Teaching Visual Aids for Chemistry

[Curtswearing]

Boomer,

I'm temporarily managing a LFS and there's an interesting problem. There is only one person in the store who has even remotely a grasp on reef tank chemistry and, unfortunately, that person is me. I've tried to teach the rest of the employees the basics so that they can help customers with their questions but their eyes glaze over. I realize that I'm going to need to give them some visual aids to explain things.

I thought maybe I could set up a tank, do a test for Calcium, Alkalinity, and pH. Then push Calcium to ridiculous levels. Then test for Ca, alk, and pH afterwards so they could see that pushing Ca too far will lower their alk (and their pH too)

I thought maybe I could take another two tanks, one with low Magnesium and one with the proper Magnesium. Then add enough B-Ionic (or similar) and take the low Mg tank to the point of a snowstorm. Then show how much more B-Ionic could be put into the tank with the proper levels of Magnesium.

Question #1 Do you see any flaws in the above two visual aids?

Question #2 Can you think of any other visual aids that would be useful?

 

[DonW]

Honestly if they cant get it just by explaining I'd just give them a target. Its sort of like you trying to explain to your client the ins and outs of quickbooks. They really dont need to know all about the balance sheets, journals and ledgers they just need to run the program.

Does that make any sense
Don

 

[Curtswearing]

Sure. It makes complete sense.

My main problem though is, they aren't sure they are giving the correct advice and they always want to doublecheck their advice with me which makes me very busy.

I think maybe I'll write up a list of targets for specific gravity, pH, Ca, alkalinity, and Magnesium as a start. Thanks Don!

 

[Scooterman]

I like visual aids, I have to use one when going to the potty

 

[DonW]

Sure. It makes complete sense.

I think maybe I'll write up a list of targets for specific gravity, pH, Ca, alkalinity, and Magnesium as a start. Thanks Don!

Good, I was pretty sure you would get my point.

Don

 

[Boomer]

Why go through all that writing when it has already been done ? Jusy copy some of Randys's articles, especially these and print out Sara's table

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Sara
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17482&highlight=chart

What is seawater
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/rhf/index.php

I think your "viusual aids" of testing a tank is just a waste of time but they should be shown and have explained some of the tricks with test kits.

 

[My2heartboys]

Curt, I think your idea of visual aids is good---but the charts are good as well. When you print them off, laminate them and then tape them up somewhere easily seen by all as well as a place that could be an easy quick reference.

Anne

 

[Curtswearing]

Why go through all that writing when it has already been done ? Jusy copy some of Randys's articles, especially these and print out Sara's table

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Sara
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17482&highlight=chart

What is seawater
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/rhf/index.php

I think your "viusual aids" of testing a tank is just a waste of time but they should be shown and have explained some of the tricks with test kits.

We have a computer available to all customers and they have access to the Reef Frontiers library, Reef Frontiers forums, www.ASIRA.org where Sara's chart is also located, and several other websites. (For obvious reasons, access is limited to certain sites and no downloads are allowed).

 

[Curtswearing]

Curt, I think your idea of visual aids is good---but the charts are good as well. When you print them off, laminate them and then tape them up somewhere easily seen by all as well as a place that could be an easy quick reference.

Anne

Thanks Anne....that's an awesome idea should the internet be down which it often is in this store.

 

[drummereef]

If you want me to come down and rough them up a little.... I think visual aids are a great idea Curt. I would print and laminate them and put them up so they can have a constant reminder. I have a PDF file of Randy's "Reef Alchemy" table I can send over too if you want.

It looks like this.

 

[Curtswearing]

That would be AWESOME!!! Thank you greatly kind sir.

 

[drummereef]

Ok, I'll get it to you asap.

 

[Damsel13]

I need to see what happens as well as understand the chem. behind what is happening. I am not very good at abstract thinking. I like to SEE what is happening. Just MHO (my humble opinion).