby- or career-oriented platform for exploring various aspects of marine organism husbandry. Students gain experience maintaining life support systems maintenance (pumps, sumps, skimmers, chillers, lights, and heaters); monitoring seawater physics and chemistry (temperature, light intensity, salinity, pH, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, ammonium, and other compounds); observing organism behavior (movements, feeding activities, growth rates, nest-making, and reproduction); preparing and propagating coral fragments (cutting corals and establishing new colonies); and communicating the importance of reef tank exhibits for promoting the conservation of coral reef ecosystems worldwide.
Future Goals: Professor Sean’s ultimate goal is to develop an aquaculture or aquarist certificate program at Fullerton College. A reef tank class and lab would serve as the core curriculum for the certificate. As part of this certificate, Professor Sean would create a service learning network of trained students who would set up and maintain nano-tanks, small saltwater reef tanks, to be placed and maintained in assisted living facilities, local schools, and local businesses who desire the serenity and beauty that comes from experiencing a reef tank.
Current Status: A major evaporation incident over the holidays led to failure of two pumps. At the same time, a heating element failed. Those problems have been resolved and the tank is once again functioning normally. However, it’s been quite some time since measurements of critical water quality parameters have been taken. The one soft coral and one stony coral living in the tank look weak. The tank also suffers from an overabundance of algae. The reef tank needs frequent, consistent, tender-loving care.
Immediate Work Ahead: The good news is that we have a new home for our reef tank, Room 1009, otherwise known as The Lighthouse. This room serves as command central for Project GPS2 – Guiding and Preparing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math students. To accomplish this move, Professor Sean will need the following:
• Several students to assist on Friday, February 6, from 8am to Noon to disassemble live-support system, drain seawater into carboys, move live rock into holding tank, remove tank from stand, clean stand, clean aquarium, move aquarium, paint stand.
• Several students to assist on Monday, February, 9, from 1030am to 2 pm, to move stand, set up aquarium, fill tank with seawater, move live rock, set up life support systems.
• A couple students Tuesday, February 10, to move miscellaneous equipment.
• 1-2 students per day M-F throughout the semester to monitor tank, make deionized/distilled water, perform and record measurements, take photographs, add new corals, and anything else that comes up!
Future Work Ahead: Some other ideas kicking around, in case someone wants to head up their own project.
• Set up automated, computer-based, monitoring that sends data to e-mail or web site.
• Set up a web site for the reef tank.
• Help develop curriculum and field trip classes for aquarist degree.
• Integrate reef tank project with volunteer and internship opportunities at local aquaria.
To those of you who indicated an interest in helping with the reef tank, please read below. Then let me know via e-mail or in class dates that you might be available. Thanks!
History: Professor Sean’s Reef Tank project got its start as part of a Marine Biology class he taught in Fall 2005. The 125-gallon tank was donated to the college by Tropical Reef, an aquarium store on State College and La Palma. The tank’s life support and monitoring systems, as well as its inhabitants, were donated by Professor Sean. Originally located on the second floor of the now-demolished 400 Science Building, the reef tank was moved in Summer 2007 and now resides in the Annex in the Nature Garden. Throughout its history, Fullerton College students have assisted maintaining and monitoring various aspects of the reef tank. Of four original corals, only two remain, due to neglect of the tank over summer and holiday periods. Nevertheless, a diverse and profuse invertebrate community persists in the tank. Seasonal blooms of copepods are common. Various worms, gastropods, and other invertebrates also appear from time to time.
Goals: The Reef Tank provides a hands-on, minds-on, hobby- or career-oriented platform for exploring various aspects of marine organism husbandry. Students gain experience maintaining life support systems maintenance (pumps, sumps, skimmers, chillers, lights, and heaters); monitoring seawater physics and chemistry (temperature, light intensity, salinity, pH, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, ammonium, and other compounds); observing organism behavior (movements, feeding activities, growth rates, nest-making, and reproduction); preparing and propagating coral fragments (cutting corals and establishing new colonies); and communicating the importance of reef tank exhibits for promoting the conservation of coral reef ecosystems worldwide.
Future Goals: Professor Sean’s ultimate goal is to develop an aquaculture or aquarist certificate program at Fullerton College. A reef tank class and lab would serve as the core curriculum for the certificate. As part of this certificate, Professor Sean would create a service learning network of trained students who would set up and maintain nano-tanks, small saltwater reef tanks, to be placed and maintained in assisted living facilities, local schools, and local businesses who desire the serenity and beauty that comes from experiencing a reef tank.
Current Status: A major evaporation incident over the holidays led to failure of two pumps. At the same time, a heating element failed. Those problems have been resolved and the tank is once again functioning normally. However, it’s been quite some time since measurements of critical water quality parameters have been taken. The one soft coral and one stony coral living in the tank look weak. The tank also suffers from an overabundance of algae. The reef tank needs frequent, consistent, tender-loving care.
Immediate Work Ahead: The good news is that we have a new home for our reef tank, Room 1009, otherwise known as The Lighthouse. This room serves as command central for Project GPS2 – Guiding and Preparing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math students. To accomplish this move, Professor Sean will need the following:
• Several students to assist on Friday, February 6, from 8am to Noon to disassemble live-support system, drain seawater into carboys, move live rock into holding tank, remove tank from stand, clean stand, clean aquarium, move aquarium, paint stand.
• Several students to assist on Monday, February, 9, from 1030am to 2 pm, to move stand, set up aquarium, fill tank with seawater, move live rock, set up life support systems.
• A couple students Tuesday, February 10, to move miscellaneous equipment.
• 1-2 students per day M-F throughout the semester to monitor tank, make deionized/distilled water, perform and record measurements, take photographs, add new corals, and anything else that comes up!
Future Work Ahead: Some other ideas kicking around, in case someone wants to head up their own project.
• Set up automated, computer-based, monitoring that sends data to e-mail or web site.
• Set up a web site for the reef tank.
• Help develop curriculum and field trip classes for aquarist degree.
• Integrate reef tank project with volunteer and internship opportunities at local aquaria.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Andre Duval on January 31, 2009 at 5:03pm - i can do it on the 6th of feb & the 23rd of feb as well. There other days I can do it, but I have to check first. I'll be sure to fill you in on any other days I can help out.
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Comment by Christina Fiala on January 30, 2009 at 9:13am - Ok, got my shift covered. I'll be there!
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Comment by Christina Fiala on January 30, 2009 at 9:01am
- Hey, I'm going 2 try 2 get someone 2 cover me on the 6th @ work so I can help too!
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Comment by Andre Duval on January 28, 2009 at 7:45pm
- go ahead and put me down for that too.
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Comment by Marcus Gallegos on January 27, 2009 at 7:49pm - I would also love to help with the reef tank project, I have a strong interest in this class, I want to be apart of everything ahead.
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Comment by Lynsey on January 27, 2009 at 9:52am - i would love to help with the reef tank! i could do it on friday since i am in classes on mondays. and i would also love to help monitor the tank. i would love to hear of anything else that i could help with. i am very interested in learning anything and everything you are willing to teach me. and hands on is always my favorite way to learn. i also would like to hear of anything that you can tell me even if it isn't in relation with your class. i am a very passionate person when it comes to the ocean and i am willing to do anything i can to help.
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