Asked to help the peds unit.

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Jim96Sc2

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 2, 2008
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New York
So my fiancee dropped my name as an idea guy for the pediatric unit of the hospital. Its a 430g tank with (iirc) 6x2.5x3.5 (l/w/h). They've gotten quotes from a few professional aquarium services who have offered this that and the other things. The don't want a reef and basically just want fish.

I told them to do a FOWLR tank, possibly with a bit of macroalgae or something for contrast. Both companies they got quotes from had the usual bio/mech filtration with UV sterilizers. One added a metal halide, but since the tank is in a small waiting room and the tank lacks reef setups, I said they may want to nix that and just go with T-5's and AB lights. I also said they should go with some pistol shrimp/goby's etc to kind of put a bit more into the setup.

I also said they may want to look into FW Cichlid tanks since I know they are a hardy fish, have great colorations, and are very active. He's looking into it.

Another suggestion was a shark tank, but the whole "low maintenence" part will probably kill the poor animals.

So if anyone here can throw a hand or suggestion. They need hardy fish that can survive a few dozen kids banging on the glass every day.
 
My wife and i own a Physical Therapy Clinic in Mobile, AL, we only do pediatrics. I set up a 125 gal FW aquarium (planted) in the lobby, the kids absolutely love it. I stocked it with Native American fish (thats kinda my thing)

My advise:
try and get the filters where they can be accessed outside of the waiting room
try and make it as maintenance free as possible (plumb in drains, drip system(if your city water is do able),overflow system, valve operated water change system, Reverse UnderGravel Filter, etc)
lots of the above can be DIY very reasonably


I was spending about 6 hours per week on maintenance of that tank, (i have since gone to a soil under gravel planted set up with native shiners and top minnows, now its about 1 hour per week)

a 430 gal stocked with SA Cichlid's (most I think will adapt to almost any water paramiters) set up with a drip system and overflow, with an RUGF, and perhaps some sort of a power head system that could keep the fish poo from settling, in conjunction with a wet/dry filter would be essentially maintenance free.

good luck
 
You could always do a freshwater tank! Have differents types of "oddballs" like: Bichirs, knife fish, butterfly fish... That's what I would do
 
I would go freshwater with fish that have lots of personality and can interact with the people in the waiting room.

Red Devils, Oscars, etc...

Keep us updated and post some pics please!
 
Gr8KarmaSF;1605011; said:
I would go freshwater with fish that have lots of personality and can interact with the people in the waiting room.

Red Devils, Oscars, etc...

Keep us updated and post some pics please!
Click to expand...

Excatly what I was going to say. Oscars are awesome and they could have a few in there. Then throw in some other colorfull cichlids and it would be a nice tank!

Or a bunch if frontosa...that always looks classy
 
a tank of cichlids is definatly the way to go i would say. toss in a few odd balls as mentioned like a clown knife, or lungfish, and toss in a few oscars. kids would love fish like that as they have so much personality, and you can find several different variants of the oscars as we all know.

a tank that big, the inhabitants shouldent show much aggression to each other givin the usual "no heavy stocking, good hiding places, kill line of sight...blah blah blah. you know the deal by now im sure ;)
 
yea oddballs and really responsive fish like oscars, giant gourami big cats, awesome size!
 
Unfortunately oddballs and oscars are out. The want "pretty fish". Still working on a somewhat planted/driftwood cichlid tank with yellow labs, EBJD, firemouths, those blue tigerstriped ones I can never remember the name to, etc. If not they are trying stuff like tangs, angels, etc. on the SW side.

As for plumbing, its on the 11th floor of the hospital and I don't think they are redoing the water/waste for a fish tank.

Remember, these are kids so colorful fish are probably going to go further then monster fish that look like they'll eat the babies.
 
A school of Silver Dollars. Planted background, driftwood in front of the plants. Simple setup, flashy colors and they move around a lot in a school. Flashy, gets attention, seems to keep kids entertained.
 
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