What Have I learned?

October 16—What have you learned from the aquarium project?  List at least five educational things that you learned.  BE SPECIFIC. How would you change this project for next year?
 
I have learned from the aquarium project:
- The importance of keeping track of everyday changes in a tank
- The importance of nitrate and ammonia levels and the roles they play on the fish
- How the nitrogen cycle works in an aquarium and how easily it can be disrupted
- The role each plant, animal and bacteria plays in the nitrogen cycle and the importance of each role being fulfilled.
- The types of plants that are appropriate for aquariums, what type of fish can live together safely
- Adding bacterial supplements in, instead of just a dechlorinator alone
- Tracking progression of plant growth and fish behavior

Next year, I would be more strict about getting a fish on time, some people took halfway through the class to even add a fish to their tank. I would not allow the super small tanks, each tank should have a filter or bubbler of some sort and be able to actually watch and track more than just a small tank allows. I would allow other aquatic animals other than fish, more turtles, frogs, salamanders, toads, newts, crabs, interesting things like that so that people can experience more than just fish, but besides that, It is a very great project and allows people to learn more about raising a fish tank for people who don't really know what goes into it.