Week 3 discussion 2

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

Week 3 discussion 2

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