Netting failures, worries about water chemistry, great video from Milton Middle School, and more!3/21/2018 Netting problems In my last post, I wrote about the tragedies that can result when you fail to put netting over the filter intake soon enough. Unfortunately, that's not the only problem you can encounter with netting. On Monday, Emily Burlett, at Rutland Intermediate School, submitted this report: I'm having some difficulty with my fish getting stuck in the filter. At the beginning of last week I found almost 25 in the bottom of the filter (alive & dead). Since then I have been losing them quickly ( I'm thinking getting stuck in the filter may have stressed them out). I changed the screen on the filter intake but still have several getting stuck to it. Later in the day, Emily responded to one of my questions with this: I used the mesh that you gave out at the training to cover the intake but they got through it. I have attached a picture of the filter intake with a piece of screen I used for modifying the breeder baskets( I changed from the mesh to the screen after I had to fish all the fish out of the filter). Oh, no! It was my fault! Emily was using the netting I passed out at the TIC workshop! Then yesterday I got this e-mail from Colby Hescock at Rutland Town School: Everything has been running smoothly here at RTS! Unfortunately we discovered that we lost 6 fish because they got sucked up against the filter. We have netting around it to prevent them from being sucked into the filter, but they still manage to get stuck to the outside and aren’t strong enough to swim away. Here’s a picture of our current set up, I was wondering if you had any suggestions? Let me know, thanks! Here's what Colby's filter intake looks like. Later in the day, Colby added this: The trout are getting sucked against [my emphasis] the netting not all the way into the filter, I think our netting is working fine to keep them out. The problem is the sucking power of the filter is too strong when they get in close enough. These problems are due to one or both of these two possibilities:
When I shared this problem with Maryland TIC coordinator Chuck Dinkel, he mentioned that most filters in use have a flow adjustment setting that would allow a teacher to reduce the flow, thereby making it less likely that a weak swimmer would get sucked up against the netting. You have to be somewhat careful in reducing filter flow because it could compound any water chemistry problems you might be having; but if your water chemistry is okay and your fish are losing the battle with the filter suction, try reducing the flow for a while. If you don't know how to change the flow setting, check your filter manual. If you no longer have a manual, you can probably find one on the Internet. If you use either the AquaClear 110 or the Fluval 406 filters, I have put copies of those manuals into this folder on the VTTIC Google Docs site. So what's the take-away?
Because netting should be neither too coarse nor too fine, it's been hard to describe the netting you should install over the filter intake, so I've worked on that. This afternoon I measured and photographed netting that I think should work just fine. What you'll see below is nylon screening (made for screen windows and door) that has 18 squares per inch. I think that should work very well. I bought this at my local hardware store. Great video from MMS Meaghan Beley-Finnemore, of Milton Middle School, sent me this nice video. Her fish look great! Healthy, active, and fat. I also like the artistic tank background. Is that a baby otter I see there? Cloudy water? Meaghan also had a concern about cloudy water. I responded to Meaghan with the following: Here’s what the national TIC site says about cloudy water: “The water in my tank is cloudy. What should I do? Cloudy water probably indicates an excess in decaying matter. This may be from dead fish, leftover food, or a problem with the filtration. Carefully conducting regular water changes, as well as cleaning the tank of all solid material, is the best way to fight this. Make sure the filter is functioning properly, and that water is flowing out of it. Clean filter components if needed, but do not use soap or any chemical cleaners. Carbon filter packs should be replaced every year. If fish are not eating all provided food, you may reduce the amount given until they are able to eat it all. Excess food after 10 minutes should be removed and discarded.” This is a good opportunity to remind or tell you about the Troubleshooting folder on the national TIC Web site. You can often find answers to your technical concerns there. Below is a screenshot of the Troubleshooting page. The image is also a link to the folder. (While you're at the national TIC site, check out the other great resources there, including curriculum ideas.) Water chemistry worries Several teachers wrote with concerns about elevated ammonia, nitrite, and/or nitrate levels. I'll try to provide an overview of what to accept. Overview. It's normal to see all these three chemicals increase as part of the "nitrogen cycle." The first two are the most potentially toxic for brook trout. Nitrate, even at fairly high levels, causes little harm. Fry urine and decomposing feces and excess food contribute to ammonia levels rising. Nitrifying bacteria in your filter and elsewhere convert ammonia to nitrite. Denitrifying bacteria, also in your filter, convert nitrite to nitrate. Nitrate levels are managed by water changes. When the nitrogen cycle proceeds "according to plan," this is what you can expect:
Unfortunately, many schools experience deviations from this classic sequence of processes; and, thanks to Robb Cramer, one of our eastern schools engaged in a "pre-cycling" process so presumably saw had all of this happen before their eggs arrived. So how do you manage water chemistry?
Finally, it's also important to observe your fish closely. Are they active and feeding enthusiastically, or are they listless and languishing on the bottom? Do they look "normal," or have you observed a change in their appearance (a change in coloration or perhaps reddened gills)? Sometimes water chemistry reading seem to be a concern yet your fish look great. In general, if your fish look great, you don't need to panic. Recent photos Thanks to Amy Wright (Fair Haven Grade School) and Meg Ritter (Crossett Brook Middle School) for sending pictures in the last few days.
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A busy day in celebration of TIC generosity [I write this on the day when the Google doodle honors George Peabody, considered the "father of modern philanthropy." In this blog you'll read about many other philanthropic individuals.] How about this month! If we get one more March snowstorm, I know a few people in my life who will be pulling out their suitcases. It was quite beautiful though as I drove east and then south and then north, then east, then north and northwest, then northwest again before driving back east to my home. Most of my travels were on fairly well plowed roads, but I did put in a dozen miles or so in the hilly backcountry on snow-covered dirt. Thanks, GPS Lady! After six school visits, 79 brook trout fry were redeployed from four donor schools to two schools that suffered TIC tragedies in recent days. Something similar either has happened or shortly will be happening up north, as Bob Wible performs his own version of the Tank Resupply Iditarod. (Send pictures if you have them, Bob.) Here's a picture of one of the great groups of donors, Fisher Elementary School teacher Charlie Cummings and his 3rd graders. Charlie's fry went to 20 very happy Ludlow Elementary School 4th graders. Below is a picture of most of the Ludlow students after getting their replacement fish. Lisa is the taller one in the back row with long hair. Community volunteer Kathy Ehlers is on the left in the red and black plaid. Every TIC school should have a generous community volunteer like Kathy. She is amazing! After dropping off Charlie's donations in Ludlow, my next stop was to pick up fry at Pat Bowen's 5th grade classroom at Wallingford Elementary School. As it happened, the class's celebration of "Pi Day" had been rescheduled because of the snow, so I entered Pat's room to find a table full of beautiful homemade pies. Since my hectic circuit of southern Vermont TIC schools left no time for lunch, I was in luck! You can see Pat on the right in the back row of the group photo. From Wallingford, I drove down Route 7 to Currier Memorial School in Danby, where Michael Luzader's 5th graders were watching a special movie. Without disturbing the rapt students, in the dim light of the darkened classroom Michael netted 15 healthy fry to add to the batch I'd be taking to Fair Haven Grade School. I had to take the container to the window so Michael could count them. The route from Currier to Poultney High School was both the prettiest part of the trip but also the stretch where my 4Runner's four-wheel drive was most needed. My failure to warn PHS science teacher Kaitlin Grote that I'd be coming--my bad!--meant that I was unable to collect the 15 fry that her class had offered to FHGS, but I still had 25 to give Amy Wright at Fair Haven. And Kaitlin and her students need to be acknowledged for their generosity. I am so grateful to those teachers and students who volunteered to donate fry to their peer TIC schools. We all know, or can imagine, how hard it is to lose a tank full of fish. And, equally, we appreciate how valuable it is for a class of students to be able to accrue the educational benefits of seeing the program through to its exciting conclusions. Here are a few more pictures from the day. Two critical lessons from these tragedies
Here's what a GFI outlet looks like. Don't use them! A couple of more brief reports Bob Wible relayed this report from Lisa Windhausen at Browns River Middle School: They're doing well! We lost several this week...probably those that didn't learn to feed. Our total loss is 16.5, that we know of. The 0.5 is because we have a 2-headed one this year! and one of the heads recently died! The other is still going! Way to go, Lisa! Duane Pierson, of Moretown Elementary School, sent this e-mail message: Moretown has had great success with swim-up and feeding. But we are getting concerned that our nitrate levels have increased over the past two weeks. From 0 ppm to around 20 ppm then an increase to 80 + ppm last Friday. We performed two 5 gallons and one 10 gallon water change since last week adding Special Blend 60 ml on Friday and Sunday. Today testing results still show a high level of Nitrate in the water 80 + ppm .... fish seem great and very active. Any advice? I assured Duane that high nitrate levels are rarely a very serious problem (not so for ammonia and nitrite!!) In fact, last year some schools with much higher levels than Moretown is seeing did fine. The best way to lower nitrate levels is through siphoning and water changes. I also said that we no longer recommend the use of Special Blend. If you don't know how to siphon your tank, here's a short instructional video. I should warn you, however, that we urge TIC practitioners to KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THE TANK. That's why you'll find a photo on page 76 of the current TIC Manual that shows how Chuck Dinkel has attached the "business end" of the siphon to a piece of wood long enough to give you access to the bottom of the tank. A yard stick would certainly work. (PS: I'd love it if some Vermont TIC teacher or student would make a better instructional video and post it to YouTube.) Tragedies north and south One of our northern tanks had a devastating die-off over the last two weeks. On March 9, they had one "barely moving" fish left. Since the class didn't keep data records, we really haven't been able to determine what caused the die-off. If I had to guess, I'd say that the swim-up stage was missed, but it could have been unrecorded ammonia or nitrite spikes or even the inadvertent addition of a toxin to the tank. The good news is that Bob Wible will be arranging for some replacement fry, so the students should be able to complete the project. It's not hard to explain what happened at Ludlow Elementary School. The area got two feet of heavy, wet snow last Thursday, which knocked out the school's electrical power and, of course, shut down the chiller. Even the custodians weren't able to get back to the school quickly, and certainly teacher Lisa Marks was unable to. When Lisa did arrive on Friday morning, however, she immediately noticed "the sound of silence." Oh, no! She rushed to the tank only to discover that all her fish were dead. Yesterday I put out a plea to southwestern Vermont TIC teachers, asking if they might be willing to donate some fry to the Ludlow Elementary School cause. I also urged any teacher who might consider donating fish to confer with the students about doing so. The discussion would be valuable early exposure for the children to the concept of philanthropy. Lessons to be learned These unfortunate developments remind us of three key points to remember.
TIC humor at the Bridge School Jen Grilly sent me this photo of a "shark" hungrily eyeing the fry in their tank. Yummm! Quilt squares at Proctor Here's a picture Danielle Fagan sent me of the Proctor Elementary School 5th graders with the TIC quilt squares they're about to send off to schools around the country. Summer opportunities for teachers and students For teachers I recently learned about a summer workshop for teachers that will be put on by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife this July. As you can see, the hands-on course runs from July 15 to July 20 and will take place at Buck Lake Conservation Camp north of Woodbury Village. The tuition of $650 covers the course, books, food, and overnight accommodations. A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Contact Alison Thomas [[email protected]] for a course description, schedule of activities, and registration information. (Click the image above to link to the F&W Web site for the course.) For students Every year the Fish and Wildlife Department organizes a "conservation camp" for youth. This year's program consists of two different weeklong sessions for boys and girls ages 12 to 16. There is both a northern site and a southern site. The cost is $250. Some scholarships are available. Click the image below to go to the F&W Web site for more information. More for students Each year, Vermont Trout Unlimited sponsors Trout Camp for Teens. The five-day program is open to boys and girls 13 to 16 years of age. It will take place from June 24 to June 28 at Jackson's Lodge in the Northeast Kingdom. All-inclusive tuition is $450. The program focuses both on fly fishing technique and fish biology, fish habitat, and stream ecology. Equipment is provided. Deadline for application is April 15, 2018. Click on the image above to access the Vermont TU Trout Camp Web site for additional information, including a link to the application form. Photo of Jackson's Lodge (to the right). Alevin movie Emma Vastola, of Mount Holly School, sent me this video of her alevin on March 7. Welcome to March. Soon we'll be thinking about field work and starting to plan our Release Days. As you know, last week I sent out an e-mail in which I requested updates. Thanks to many of you, those came flooding in, and I'll share them. But first a few photos from Emma Vastola at Mount Holly School. As you'll see, just a very few fish are swimming up. Too soon to start feeding! Emma said that on the afternoon of March 5th, 10 out of 97 were swimming up. She also provided this: Our DI is at 85 today and after leaving the front of the tank during the day last week, today I have started leaving the front and the top off of it. The temperature is set at 52 degrees and some of the trout have started to swim up. Just a few and I have not started feeding yet. I was going to wait until 50% have, as you suggested. They seem more active since taking the top off. Jen Grilly, of the Bridge School, said the following: Happy Valentine’s Day, trout. Since Valentine’s, the Bridge School trout have been roaming free in the tank and are loving riding the bubbles like an amusement park ride! Jen sent this picture too. Melinda Carpenter sent this report from BFA Fairfax: BFA Fairfax is doing ok, but I am a little worried about our nitrite and nitrate levels. Our other numbers seem to be fairly steady.
We have lost 5-6 since they started feeding 3 weeks ago. I encouraged Melinda to make sure that, along with the siphoning, she's adding Nite-Out II on a regular basis (after the siphoning, not before). I also said that rising nitrate levels may indicate that her tank is "cycling." Sabrina McDonough, of Shrewsbury Mountain School, provided this nice video of her trout. Sabrina added that, of course, she would be siphoning out all the food that wasn't eaten within five or so minutes. That's an important practice! She also said: As of Thursday, we had about seven swimming up in each basket. Though we had a snow day Friday, I trekked up the mountain for fear of missing swim up, and I am glad that I did as about 15 were swimming to the top of the baskets. I did give a small pinch of food in each basket. When I went up today, only five to seven were remaining on the bottom of the basket. All seems to be going well. Michael Luzader, of Currier Memorial School, gave this report: Hey Joe, no swim up yet.
In a separate e-mail, Michael said that on March 3rd, his DI was 80.2. I'm pretty sure his DI will hit 85 before the end of the week. On March 4, Sandra Fary, of Camels Hump Middle School, submitted this: Here at Camels Hump Middle School, the swim-up occurred a few weeks prior to break. We have been keeping with the schedule and just in the last day lost a dozen fry. Another dozen are looking listless. The only value that seems low is the GH. Here are our numbers:
My response was: I don’t see anything in your readings that would explain the recent die-off. Are the fish still in the breeder basket? If so, what’s the condition of your breeder basket? If the breeder basket is dirty, it can become a Petri dish for the development of disease. Is there any chance that these fatalities were “pinheads,” that is, alevin that never made the transition to feeding? Sandra replied with: The fish are still in the breeder basket. You're right--it could be dirty. I'm not sure if they're pinheads or not. Should I let them out of the breeder basket? I wrote: If all of them are feeding, you might partially submerge one side of the breeder basket and allow the adventurous ones to swim out. Meg Ritter, of Crossett Brook Middle School, also provided this advice: My suggestion would be a water change and add baking soda to bring up the KH and GH, as well as the pH. Our tank at Crossett Brook Middle School needed quite a lot of baking soda infusions to bring the KH, GH, and pH to a more alkaline environment ( currently 240, 72, and 8.4). This has held for almost a month. We also switched to chemical water tests, rather than the strips, for greater accuracy. Dan "Rudi" Ruddell, of White River Partnership, submitted this report: Tiffany [Tiffany Tucker, of Hartford Cooperative Nursery School] is further along, but most of the GUVTU-WRP tanks appear to be on track for swim-up after returning from break on March 7. I strongly suspect a high ammonia reading at Sharon was an anomalous reading, the fish seemed fine when I checked in. Teachers and students have found the test strips a good bit trickier to use and far less refined in categories of readings, and the colors change quickly so need to be read promptly. The South Royalton HS students did a x-check against the test solutions from last year and had a couple GH readings of 30 on the test strips and 125 using the solutions. Several schools responding in the March 1st through March 4th timeframe provided similar reports:
Sarah Stebbins, Cold Hollow Career Center, came in with a different report: CHCC had swim up in early February. All seemed to be going well, until this past week and half where we have also lost about 15 fish. All chemical levels seem to be fine, the only thing I have noticed is that there are a bunch of the fry that are hanging out at the bottom of the basket that are skinnier and don't seem to feed as much. It is my observation that those are the group that are dying, but any other insight or suggestions would be great! Her TIC community volunteer Chuck Goller provided a very good response: I just saw a similar situation at the Camel’s Hump Middle School in Richmond this morning. Most of those skinny ones likely did not make swim up and never started feeding. If some are indeed feeding, I suggest tipping your breeder basket and leaving it so the stronger fry can swim out leaving the weaker ones behind. Start feeding 3-4 times a day both in and out of the basket, but still only so much that it is all eaten. Keep close watch on the detritus on the tank bottom as well as your chemistry and adjust feeding accordingly. From Devin Schrock at Lincoln Community School: This is my first year with the tank. We raised the temperature to 52 as of last Wed. There are about 6 fry swimming to the surface to eat. The rest are moving but hanging out at the bottom of the basket. We keep the top and sides off during the day. Should the rest of the fish begin swimming to the surface over the next week? I said yes. Jenn Tifft contributed this: At Middletown Springs Elementary, our fish just returned from a month-long vacation at Wallingford Elementary School, where they got a chance to visit while our chiller was acting up. I am pleased that they are back home and are very active. They will be swimming up any day now. Meg Ritter asked this question: We have done the cool and slow method as well. Tomorrow (our first day back from break), we will be at about 82%. Should we start raising the temp (currently at 43F), though none of the alevin seem interested in swim-up yet? My answer is definitely! Alevin need both warmer temperatures (50 to 52 degrees) and exposure to light to trigger their swim-up response. On behalf of the West Rutland School team, Jenny Gammon submitted this report this afternoon: West Rutland decided to go warm and fast. Our chiller has still been acting up randomly and we figured the more developed the fish were the better they would be at handling the temp changes. The fish hatched out by accident over a weekend the chiller failed. They were at swim up stage by the 17th of February and were released from the breeder basket this past Friday because I believe cannibalism has been occurring. I've only found 3 dead fish. But I've counted about 50-60 fish in the aquarium (we had two fish with curved spins which disappeared over a weekend). The nitrogen cycle is in good swing. And my general science kids have become excellent water chemists. Here are two pictures Jenny sent me. SIX REMINDERS:
FINALLY Let me remind you of the curriculum resources I promoted in the February 7, 2018, blog. Within the next week, I will be making decisions about the distribution of those resources. |
Joe Mark is Lead Facilitator of Vermont's Trout in the Classroom program.In June 2012, I retired after 40 years in higher education, having spent the last 32 years of my career as dean at Castleton. One of the first things I volunteered to do in retirement was to work with a parent-friend to help the Dorset School, where his kids and my Vermont grandkids attend, start a TIC program. Gradually that commitment grew into my current role, which is both demanding and highly rewarding. Archives
December 2019
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