Salmon in the Classroom of Clark County

Timelines

Timeline for application process

There is no need to reapply for fish eggs each year. Unless you inform Salmon in the Classroom otherwise or there is a problem with the care of the tank, it will automatically be assumed that you will continue the aquarium program year-to-year. For first-time aquarium caretakers, the preferred timeline is shown below. It may be possible to apply for the program at other times of the year, depending upon the availability of eggs or fish in the Clark County area. In this case, each application will be reviewed independently and approved on a case-by-case basis.

Date/Action:

Mid-November (of the year prior to receiving your fish): Submit application to Columbia Springs - Salmon in the Classroom.

Mid-December: Application is sent from Salmon in the Classroom to Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (the application must go through Columbia Springs - Salmon in the Classroom).

January - May: WDFW reviews applications; Salmon in the Classroom determines aquarium placement and contacts schools.

August - September: Aquariums installed.

September - October: Schools receive first delivery of live salmon.

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Timeline for fish rearing

The ingenuity of Salmon in the Classroom participants over the years has proven that many different tank set-ups and many different rearing methods can work. However, after speaking with longtime participants inside and outside of our program, we suggest the following timeline for successful salmon rearing.

September

1. Check tank. Be sure everything is running.
2. Add more water, if necessary to bring the level within 2 inches of the top of the tank.
3. If there is algae on the side of the tank, clean it off using long handle scrub brush, but do not use soap!

Early October

1. Check the water chemistry if you have access to a water testing kit. There should be no ammonia at all. Ideally, the pH should be somewhere between 7.0 and 7.6.
2. To be on the safe side, do a 1/3 water change.
3. Put in the fist-sized rocks or gravel and arrange them artistically.
4. Plug in the chiller. Check several times over the next few days to be sure that the tank is maintaining a temperature of about 46¡ F for Coho Salmon.
5. Pick up or receive delivery of your Coho fingerlings!

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Late October - Early November

1. Watch as your fingerlings grow, feeding according to the feeding schedule provided.
2. Rinse filters weekly, and replace them if necessary.

Mid December

1. Release your fingerlings at your permitted release site.
2. Clean the tank if necessary and leave running over the winter break. Make sure the light is off!

January

1. Arrange to pick up or receive delivery of your Coho Salmon eyed eggs.
2. Once you receive your eggs keep the light off. Salmon are photophobic and light will inhibit their growth, ability to begin feeding, and their overall success. Tape black butcher paper to each end of the tank leaving a small section in the middle for viewing (8" to 12" opening). This will reduce the outside movement visible to the fish.
3. Pick out any eggs that die very gently with a turkey baster (the dead ones will be white and/or fuzzy, they will cause the eggs around them to die if not removed).

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Late February - Early March

1. As the eggs hatch, scoop out as much of the hatching foam as you can and discard.
2. Do a 1/3 water change. Be sure to siphon from the TOP of the water so that you do not disturb the eggs/alevins on the bottom. When you pour clean water in, pour gently so that you do not make the eggs/alevins swirl around.
3. Monitor your water chemistry! There should be no ammonia. The pH may drop from the 7.6 -7.0 range. If it drops below, 7.0, do another 1/3 water change.
4. As the alevins begin to swim, look closely at their bellies. When the last of the yolk sac has disappeared, begin tease feeding. See salmon feeding instructions.
5. Siphon from the bottom of the tank so that you vacuum the droppings off the bottom every time you change water. Look at what you are getting in the bucket as you vacuum. If there are pellets of uneaten food in there, the fish are being fed improperly. Re-read your feeding instructions.

March

1. Once all alevin have buttoned up and are accepting feed the black paper may be removed to allow students to better see the fish.
2. Monitor the water chemistry frequently. This is very important. The pH will begin to go down (meaning the water will become more acidic because of the presence of fish food and droppings). It is very important not to let the pH drop below 6.6.
3. You may need to change one bucket of water a week to keep the pH at 6.6 or above.
4. Siphon from the bottom of the tank so that you vacuum the droppings off the bottom every time you change water. Look at what you are getting in the bucket as you vacuum. If there are pellets of uneaten food in there, the fish are being fed improperly. Re-read your feeding instructions.
5. Look at the fish as you feed them!!! Watch to be sure that the bullies' aren't getting all the food. If some fish seem significantly smaller than the others, you may be getting a "wimps and bullies" situation.

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April

1. As the fish get larger, eat more, and produce more droppings, etc. you may need to change more water more frequently. Let your visual check (do you see droppings?) plus the pH and ammonia test readings be your guide in this. By the end of March, you may be changing several buckets a week -- or you may still be doing only one or two, depending on how many fish you have and how skillfully you are feeding them.
2. Follow the feeding instructions exactly. If you are careful not to let uneaten, rotting food accumulate on the bottom of the tank, you will not have to change so much water.

May - June

1. The fish are released to your permitted release site.
2. Do a 1/3 water change. Siphon from the bottom.
3. Turn the chiller temperature up to 65 Deg. F and leave all the other aquarium equipment running.
4. Fill the tank to within 2 inches of the top.
5. Cover and darken the tank to prevent algae growth over the summer. Use laminated, dark butcher paper for this.

June, July, August

1. Check the water level in the tank.
2. Add more water if necessary.
3. Be sure the airstones are still bubbling and the outside filter is producing a healthy waterfall into the tank.

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