1
Q
bad water quality affects
A
- affects health of fish
- increases chance of disease
- increases morality rate
2
Q
what parameters to measure and monitor in water
A
- temperature
- pH → acidity / alkalinity
- salinity (salt content)
- ammonia / nitrites / nitrates
3
Q
temperature
A
- fahrenheit + celsius
- measures relative heat of water
- measured with thermometer → placed away from heating / cooling devices
- incorrect temperatures can kill fish quickly
4
Q
coldwater fish tank temperature
A
10-21°C
5
Q
temperate fish tank temperature
A
18-22°C
6
Q
tropical tank temperature
A
24-27°C
7
Q
pH
A
- pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion levels in the water
- measured using water test kits or electronic probes
- most fish can survive in a range of 6.0 - 9.0
8
Q
saltwater range
A
normal range in a saltwater aquarium = 1.012 - 1.024
9
Q
pH range
A
- measured on a scale of 0-14
- 7 = neutral
- <7 = acidic
- > 7 = alkaline
10
Q
water hardness
A
- focus on calcium, magnesium + carbonate in aquariums
- the more minerals a solution has, the harder it is
- measured in parts per million (ppm)
11
Q
general hardness
A
- GH
- measures the amount of dissolved calcium, magnesium and trace amounts of other minerals
12
Q
carbonate hardness
A
- KH
- measures the amount of carbonate or bicarbonate in the water
13
Q
salinity
A
- vital to fish that live in salty environments
- incorrect salinity causes physiological stress + lowers immune function
- measured with a hydrometer → measures specific gravity of water
14
Q
specific gravity
A
the ratio of saltwater to pure water
