What can I do to help?

[lastlight]

You are welcome to have the stock light for my Solana. It's the strange looking disco ball. 150w and I can give you a 3 month old radium and another brand new radium. So your lighting is set for a year or more! I cannot access the rear of the tank to give you the stock ballast but I have an old magnetic that worked perfectly and that's actually what I was using.

The cord coming out the top has been cut and I'm using the swing out arm so you'd need to find a way to hang it after you do some splicing which is easy.

Free free. Just let me know.

[Wingin It]

I know we're all Salty enthusiasts, but IMO, if you're wanting to just give them a little piece of serenity, maybe doing a FW tank would be better. Cheaper for sure and the maintenance would be so much simpler. You could always do colorful Cichlids or community fish that reproduce easily and if you lose a FW fish it's usually much cheaper to replace. Sorry if I offend, but it's just my opinion.

[lastlight]

I was thinking that a bit myself too.

Most won't know much about either...and those african cichlids in some cases look as nice as many sw fish.

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Count Red Coral in:
Kevin

[gobytron]

coem on guys...
a softie tank I think looks significantly more serene with much more to look at and enjoy than even the most elaborate planted tank...

and softies are much more forgiving than a full on mixed reef or sps system.

plus, Kevins in...lol

that can only make this easier to do sw.

[sharuq1]

Oh wow! Your offers are beyond generous and I am just reeling reading your posts! I will be pm-ing everyone who would like to donate and see what arrangements I can make to pick up things and whatnot. On behalf of the residents, thank you so much.

Due to the closure of two nursing homes here in Red Deer, our facility will be receiving many admissions during the months of September and October-so I might not be able to set up the tank until after the majority of the admissions have come in due to time constraints, my own move and the upheaval that will be happening in the building. I was planning on just doing something extremely small (like 2.5-10g) with anything I had lying around, but with the things you guys have listed it could be something so much nicer and bigger as well.

With that being said, bigger also means an increase in the cost--as salt is an added cost and I am on my own with that as this is my "project" and the facility is unable to help. Do you think I should make it a salty tank, or would I be better off making a fresh tank for them? I need to keep this project cheap so the options I am considering are fresh community tank, cichlid tank or sw softie tank.

Will consider any and all ideas, so please help me brainstorm. I do hear what you're saying in regards to cost. It is a big deal so it may be more sustainable to do the freshwater tank in the long run.

[JonT]

Originally Posted by sharuq1

Oh wow! Your offers are beyond generous and I am just reeling reading your posts! I will be pm-ing everyone who would like to donate and see what arrangements I can make to pick up things and whatnot. On behalf of the residents, thank you so much.

Due to the closure of two nursing homes here in Red Deer, our facility will be receiving many admissions during the months of September and October-so I might not be able to set up the tank until after the majority of the admissions have come in due to time constraints, my own move and the upheaval that will be happening in the building. I was planning on just doing something extremely small (like 2.5-10g) with anything I had lying around, but with the things you guys have listed it could be something so much nicer and bigger as well.

With that being said, bigger also means an increase in the cost--as salt is an added cost and I am on my own with that as this is my "project" and the facility is unable to help. Do you think I should make it a salty tank, or would I be better off making a fresh tank for them? I need to keep this project cheap so the options I am considering are fresh community tank, cichlid tank or sw softie tank.

Will consider any and all ideas, so please help me brainstorm. I do hear what you're saying in regards to cost. It is a big deal so it may be more sustainable to do the freshwater tank in the long run.

You may be able to work a deal with a certain sponsor....... (see a few posts up!) and perhaps the LTC will be able to buy the salt (if perhaps they are buying at, or near cost?) With a softies tank, and simple fish, you won't need to do as many water changes. That bucket of salt would last a long time depending on the size of the tank.

I would also look at the option of having the softies, and other easy corals as a possible means to support the tank. If you say worked another deal with the local shops, you may be able to trade frags for the supplies you need.

All things to consider.

[sharuq1]

Update: My manager is waiting on head office to tell us if there are any health issues we need to be aware of for placing our tank. I also need to develop a formalized plan with costs and maintenance costs & find the MSDS for Prime. (Anyone know how to get ahold of that, or if one exists?) There always seems to be red tape involved, lol.

I have decided freshwater will be cheaper and more sustainable in the long run and easier to maintain as well. I'd still like to use a sump as then I will not have to add on another filter & I can hide all the media/heaters/ugly stuff etc. in there.

Here's my list of items I think would work well for this build:

Tank
Stand
Sump
Canopy for lights over tank
Lights
Bulbs for lights--actinics will make it pop
Return pump
Plumbing
Neutral colored gravel
Large stones for decoration/hiding areas
Some kind of background (anyone know a dealer with a 3d one to gift?)
And for livestock: Peacock or African male cichlids, or some other brightly colored and hardy fish.

I need to find a breeder or someone getting out of fish I think. Anybody know anyone?

Your thoughts? Did I miss anything?

[sharuq1]

The long term care facility was audited recently. I was told there are regulations in place which will make it very difficult if not impossible to do this project. Many thanks to everyone who wished to help. It is amazing, the generosity that exists on this site. If for any reason I find a loophole (and I am looking) that will allow me to complete this project I will be contacting you.

We recently moved out to an acreage and don't have Internet yet, but I try to check my email periodically on public wifi when I have the chance. My apologies to everyone who was all geared up to help with this. It is a huge letdown for me too- actually it just plain sucks. In the meantime I guess I will keep on searching for a loophole :P