Before you dump your old aquarium in the trash or consign it to the garage sale pile, consider donating it to the Kosciusko Lakes and Streams K-12 Education Program to be installed in an elementary school classroom.KLAS, a community water quality program centered at Grace College, works with primarily fourth-grade classrooms around Kosciusko County to teach students about water quality and their role as stewards of our natural resources. Part of this program involves installing aquariums with native plant and animal species in local classrooms for students to study throughout the year.
KLAS already has installed six aquariums, and more teachers are eager to participate. All of the aquariums given to schools were donated by individuals from the local area. KLAS is looking for additional new or gently used aquariums and aquarium supplies to meet the demand of additional classrooms.
If you are interested in donating your used aquarium or supplies, contact Eileen Boekestein (e-mail boekesec@grace.edu or telephone 574-372-5100, Ext. 6446) to arrange for pick-up and receipt for your tax-deductible donation.
If you are dismantling an aquarium, never dump your fish and aquatic plants into local lakes or streams. The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, which conducts research and provides education and public outreach to improve water resources in the Great Lakes region, provides the following alternatives to release of these organisms:
Contact retailers for proper handling advice or possible returns.
Give or trade with another aquarist, pond owner or water gardener.
Donate to a local aquarium society, school or aquatic business.
Seal aquatic plants in plastic bags and dispose in trash.
Contact a veterinarian/pet retailer for guidance on humane disposal of animals.
For more information on safe disposal of aquarium organisms, contact Sea Grant online (www.habitattitude.net) or by telephone at 847-972-8677.
