BTW there is a great deal of research that has shown animals have a profound effect on people's personalities and health. Viewing aquaria have been shown to reduce blood pressure and maintain that reduction for long periods afterwards. You weren't just wh
istling dixie when you made your pitch to the powers that be.
I would suggest though that you install an acrylic tank as they are certainly more durable than glass and since you never know what to expect in that environment I'd play it safe and get a tank that'll hold up to potential abuse.
---------------------------------
Jim Priest wrote>>>...
Hey...
The hospital emergency department where I work is fixing to redesign its
waiting room, triage, and registration areas in hopes of finding a way
to keep people from having to wait so long (sometimes 4-5 hours) to be
seen. These are usually people who shouldn't be at the emergency room
anyway (usually suffering from some combination of cold symptoms or moms
who complain that their babys have been cranky for 2 days) and they tend
to become quite pissed off and agitated whenever someone having chest
pain or a broken leg gets seen before they do.
To get to the point...I half jokingly suggested a few months ago that
the hospital consider putting a large fish tank in the waiting area to
help sooth the disposition of these otherwise unhappy people. I know of
this effect personally and ,in fact, spend many a mesmerized hour in
front of my own tanks as I'm sure many of you do.
Lo and behold, it appears they have bought this idea of building a tank
into the wall. Possibly a 135 gal lookin' thing but most likley a 200.
Ha ha ha ha. Just think, an opportunity to display rainbows to the ill
citizens of Las Cruces, NM as they are electing me to setup and maintain
this tank. What an opportunity! 200 gallons will increase my
rainbowfish capacity by 1/3. I believe they will allow me to own the
fish while they own the tank, accessories and plants.
Just one problem though. I don't know a damn thing about built-in fish
tanks. I suppose I will have to go with some sort of trickle filter
setup to allow for access to the back of the tank (there will be a door
for access to the back of the tank with a sink? and drain for water
changes).
I am interested in feedback regarding potential pitfalls for this sort
of setup and any other potentially valuable input. The hospital knows
I've never done this sort of setup but I have convinced them I can do
it. Special tank stand? Special tank canopy? Special lighting?
Anything I should be sure not to overlook?
Thanks
Jim
Chris
drews at webgate.net