Reef Links
In the beginning:
In 2010 Mrs. Grubbs wrote and received a $600 FACES (Foundation for Auburn's Continuing Enrichment in Schools) for her grant titled OUR UNDERWATER WORLDS. With the grant, Mrs. Grubbs purchased the materials to set up a 55 gallon reef tank in her classroom. She wanted to give her students an opportunity to see a part of the world that many never get to experience, in her classroom every week.
In the 2011-2012 school year we had a beautiful 72 gallon bow front tank donated by a WMR family, The Ware's. Our reef was able to grow and we added a few new corals.
This year, the 2012-2013, Mrs. Grubbs received two grants, one to maintain the current reef and another to start a propagation system. We also received another HUGE donation of a 120 gallon display tank!
Our Tank & what we've learned
Our tank is full of live rock, hard corals, soft corals and mushroom corals. Live rock is called that because it is full of life. Coraline algae grows on the rock, giving it a purplish color. Worms and reef bugs also live in the holes and crevices of the rock.
Large Polyp Stony Corals (LPS) are usually large calcareous corals with large polyps. the tentacles will extend out at different lengths depending on the lighting, water current and whether the coral is fed or not. Most of the LPS corals use long sweeper tentacles to keep other organisms a safe distance away.
LPS corals in our tanks are - Hammerhead, Frogspawn, Duncan (or Whisker Coral), Flower Pot Coral and Trumpet Corals.
Small Polyp Stony Corals (SPS) have small polyps on a calcareous skeleton. They are usually branching or plated. SPS corals are usually more difficult to care for and are not usually recommended for beginners or new tanks.
SPS corals we care for are - Pink Lace Bird's Nest (seriatopora), ORA Green Bird's Nest, Montipora Spongodes, Cupcake Stylo (Stylophora), Frilly Purple Gorgonian.
Soft Corals we care for in our tanks are - Kenya Tree, Pulsing Xenia, Blue Xenia, Green Star Polyps, Yellow Button Polyps, and a variety of Mushroom Corals.
Thank you - (Donations and Discounts we've received)
Cans for Corals - Our school recycles aluminum cans every Friday. Mrs. Grubbs collects the cans and takes them to a local metal and recycling center to sell.
ReefGrow - This wonderful company has given us discounts on materials and DONATED the reef supplements we use daily to make our reef tank as close to natural seawater as possible. Justin has also made donations of coral as well as a yearly visit to our school to teach and offer assistance wherever needed.
Harry's Frags - Harry listened to our story and believed in our goals. He helped us tremendously by supplying the first corals we had that were big enough to demonstrate proper propagation techniques with at a deep discount.
Poseidon's Coral Castle - Thanks for donating the larger coral pieces for our students to to see what 'Mother Colonies' look like. The teal trumpet, encrusting gorgonian, nephthea, and pastel pink polyps let us see what our small frags might look like in the future.
Donation of 72 gallon tank from the Ware Family.
Donation of 120 gallon tank from Anonymous Donor.
PTO donation of $1000 for 200 Gallon Display Tank.
In the beginning:
In 2010 Mrs. Grubbs wrote and received a $600 FACES (Foundation for Auburn's Continuing Enrichment in Schools) for her grant titled OUR UNDERWATER WORLDS. With the grant, Mrs. Grubbs purchased the materials to set up a 55 gallon reef tank in her classroom. She wanted to give her students an opportunity to see a part of the world that many never get to experience, in her classroom every week.
In the 2011-2012 school year we had a beautiful 72 gallon bow front tank donated by a WMR family, The Ware's. Our reef was able to grow and we added a few new corals.
This year, the 2012-2013, Mrs. Grubbs received two grants, one to maintain the current reef and another to start a propagation system. We also received another HUGE donation of a 120 gallon display tank!
Our Tank & what we've learned
Our tank is full of live rock, hard corals, soft corals and mushroom corals. Live rock is called that because it is full of life. Coraline algae grows on the rock, giving it a purplish color. Worms and reef bugs also live in the holes and crevices of the rock.
Large Polyp Stony Corals (LPS) are usually large calcareous corals with large polyps. the tentacles will extend out at different lengths depending on the lighting, water current and whether the coral is fed or not. Most of the LPS corals use long sweeper tentacles to keep other organisms a safe distance away.
LPS corals in our tanks are - Hammerhead, Frogspawn, Duncan (or Whisker Coral), Flower Pot Coral and Trumpet Corals.
Small Polyp Stony Corals (SPS) have small polyps on a calcareous skeleton. They are usually branching or plated. SPS corals are usually more difficult to care for and are not usually recommended for beginners or new tanks.
SPS corals we care for are - Pink Lace Bird's Nest (seriatopora), ORA Green Bird's Nest, Montipora Spongodes, Cupcake Stylo (Stylophora), Frilly Purple Gorgonian.
Soft Corals we care for in our tanks are - Kenya Tree, Pulsing Xenia, Blue Xenia, Green Star Polyps, Yellow Button Polyps, and a variety of Mushroom Corals.
Thank you - (Donations and Discounts we've received)
Cans for Corals - Our school recycles aluminum cans every Friday. Mrs. Grubbs collects the cans and takes them to a local metal and recycling center to sell.
ReefGrow - This wonderful company has given us discounts on materials and DONATED the reef supplements we use daily to make our reef tank as close to natural seawater as possible. Justin has also made donations of coral as well as a yearly visit to our school to teach and offer assistance wherever needed.
Harry's Frags - Harry listened to our story and believed in our goals. He helped us tremendously by supplying the first corals we had that were big enough to demonstrate proper propagation techniques with at a deep discount.
Poseidon's Coral Castle - Thanks for donating the larger coral pieces for our students to to see what 'Mother Colonies' look like. The teal trumpet, encrusting gorgonian, nephthea, and pastel pink polyps let us see what our small frags might look like in the future.
Donation of 72 gallon tank from the Ware Family.
Donation of 120 gallon tank from Anonymous Donor.
PTO donation of $1000 for 200 Gallon Display Tank.