New 37g tank for School

[150EH]

I guess if she want a plug & play tank Stratum Plant may be the best substrate, I tried to check around and see if that was enough but there is very little info available on that substrate. The best info I have is I used a half bag (4.4) on my nano at 1.5 inches deep, so you should get 3 inches of depth with the 2 larger bags based on Aqueons 37 gallon with a 30.3 x 12.5 foot print.

[jweis]

I guess if she want a plug & play tank Stratum Plant may be the best substrate, I tried to check around and see if that was enough but there is very little info available on that substrate. The best info I have is I used a half bag (4.4) on my nano at 1.5 inches deep, so you should get 3 inches of depth with the 2 larger bags based on Aqueons 37 gallon with a 30.3 x 12.5 foot print.

I think a big bag will be enough. I used a 4.4lb on each of my 5.2g tanks (foot print of 9" x 10"). I just ordered it from Amazon and with my Prime acct it will ship free and be here by Saturday. I am picking up the tank from PVAS on Saturday and will hopefully be able to set it up for the teacher on Sunday.

What easy to dose fertilizer should I recommend? Seachem's Flourish? And then Prime since the school is on City water? If there anything else I should recommend? It is one thing for me to "wing it" on my own aquariums, but I feel I should give her solid advice.

[neturalist]

You could call Ken and ask for donation for the school project.

[jweis]

You could call Ken and ask for donation for the school project.

Yes, I probably should have done that last week. I went ahead an ordered through Amazon Prime so I could have it in time. We are setting up the tank on Sunday, and hopefully it will be looking presentable with fish by the time school starts on the 27th.

[scientist0724]

If you haven't ordered Prime yet, I have a large bottle of NutraFin AquaPlus that I haven't opened yet that I can donate. I think that it works as well as Prime, but they no longer make it, which I'm bummed about. Anyway, I can leave it out for you when you pick up the shrimp today.

Arlene

[jweis]

If you haven't ordered Prime yet, I have a large bottle of NutraFin AquaPlus that I haven't opened yet that I can donate. I think that it works as well as Prime, but they no longer make it, which I'm bummed about. Anyway, I can leave it out for you when you pick up the shrimp today.

Arlene

That would be great. Thanks!

[jweis]

This past weekend I helped set up the tank at the school. It has a cannister filter and 2 sets of 30" T5 Coralife lights (total of 4 T5 tubes). Currently no CO2. My question is do plants have much hope of survival in such a setup? Should I recommend a DIY CO2 setup, or would that just not provide enough CO2 for a 37g tank.

This is the teacher's first time with an aquarium and I think a pressurized CO2 tank would be too much for her. However, she does want some plants to help the kids learn about ecology.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[SCMurphy]

That is going to be too much light without CO2. Is the cabinet lockable?

[jweis]

That is going to be too much light without CO2. Is the cabinet lockable?

No, it is on an iron stand. Would two tubes (just one fixture) be OK?

Also, she is thinking about doing the DIY CO2... Either way, probably only one fixture, correct?

[Jeff120]

I dont think she wants to do the DIY CO2 considering that its in a school. She is going to have problems if a kid decides to drink it! Maybe she wants DIY CO2 so she can drink it! Best bet may be excel.