As part of their class, our students care for over a dozen different aquariums. We care for animals ranging from freshwater axolotls to saltwater reef tanks. Students learn to care for the animals, maintain equipment, and troubleshoot any issues. Taking care of aquariums helps students to better understand the concepts they are learning in marine biology as they see firsthand the interaction among species and the cycle of nutrients in sea water. Students also gain experiencing performing tests on their aquarium using equipment like colorimeters as well as tracking data to analyze trends.

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The students then get to use the aquariums as a teaching mechanism during school groups and events. Many of our aquariums are designed to mimic local ecosystems, so younger students are able to see the interaction of species right in front of them.