Going to the Dallas World Aquarium was so much fun. My partner (Delaney Neubauer) and I had so much fun going around and taking pictures with all the animals. The most exciting part was seeing the sharks swimming all around us. It was actually kind of trippy after you looked at the tank for too long. My eyes started to cross, and that just made it so much more interesting. I also had a fun time getting to feed the toucan. It was cool to feel its beak just nibble the food right out of my hand. The DWA met my expectations and even exceeded them. I loved getting to spend the day away from school. Also it was very cool for myself to be able to identify many of the fish that were there. This was a great field trip and i hope someday i will get the chance to go back to the DWA(:
Monday, May 27, 2013
Invasive Weeds
All about Invasive Weeds
Scientific Name: Alternanthera philaxeroides
Common Name: Alligatorweed
Description: Emergent shoreline plant, aggressive, mat-forming perennial
Reproduction: Spreads from seed or plant fragments
Problems Caused: can impede navigation and displace native vegetation
Scientific Name: Myriophyllum spicatum
Common Name: Eurasian Watermilfoil
Description: Submerged, stems and red when actively growing
Reproduction: Spreads by seeds, fragments and stolens
Problems Caused: Can impede navigation and shade out native vegetation
Scientific Name: Slavinia molesta
Common Name: Giant Salvinia
Description: Free floating aquatic fern, forms dense mats, root hairs on the leaves resemble "egg beaters" structure. Known to grow 3 feet above the surface of the lake.
Reproduction: Spreads rapidly by buds
Problems Caused: reduces oxygen exchange and negatively effects water quality and habitat. Once established it is almost impossible to eradicate.
Scientific Name: Hydrilla verticuillata
Common Name: Hydrilla
Description: submerged perennial aquatic plant, used mainly for aquarium habitats.
Reproduction: Spreads through tubers, turions, stolons, and fragments. NO SEEDS
Problems Caused: Shades out desirable native vegetation, impedes navigation, and can also grow more than one inch a day.
Scientific Name: Lythrum salicaria
Common Name: Purple Loosestrife
Description: invasive wetland plant, added to wetlands for color.
Reproduction: each plant can produce 2-3 million seeds
Problems Caused: Clogs irrigation canals, causes problems in all 50 states except Florida, replaces native vegetation.
Scientific Name: Eichhornia crassipes
Common Name: Water Hyacinth
Description: "worlds worst weed", one of the fastest growing plants known.
Reproduction: daughter plans and forms thousands of seeds
Problems Caused: uptakes nutrients in the water and releases H ions which acidify the water, and dense mats reduce oxygen levels and block waterways.
Scientific Name: Pistia stratiotes
Common Name: Water Lettuce
Description: looks like lettuce, rosette of grey-green leaves.
Reproduction: daughter plants
Problems Caused: large mats than affect habitat and impede navigation
Scientific Name: Pistia stratiotes
Common Name: Water Lettuce
Description: looks like lettuce, rosette of grey-green leaves.
Reproduction: daughter plants
Problems Caused: large mats than affect habitat and impede navigation
PREVENTION FOR ALL INVASIVE WEEDS
1. NEVER put aquarium plants in lakes, rivers or wetlands.
2. Please check boat trailers and props when leaving a lake.
3. Don't transport harmful aquatic plants.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Amphibians
Amphibians
Difference between Toads and Frogs
Toads:
walk
keep mostly on land
lay eggs in long chains
skin is dry and bumpy
eyes do not bulge out
(Poison gland behind the eye)
no teeth
Frogs:
jump (jump up to 36X their own length)
keep mostly on water
(go down when the sun shines)
lay eggs in clusters
skin is moist and smooth
eyes bulge out
vomerine teeth in upper jaw
Why are amphibians considered to be an indicator of the health of our ecosystems?
Bioindicators, they have permeable skin that can easily absorb toxic chemicals. They indicate the health of the biosphere. Amphibians are also used to assist in medical research.
Why has their been a decrease in their population?
Many reasons including pollution, infectious diseases, habitat loss, invasive species, climate change and over-harvesting greatly affect the population of Amphibians.
What could be done to prevent it?
Numerous things can be done to prevent a drastic decrease in the Amphibian population.
Do not use pesticides, these toxic chemicals are very dangerous to the species.
Don't eat frog legs. The harvesting of Amphibians for the food trade is often unregulated, which results in a primary contributor to Amphibian declines.
Do not purchase wild caught Amphibians.
Don't set your pet frog loose into the wild.
Drink tap water instead of bottled water.
Last but not least Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle!!
How to Assess a Pond
Steps to Assessing a Pond
1. Observe
- dead fish, oil, oily film, plants, algae blooms
2. Observe the Algae
- specifically observe the algae found in your pond, and also can observe different algae samples underneath a microscope
3. Observe Insects under the microscope.
4. Test for Nitrite, Ammonia and Nitrate.
5. Locating the actual problem. Now it is time for the chemical panel.
- Identifying mercury, chemical pollution, gas leaks, oil, chlorine and soapy/foamy waters.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Watersheds
What is a watershed?
An area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins or streams.
What lotic systems make up the watershed you live in?
I live in the Elm Fork watershed of the Trinity River.
Why is it important to monitor the water quality of a water shed?
Monitoring the water quality of water sheds is beneficial to the environment. Monitoring the water includes making sure the water is not contaminated with toxins. Water from watersheds can end up in reservoirs where used for water resources. Those resources must be clean in order to maintain a healthy environment.
What are benefits our community gets from watersheds?
Benefits provided by healthy watersheds include reduced vulnerability to invasive species, climate change, and future land use changes. Watersheds with natural land cover and soil resources provide carbon storage capabilities. They provide habitats for fish, amphibians, birds and insects. Aside from reduced costs of restoring impaired waters, there are many other economic benefits to conserving healthy watersheds. They preserve recreation activities such as fishing and water related recreation.
Monitoring the water quality of water sheds is beneficial to the environment. Monitoring the water includes making sure the water is not contaminated with toxins. Water from watersheds can end up in reservoirs where used for water resources. Those resources must be clean in order to maintain a healthy environment.
What are benefits our community gets from watersheds?
Benefits provided by healthy watersheds include reduced vulnerability to invasive species, climate change, and future land use changes. Watersheds with natural land cover and soil resources provide carbon storage capabilities. They provide habitats for fish, amphibians, birds and insects. Aside from reduced costs of restoring impaired waters, there are many other economic benefits to conserving healthy watersheds. They preserve recreation activities such as fishing and water related recreation.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Algae Search Lab
Observations
-We observed little daphnia swimming rapidly throughout the small amount of water we placed on our petri dish.
- We also observed a scud in the pond water.
- We noticed many larva traveling throughout the pond water, under the microscope.
- We found a snail which enjoyed moving around our petri dish when trying to take pictures. The snail left reminiscent from its slime as it traveled.
- The water appeared to have a blood worn which soon came into contact with the snail.
- In the pond water we also observed a baby snail whose shell had not yet been produced to its maturity.
- After setting the snails in our petri dish, they began to engage in sexual activity.
- Two adult snails became attached while in effort to reproduce.
- The blood worm often moved rapidly throughout the petri dish, striking the snails on a regular basis.
- Our pond water observation lab was very successful. We found many daphnia, scuds, larva, snails and a blood worm.
When we added the snails to our tank, our mino did not do anything. Our mino has stayed in the corner of our tank since it first was set in there. Till this day our snails are still alive, and have attached themselves to the side of the tank.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Freshwater Careers
Aquatic Botanists
Concerned with the fundamental studies on structure, function, dynamics and classification of plant-dominated aquatic communities.
I chose the Botanists because i really do enjoy all the different types of plants and flowers there are in this world.
Wildlife Biologist
Study behaviors of various water life animals.
I chose this career because of my love for marine animals. Marine animals vary in size, shape, color and uniqueness. It is a beautiful wonder to see how many different species of animals you can find in the marine wildlife.
Restoration Workers
Design and build aquatic ecosystems.
I chose this career because i enjoy design and architecture. I love the different ways people come up with to design and operate aquatic ecosystems.
Lakes
Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic, and Eutrophic Lakes
Oligotrophic
low in mineral nutrients, supports little life, and low in chlorophyll levels.
Mesotrophic
moderate amount of nutrients, transition period from oligotrophic to eutrophic
Eutrophic
green and turbid
highly productive, large populations, high levels of plant nutrients
high chlorophyll levels
By understanding the type of lake one is studying, one can view the amount of plants, animals and nutrients in the water.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Pond and River
10 Things I Learned From The Video
1. Rivers gave birth to our civilizations.
2. Henry Worton Stanley traveled years up the Nile River in order to research.
3. Only plants with strong roots can survive in strong currents.
4. All civilizations use fresh water for irrigation.
5. Rivers are used to carry rain water from higher to lower grounds.
6. 1/3 of the worlds fresh water is located in the amazon river.
7. No animal is more adapted to the pond then the amphibian.
8. Muddy banks alongside rivers are home to many burrowing mammals.
9. Minos have a natural camouflage.
10. Ponds are very rich in nutrients.
3 things in common
1. Both rivers and ponds belong to the lentic ecosystem.
2. Scientists that study rivers or ponds are both known as limnologists.
3. Physically and Chemically, ponds and rivers are very common.
3 things different
1. Rivers are more narrow, where as ponds are more likely rounded.
2. Rivers lead to bodies of water, where as a pond does not.
3. Rivers are flowing water, where as ponds are still water.
Fish Observations
Good scientific observations have no opinions and are detailed.
Large Tank in the back of the classroom.
5 minutes of observation
- Many of the goldfish look to remain in packs near the surface of the water.
- The grey sucker fish constantly stays attached to the walls of the aquarium.
- The grouper swims freely threw the tank, and does what it pleases.
- The black cat fish hovers on the rocks at the bottom of the tank.
- The black white and orange fish is a very energetic fish.
- The gravel in the aquarium tank consists of tan, brown, black and white rocks.
- There is one plant which none of the fish like to swim by.
- Many rocks in the tank provide the fish with places to hide and sleep.
- The solid grey fish likes to stay put and not swim around to much.
- The goldfish swim in packs and like to pop their mouths out of the water on a regular basis.
Observations are very important to scientific inquiry. Why? Observations are important because they give off accurate information. Observations are clearly a statement of what your senses are telling you.
Large Tank in the back of the classroom.
5 minutes of observation
- Many of the goldfish look to remain in packs near the surface of the water.
- The grey sucker fish constantly stays attached to the walls of the aquarium.
- The grouper swims freely threw the tank, and does what it pleases.
- The black cat fish hovers on the rocks at the bottom of the tank.
- The black white and orange fish is a very energetic fish.
- The gravel in the aquarium tank consists of tan, brown, black and white rocks.
- There is one plant which none of the fish like to swim by.
- Many rocks in the tank provide the fish with places to hide and sleep.
- The solid grey fish likes to stay put and not swim around to much.
- The goldfish swim in packs and like to pop their mouths out of the water on a regular basis.
Observations are very important to scientific inquiry. Why? Observations are important because they give off accurate information. Observations are clearly a statement of what your senses are telling you.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Lentic System
Lentic System: standing waters
Lake
a large body of water surrounded by land
Pond
a fairly small body of still water
Playa Lake
Dry lakes are an ephemeral lakebed, generally extending to the shore, or a remnant of an endorheic lake
Swamp
an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground
Marsh
An area of low-lying land that is flooded in wet seasons or at high tide, and typically remains waterlogged at all times
Bog
wet muddy ground to soft too support heavy body.
Reservoir
a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply
Density and Temperature Demonstration
Brian Adler and Alex Bell
During the demonstration we collected hot water and cold water.
Cold water was then colored blue, while the hot water was colored red.
The concept of this demonstration was to see what water would rise to the top, and what water sunk to the bottom.
Alex placed the jar of hot water on top of the jar of cold water.
Brian then placed the jar of cold water on top of the jar of hot water.
When the jars were directly on top of each other, both separated by a piece of paper, Alex and Brian removed the paper.
Cold water has a higher density then warm water. In that case, the cold water moved to the bottom, while the hot water remained at the top.
Alex's jar stayed the same because her hot water was already on top. Brian's jar on the other hand mixed together because the cold water was trying to get to the bottom, while the hot water was trying to rise.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Aquarium Project
Aquarium Project
I. Purpose: To monitor an aquatic ecosystem over time through observations and data collection.
II. Materials:
10 Gallon Tank
Rocks
Water
Filter
Light
Shell/ Decorations
1 Male Molly
1 Pregnant Female Molly
1 Female Molly
Dechlorinator
Bacterial Supplement
Fish Food
Net
Plants
Bubblier
Cleaning Brush
III. Procedure:
1. The first step to our aquarium project was locating partners.
2. Next, I grouped up with Delaney and Alex Legg, which we then decided on which kind of fish we would take care of.
3. We decided we would take care of one pregnant female molly, one male molly, and a second non-pregnant female molly.
4. The three of us were then assigned a 10 gallon fish tank.
5. To ensure that our fish had a healthy and stable place to live, we needed to thoroughly clean our fish tank.
6. To start we took out all of the rocks in our tank and set them aside in a bucket for further cleansing.
7. After, we then began to rinse our tank inside and out without soap. Soap contains toxins which are harmful to our fish.
8. Making sure our tank was spotless, we dried it off and set it aside.
9. Next, it was time to clean the rocks.
10. In order to make sure the rocks were extremely clean, we used a sifter to clear the dirt and sediment off the rocks.
11. Then we placed the rocks back into our tank, and began filling it up with water.
12. When filling our tank with water, it began to increasingly become more cloudy. That was not a very good sign.
13. At that point we had the understanding that we did not clean the rocks good enough, so we drained the water and started the process again.
14. Finally, our tank was extremely spotless, i'm talking Grammy award winning.
15. After our tank was about half way filled we connected a filter to it in order for our water to stay clean.
16. Our tank is now ready to house 3 beautiful fish. Names being : Edward, Margo and Lucy ( the pregnant one).
17. Unfortunately after many attempts to sustain good nitrite and ammonia levels, we decided we would be better off housing a minnow named Marvin.
IV. Data
A. Qualitative
1. We observed daphnia swimming rapidly throughout the small amount of water we placed on our petri dish.
2. We observed a scud in the pond water.
3. I noticed many larva traveling throughout the pond water, we saw this under the microscope.
4. We found a snail which enjoyed moving around the petri dish when trying to get an accurate picture.
5. The water appeared to have a blood worm which soon came into contact with the snail.
6. In the pond water we also observed a baby snail whose shell had not yet been produced to maturity.
7. After setting the snails in our petri dish, they began to engage in sexual activity.
8. Two adult snails became attached while in effort to reproduce.
9. Our pond water observation lab was very successful. We found daphnia, scuds, many larva, snails and a blood worm.
10. The blood worm often moved rapidly throughout the petri dish, striking the snails on a regular basis.
11. To test our water quality, our group placed a mino in our tank to see if it could sustain life.
12. We were not sure what the mino was up to, so when checking on it we could not find it anywhere.
13. The mino decided to launch itself into the rocks completely buried. After a couple of days the fish was still deep into the rocks.
14. Although the mino was hiding, at least it was alive and could sustain life. We now know that it is finally time to purchase fish for our aquarium.
15. In order to house fish safely in an aquarium, the ammonia level must be 2.0 or below. The ammonia level in our tank was at 3.0 the first day we tested it.
16. Because the ammonia level was too high, the rocks and decorations were cleaned, and ammonia block was dropped into the water.
17. The ammonia was at 2.5 when checked the next day. Half of the water in the tank was then changed.
18. The ammonia was at 2.0 when checked the following day, once again half of the water had to be changed.
19. The ammonia again was at 2.0 when checked the fourth time. A minnow was placed inside the tank. Ultimately we wish to house 3 dalmatian mollies.
20. The minnow was disoriented in its new surrounding and buried its head in the rocks. It was proclaimed to be dead. lol.
21. Our minnow Marvin is very shy. He does not like coming out of the back right-hand corner of the tank.
B. Quantitative: Water quality data and graph
Chart A: AquaCheck
Chart B: Water Quality
LINE GRAPH: Construct a line graph of the nitrogen cycle from the data collected above.
One recurring issue we faced when trying to keep a stable aquarium was the ability to keep our water clean and filtered. We had a filter and washed and scrubbed the rocks and decorations in our tank. We had no idea why this kept happening, so we decided to take a look at the filter itself. There was our problem, the filter pad was brown, broken, and flat out disgusting. After throwing out the old filter and replacing it with a bigger, newer one, we found that our water was much cleaner.
6. What 5 educational concepts did you learn through this project?
a. One thing i learned about during this project was how the nitrogen cycle works. I learned that it was equally important to have both fish and plants in our aquarium.
b. Also, after testing our water quality multiple times, I learned that maintaining nitrite and ammonia levels was key to a healthy living environment for our mino.
c. At the beginning of the project I learned a ton from the process of making sure our tank was clean and secure. Cleaning all of the rocks and decorations in our tank was vital to the fish. Cleaning often kills many toxins that linger on the rocks and decorations. These toxins can become extremely deadly to our fish. I was not planning on having any impact on Marvin's death any time soon.
d. Another important concept i learned from this project was the basic way to take care of a fish. I never have had a fish as a pet before, so this project was perfect for me. Although there are tons of things that have to be done in order to maintain that healthy environment, it was well worth it for baby Marvin.
e. Lastly, one important thing i learned about aquarium life was that you MUST de-chlorinate the water after changing it. Basically a huge epidemic struck my 3rd period class after one day of changing the water. No one remembered to add the de-chlorinator. With the absence of this vital substance everyone's fish pretty much died. Thankfully baby Marvin was in the clear (:
7. What was the most interesting thing that happened during this project? The worst thing that happened? The weirdest thing?
The most interesting thing that happened throughout our project was watching our mino try and adapt to its new environment. However hard we try to get Marvin the mino to leave his comfort zone, he just would not budge. The worst thing in this project was the constant downfall of our water quality. Before adding Marvin into our tank, our water quality would not change at all. Constantly each and every day we would test just to see our failing results. The weirdest thing about this project was our fish. Marvin was just flat out odd. He NEVER comes out of the corner of the tank. He hides below the plants and rarely makes an appearance for food.
8. What was your favorite part of this project? Why?
My favorite thing about this project was being able to raise a fish. All the pets I have at home are a cat named Bob, and baby chocolate lab named Brandi. It was interesting to finally have an animal who was small and petite. Although it was extremely small, that didn't affect the work needed to take care of it. When i signed up for this class, taking care of a fish was something that i strongly looked forward to!
9. What advice would you give next year's students about this project? How would you change this project to make it better?
Advice I would give to next year's students would be that taking care of a fish and maintaining a healthy environment isn't as easy as it looks. You have to keep up with the cleanliness of your tank and also the nitrite and ammonia levels. Also I would let them know to constantly keep a good eye on your fish so it can stay alive. Something that would make this project better would be, obtaining our fish earlier in the year. Our water quality was terrible so it was hard for us to have a healthy environment for a fish to live in. Therefor it our group a long time to get a fish to live in our tank.
1. The first step to our aquarium project was locating partners.
2. Next, I grouped up with Delaney and Alex Legg, which we then decided on which kind of fish we would take care of.
3. We decided we would take care of one pregnant female molly, one male molly, and a second non-pregnant female molly.
4. The three of us were then assigned a 10 gallon fish tank.
5. To ensure that our fish had a healthy and stable place to live, we needed to thoroughly clean our fish tank.
6. To start we took out all of the rocks in our tank and set them aside in a bucket for further cleansing.
7. After, we then began to rinse our tank inside and out without soap. Soap contains toxins which are harmful to our fish.
8. Making sure our tank was spotless, we dried it off and set it aside.
9. Next, it was time to clean the rocks.
10. In order to make sure the rocks were extremely clean, we used a sifter to clear the dirt and sediment off the rocks.
11. Then we placed the rocks back into our tank, and began filling it up with water.
12. When filling our tank with water, it began to increasingly become more cloudy. That was not a very good sign.
13. At that point we had the understanding that we did not clean the rocks good enough, so we drained the water and started the process again.
14. Finally, our tank was extremely spotless, i'm talking Grammy award winning.
15. After our tank was about half way filled we connected a filter to it in order for our water to stay clean.
16. Our tank is now ready to house 3 beautiful fish. Names being : Edward, Margo and Lucy ( the pregnant one).
17. Unfortunately after many attempts to sustain good nitrite and ammonia levels, we decided we would be better off housing a minnow named Marvin.
IV. Data
A. Qualitative
1. We observed daphnia swimming rapidly throughout the small amount of water we placed on our petri dish.
2. We observed a scud in the pond water.
3. I noticed many larva traveling throughout the pond water, we saw this under the microscope.
4. We found a snail which enjoyed moving around the petri dish when trying to get an accurate picture.
5. The water appeared to have a blood worm which soon came into contact with the snail.
6. In the pond water we also observed a baby snail whose shell had not yet been produced to maturity.
7. After setting the snails in our petri dish, they began to engage in sexual activity.
8. Two adult snails became attached while in effort to reproduce.
9. Our pond water observation lab was very successful. We found daphnia, scuds, many larva, snails and a blood worm.
10. The blood worm often moved rapidly throughout the petri dish, striking the snails on a regular basis.
11. To test our water quality, our group placed a mino in our tank to see if it could sustain life.
12. We were not sure what the mino was up to, so when checking on it we could not find it anywhere.
13. The mino decided to launch itself into the rocks completely buried. After a couple of days the fish was still deep into the rocks.
14. Although the mino was hiding, at least it was alive and could sustain life. We now know that it is finally time to purchase fish for our aquarium.
15. In order to house fish safely in an aquarium, the ammonia level must be 2.0 or below. The ammonia level in our tank was at 3.0 the first day we tested it.
16. Because the ammonia level was too high, the rocks and decorations were cleaned, and ammonia block was dropped into the water.
17. The ammonia was at 2.5 when checked the next day. Half of the water in the tank was then changed.
18. The ammonia was at 2.0 when checked the following day, once again half of the water had to be changed.
19. The ammonia again was at 2.0 when checked the fourth time. A minnow was placed inside the tank. Ultimately we wish to house 3 dalmatian mollies.
20. The minnow was disoriented in its new surrounding and buried its head in the rocks. It was proclaimed to be dead. lol.
21. Our minnow Marvin is very shy. He does not like coming out of the back right-hand corner of the tank.
B. Quantitative: Water quality data and graph
Chart A: AquaCheck
Date
|
Free Chlorine (ppm)
|
Total Chlorine
(ppm)
|
Total Hardness
(ppm)
|
Total Alkalinity
(ppm)
|
pH
|
Chart B: Water Quality
Date
|
Temperature
|
pH
|
Conductivity
|
DO
|
5/20
|
23.58 C
|
7.44
|
70.1 uS/cm
|
N/A
|
Date
|
Temperature
|
pH
|
Conductivity
|
DO
|
5/21
|
23.43 C
|
7.38
|
69.9 uS/cm
|
N/A
|
Date
|
Temperature
|
pH
|
Conductivity
|
DO
|
5/22
| 23.45 C |
7.42
|
70.0 uS/cm
|
N/A
|
Date
|
Temperature
|
pH
|
Conductivity
|
DO
|
5/23
|
24.60 C
|
7.59
|
81.0 uS/cm
|
N/A
|
Date
|
Temperature
|
pH
|
Conductivity
|
DO
|
5/24
|
24.13 C
|
7.52
|
71.0 uS/cm
|
N/A
|
Chart C: Nitrogen Cycle (5 pts)
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
N/A
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
1.0 Fair
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
1.0 Fair
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
N/A
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
1.0 Fair
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
Date
|
Ammonia
|
Nitrite
|
Nitrate
|
0.0 ppm perfect
|
N/A
|
LINE GRAPH: Construct a line graph of the nitrogen cycle from the data collected above.
Conclusion Questions
1. Discuss each of the following water quality parameters and explain what it is and why it is important:
- ·
Ammonia- is the most
common and harmful waste product in our aquarium. It is caused by fish waste and excess food. Ammonia is very harmful to the fish, leading to severe irritation of
the skin and gills. High levels of
ammonia can result in the death of many fish. It is crucial to keep Ammonia levels extremely low, no need for our fish to die from something we can control.
- · Nitrite- is the second most toxic nitrogen compound after ammonia. Nitrite levels above 0.75 ppm can cause stress and greater than 5 ppm can be toxic. Similar to Ammonia, Nitrite should be kept low and under control. The fish in our tank can be greatly damaged by high Nitrite levels.
- · Nitrate- is the least toxic of the nitrogen compounds. At increased Nitrate levels, this compound poses as a threat. Recent research has concluded that continuously high levels are a possible cause of stress to fish. It also majorly affects water quality by resulting in excessive algae growth.
- ·
Temperature- Fish are cold
blooded and their bodies adjust to the outside temperature of the water in
which they live. In order for fish to stay healthy, it is important for fish to live in water temperatures which best reflect the environment they live. At lower temperatures, fish metabolism slows and the
need for food is reduced. When water gets colder it is necessary to feed the fish less often. For the majority of tropical fish, a suitable
range between 72 – 800 F is
acceptable.
- · pH- is a term used to describe the degree of acidity or basicity of a solution. It is measured on the 14 point where pH = 1 is strongly acid, pH = 7 is neutral, and pH = 14 is strongly basic. Fish living in a freshwater ecosystem are naturally found in an area of pH between 6.0 and 8.0. On the other hand, fish living in Saltwater ecosystems are said to be found in waters with pH levels ranging from 8.0 to 8.4. It is important to maintain water pH levels at a constant rate.
- · Conductivity- Conductivity can be used as a measure of total dissolved solids. These solids are usually composed of the sulfate, bicarbonate, and chlorides of calcium, magnesium, and sodium. Conductivity is also the measure of salinity in water. The measurement detects chloride ions from the salt. Salinity affects the potential dissolved oxygen levels in the water. The greater the salinity, the lower the saturation point.
- · Dissolved Oxygen- is the measurement of gaseous oxygen dissolved in an aqueous solution. Oxygen gets into water by diffusion from the surrounding air, by aeration, and as a waste product of photosynthesis. Plants are a main source of the amount of oxygen found in the air and water. Fish in waters containing a lot of dissolved gases may suffer from "gas bubble disease"; however, this is a very rare sickness. Good water quality consists of a satisfactory amount of dissolved oxygen. Oxygen is a necessary element to all forms of life.
- ·
Hardness- is a measure
of the quantity of certain metallic ions present in the water These metallic ions consist mainly of calcium and magnesium. Water hardness affects a fish’s ability to maintain the balance
between internal body fluids and the external environment.
- · Alkalinity- also known as buffering capacity, indicates the total amount of buffers (pH stabilizing compounds) that are present in the water. Sufficient Alkalinity protects the environment from sudden changes in pH by absorbing excess acids or bases, which may be added to a solution. An accurate reading of pH can not be obtained without an adequate level of Alkalinity, above 120 ppm.
- · Chlorine- Important chemical property found in our aquatic ecosystem. Chlorine consists of many harmful bacteria which can decrease the stability of our fish tank. Tap water testing is crucial before adding to our fish tank because Chlorine can be extremely toxic to our fish.
2. What is the nitrogen cycle and how does it apply to the sustainability aquarium? Include a picture with your explanation.
The nitrogen cycle is a chain of biological reactions that produces chemical results. The Nitrogen cycle is what keeps the chemical balance in water at a sustainable level for plants and fish to survive. This is why we test our water often in our aquariums to make necessary adjustments by adding chlorine supplement.
The nitrogen cycle is a chain of biological reactions that produces chemical results. The Nitrogen cycle is what keeps the chemical balance in water at a sustainable level for plants and fish to survive. This is why we test our water often in our aquariums to make necessary adjustments by adding chlorine supplement.
3. How has your water quality changed over time? Be specific, give examples.
Throughout the weeks having obtained our aquarium, our water quality has drastically changed. At the beginning our water was awful, I mean no animal could sustain life for even a minute. Over time, we changed the water and added dechlorinator to try and help with the ammonia and nitrite levels. After changing our water about 6 times we finally had solid water quality. Our ammonia and nitrite levels were perfect, and now our aquatic ecosystem had the ability to raise fish.
4. Why is oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle important to the aquatic ecosystem? Explain how this relates to local ponds and creeks.
Carbon dioxide and the oxygen cycle are key elements to the aquatic ecosystem. Without oxygen, fish would not be able to breath. Without carbon dioxide in the air, plants wouldn't have anything to turn into oxygen. This is why having plants in your aquarium are extremely important. They convert the not so good carbon dioxide into clean refreshing oxygen. In local ponds and creeks the situation is just alike. Without the plants and fish there would not even be an ecosystem. Through photosynthesis and the ability of fish to breath, loads of oxygen and carbon dioxide are used and converted each and every day.
Carbon dioxide and the oxygen cycle are key elements to the aquatic ecosystem. Without oxygen, fish would not be able to breath. Without carbon dioxide in the air, plants wouldn't have anything to turn into oxygen. This is why having plants in your aquarium are extremely important. They convert the not so good carbon dioxide into clean refreshing oxygen. In local ponds and creeks the situation is just alike. Without the plants and fish there would not even be an ecosystem. Through photosynthesis and the ability of fish to breath, loads of oxygen and carbon dioxide are used and converted each and every day.
5. What problems did you face when trying to keep the aquarium stable? How did you solve these problems?
One recurring issue we faced when trying to keep a stable aquarium was the ability to keep our water clean and filtered. We had a filter and washed and scrubbed the rocks and decorations in our tank. We had no idea why this kept happening, so we decided to take a look at the filter itself. There was our problem, the filter pad was brown, broken, and flat out disgusting. After throwing out the old filter and replacing it with a bigger, newer one, we found that our water was much cleaner.
6. What 5 educational concepts did you learn through this project?
a. One thing i learned about during this project was how the nitrogen cycle works. I learned that it was equally important to have both fish and plants in our aquarium.
b. Also, after testing our water quality multiple times, I learned that maintaining nitrite and ammonia levels was key to a healthy living environment for our mino.
c. At the beginning of the project I learned a ton from the process of making sure our tank was clean and secure. Cleaning all of the rocks and decorations in our tank was vital to the fish. Cleaning often kills many toxins that linger on the rocks and decorations. These toxins can become extremely deadly to our fish. I was not planning on having any impact on Marvin's death any time soon.
d. Another important concept i learned from this project was the basic way to take care of a fish. I never have had a fish as a pet before, so this project was perfect for me. Although there are tons of things that have to be done in order to maintain that healthy environment, it was well worth it for baby Marvin.
e. Lastly, one important thing i learned about aquarium life was that you MUST de-chlorinate the water after changing it. Basically a huge epidemic struck my 3rd period class after one day of changing the water. No one remembered to add the de-chlorinator. With the absence of this vital substance everyone's fish pretty much died. Thankfully baby Marvin was in the clear (:
7. What was the most interesting thing that happened during this project? The worst thing that happened? The weirdest thing?
The most interesting thing that happened throughout our project was watching our mino try and adapt to its new environment. However hard we try to get Marvin the mino to leave his comfort zone, he just would not budge. The worst thing in this project was the constant downfall of our water quality. Before adding Marvin into our tank, our water quality would not change at all. Constantly each and every day we would test just to see our failing results. The weirdest thing about this project was our fish. Marvin was just flat out odd. He NEVER comes out of the corner of the tank. He hides below the plants and rarely makes an appearance for food.
8. What was your favorite part of this project? Why?
My favorite thing about this project was being able to raise a fish. All the pets I have at home are a cat named Bob, and baby chocolate lab named Brandi. It was interesting to finally have an animal who was small and petite. Although it was extremely small, that didn't affect the work needed to take care of it. When i signed up for this class, taking care of a fish was something that i strongly looked forward to!
9. What advice would you give next year's students about this project? How would you change this project to make it better?
Advice I would give to next year's students would be that taking care of a fish and maintaining a healthy environment isn't as easy as it looks. You have to keep up with the cleanliness of your tank and also the nitrite and ammonia levels. Also I would let them know to constantly keep a good eye on your fish so it can stay alive. Something that would make this project better would be, obtaining our fish earlier in the year. Our water quality was terrible so it was hard for us to have a healthy environment for a fish to live in. Therefor it our group a long time to get a fish to live in our tank.
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