Fish for Church

[albirdy]

Hello!

I was thinking about getting a fish tank for my church (i teach elementary school children), and thought it would be educational and something that they could appreciate

As i was walking, I found a 20L gallon on the sidewalk! It has two minor cracks, that I will seal up (and post up pictures of later) with some aquarium silicone sealant from somewhere (cheapest/closest seems like Walmart =/)

I realized I might run into a few problems with having a tank at church (a place you visit at most 2-3 times a week, minimum once a week). I was thinking of getting a lot of functional fish/inverts that will take care of potential algal problems. An automatic feeder. While doing weekly 30-50% water changes every Sunday.

I am very excited

Does anyone see any problems/suggestions that I might be overlooking?
I am wondering if I should make this a tropical tank. This is what I am leaning towards, if not I may just make it a cold water with white cloud mountain minnows, or get some hardy guppies, so I can hopefully get some breeding going on (which would be so exciting for the kids! although I would dread breaking to them the Birds and the Bees story).

Any suggestions, or comments are welcome.

 

[JoeyCraig3]

That would be an akward sunday school lesson lol especially the free-for-all breeding haha but guppies would be good imo because there easy to take care of and fun, educational.

 

[albirdy]

That would be an akward sunday school lesson lol especially the free-for-all breeding haha but guppies would be good imo because there easy to take care of and fun, educational.

haha, thanks joey.

 

[dark_knights_99]

Guppies, Mollies and Swordtails.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

I would keep it simple and easy to maintain. With an automatic feeder theres no reason why you cant have the tank if you only visit it 1 -3 times a week. I would have loved a tank in my Sunday school classroom and church growing up!!!

 

[dmed]

Hello. These are dmed's rules for elementary-age aquarium (take 'em or leave 'em, but they were learned at the school of hard knocks):

1. Whatever you buy, buy in multiples and specimens must NOT be distinguishable from one another. This prevents attachment to one "special" fish which can be heartbreaking if it passes on. When the kids want to name individual fish, tell them "they're all called (insert Latin name of species here)."

2. The only thing more traumatic for a child than a dead fish in the tank is half of a dead fish in the tank. For this reason, avoid barbs and other nippy fish.

3. Choose species that are readily available at any LFS and do not grow appreciably. It's easier to replace a 1" fish with a 1/2" fish than to replace a 4" fish with a 1" fish.

4. No fancy (fragile) species like fancy guppies or goldfish.

5. Absolutely NO pleco. Kids hate the idea of rehoming or "trading in."

I would choose two groups: one hardy species of "swimmers" and one group of either freshwater shrimp or corydoras.

Also, automatic feeders don't work particularly well. If you must use one, you definitely get what you pay for - don't go cheap. The ones that connect to an air pump work somewhat better, but if any moisture gets into the feeder, you will come back to a giant mess and possibly a huge ammonia spike. Most fish do not need to be fed every day.

You can start cycling the tank by adding an additional filter to your existing tank and let it run for a while, then you can move it to the new tank and immediately begin a fishless cycle which will go very fast with your innoculated filter.

My final concern for a tank in a church - how is the climate control in the building on days when there are no services?

 

[albirdy]

Wow, dmed. Once again, you deliver. Thank you.

 

[Nic]

i agree with dmed.... i would do a simple reg gold fish with a few snails... simple needs no heater get a decent filter and air pump... and every pet store/ fish store sells regular goldfish...

 

[Redtailcatfish101]

Maybe a rtc or a tsc


Not!!!!! guppys sound good or maybe two dwarf gouramis (there cool to watch)

 

[albirdy]

So, these are pictures of the 20L

There are two visible cracks (near each other, on the width side)
Is it reparable?
Do I need to take out the sealant for that side? (Mind you, I have no clamp =/)
Or would it suffice to merely seal the crack as is from both the inside and out?