Students at Union High School will be able to daydream by a miniature ocean, thanks to graduating senior April Fisher. For her independent study, she pitched the idea of creating and installing two 180-gallon saltwater aquariums in the school’s environmental science and engineering building. One tank features a variety of colorful saltwater fish, and the other features living coral.
The idea began when Fisher was going to grow coral for her biotechnology class, setting up a rudimentary tank in a classroom. Though the project didn’t work out the way she planned, she was struck by the attention the tank received from classmates, and “the joy that tank brought to the few people who knew about it,” she said.
For her senior independent study, she knew she wanted to do something with fish. “I had so much fun with that last year, I thought ‘Oh, what if I put a big aquarium into our commons, so everyone could enjoy it?'”
She envisions the aquariums as a gathering spot for students to study and hang out. They will also raise ocean awareness.
“Every step (of the project) has been a milestone,” said Fisher, from getting her big idea approved by the principal, finding funding and approaching the Evergreen district welding shop to help build the aquarium stands. In support of Fisher’s tanks, Union High School will offer a marine science class next year. The students will help take care of the two tanks, which will function as mini-laboratories.
“Caring for (the tanks) is an experiment,” said Fisher. Different temperatures, bacteria and nitrogen levels can greatly change the clarity of the water and affect the aquarium’s inhabitants, she said.
That’s also why the fish and coral are kept separate. “We run a copper chemical through the fish (tank) system to keep parasites and yucky things from affecting the fish,” said Fisher. But the chemical would kill growing coral polyps, the tiny animals that build skeletons of calcium carbonate.
The general reaction to the aquariums has been positive. “People think it’s amazing,” she said. “They’re mesmerized. I often find forehead prints on the tank’s glass.” She said she saw a boy eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with his face pressed against the glass, staring intently at the fish.
“What’s going to be really exciting to most people is the fish (tank); the coral won’t have as much motion,” said Fisher. The tank features 10 varieties of saltwater fish and an eel. “They’re colorful, and way more interesting than freshwater fish.”
Fisher grew up around saltwater fish, as her father has been supplying saltwater fish for personal aquariums for 30 years. Her father helped her pick the right types of fish for the aquarium, as some are better community fish than others. Aquarium fish may come from different oceans, she explained, and “fish can have attitudes.”
“The coral tank is going to be a whole different kind of beauty. People who take the time to watch it get to enjoy the small details. It’s pretty cool what we’re going to do in the coral tank; they will grow over time, so next year’s freshmen, they can see the changes over time while they’re at the school.”
Over the summer, Fisher will check on the progress of the two aquariums, making sure they’re well maintained and healthy.
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