New 37g tank for School

[SCMurphy]

Two tubes with Excel to start, she can try all four tubes after the tank is established. Have you picked up plants for the tank yet? I can give you all the crypts you need.

[scientist0724]

I have two thoughts on CO2.

I have one made by Red Sea on my 33g long that requires just water sugar and yeast. The kit came with some tubing, a starter kit and a CO2 "pump". I don't use the pump, but a wood airstone and the bubbles are very fine. A replacement canister of the "needed materials" costs $9. However, I just by a 25 lb bag of sugar at Costco (they also have a 50 lb bag) and the largest container of Fleishmann's yeast (lasts me nearly a year!) at Costco or grocery store. I kept the original starting container and fill it up with sugar and use twice the amount of yeast that fills up the little Eppendorf tube that the kit comes with. I also have a check valve on the tubing as well. So easy and simple.

Also, if they kids are old enough to learn about the fermentation process, it would be an extra educational lesson.

However, if they teacher is concerned about alcohol being produced in her classroom, then she would either need to secure the container or go with a pressurized CO2 system.

If a large tank of CO2 is a concern, there is the paintball sized system available and I've even seen the regulator for the paintball systems adapted to use the CO2 canisters used for the homemade soda system.

I use the Fluval mini CO2 system for my 17g rimless tank. And while, the replacement CO2 tube are expensive from Fluval, I found some bike tire inflators (16g tubes) for really cheap on EBay (anywhere from $0.50 to $1 each shipped and they last about a week). The larger Fluval mini CO2 system (88g) regulators have also been adapted to use paintball CO2 tubes (90g) and you can get those refilled for something like $4 each.

So there are many pressurized CO2 options available.

I find the simple DIY system easiest and cheapest for a smaller to medium sized tank. You don't have to worry about kids bumping into the CO2 set up and you never have to worry about a CO2 dump.

Arlene

[jweis]

Two tubes with Excel to start, she can try all four tubes after the tank is established. Have you picked up plants for the tank yet? I can give you all the crypts you need.

There are some plants in the tank, but I don't think some will make it. I am sure she would appreciate some easy crypts. The tank is a tall one (22") so a few tall things would be good.

I will be sure to tell her about Excel.

[jweis]

I have two thoughts on CO2.

I have one made by Red Sea on my 33g long that requires just water sugar and yeast. The kit came with some tubing, a starter kit and a CO2 "pump". I don't use the pump, but a wood airstone and the bubbles are very fine. A replacement canister of the "needed materials" costs $9. However, I just by a 25 lb bag of sugar at Costco (they also have a 50 lb bag) and the largest container of Fleishmann's yeast (lasts me nearly a year!) at Costco or grocery store. I kept the original starting container and fill it up with sugar and use twice the amount of yeast that fills up the little Eppendorf tube that the kit comes with. I also have a check valve on the tubing as well. So easy and simple.

Also, if they kids are old enough to learn about the fermentation process, it would be an extra educational lesson.

However, if they teacher is concerned about alcohol being produced in her classroom, then she would either need to secure the container or go with a pressurized CO2 system.

If a large tank of CO2 is a concern, there is the paintball sized system available and I've even seen the regulator for the paintball systems adapted to use the CO2 canisters used for the homemade soda system.

I use the Fluval mini CO2 system for my 17g rimless tank. And while, the replacement CO2 tube are expensive from Fluval, I found some bike tire inflators (16g tubes) for really cheap on EBay (anywhere from $0.50 to $1 each shipped and they last about a week). The larger Fluval mini CO2 system (88g) regulators have also been adapted to use paintball CO2 tubes (90g) and you can get those refilled for something like $4 each.

So there are many pressurized CO2 options available.

I find the simple DIY system easiest and cheapest for a smaller to medium sized tank. You don't have to worry about kids bumping into the CO2 set up and you never have to worry about a CO2 dump.

Arlene

Yes, I think she wants to do DIY CO2 as a science lesson. Her class is a combination of 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Hopefully she can ensure nothing gets drank. I do know she frowned at the thought of a pressurized system. At this point she is probably getting overwhelmed. Orignally she was just going to have a 10g with a couple of mystery snails, and now she has a 37g planted tank with shrimp, snails, and fish! She has a very positive, go-getter personality though, so she is taking it all on admirably. Last evening I convinced her to go with a simple gravity siphon water change system, so that is one MORE thing on her aquarium to-do list.

[jweis]

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.

I hadn't even thought about the alcohol aspect. Perhaps she can somehow lock it up. How do schools deal with alcohol used for science experiments? Do they have to keep it under lock and key?

[scientist0724]

You would need to check the school's policy on alcohol.

Also, if you have crypts in the tank, be careful of Excel. I've melted some crypts with Excel.

Arlene

[jweis]

You would need to check the school's policy on alcohol.

Also, if you have crypts in the tank, be careful of Excel. I've melted some crypts with Excel.

Arlene

Maybe I should just suggest the kiddos take turns all day long puffing into a tube to get CO2 into the water.

[SCMurphy]

You would need to check the school's policy on alcohol.

Also, if you have crypts in the tank, be careful of Excel. I've melted some crypts with Excel.

Arlene

If you follow the directions on the Excell bottle you won't melt crypts. What are you doing with the Excell?!?! Don't answer that, no need to hijack the thread.