Transcript Water Quality Analysis PowerPoint

Water Quality Anyalysis
Nitrate (NO3)
 Why analyze nitrate?
 High concentrations of nitrate indicate high levels pollution,
and promote the growth of algae.
 Concentrations over 100 mg/L increases stress and decreases
the capacity to fight disease.
 Where is it produced?
 Nitrate gradually increases over time in our aquarium.
 Excess food, fecal material “POOP”, and dead plant/animal
matter all decompose to produce nitrates through the
nitrogen cycle.
 Caused from over-feeding and over-population.
 How fixed
 Partial water changeout.
Nitrite (NO2)
 Why analyze nitrite?
 Concentrations that are high inhibit oxygen transport in the blood.
Nitrite binds with hemoglobin causing suffocation. Nitrite levels
greater than 0.3 mg/L (0.3 ppm) are potentially dangerous.
 Where is it produced?
 Generated through ammonia oxidation by nitrifying bacteria. Nitrite
is usually high when the aquarium is initially set up. A sudden spike in
nitrite indicates a dangerous imbalance in the system.
 How fixed
 Immediately perform a 20% water change out.
Ammonia (NH3)
 Why analyze Ammonia?
 The presence of ammonia in aquariums can be a source of many
problems. Ammonia should not be measureable. Levels above 1.2
mg/L (1.2 ppm) in an alkaline (pH above 8.0) tank are toxic to aquatic
organisms.
 Where is it produced?
 Produced by fish respiration and the decay of waste products. The
decomposition of excess food, dead leaves and fish also produces
ammonia. The pH of the water can increase levels of toxic ammonia.
Toxic ammonia will increase exponentially with increasing pH.
 How fixed
 A 20% water changeout the first day ammonia is noticed.
Followed by no feeding and consecutive 20% changeouts
each day until ammonia is not present.
Dissolved Oxygen (O)
 Why analyze Dissolved Oxygen?
 Dissolved oxygen is important to salmon as they need oxygen to
survive. In the process of respiration salmon take in oxygen and
glucose to create energy.
 Where is it produced?
 Dissolved oxygen is dissolved from the atmosphere. Aquatic plants
produced oxygen that is then dissolved in water. In the process of
respiration fish and other organisms use dissolved oxygen.
 How fixed
 Decrease the tank temperature. The colder water is the
more dissolved gasses that it absorbs. An aerator may
help supply atmospheric oxygen to the water as well.
Potential Hydrogen (pH)
 What is pH?
 pH represents the concentration of H+ ions in a liquid solution. This
concentration of H+ ions determines if water is acidic, neutral or
basic (alkaline). The scale of pH is from 0-14. Neutral is 7.0. Acidic pH
is under 7.0 and alkaline (basic) is over 7.0.
 Why analyze pH?
 pH is extremely important in our tank because many biological
processes depend on it. pH plays an important role in the blood
systems of aquatic organisms. It also affects the toxicity of ammonia
present. When pH is high, the concentration of toxic ammonia
(NH3) is greater. When pH is below 7.0, most of the ammonia is in a
nontoxic form (NH4+).
 How fixed
 20% water change-outs help regulate pH to an
appropriate amount.
Temperature (°F / °C)
 Why analyze Temperature?
 Temperature is one of the most critical factors in salmonoid
incubation. Salmon at any stage need cold, clean, oxygenated water
to survive and optimal temperatures vary depending on the species
and life stage. The cooler the water, the slower the development,
while warmer waters cause development to speed up.
 How fixed
 If water temperature becomes too high it is easy to cool
by collecting ice from the ice machine in the weight
room and placing it in a large trash bag (unused). Ice
should not be put directly into the tank as we cannot
assure the safely of the water from this water source.