Transcript Water Quality

Water Quality
Saltwater
Mrs. Salvati
Where does the water come from?
What is water quality?
•The balance of chemicals and
minerals in your aquarium water
•What do fish need in the water to
keep them healthy?
•What must stay out of the water for
them to survive and thrive?
Temperature
•Tropical fish need a temperature of 7580*F
•Check your thermometer every day
•Adjust heater if needed
Ammonia
•Produced from fish waste, uneaten
food
•Very toxic to fish
•Levels should be low in aquarium
Nitrite (ITE)
•Toxic to fish
•Coverted to Nitrate by beneficial
bacteria
•Levels should be 0
Nitrate (ATE)
•Not as toxic as Nitrite
•Levels should be below 40ppm
Nitrogen cycle
pH
•pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of the
water
•pH should match the level required by fish
•Most tropical fish 7.6-8.4 is acceptable
Water Hardness
•Measures the minerals dissolved in the
water
•Hard water has high levels of minerals
•Soft water has low levels of minerals
•Levels should be 50-100
Chlorine and Chloramine
•Municipalities add chlorine and
chloramine to tap water to kill
bacteria which are toxic to fish
•Use conditioner to remove these
chemicals
Salinity (Specific gravity)
•The measure of the amount of salt
in the water.
•1.022 – 1.024
Properties to add to water
• Oxygen – Air pumps and air stones can add
oxygen to your tank. This will increase the
oxygen level for your fish to consume, improve
conditions fot the good bacteria to form and
help maintain evenly heated water
• Aquatic plants – absorb carbon dioxide and
nitrates and can provide shelter and security for
fish.
Name:
• What do fish need in the water to keep them healthy?
• What must stay out of the water for the fish to survive and thrive?
• What should the temperature of your saltwater tank be?
• What should the Specific gravity of your tank be?
• What should the pH of your tank be?
List and describe 2 items that can be added to
your aquarium to improve water quality.