Absolutely DISGUSTING

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I think you missed the part of the OP wanting to know what to do about it. It's bothering him, and the person who owns the tank decides his chemistry grade. So does he gradually find a way to persuade the teacher to do better? Or are you saying to just ignore it? Don't worry about the others in the class who think it's the right way going forward if they ever decide to enter the hobby since the chemistry teacher must be in the right?
I was not referring to the OP's post.
 
There are science teachers (and their tanks), and then, there are science teachers and their tanks.
The point is, for every (many) bad teacher's aquarium, there is one or two who do a better, or even a good job.
Four years ago, I adopted 3 very adult silver dollars fish, Metynnis maculatus, from my wife's colleague's science teacher aquarium at her school. The fish were originally purchased (and there were records of this) by a former science teacher, ~15 years before. The original (good) science teacher raised them from juvies through young adulthood, in a 75 gal tank. After that teacher's retirement, the new teacher inherited the tank and probably did not do any water changes (or so) for the next ~5 years, until I inherited them. The fish came with a bad case of popeye, and white discolorations on the sides (photos).
After 4 years under my care, the fish are estimated to be at least 24 years old (perhaps slightly more, such as 1-2 more years), and seem to be in very good health. I expect them to live for additional decades.

Photos-
- First composition shows two fish, a female (upper left), and several views of one of the males, which was in particularly bad shape, shortly after arriving to my home in 2017.
- Second composition is the same male fish as above, on May 2019 (2 years later), looking much, more healthier.
- Last picture is a group shot taken 2020 of the 3 fish (all 3 seen at far right, 2 males and one female), together with other silver dollars, M. lippincotianus. The group of 8 fish are about to move to a newer, larger, also planted tank in a couple of months.

Both of the teachers, the old and the new, have come to my house and seen the fish in their better quarters.
It is possible to show teachers how to do it right!
Cheers!

Metynnis maculatus JACK 31Dec2017 COMP.jpg

SilverDollars_29May2019_JACK_M.maculatus_COMP.jpg

Metynnis spp Corner TANK SHOP IMG_0376.jpg
 
There are science teachers (and their tanks), and then, there are science teachers and their tanks.
The point is, for every (many) bad teacher's aquarium, there is one or two who do a better, or even a good job.
Four years ago, I adopted 3 very adult silver dollars fish, Metynnis maculatus, from my wife's colleague's science teacher aquarium at her school. The fish were originally purchased (and there were records of this) by a former science teacher, ~15 years before. The original (good) science teacher raised them from juvies through young adulthood, in a 75 gal tank. After that teacher's retirement, the new teacher inherited the tank and probably did not do any water changes (or so) for the next ~5 years, until I inherited them. The fish came with a bad case of popeye, and white discolorations on the sides (photos).
After 4 years under my care, the fish are estimated to be at least 24 years old (perhaps slightly more, such as 1-2 more years), and seem to be in very good health. I expect them to live for additional decades.

Photos-
- First composition shows two fish, a female (upper left), and several views of one of the males, which was in particularly bad shape, shortly after arriving to my home in 2017.
- Second composition is the same male fish as above, on May 2019 (2 years later), looking much, more healthier.
- Last picture is a group shot taken 2020 of the 3 fish (all 3 seen at far right, 2 males and one female), together with other silver dollars, M. lippincotianus. The group of 8 fish are about to move to a newer, larger, also planted tank in a couple of months.

Both of the teachers, the old and the new, have come to my house and seen the fish in their better quarters.
It is possible to show teachers how to do it right!
Cheers!

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View attachment 1471802

View attachment 1471803
Wow! I knew your silvers were old, but I didn’t know the full story!
It’s amazing how much of fighters these fish are, many other species would have quickly died in the poor conditions.
 
Lol, I don't think I could agree less. All the same? How can it be all the same?

I guess if I walk around my house swatting flies...and my neighbour drives around town purposefully running over stray dogs...and another guy is a serial baby killer...those are all the same, since size and scale are irrelevant? That's nonsense.

The common refrain today is that we must accept everything. Some of us old codgers have a hard time with that. Seeing a 10gallon tank full of fish that all have the potential to live years or decades and grow to a foot or more in size...but will absolutely never be able to do so...demands a response other than "oh, sure, that's all good".

If you think something isn't right...and sorry, but this tank fills the bill..then saying so is not a bad thing. This tank, especially since it is maintained by someone who is supposedly training and molding young minds, is not right.

ive said it before...ill say it again... “ a fish in a box... is just a fish in a box” ??‍♂️... its really as simple as that. Im an “old timer” these days myself. From the “glass banger era”.. ive had tanks u can swim in comfortably, I’ve had bettas in cups. Logically whats the difference? Scale...Both scenarios are still fish in “captivity” instead of the wild.


if u think ur “ethically correct” for however it is u keep fish ur lying to urself. Its not accepting everything. Its accepting YOU yourself are doing the same thing. You boomers have a hard time looking in the mirror ?. Remember the old thread “grenade”... we all play the same game of keeping tanks and there a ticking time bomb. Power outages, equipment failures etc... things are out of our control even in the best case scenario. If ur an oldie u should know “logically” things happen and have lived through and dealt with it. As i said earlier some play the game better than others but in the end... its still the same game.

I enjoy keeping one fish in a 300-1,000 gal “box” with automated systems... im no better than the kid with a gold fish in a bowl. Whats the difference?
 
Yeah...I guess there's no point in whining about Covid or pollution or climate change or any of that other stuff. It's all out there, it's inevitable...just sit back and relax, it's all good...scale is irrelevant.

OP is between a rock and a hard place...

? i do enjoy ur humor... and agree with ya. What can ya do tho?
 
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Why does it say 'krismo962 said'? :ROFL:
Haha was gonna say were kickin a dead horse my man, but we tried ??‍♂️ ??, i fixed it lol...
 
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I enjoy keeping one fish in a 300-1,000 gal “box” with automated systems... im no better than the kid with a gold fish in a bowl. Whats the difference?

If you look at it from a wild versus captivity perspective then yes, no matter how large we go in tank size, we are still keeping fish in puddles in comparison.

However, saying that, there is a world of difference between keeping fish in a goldfish bowl and a 300-1000g system.

The definitive answer would come from the fish. If they could talk I reckon I could guarantee which one they'd choose.
 
If you look at it from a wild versus captivity perspective then yes, no matter how large we go in tank size, we are still keeping fish in puddles in comparison.

However, saying that, there is a world of difference between keeping fish in a goldfish bowl and a 300-1000g system.

The definitive answer would come from the fish. If they could talk I reckon I could guarantee which one they'd choose.

Appreciate that u get what im sayin ??... theres always room for improvement... even at the top. Y/how i find it equal ??‍♂️
 
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