1. Understanding Marine life throughan Aquarium
Ecosystem2013
2. The Aquarium as our Ocean We will be working with a 75
gallon aquarium to build oursaltwater/marine ecosystem. The class
will need the following items: real ocean water, ocean sand,
liverock, coral inserts, seashells, sea grass, saltwater fish, and
food. All othermaterials will be furnished by the school for this
elective class. The class will be building 20 gallon refugium to
replicate the oceanfiltration. We will be simulating ocean current
and waves through power-heads, anda protein skimmer, as well as
submergible pumps. We will create an overflow and return by
drilling holes in the back glass ofour aquarium, cutting Plax-glass
for our cover and studying the effects oflight on plant and animal
life. There are aquariums that come equipped with bottom holes but
we aremaking our own by converting a regular tank.
3. Refugium A refugium is a biological filtrationsystem that
works to remove harmfulproteins from the water, much likemother
nature would do if this were areal ocean. a refugium is made from
anadditional aquarium that is hiddenunderneath the viewing tank
forfiltration. Aside from the biological filtration,there is also
mechanic and chemicalfiltration.Inside the refugium is the
proteinskimmer which is the mechanicalfiltration and separate
vaults for thechemical filtration, such as activecarbon to remove
and break down thesmell of waste and decay, phosphorusrock to
balance the PH and waterquality.Also housed in the refugium is
theheater, and submergible pump, andplumbing may also include a
chiller.
4. All the Pieces1. 75 gallon aquarium2. 20 gallon aquarium3.
Sea-sand4. Sea-water5. Live rock6. Lighting7. Sump pump8. Protein
skimmer9. Power heads10. Seashells11. Misc. plumbing12. Saltwater
fish
