Welcome!

Hey there! In the following months we are going to be working on a permanent Eco-Machine for the Vermont Commons Schools bio-lab. The post below is our Journal of Work since March 18 until today, March 23. We will be adding our Journal entries often and hopefully have some pictures and video of our work and findings! Thanks for visiting, VCS Eco Machine group.

Naturalist Certificate
ECO Machine Journal
3/18/10
1:30-2:25
Start project

Clean tank J for Elephant plant transplant. Dug Elephant plant from 75 gallontank, cleaned dirt off of roots. Put Elephant plant in tank J, filled until 9 ¼ inches full, hopefully successfully making it hydroponic. Started mucking the 75 gallon tank. Got maybe and 1/8- 1/5 done.

3/19/10
3:30-4:45
2nd Day of Project

Finish getting the main amount of muck out. Notice that there is a distinct difference in soil quality between left and right side of tank. Finally unearth the big rocks on left side of tank. Probably range from 10 to 60 Lbs. Start to see the bottom of the tank from sponging. Fill with 1-3'' of water before we leave.

3/22/10
10:50-11:45
3rd Day of Project

Finish the right side of the tank for mucking. Begin vigerous sponging to get the mud and water out from the previous session. Empty of all mud and gravel except for edges and corners. Also begin scrubbing the side walls of the tank. Find Miles's two "lucky rocks"




Both rocks very smooth.

Multicolor is a brown black and reddish with some faint black and white lines through it. None of the lines are straight. Sort of stacked.
Black rock is black. Very smooth. Some indentations.
3:30-4:35

Change the water of the elephant plant. Using Seventh Generation soap and a sponge begin VERY VIGEROUSLY scrubbing the sides getting old growth off. Tank is now completely clear on the bottom and sides of medium size patches of algae and orange or yellowish growth. Growth is very difficult to scrub off. Plug both sinks temporarily. Fill tank back up about an 2'' at 4:30.