Except for the chiller and tank, all the standard TIC equipment is listed in the table below. The brands listed are those that have been successful in classrooms. Comparable equipment should also work. Tanks are not generally shipped and must be purchased locally. We recommend a 55 gallon tank, but any size between 30 and 55 will work very well for the equipment on this list. Please keep in mind that we work the chillers far harder than in most situations in which chillers are used. Therefore, if you purchase a tank larger than 55 gallons, we recommend a 1/3 h.p. to 1/2 h.p. chiller (not to be confused with the standard 1/4 h.p. chillers listed below) which both adds to the cost and creates the need to vary some of the adapters. Contact your TIC coordinator or equipment vendor for the proper set up when using a tank larger than 55 gallons. Here is a list of current equipment:
- Tank (55 gallon is recommended)
- Stand to hold tank and chiller (optional - many schools uses countertops)
- 405 Fluval Cannister Filter (upgraded 6/07)
- Whisper 20 Air Pump (Tetra)
- Sandstone (Blue) 12" Airstone - 206 (Blue Ribbon)
- 8′ Flexible Airline Tubing ST-8 (Penn Plax)
- Check Valve - 1 pk (Lee’s)
- Net Breeder (Lee’s)
- Battery Operated Digital Thermometer (ESU)
- Floating Thermometer - Economy (Penn Plax)
- 4" Net (Penn Plax)
- Biozyme 8gm F/W (Aq. Prod)
- Turbo Twist 3X - 9W UV Sterilizer (ESU)
- Flexible Tubing 1/2" (Lee’s)
- Zinc Plated Clip 1/2" 2 pk (Cyprio)
- Aqua Clear 20 Power Head (Old 201) (Hagen)
- Freshwater Master Test Kit (Aq. Pharm.)
The tubing size and lengths needed, as well as any tubing clips or clamps needed, will vary with your set-up, including which chiller you choose to use. Chiller (the most expensive part of the set-up) options are listed on the next page.
Equipment Replaced Yearly
Each year, each set-up will need a few new items:
- UV bulb for the sterilizer�even if it is still emitting light after one year, it is no longer emitting the UV spectrum useful for sterilization. The filament degrades.
- Filter pads
- Airstone these can degrade or get gummed up with waste.
- Water Quality Test Kit at the end of one school year, you will have used up most of the reagents and
- other testing materials.
Chiller Options
Glacier -the original TIC chiller.
Glacier Corp. Chiller - Ph# (714) 557-2826 @ $605.00 per unit (shipping inc). 1/6 Horsepower -1 year warranty Immersed Coil Type (Cooling coil is placed in water) No further discount available. While this unit has been the standard, the two chillers below can also be used. No tubing needed. NOTE: this is an old price from 2005.
Artica -the new popular favorite; it makes the least amount of noise.
Artica Titanium Chiller - From Marine Depot (714) 385-0080 @ $475 ($28 shipping) 1/5 Horsepower - 2 year warranty flow thru type ( Water is cooled when it is pumped through the cooling chamber) This unit is UL listed- and purported to be the most quiet of all comparable chillers, which is of great importance to teachers. They will discount this price if we buy 12 or more at a time. This may be our choice, low purchase price, 2 year
warranty, quiet and it is UL listed. For a total price of $503.00 shipped. NOTE: this price may also not be current.Aqua Chill - both the 1/4 horse power (30-55 gallon tanks) and the 1/2 h.p. (75 - 150 gallons) models were used with limited success in the 2006-’07 school year, although there were at least 5 malfunctions and a couple that did not work when they arrived. Our vendor was good about replacing them next day and I have a back-up 1/4 h.p. model just in case one of our schools is in emergency need.
Aqua Chill - 1/4 HP Aqua-Chill Chiller-Tanks Up to 55 gal (ESU) - See notes above on the Aqua Chill chillers from May ‘07.
Mag Drive Water Pump 700GPH (Supreme)
1/2" x 1/2" Female Adapter FPT x INS (IPS)
NOTE: the 1/2 h.p. model was used in tanks in the 75-150 gallon range with success.
This chiller would require a separate pump, as listed. We are currently testing this model for classroom use. UPDATED June 2007 - We were not pleased with the performance of the Aqua Chill chillers this past school year (’06-’07). As a result, we will be replacing the Aqua Chill brand with the Prime 1/4 h.p. Tower Chiller, available from our vendor ThatFishPlace.com.
Each year, new equipment is tested and modifications to this list are made. Trout Unlimited strives to identify the best possible equipment at the lowest costs available. When we have identified better gear, we change the recommended list and work with our vendor to update it for any new programs.
Prime Tower Filter - 1/4 h.p. w/ Single Stage Thermostat (recommended chiller currently). This model replaces the Aqua Chill brand chiller and is now available from our current vendor, ThatFishPlace.com.
Vendor Contact
www.ThatFishPlace.com This company is located in Eastern, PA and ships UPS Ground which is next day in most cases to NJ schools. If you call to place your order, please ask for Stephanie Welsh @ 717-299-5691 ext. 1288 and tell her you are looking for help with a Trout in the Classroom kit for a New Jersey school. Their "Kit # 1" includes all necessary equipment (chiller, filter, air stone, water testing kit, UV Sterilizer, etc.) minus the tank and hood.
You will need to purchase your tank from a local pet shop or pet superstore - remember to get hoods with lights built in.
As of this August ‘07, we are in the process of evaluating a New Jersey based vendor for the above equipment as some schools are requiring that purchases be kept in-state wherever possible. Some teachers use their local pet stores which is fine, but beware of significant substitutions of the filter and/or chillers. We work these units much harder than they are designed for which is why the equipment we use is designed for tanks much larger than we are using. Trout need cold water and clean water and a cheap chiller or underpowered filter system will not last or keep the tank healthy.