The Columbine High School tank is coming apart, literally. About three or four weeks ago one of the two center braces separated/pulled away from the front glass. I thought it worrisome, but attributed it to 14 years of kids doing the maintenance and scraping near silicone with razor blades. Last week, the second brace pulled away, and I could see a noticeable bow to the back glass. I measured it as roughly 3/8"+ difference in the middle.
This leaves me with three options--drain the tank and find someone adept at fixing it (and pray that it holds), buy a new tank, or tear it down completely and sell it off. I am opting for #3 (with a heavy heart) for a number or reasons.
First, the risk is too great that if something happened (and it always happens when no one is in the building/library) it could flood or--worse--cause an electrical fire. Not to mention everything in the tank would die. I don't want to even think about the potential of an actual blowout and water and electricity mixing with students in the library. Second, I have kept and maintained the tank for 14 years now. That's a long time for the same tank--more than most hobbyists, I would bet--and it is taxing in many ways. Being at school and not my home adds burdens. Imagine what you go through taking care of your tank when you go on a vacation--it's like that, only all the time. Further, it is really an unreasonable expense for a school. My principal has been very supportive, but he is retiring in the next year or so and who knows how supportive and open with funds the next one will be. Local hobbyists and MASC have been very generous, but if I am honest it is a luxury that in these times is superfluous.
Finally, its original intent was to provide a peaceful element to help traumatized kids find solace in a place of so much chaos and death. That was how I got into reef keeping--as a way to occupy my mind after the shooting by reading, learning, and creating something beautiful. When I returned to the building the following fall, many of my colleagues said they would never return to the library again after what had happened. That's why I started the aquarium, to bring a soothing and inviting center to the place. It has done that. Next year's freshman class was not even born when the shooting happened, so I think it has served its purpose. Unfortunately,many kids are completely unaware of it, having not really been to the library much on their own. Even more unfortunate, there are a good number of kids who won't sit anywhere else in the library--and over the years I have had the pleasure of working with dozens of student assistants who have helped me maintain it.
So I do not make this decision lightly, believe me. It has been a significant part of my life. I have been blessed by all it has done for both me and many of the students.
I am going to have to sell off the livestock soon. I will start a FS thread likely next week--sorry for the poor timing with Reefstock, but bulging seams and breaking braces are not something one prepares for. Many animals I have kept for many many years. Many show-sized pieces. Over the summer or next fall, I will work with the librarian to turn it into a nice terrarium or something. Or maybe a science teacher may want to set up some sort of lizard/snake/whatever display. But I think it will be a terrarium--with a gnome or faerie that I can move from time to time and keep the kids guessing. Easier to maintain, and no bulging seams.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has given advice, time, and donations. Over nearly a decade and a half, there are too many for me to even remember--something I am a bit ashamed of, admittedly. Thank you all.
Jason
This leaves me with three options--drain the tank and find someone adept at fixing it (and pray that it holds), buy a new tank, or tear it down completely and sell it off. I am opting for #3 (with a heavy heart) for a number or reasons.
First, the risk is too great that if something happened (and it always happens when no one is in the building/library) it could flood or--worse--cause an electrical fire. Not to mention everything in the tank would die. I don't want to even think about the potential of an actual blowout and water and electricity mixing with students in the library. Second, I have kept and maintained the tank for 14 years now. That's a long time for the same tank--more than most hobbyists, I would bet--and it is taxing in many ways. Being at school and not my home adds burdens. Imagine what you go through taking care of your tank when you go on a vacation--it's like that, only all the time. Further, it is really an unreasonable expense for a school. My principal has been very supportive, but he is retiring in the next year or so and who knows how supportive and open with funds the next one will be. Local hobbyists and MASC have been very generous, but if I am honest it is a luxury that in these times is superfluous.
Finally, its original intent was to provide a peaceful element to help traumatized kids find solace in a place of so much chaos and death. That was how I got into reef keeping--as a way to occupy my mind after the shooting by reading, learning, and creating something beautiful. When I returned to the building the following fall, many of my colleagues said they would never return to the library again after what had happened. That's why I started the aquarium, to bring a soothing and inviting center to the place. It has done that. Next year's freshman class was not even born when the shooting happened, so I think it has served its purpose. Unfortunately,many kids are completely unaware of it, having not really been to the library much on their own. Even more unfortunate, there are a good number of kids who won't sit anywhere else in the library--and over the years I have had the pleasure of working with dozens of student assistants who have helped me maintain it.
So I do not make this decision lightly, believe me. It has been a significant part of my life. I have been blessed by all it has done for both me and many of the students.
I am going to have to sell off the livestock soon. I will start a FS thread likely next week--sorry for the poor timing with Reefstock, but bulging seams and breaking braces are not something one prepares for. Many animals I have kept for many many years. Many show-sized pieces. Over the summer or next fall, I will work with the librarian to turn it into a nice terrarium or something. Or maybe a science teacher may want to set up some sort of lizard/snake/whatever display. But I think it will be a terrarium--with a gnome or faerie that I can move from time to time and keep the kids guessing. Easier to maintain, and no bulging seams.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has given advice, time, and donations. Over nearly a decade and a half, there are too many for me to even remember--something I am a bit ashamed of, admittedly. Thank you all.
Jason
