Aquarium Community Service

[black_bull]

I'm in high school and am working on several things for community service, and I just thought of a great idea: I could volunteer by setting up, stocking, and maintaining an aquarium in a nursing home. I could pay for all the filters, heaters, fish, etc, and could check on it and clean it twice a week.

This is a great idea because colleges look for kids that not only volunteer, but volunteer by sharing their unique talents and hobbies with others. An aquarium will provide the elderly people with entertainment and excitement (I hope it looks that good lol )and allow me to enjoy a hobby that I pursue outside of community service.

Has anyone else thought about this or done it? Does it sound like a good idea? What types of fish (general) would fit the bill for this aquarium? Any tips? Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for all the helpful comments!

 

[Ethos]

I think Its a great idea!
If the nursing home wants a tank, I'd make them pay for it.
First try and purswade the nursing home activities director (I've worked with these guys before) and try to convince them about how therapudic these are.
Try to spend as much money out of your own pocket as you can.

For fish, I think a community with angels, or maybe an african cichlid tank?
Blood parrots are wicked awesome too...

 

[collared_drifter]

i'd say lots of different gouramis... besides the three spotted blue ones which are a tad aggresive.. and might scare the old people... (lol)
you could get the home to pay for the fish, so you could get lots of discuss which i thik would be nice... and calm and serene...
or a marine aquarium!
the possiblities are ENDLESS...

 

[Mad Duff]

It is a good idea mate but there can be problems.

A few years ago the fish club I was secretary of decided to donate a full set up to a local nursing home and at least on member went in each week to check every thing was okay. To start off with everything was fine but things soon started to go down hill, we stocked it with general community fish and lots of livebearers which soon started vanishing (we later found out that visitors were taking them), fish started appering in the tank (a visitor didnt want his firemouth anymore). The fish were getting over fed and things were getting put in the tank like money, chips, crisps etc. we ended up having to lock the lid of the tank and somebody tried to get in and smashed the tank, needless to say the home didnt want it replacing.

I hope I havnt put a downer on your idea because if it works it will be brilliant and it could encourage more people to have tanks, but I just thought it a good idea to point out some problems that we encountered.

Hope it all goes well for you.

 

[BigC]

Many years ago, Hospitals and Hospices & Nursing Homes would all have aquariums in one department or another, they were considered theraputic both for the staff and the patients. What with cutbacks and maintenance problems they gradually dissappeared.
I'm glad to see that someone is taking the onus and ressurecting this idea. It would be a major undertaking and one that might blossom as word spreads.
My advice for what it's worth is to keep it natural and basic with as low a maintenance as you can possibly make it. Keep only small community fish and fill all the water layers to make it interesting and eyecatching.
Here is a possible fish stocking list, it is made up from a proven community where there is minimal in tank quarrels thus detracting from the theraputic value. (as the patients might become stressed if they see a larger fish bullying their smaller tankmates).
Depending on your tank size you can add to or detract the numbers involved.

6 Marble Hatchets
10-20 Cardinal Tetras
6-8 Black Phantom Tetras
6 Corydoras species (possibly bronze)

Keep it simple, keep it calm,
The effect will be fantastic.
I wish you every sucess in this venture and please keep us posted with updates and pics.
Regards
BigC

 

[kat and james]

i think that is a really lovely idea! i hope they let you do it! you'll have to let us know how it all goes!!
good luck!

 

[annka5]

I think it's a great idea, but just one thing -you need to be sure that you will either look after the tank and fish personally for the next years, or be able to find someone you trust to do it.
You won't be able to walk away at the end of your project.

 

[WendyinWichita]

In the US there tanks are common in Nursing homes, and the residents LOVE them. Recently, I visited my Great- Grandmother and there were two tanks, one approx 55 gal and the other somewhat smaller ( that was before I became MTS, so didn't pay super close attention to size). Anyway, in the 55 there were a couple of Bala sharks and one other bright colored fish, and in the smaller one a single blood parrot. I would strongly recommend large fish and they need to be colorful. The majority of the residents don't have great vision, so they need to be able to see the fish. Just remember how often you look into your own tank and have trouble locating a fish?

Also, if you discuss this with your LFS, they may donate the fish. My LFS keeps the Nursing homes tanks stocked with whatever isn't selling.

Just a suggestion, but I would avoid small fish, they won't be able to see em.

One more thought, Goldfish would be a great option. They wonn't reproduce and they don't need heat.