Interpreting Water Quality Data

Unfortunately, the line graph I created on the computer cannot be uploaded due to some technical difficulties that I do not understand (this is aquatic science, not computer science, after all). I have decided to list my data in different colors, because that's always a blast.

Ammonia (ppm): 

• 4/9: 0
• 4/12: 0
• 4/15: 0
• 4/18: 0.13
• 4/21: 0
• 4/24:0
• 4/27: 0
• 4/30: 0
• 5/3: 0
• 5/6: 0.13
• 5/9: 0.13
• 5/12: 0.13
• 5/15: 0.13
• 5/18: 0
• 5/21: 0
• 5/24: 0

Nitrate (ppm):

• 4/9: 0
• 4/12: 0
• 4/15: 10
• 4/18: 20
• 4/21: 0
• 4/24: 0
• 4/27: 0
• 4/30: 0
• 5/3: 10
• 5/6: 10
• 5/9: 10
• 5/12: 10
• 5/15: 20
• 5/18: 0
• 5/21: 10
• 5/24: 0

As shown by the data above, my ammonia and nitrate levels remained relatively low throughout the duration of the project. This is due to the fact that I paid close attention to my water quality and regularly changed Benson's water. Nitrate levels were generally higher than ammonia levels because nitrate is not nearly as toxic as ammonia. Plus, ammonia is converted by nitrosomonas bacteria into nitrites, which are then converted by nitrobacter into nitrates. This means that nitrates are more abundant than ammonia in healthy water where the bacteria are doing their jobs.

Changes in Benson's Ecosystem Over Time

Until recently, Benson's ecosystem never changed much; most of the interesting observations I took note of were about Benson himself. Since his old tank was miserably small, I couldn't fit many decorations in there, so I usually just moved his decoration and plants around a bit whenever I changed his water to spice things up a tad. But Benson didn't truly know the meaning of spice until I got him his new tank, which was when his ecosystem drastically changed. His water quality is still in check, which is something I always kept a close eye on, but now he has more space, more things to explore (more plants and decorations), and an overall happier and more stimulating environment.

Before: Benson's boring old ecosystem

After: Sassy fresh! Fabuuuuloooouuuus!

5 Things I've Learned From the Aquarium Project

1. Bettas are actually intelligent, interactive animals and are aware of their surroundings. They can be trained   to do tricks such as jumping and swimming through hoops.

2. Though bettas can survive in small spaces (such as store containers) for short periods of time, it is best to keep them in larger tanks to give them plenty of space and keep them happy and healthy. Betta fish can survive, but not thrive, in smaller spaces.

3. Fish can't survive in plain tap water. Tap water contains chlorine, which will kill fish instantly. Water needs to be treated with dechlorinator before it is safe for fish.

4. Water changes are important because they reduce the levels of toxins such as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

5. It is beneficial to have plants in your aquarium because they remove nitrates and increase levels of dissolved oxygen.

I have learned a lot from this project, and caring for Benson has been an amazing journey that I look forward to continuing. The only thing I would change for next year would be to give just a little more time to spend with our fish. Some days we had more sufficient amounts of time, but sometimes there wasn't enough time to feed our fish, record observations, practice training our fish, play with our fish, test water quality, and change the water within a limited frame of time.

Benson's New Crib

I'd been counting down the days until I could finally take Benson home for good, so by the time that sweet day finally came, I was prepared. I had all sorts of stuff waiting for him at home, but while I was at school and on the way to my house, he had to chill out in a plastic cup. Evidently, I seem to have accidentally failed to save the picture I took of him in the cup, but fortunately, there is the power of imagination. It was clear, plasticy, cuptastic, and had water and a fish in it. It's not a picture, but you get the idea. Anyway, Benson didn't seem too thrilled to be in such a tiny space, but I knew he'd only be that much happier to be in his brand new tank!

Before I poured all of the water out of his tank, I did one last water check. Since I had just cleaned the tank, ammonia and nitrate levels were at 0 ppm. It didn't matter a whole lot since he would be in his new tank within an hour and a half or so, but I at least felt secure in the fact that he'd be traveling in a cup of clean water on the way home.

And now, for the exciting part: Benson's bouncin' new crib!

In order to give him some more space, I upgraded him to 3 gallons. His new tank features a filter, a bubbler, and an LED light that changes colors automatically. It's quite the party! He also has two live plants and a little "house" to swim through. I plan to switch out the decorations every now and then to keep things exciting for him, but for now, his current set-up is working out splendidly. I have added a thermometer into his tank as well, and I plan to get some overhead lighting to brighten up the area where his tank is. So far, Benson has had fun exploring his new home and is adjusting well, so I look forward to having more fun adventures with my bubble blowin' betta buddy!

Invasive Plants

Invasive plants are non-native weeds that take over the areas they inhabit and are nearly impossible to get rid of. They are not an issue in their native environments because certain conditions, such as consumers, keep them in check. However, the animals that ate the plants in their native region are not abundant here or would cause further problems (such as eating native plants) if they were introduced here.

Eurasian Watermilfoil, originally from Eurasia and introduced to America in the 1950s, is a submergent green plant with a red stem when actively growing. It reproduces by seed fragments and is spread by boats, trailers, and birds. In addition to impeding navigation, it shades out and displaces native vegetation.

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Alligator Weed is an emergent plant from South America. It has white flowers and is a mat-forming perennial, which leads to the displacement of native vegetation and impedes navigation. It spreads through seeds or plant fragments.

Alligator Weed

Giant Salvinia is a free floating aquatic fern with hairlike structures that resemble egg beaters. This South American weed is also known as "Plant from Hell" because it decreases dissolved oxygen levels in water, kills organisms in lakes, displaces native vegetation, impedes navigation, and is nearly impossible to eradicate. It reproduces through buds.

Giant Salvinia

My Ecosystem's Water Quality

The main thing I've learned about water quality in Benson's ecosystem is how important it is to maintain clean water in order to prevent levels of certain toxins from becoming too high. For example, even a tiny trace of chlorine in water will kill fish, so it is crucial to add dechlorinator to water (unless you're a psycho fish killer, but that's not the cool thing to be). Ammonia is extremely toxic to fish in high amounts, so it is important to keep an eye on ammonia levels as well. If the ammonia level seems too high, adding bacterial supplement can help to break down the ammonia into nitrites, which are then further broken down into nitrates.Nitrates can be regulated and removed by adding plants and changing water. Other than the time some dirty, rotten criminal clouded up my water by dropping a bunch of food in my tank, I have had no problems with water quality. My ammonia levels have never risen above about .13 ppm, and my nitrate levels have stayed at 20 ppm or less (though they were usually between 0 and 10 ppm).

Something Mighty Fishy Occurred....

It all happened on a seemingly normal afternoon. I walked into the aquatic science room, eager as ever to see my beautiful fish baby. I pranced happily to his tank to feed him and play with him, but upon observing the surface of the water, I stopped dead in my tracks. Floating on the surface of the water were about 50 pellets of food (I feed him 4 a day), and let me tell ya: I did NOT put them there! My tank has a lid with a hatch that closes, so someone had to go out of there way to deliberately tamper with MY fish. My tank literally has my name on it, so I don't know what kind of whippersnapper thought it would be a good idea to try to involve me and Benson in such wacky and unnecessary shenanigans. I was mad-- REAL mad. My blood boiled and bubbled as I skimmed the pellets off of the surface of the water, muttering lots of words under my breath that are not appropriate for a school blog.

My fiery blood was bubbly, kind of like Benson's bubble nest.

The following day, I found that Benson's water was terribly cloudy, which struck me as odd since I had JUST CLEANED IT TWO FREAKING DAYS AGO! I instantly figured that it was a result of food pellets that had settled on the bottom of his tank and dissolved in the water. I was irritated that I had to clean up the mess made by some sicko, but at least I was able to restore my water to perfect quality: 0 ppm of ammonia and nitrate. Though I was upset that someone had messed with my tank, I was ultimately relieved and happy to see that Benson was unharmed.

Self-Sustaining Ecosystems

A self-sustaining ecosystem is a system that is able to sustain itself without any external support. Benson's aquarium ecosystem is not self-sustaining because he requires his dear, sweet mommy's support to feed him, clean his tank, make sure his water levels are in check, etc. This is due to the fact that Benson's ecosystem is enclosed within the confines of his tank, so he has to eat, sleep, play, blow bubbles, and do his (waste-excreting) thing within one tiny space. In order for his ecosystem to be self-sustaining, the boundaries of his tank would have to be eliminated, and there would have to be food readily available for him (pellets don't spawn in the wild).

Lakes, rivers, and ponds are self-sustaining.

Aquariums are not.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Fish eat food and excrete wastes in the form of carbon dioxide and ammonia.

Carbon dioxide goes to plants and the atmosphere.

Ammonia, on the other hand, is converted by nitrosomonas bacteria into nitrites.

Nitrites are broken down by nitrobacter into nitrates, which are not as toxic to fish as ammonia and nitrites.

Excessive nitrates can be removed by plants and water changes. 

Water Quality Comparison

Checking water quality is an important part of maintaining your own aquarium. Making sure your water quality is in check, as well as regular water changes, ensures that you are providing a safe habitat for your aquatic friend(s). Every week, I check his water's temperature, as well as the ammonia and nitrate levels, to make sure they aren't out of line. I also check pH, chlorine, water hardness, and alkalinity (slightly less frequently) to provide further insight on the state of Benson's environment. I change his water on a regular basis to make sure my fish baby has a clean and happy home.

This is not my tank, but it should be.

Since I actively examine and clean my water, it likely has a more pristine water quality than most lakes. Lakes are self-sustaining, so they don't have a careful fish mommy/caretaker (i.e. me) to constantly take care of the cleaning and maintaining the "household". 

The same argument can apply to rivers as well; they must maintain themselves (with the exception of water management workers). However, since rivers are rapidly moving, they have more dissolved oxygen than standing water, including Benson's tank.

I'm Jumping for Joy, and So Is Benson!

Ever since I learned about how smart and playful bettas are, one of the things I've been eager to do is teach Benson how to jump. Here's the thing about Benson: he's a pretty cool fish. He always rushes to the front of the tank when he sees me, he loves to play with me (chasing my finger), and he'll even eat pellets of food directly off of my finger. However, the one thing he would not do is jump for his food. I'd put my finger above the water (with a food pellet, of course) to try to tempt him, but all he'd do is stare at me like I was an idiot until I lowered my finger into the water.

That all changed on the fateful afternoon of 5/9. The fish gods must have heard my cries, because Benson FINALLY jumped! He only jumped once that day, but he jumped twice on 5/10, four times on 5/13, and three times today. I don't have any pictures or videos of his amazing feat, but this gives an idea of how I dangle my finger above the water to coax him to jump:

This lunatic cartoon person might need a lesson on overfeeding.

Things have been good in Benson's hood as well. On 5/3, his water had 10 ppm of nitrate and 0 ppm of ammonia. On 5/7, ammonia levels rose to an estimated .13 ppm, but nitrate and ammonia levels are still relatively low.

Overall, everything is just as great with Benson as usual, along with the added excitement of his new trick. My next goal is to dangle his food from a thread and see if I can get him to jump a bit higher for it.

Dichotomous Key

The purpose of a dichotomous key is to identify something through the use of different descriptions. Each number on the dichotomous key two different choices. In order to identify a specimen, start at number 1. Whichever description applies determines which number you will move to next. Move from number to number in accordance to the direction near each description until you reach the identification of the given specimen.

Assessing Water Quality

1. Evaluate the site by observation.
2. Capture and identify algae and insects. Since some types of insects and algae are more tolerant of pollution than others (Euglena thrives in polluted water, whereas Batrachospermum lives in water with low levels of organic pollution), the insects and algae present in the water can provide clues on its quality.
3. Test pH, ammonia, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrite, and nitrate.
4. Run a panel of definitive chemical tests. These tests are the most expensive, so they should only be used if the water's problem has not been sourced during earlier testing.

Dissolved Oxygen in an Ecosystem

Oxygen dissolves into water from contact with the atmosphere and from plants in the water. At night, there are high levels of carbon dioxide and low levels of of oxygen. This is because the plants and algae in the water are removing the oxygen for respiration. During daylight hours, however, oxygen levels are high and carbon dioxide levels are low. Plants produce more oxygen than they consume, so more oxygen is provided for the fish and other organisms in the water.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen in water and is needed for cellular respiration. Rapidly moving water contains more dissolved oxygen than stagnant water, and cold water has more dissolved oxygen than warm water. A large river would probably contain higher amounts of dissolved oxygen than a small pond since the pond water is still.

Though the minimum oxygen concentrations required for different fish vary, water with less than 3 mg/l will typically not support fish. At 3-4 mg/l, fish start gasping for air at the surface, and bacteria may die off. In order for fish to survive indefinitely, the water must have an oxygen concentration of above 5 mg/l. 

Aquacheck

The five components of Aquacheck are free chlorine, total chlorine, total hardness, total alkalinity, and pH.

Since chlorine is an important chemical for some processes of water purification, there are traces of it in tap water. Chlorine is highly toxic to fish, so tap water must be treated with dechlorinator. My water had 0 ppm of free and total chlorine, which is good since I'm pretty sure Benson would rather not die.

Water hardness refers to the amount of minerals dissolved in the water. Benson's water had a total of 250 ppm hardness, which was expected since the water around here has a fairly high mineral content.

Alkalinity refers to the water's ability to resist change in pH. Alkalinity can also remove toxic metals from water. Benson's water tested for a total alkalinity of 180 ppm, which means the water is very resistant to change.

pH measures how acidic or basic water is. At a pH of 4, fish reproduction is affected, and at a pH of 3, adult fish die. Benson's water had a pH of 7.2. Though betta fish prefer water that is slightly more acidic, 7.2 is still in the safe range.

Betta Fish Facts

Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, are characterized by their vibrant colors and beautiful fins. Since they are so aesthetically appealing, they are often placed in decorative vases and glasses for decoration. Though it's common knowledge that bettas are so gorgeous, many people are unaware of the fascinating truth behind them.

1. Bettas have excellent memories. They are able to recognize changes in their environment, as well as familiar people and things. As a result, they can form a relationship with their primary caregiver.
2. Bettas are capable of taking in oxygen from both the water and air. They can survive out of water for short periods of time and inhale oxygen from the air around them if needed.
3. Betta fish prefer slightly acidic water with a pH range of 6.5-7.
4. Though bettas can tolerate small spaces, it is better to give them more space (at least two gallons) since they are curious animals and can get bored easily.
5. There are many different tail shapes for bettas, including veil-tail (the most common), crown tail, half-moon tail, and double tail.
6. The preferred temperature for betta fish water ranges from about 76- 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. The average life span for bettas is 2-3 years, though some have lived to be 4 or 5.
8. Bettas are carnivores and eat dried bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and pellets.
9. Betta fish enjoy games such as chasing a finger or stick in the water and can be taught tricks such as jumping for food.
10. Since bettas need to be mentally stimulated, it is good to switch out and rearrange the decorations in their tanks to keep things fresh and exciting. 

Dallas World Aquarium Research

Though I have been to the Dallas World Aquarium before, I was unable to go on the class field trip. However, I did some research and learned some interesting facts about some of the organisms in the aquarium.

1. Three-toed sloths are named for the number of fingers they have, not for the number of toes; all sloths have three toes. A more appropriate name would be "three-fingered sloth."
2. Unlike most mammals, the three-toed sloth does not maintain a constant body temperature, so it is limited to warm climates.
3. Though black-footed penguins are protective of their offspring, they will not sacrifice their appetites for them; adult penguins will let their children starve before they starve themselves.
4. The dwarf caiman is one of the most common crocodilian species kept as a pet. However, due to their aggressive temperament, they are not the most suitable pets.
5. Antillean manatees have three or four nails on each flipper to help them hold their food.

Three-toed sloth

Black-footed penguin

Dwarf caiman

Antillean manatee

Benson Update

It's no mystery that Benson has a bubbly personality, but that's not the only thing about him that's bubbly. Lately, Benson has been contributing to the growth of his bubble nest. In the wild and in breeding tanks, male bettas make bubble nests when they want to mate, and the fish spawn underneath the nests. However, the nest building behavior is instinctual for male betta fish, so it is not necessary for a female to be present for them to make nests. Benson's nest is a sign that he is happy and in good health.

In addition to being a bubble blowing bandit, Benson has been extremely energetic lately, adding to my security of his well-being. For example, on 4/29, a bunch of people happened to be surrounding the lab table where his tank is and ended up commenting on how beautiful he is. Benson got really excited and started racing all about. When I showed everyone how he can chase my finger, he started following it without hesitation, impressing everyone. He LOVES being the center of attention. We actually had a little photo shoot, and he got pretty into it. He took a few seconds to pose, and he fluttered excitedly after each picture was taken. Unfortunately, most of the pictures turned out blurry due to him moving around a lot and my pitiful excuse for a camera. I'd like to get a nice new camera to photograph him with, because I definitely see a potential future for him in the modeling industry.

The Pollution Index

The Pollution Index is used to determine the level of organic pollution by studying the kinds of algae in a sample of water. On the Pollution Index Chart, a Pollution Index factor of 1 to 5 is assigned to each of the 20 types of algae that are most tolerant of organic pollution. The most tolerant types are assigned a 5. The less tolerant the algae is, the lower the number it is assigned.

Pandorina (1)

Oscillatoria (5)

The amount of algae, as well as the types of algae present, are indicators of water quality. Batrachospermum, for example, is an indicator of clean water because it lives only in cold water with low levels of organic pollution. Clean water has a low population of algae with high diversity, whereas polluted water has a high population of algae with low diversity.