Evaluation of Fish Tanks

Tank A:
pH- 6.8 to 7.2
KH- 6
GH- 16
NO2- 0mg/l
NO3- 250mg/l
Temperature- 28

Tank B:
pH- 6.4
KH- 0-6
GH- 10-16
NO2- 1mg/l
NO3- 100mg/l
Temperature- 25

Tank C:
pH- 7.2
KH- 3
GH- 6
NO2- 0mg/l
NO3- 100mg/l
Temperature- 28

Comments about  the Tanks:
All three tanks had air pumps in place. This would increase the available oxygen levels in the tank and in the case of tank C, produced a circulation in the tank which possibly helped combat the growth of algae as the water was not stagnant. In Tank B  I observed food matter at the top of the fish tank which could be attributed to the acidic conditions of the water as the bacteria begin digesting it and release acidic by-products in the  process. The water in this tank was also a bit dark. However, this tank possessed a box filter for mechanical filtration which would have improved the water quaity. This tank also had the lowest bioload of all the tanks and perhaps needed the least maintenance because of this fact. There was not much algae in this tank probably due to the mechanical filtration.

Tank A was the largest tank with the most fish, meaning that it had a relatively high bioload. There was a filtration system present, with zeolite rocks, in this tank and the amount of algae was not significant. This tank had different plant species, which suggests a well balanced water chemistry that can accommodate more than 1 species of plant. Due to the high demand for oxygen from all the fish, 2 pumps were observed to support their oxygen requirements. The gravel consisted of pebbles.

Tank C had  many snails and minimal algae on the glass, however, some algae was spotted in the gravel where the snails could not reach. I could not identify the type of filtration but there seemed to be an intake of water from one end and a displacement of water at the other which suggests that it had filtration. There was an abundance of plant life in this tank. Group 2 recorded a low nitrate content (50mg/l) which agrees with the abundance of plant matter in that, the plants would absorb the nitrates from the water.

Conclusion:
Overall tank C was awarded the title of the best maintained tank due to its low nitrite and nitrate content and near neutral alkalinity. It also possessed the softest water of the three, with tank A containing the hardest water. Utlimately, tank A was in the worst condition of the three due to its high nitrate content and hard water characteristics..