[Open Build Lab] Aquatic Biology

Come join us at Counter Culture Labs (4799 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609) to help build our aquatic division!🐠🪸

This meetup we will be planning biology experiments and setting up a coral reef tank livestream.

Project Overview
We have 3 fish tanks that we need to clean and then populate with bioluminescent algae and saltwater corals. [In compliance with scientific regulations: vertebrates cannot be studied without IACUC approval. Corals will be sourced from authorized breeding programs. Collecting animals from the wild is strictly prohibited.]

So far we removed calcium deposits from the tanks with vinegar and the tanks are now much more aesthetically pleasing! And we populated one tank with sand and saltwater. And added a couple of rocks and corals including anemone! We now have an automatic top off system that refills water as it evaporates in order to stablize salinity. See photo album below for our progress pics

This is a meetup open to the public and is free admission. Light refreshments will be provided. Donations are welcome to help cover cost of materials (venmo @ccl-plantbio or cash). We are currently fundraising for more snails and equipment

Submersible 3D printed bins to separate corals during acclimation are a great addition. Underwater cameras are also desired.

Other tasks include reviewing research papers and designing experiments. For example, using various wavelengths of light to promote bioluminescent algae growth or induce changes in coral morphology. Folks of all backgrounds and skillsets are encouraged to attend. All you need is a willingness to get involved and get your hands wet!