Welcome to the Fish in Schools (FinS) Education Portal

On this page, you will find helpful information about the FinS program, including training videos, classroom resources and program updates. You can also post stories about your FinS experience, share pictures and videos, and ask or answer questions about the program.



FinS applications for 2025-2026 open June 1 - September 30

See the "FinS Application Documents" of the right hand-side for more information.




Classroom Resources

Print off and laminate these resources to help engage your students with the care of your fish.


Schedule of Care - Calendatrier des Soins

Growth Chart - Chariot de Croissance



Have additional questions about the program? First check out the Q&A tab below!


Privacy Statement
Information you provide to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) is collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act and is managed in accordance with Part 2 of the FOIP Act. Comments, images, and videos and any personal information therein you provide may appear on the Fish in Schools (FinS) Engagement HQ Website. Submitted comments and media will be moderated, but once posted to the FinS website, will be viewable by any participant in the FinS program and the general public. EPA will not use or disclose your information for any other purpose without your written consent or unless required to do so by law. If there are any questions or you wish to request a change to the information you provided, please contact Bow Habitat Station at 403-297-6561 or by email at fins.program@gov.ab.ca.


On this page, you will find helpful information about the FinS program, including training videos, classroom resources and program updates. You can also post stories about your FinS experience, share pictures and videos, and ask or answer questions about the program.



FinS applications for 2025-2026 open June 1 - September 30

See the "FinS Application Documents" of the right hand-side for more information.




Classroom Resources

Print off and laminate these resources to help engage your students with the care of your fish.


Schedule of Care - Calendatrier des Soins

Growth Chart - Chariot de Croissance



Have additional questions about the program? First check out the Q&A tab below!


Privacy Statement
Information you provide to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) is collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act and is managed in accordance with Part 2 of the FOIP Act. Comments, images, and videos and any personal information therein you provide may appear on the Fish in Schools (FinS) Engagement HQ Website. Submitted comments and media will be moderated, but once posted to the FinS website, will be viewable by any participant in the FinS program and the general public. EPA will not use or disclose your information for any other purpose without your written consent or unless required to do so by law. If there are any questions or you wish to request a change to the information you provided, please contact Bow Habitat Station at 403-297-6561 or by email at fins.program@gov.ab.ca.


Frequently Asked Questions

Use this space to connect with FinS projects across the province and the FinS team at Bow Habitat Station about the program or the fish in your classroom aquarium.  

You need to be signed in to add your question.

  • We have had to take the strainer off the chiller outflow a few times now, because fish were swimming into the basket and getting stuck? Why would they do that? The front cover is on all the time, except for temp checks and water changes. To resolve the problem we used tulle netting around the strainer. Just seems strange they would swim against the out flow to get in there.

    Vivianne asked 2 months ago

    Hi there,

    Yes, it does seem strange that they would willingly swim into the outflow, however the response to water currents (known as rheotaxis) is a natural part of a fish's behaviour. The water coming from the outflow would be considered "upstream" to the fish, possibly providing a new habitat or shelter.

    Obviously, it's hard to tell a fish that "upstream" may to lead to their untimely demise, so you did the right thing by spotting the behaviour early and addressing the problem with your creative solution.

    FinS Team. 

  • I'm fulla Questions! I started my tank as I am supposed to pick up my eggs this Week. But I wonder if I made a mistake as I already added the Nutrafin solution...I have started several tanks before and was used to doing this, then read that the plan was to add it later. Have I messed this up or should I finish the last dose and move on from there?

    Fishbert asked 4 months ago

    Hello!

    We usually advise that schools hold off on adding Nutrafin Cycle until 400 ATUs, once all the eggs have hatched to alevin. Up until then there is minimal waste in the tank to feed the biological filter system that Nutrafin Cycle is helping to create. 

    So you have a couple of options:

    1. Stop the Nutrafin Cycle and restart at 400 ATUs. You will require the full doses of Nutrafin Cycle at that point when the tank naturally needs extra biofilter help. This may leave you with a low amount to finish the year.

    2. Add the last dose of Nutrafin Cycle. You will need to "feed" your tank a pinch of food once a week or so until the fish are being fed daily. You will be provided with enough food to allow you to do this if you want. 

    In this situation we would likely choose option 2 ourselves to avoid any chance of running out of Nutrafin Cycle, but it's up to you!


    FinS Team

  • Thank You, Now for another Chilling question...I have flushed out the chiller with bleach as recommended (we got this from another school)...now how do I drain the water that is inside it without dumping it upside down (as it warns afainst doing this). It has no bottom drain that I can find.

    Fishbert asked 5 months ago

    Hello,

    Great question! You are correct that you do not want to tip your chiller.
    The bleach will evaporate out of the water if you remove the nozzles from the top.
    Leaving the nozzles off over the winter break is sufficient time for the bleach to evaporate out of the water.

    FinS Team. 

  • Hello, I was wondering as to the reason for crossing the lines to the chiller. I ask because I am finding (although there are not kinks or sharp bends) there is air trapped in the hose and it is affecting my flow rate. Would it be okay to have the hose shorter (less chance for air to be trapped) and have the inflow and outflow from the devices side by side? I haven't done this before so I am not sure if there is a reason for the hose to cross from far side to far side.

    Fishbert asked 5 months ago

    Hello,

    The reason we have the Fluval Filter connect to the Chiller is because many Chillers do not include a pump, therefore the Fluvial Filter is the pump for circulating the water through the chiller.

    If your chiller has its own pump system then it can be independent, but you will have to check the user manual for that.
    You can certainly shorten the hose connecting the two systems, but make sure to not cut it too short to the point where they can no longer connect the two systems. 

    Best Fishes,
    FinS Team 

  • Hello, I just noticed that you are asking for a 30 gallon tank. I was hoping to save the school money by using a 25 gallon tank that I already cleaned and prepared at home, would 25 gallons be sufficient or is it too small for the number of fish we will receive?

    Fishbert asked 7 months ago

    Hello,

    A 25 gallon tank can work to house your fish, however, as the fish grow you might need to complete more water changes as the the water quality will be more difficult to maintain. If you are using a used tank please flow the steps for disinfection found in our technical manual to ensure the health of the fish.

    FinS Team

  • Help, I think our aerator broke after school today. It was making an awful noise, and so I unplugged it. Now it won't turn on at all. I have left the fish with no aerator for the night but I'm wondering how long they can survive without oxygen flow while we sort out the issue?

    jenlazaruk asked about 1 year ago

    Hello,

    You will need to replace the aerator as soon as possible as it provides oxygen to your fish.
    For the aerator make sure all of the tubing for the intake hose is properly connected, if it is loose it will not flow properly.
    If you still have the user manual please reference it for guidance.

    If it is still not working please call the Bow Habitat Station main line 403-297-6561 for further instruction. 

    FinS Team  

  • Hello! Our little Alevin are at 450 ATUs. Some have started to swim up but a few little sneaky buggers keep escaping from the incubation basket! Has anyone else experienced this? This never happened last year. I’ve been netting them back into the basket, but should I just leave them out instead??

    soakley asked over 1 year ago

    Hello!

    If they are still resting at bottom most of the time you will want to put your alevin back into the basket, otherwise they will burrow themselves into the gravel. The typical aquarium gravel is too heavy and could crush your alevin.

    FinS Team

  • Hello, I just want to make sure that it was ok to add the nutrifin to the tank before the egg delivery. I realize that it is not needed until the fish are hatched but I have already added it to the tank and I am picking the eggs up today. Thanks, Tyler Lowe

    tjlowe asked over 1 year ago

    Hello Tyler,

    Yes, it is okay to add the Nutrafin Cycle to the tank before getting the eggs. The Nutrafin Cycle established a biofilter in the tank so no harm will come to the eggs.

    We normally wait to add the Nutrafin Cycle since the biofilter does not have much to eat before the fish start producing waste as fry.
    You will simply need to add the Nutrafin Cycle again at 400-410 ATUs

    Fins Team

  • Hello, The gill of some of our fish are quite red. Is there something we should be doing to help them?

    Tara.nissen asked about 2 years ago

    Discolouration of your fish’s gills is indicative of high ammonia levels.

    Move to a schedule of increased water changes immediately. Add zeolite rocks (can be found at your local pet store) in their porous container to the bottom of your tank to help with ammonia absorption.

    FinS Team 

  • We have noticed a dwindle in our trout population, without having any mortalities (that we see). Is it possible they could be eating each other? What should we do?

    spdavey asked about 2 years ago

    Hello,

    Make sure you are feeding them enough food by using the equation a the bottom of the Feeding Schedule. Make sure you are feeding them throughout the day instead all at once.

    FinS Team