Daphnia!

Now that we have officially started our LIVE FOOD EXPERIMENTS, let’s take a closer look into the animal that makes it possible.

Daphnia are a small animal known as zooplankton. Their tiny size makes them a great snack for out trout, but also other creatures like macroinvertebrate larva. There are over 100 known species of daphnia! Trout in the classroom has used a few different kinds for our experiments over the years. These colonies can produce both sexually and asexually! Female daphnia can also release their eggs into the sediment where they sit dormant for upwards of 80 years before the right conditions allow them to hatch.

If your school hasn’t run the experiment yet, check out this video of the way they “jump” through the water!

So, what do Daphnia eat? Well, they’re herbivores! They eat phytoplankton, or “algae” that use the sun’s energy for photosynthesis. Phytoplankton come in all different shapes and colors, but they’re often GREEN.

Here is a picture of what I feed our colonies during the month! With a microscope, you can actually see their gut, which is clear, full of food. Daphnia are critical for controlling algal populations.

Phytoplankton can grow so intensely, they become known as an algal bloom. Check out these pictures in Owasko Lake (left) and Fall Creek (right). This can be exacerbated by human impact. Adding excess nutrients, such as fertilizer runoff or sewage/animal poop, have caused these blooms to worsen. Why is this bad?

• Harmful to human health

• Harmful to pet (including dog) health

• Depletes oxygen and kills fish and other organisms

• Blocks sun from reaching organisms deeper in the water

Daphnia are an amazing species. They are sensitive to pollution and, therefore, incredibly helpful in determining the health of a body of water.

Dapnia present? Healthy water! Daphnia are absent? Check out the water more.

This is known as an indicator species!

We might not spend the year studying daphnia, but they're helpful to learn about when considering the ecosystem for our trout. All of these factors come together to create a healthy habitat for us and the animals we live by.

What's In My Aquarium?

Now is a great time to refamiliarize ourselves with what’s in our aquarium, how they support our trout, and solutions to common problems. All of your fish have survived the break, so here’s one more refresher for the new year!

Water Quality Levels

You all should be familiar with typical chem test levels, but here’s a reminder for the start of the year:

• Ammonia- Less than 1 mg/l (ppm).

• Nitrite- Near zero (ppm), once bacteria are established in the filter system

• Nitrate- Below 40 ppm (mg/l)

• pH- the pH scale runs from 1 (acid) to 14 (basic). 7 is "neutral".  A pH of 7.4 – 8.4 is fine for our trout

Keeping a record of your chem test levels is important! This way, you can see if something isn’t resolving.

Common Equipment Problems→ Solutions

FILTER

QUESTION: What do I do if the filter canister is making a loud/rattling noise or is hot to the touch?

This is an indication that water is not moving through the filter pump properly.

1. Locate the filter outflow nozzle just beneath the surface of the water in your tank. Check to see if water is flowing out by putting your finger in front of it.

If water is NOT flowing:    

1. Unplug your filter and let it cool down for 15 minutes.

2. Check to make sure that any screening over your outflow nozzle is clear of debris. Remove it and rinse off as needed. Check the water intake for the filter (at the end of the long plastic tube going to the bottom of your tank). If there is screening around the intake, make sure it is free of debris. Remove it, rinse off and replace. (All parts of the intake cage can be removed and replaced by hand. You won't break it!)

1. You can have students help with this! It’s good to have an extra set of hands holding the tube near the surface of the water, and swatting away fish that may get sucked in. 

3. After 15 minutes, restart your filter. First, locate the gray/red gently manual pump handle on the top of the filter canister. Pump it up and down several times. Water should flow out of the outflow nozzle when you pump. Plug in the filter, and evaluate. A few extra manual pump strokes may be necessary.

5. If the filter is still rattling, or not pumping water, you have a broken impeller or impeller shaft. Leave the filter unplugged. Call DCL, and we will come out to replace the piece.

CHILLER

QUESTION: My chiller isn’t functioning properly, what could be wrong?

For a variety of potential malfunctions, the first thing to do is to power down the unit (unplug or switch off) and wait 10 seconds before restarting.  This reset may do the trick; if not, call us.

QUESTION: My chiller is on, but water in the tank is not getting cold enough, what could be happening?

The chiller's "Pre-filter" may be clogged. This is a black foam cylinder attached to the submersible pump in your aquarium. If it has a lot of debris stuck to it, or appears to be squeezed together, it needs cleaning.

1. Follow the black cord from the submersible pump to the power supply and unplug it OR keep it running and have someone hold it near the surface to swat away fish while you continue with the following steps.

2. Pull the whole unit toward the surface, slide the foam filter cylinder off its frame and rinse it out.  

3. Replace the clean foam filter, PLUG THE PUMP IN IF YOU TURNED IT OFF.

4. You should notice an immediate increase in water flow through the chiller system. Your aquarium should begin to cool over the next 15-20 minutes

If these solutions don’t fix your chiller problem, call DCL and we’ll come out to help find a solution.

AIR PUMP

QUESTION: How come my blue air pump is buzzing but there are no bubbles coming from the airstone at the bottom of the aquarium?

1. To address noise, shift the pump away from any other surfaces.  Also make sure that the rubber feet on the bottom of the pump are in place.  

2. If no bubbles are rising from the airstone, follow the clear airline from the airstone to the blue air pump.  Make sure all connections are in place. Occasionally, they can be pulled apart, and can be easily reconnected by hand.

3. If neither of these options helps, unplug the airpump and call DCL. Your fish will be fine for several days.

Other Common Issues

1. If your intake/outflow cages don’t have netting on them, fish can get sucked in! While your trout are still small, make sure there is some type of filter preventing this

2. Ensure all intake and outflow tubes are secured! Sometimes, these can be bumped out of place and cause a leak.

3. If your fish are in a warm tank or being removed to fix a problem, you can tape/add a bag of ice to their temporary location to keep the temperature low!

Main Takeaways

1. If your filter is ratting and you can’t find a solution, unplug it

2. If your chiller isn’t cooling properly and cleaning/resetting it doesn’t work, call DCL

3. If your bubbler isn’t producing bubbles, check all connections are in place

A longer version of this review is in our Tech Support Tab in this blog post. It’s great to be able to troubleshoot, but if you’re worried about the health of your tank send an email to education@discovercayugalake.org AND bill@discovercayugalake.org 

Who Makes This Possible?

 When over 1,200 students across the Finger Lakes region gather to release their carefully raised trout into local streams, it's easy to focus on the joy and wonder the experience brought them. But behind every successful Trout in the Classroom season stands a network of dedicated supporters who make these transformative experiences possible.

The Power of Community: Sponsors

The Finger Lakes Trout in the Classroom program doesn't happen in isolation. It thrives because of the generosity and commitment of teachers, local businesses, community members, and watershed enthusiasts who believe in the power of hands-on environmental education.

In the 2024-2025 school year, we’re grateful for sponsors like Rogues Harbor Inn, Nancy Metzker, Wayne Gottlieb's family, Louise Mudrak, Caroline Marschner, Alice Galper, John & Alejandra Peterson, Bet the Farm Winery, Compton Farms, Hosmer Winery, Sharon Howry, and Andy and Denny Lane, along with those who have chosen to honor loved ones like Tom Nolan and Larry Friesen. Each $250 donation supports one classroom aquarium for an entire school year, providing students with supplies, equipment, and expert guidance as they nurture their trout from eggs to fingerlings.

Sponsorship is about more than just funding. Our aquarium sponsors become part of their adopted classroom's journey. The sponsor's name is added to the aquarium for the year, and they receive heartfelt thank-you notes from students who share what they've learned about water chemistry, aquatic ecosystems, and environmental stewardship. They're also invited to join the spring release field trips, where they can witness firsthand the impact of their generosity as students carefully release their trout into cold, clear streams like Salmon Creek, Fall Creek, Six Mile Creek, and Taughannock Creek.

If you’re considering sponsoring an aquarium or sharing the information with someone who may, please look ahead to the “How You Can Help” section below, or visit our donation page!

The Heart of TIC: Our Teachers and Volunteers

Sponsors provide the foundation that makes this program possible, but it's the partnership between funders and educators that creates the magic. The dedication of our teachers and volunteers brings Trout in the Classroom to life. Day in and day out, they all take on the responsibility of caring for delicate aquatic ecosystems while managing everything else a classroom demands.

Our teachers integrate trout care into their busy days by consistently testing water chemistry each week, troubleshooting tank equipment, and more. They turn water tests into math lessons, nitrogen cycle observations into science discoveries, and trout behavior into writing prompts. To every teacher who has welcomed a 55-gallon aquarium into your classroom, thank you. Your commitment to hands-on environmental education is creating ripples that will spread far beyond your classroom walls.

Our volunteer mentors provide invaluable support too, whether they're avid trout fishers sharing their expertise or nature enthusiasts who love working with kids. They visit classrooms, answer questions, help with water changes, and provide the extra hands and knowledge that make teachers' jobs a little easier. Here is a big thank you to all of our volunteers:

THANK YOU

Gian Dodici

Phil Koons

Kenneth Kemphues

Ryan Diehl

Bob Walters

Chris Barley

Scott McKee

Rich Andrews

We see you all, we appreciate you, and we're honored to support you and be a part of your team. You are the ones who turn this program from an idea into a life-changing experience for students each year.

Join Us for the 2025-2026 Season: How You Can Help

As we look to the current school year, we're seeking sponsors to adopt aquariums for the next generation of student scientists. With 20 participating schools and over 1,200 students eager to learn, there are opportunities to make a direct impact in each classroom.

This support opens doors to engaged learning, transforming ecological concepts into personal experiences. Students learn responsibility as they monitor water quality, mathematics as they measure ammonia and pH levels, and ecology as they observe the nitrogen cycle in action. Most importantly, they develop a personal connection to their local watershed that often lasts a lifetime.

Ready to sponsor an aquarium? Visit our donation page to adopt an aquarium ($250) for the 2025-2026 school year and connect with a classroom near you! 

Not quite ready to sponsor an aquarium, but still want to get involved? Plan ahead for next spring by viewing our cruise options, booking a private charter, or purchasing a Lake Lovers Season Pass. And don't forget to follow our social media accounts (@DiscoverCayugaLake on Instagram and Facebook) for winter updates about program highlights, student discoveries, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of aquarium life!