Last week the class was divided into 4 groups and each group had to test the waters in three aquariums around the room. I was in group 4.

Observations of tanks

Tank A

-          Air pump

-          Temp: 28

-          Not many snails

-          Not much algae on glass

-          Different plant species- nutrient balance

-          Water clear

Tank B

-          Air pump

-          Temp: 25

-          One snail

-          Algae on rocks

-          Lots of plant growth

-          Water not clear

-          Food floating on water

-          Mechanical filtration (box)

-          Wood in tank

 

Tank C

-          Temp: 28

-          Many snails

-          Little algae

-          Abundant plant life

-          Wood

-          Clear water

Water Chemistry

The water chemistry results for group 3 were inaccurate and are therefore not shown here

Group 1

Tanks	pH	Nitrites	Nitrates	kH	gH
A	7.2	0	250	6	10-16
B	6.4	0	100	0	10-16
C	6.2	0	250	3	6

Worst: B

Best:  A

Group 2

Tanks	pH	Nitrites	Nitrates	kH	gH
A	7.2	1	250	6	16
B	6.4	1	250	6	16
C	7.2	1	50	3	3

Worst: A

Best: C

Group 4

Tanks	pH	Nitrites	Nitrates	kH	gH
A	6.8	0	25	6	6
B	6.4	1	100	0	6
C	7.2	0	250	6	10

Worst: A

Best: C

The overall result is that tank A was the worst of the 3 because of the high levels of nitrates while tank C was the best due to the low level of nitrates.