CMCTU

Woodland Park High School began their first year in Trout Unlimited’s Trout in the Classroom program. As one of only four schools in the state asked to take part it is a privilege to participate in the program. Equipment purchased by the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter, including a 55 gallon tank and chiller, began arriving at the school late in the summer to be ready for the beginning of the school year. Weeks before the fish arrived the presence of the aquarium equipment generated enthusiasm for science class in the students.

Rainbow trout eggs were expected to arrive in late September so tank setup began on the 8th to be sure the equipment was working and to establish the biological filter. A few differences between our equipment and last year’s pilot program at Thompson Valley High School in Loveland required some problem solving by the students. Our in-line chiller circulates water out of the tank and through the chiller compared to the drop in style coil at Thompson Valley. The output hose on our chiller had a tendency to rise up out of the tank which could drain the tank in a matter of minutes if allowed to do so. With a few PVC elbows spliced into the line and some Velcro to hold it in place we could then trust the system to leave the water in the tank.

The tank was kept at 65° F for the two weeks prior to the eggs arriving to help nitrogen-converting bacteria establish themselves in the filter media. Reflective window covering was wrapped around the tank to block light from the eggs while they are vulnerable and to insulate the tank from the heat of the classroom. The chemical parameters of the water including pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels were tested to ensure the proper chemistry for the eggs arrival. A day before the arrival of the eggs the tank temperature was decreased to 50° F to match the expected arrival temperature of the eggs.

On September 23rd the eggs arrived via an overnight FedEx delivery. The environmental science class in session when they arrived broke away from their work to count 220 eggs to put in the tank. The temperature of the eggs was taken and they were at 40°F rather than the expected 50°F. In order not to shock the eggs students transferred the eggs into a glass jar and placed the jar in the tank water to slowly bring them to the same temperature as the water. When the eggs were within 3° of the tank water students gently poured them into the hatching basket.

Eight days after the arrival of the eggs we noticed the first fish hatched into the alevin stage where they remain attached to their yolk sac for their nutrients. Within two more days the remaining eggs had hatched. On October 17th, 24 days after their arrival, the first fish swam toward the surface to feed. For now the fish remain in the hatching basket until we are sure they have figured out how to feed.

The first thing many students do now when they arrive to class is take a peek at the fish to see how they are doing. In addition to the high school students who see the fish daily, two classes of elementary students from the school next door and the after school science programs at the other elementary schools in Woodland Park School District have visits planned in the upcoming weeks.

Click here to open Woodland Park High School’s Trout in the Classroom web page.