What a week it’s been. So I spent last Saturday at Reef-A-Palooza at Caribe Royal here in Orlando. I spent the day with great friends. I bought a new green splatter Bubble Coral as an early birthday present to myself. But the best part was so unexpected. I met this awesome guy, Sam, who owns Wet Work Inc. A premier custom aquarium company based out of Louisiana. So anyway. Sam bought a whole mess of raffle tickets and dumped them all into the raffle bucket for the 75 gallon reef ready tank package. He told us if he wins he would give it away to a young kid at the show just starting out. David from CoralVue then told him I’m a teacher and Sam thought that would be even better and have an impact on more children. So if he won, he decided I’d get the tank. I was super grateful that someone would be so generous in their planning for the what if scenario of winning the tank.
Well, he won, and I have a gorgeous 75 gallon reef ready tank, stand and canopy ensemble to bring with me to my new school next year. Next year I will be teaching 6th grade science at Canoe Creek K8, our districts environmental STEM school. I’m currently at another elementary school in our district and an opportunity came up to go to the STEM school and I jumped at the chance. The kids are going to love the tank and it’s going to look spectacular in the front office where everyone can enjoy and learn from it. I’m still dumbfounded. I had to run back to the resort early Sunday morning with my wife’s van to meet up with an awesome dude, Phil, who works for Reef-A-Palooza. He and another gentleman helped me load up the tank so it can get to its new home.
The tank is a Marineland 75-gallon Corner Flo tank with the Monterey stand and canopy. The stand and canopy are gorgeous solid wood. I looked up the prices of it all. Just the stand and canopy is $1,100. About $1,500 total. I’m still blown away. The tank also came with a bucket of salt and a freshwater light. When I got the tank home (I will bring it to my new school over the summer) I found a business card on the bottom of the tank from Proaquatix with a hand written message on the back that they will donate fish. I reached out to them and they told me they were excited to get us fish. “We will send you a good size and diverse assortment of compatible fish, all 100% captive bred and raised on our farm in Vero.” We are so grateful for their generous support of our endeavor.
I also reached out to CaribSea who helped me a few years ago with the nano tank in the classroom. I knew it was a big ask but they jumped on it. Betsey at CaribSea is amazing. On Wednesday afternoon I came home to 120lbs of Fiji Pink sand and 80lbs of LifeRock, 40lbs of shapes and 40lbs original.
I also wrote a letter to the local distributorship of Spears and they told me to get them a list of what I need for plumbing. I have a few letters out to companies for a sump, skimmer, and pumps. I am determined to make this happen. Canoe Creek already has an agricultural program and next year they will have beehives and will be producing honey. My goal is to make this take self-sustainable by having the kids grow and frag corals to fundraise under the banner “Canoe Creek Corals.”
I love this hobby and the people in the community. I will update this thread as often as I have new info to share.
Well, he won, and I have a gorgeous 75 gallon reef ready tank, stand and canopy ensemble to bring with me to my new school next year. Next year I will be teaching 6th grade science at Canoe Creek K8, our districts environmental STEM school. I’m currently at another elementary school in our district and an opportunity came up to go to the STEM school and I jumped at the chance. The kids are going to love the tank and it’s going to look spectacular in the front office where everyone can enjoy and learn from it. I’m still dumbfounded. I had to run back to the resort early Sunday morning with my wife’s van to meet up with an awesome dude, Phil, who works for Reef-A-Palooza. He and another gentleman helped me load up the tank so it can get to its new home.
The tank is a Marineland 75-gallon Corner Flo tank with the Monterey stand and canopy. The stand and canopy are gorgeous solid wood. I looked up the prices of it all. Just the stand and canopy is $1,100. About $1,500 total. I’m still blown away. The tank also came with a bucket of salt and a freshwater light. When I got the tank home (I will bring it to my new school over the summer) I found a business card on the bottom of the tank from Proaquatix with a hand written message on the back that they will donate fish. I reached out to them and they told me they were excited to get us fish. “We will send you a good size and diverse assortment of compatible fish, all 100% captive bred and raised on our farm in Vero.” We are so grateful for their generous support of our endeavor.
I also reached out to CaribSea who helped me a few years ago with the nano tank in the classroom. I knew it was a big ask but they jumped on it. Betsey at CaribSea is amazing. On Wednesday afternoon I came home to 120lbs of Fiji Pink sand and 80lbs of LifeRock, 40lbs of shapes and 40lbs original.
I also wrote a letter to the local distributorship of Spears and they told me to get them a list of what I need for plumbing. I have a few letters out to companies for a sump, skimmer, and pumps. I am determined to make this happen. Canoe Creek already has an agricultural program and next year they will have beehives and will be producing honey. My goal is to make this take self-sustainable by having the kids grow and frag corals to fundraise under the banner “Canoe Creek Corals.”
I love this hobby and the people in the community. I will update this thread as often as I have new info to share.
