Transcript What will be testing the water for?

What will we be testing
the water for?
Temperature
• Temperature controls the rate of metabolic
activities, reproductive activities, and
ultimately the life cycle. (1)
• Most aquatic organisms are cold blooded
(cannot regulate their own body
temperatures) they need water
temperatures to be fairly stable. (1)
Temperature
• 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) Ideal range
– bass, bluegills, carp, catfish, crappie
• 55-68 degrees F (13-20 degrees C) Ideal range
• 41-55 degrees F (5-13 degrees C) Ideal range –
rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout.
(1)
pH = parts Hydrogen
• pH – how acidic or basic something is
determined by hydrogen ions (H+) and
hydroxyl ions (OH-).(1)
• pH range – 0-14 (7 neutral)
– pH 0-7 (acidic)
– pH 7-14 (basic or alkaline)
http://www.mygarden.co.nz/_ImgUser/8/8023.jpg
pH
• Optimal pH range for life 6.5-8.21
• Distilled water 7, human blood 7.5, sea
water 8 (1)
• Death points for fish pH 4 and pH 11.4 (4)
Alkalinity
• Alkalinity – how well a water source can
neutralize acidic pollution and resist
changes in pH.1 Measured in terms of
concentration of CaCO3 mg/L
• Alkaline (pH scale = basic) – Ca from the
alkaline earth metals (group 2)
Alkalinity
• Fresh water levels between 20-200 mg/L4
Figure: Desirable
Alkalinity Ranges
U.S. E.P.A. Category
Acidified
Critical
Endangered
Highly Sensitive
Sensitive
Not Sensitive
Concentration CaCO3
(mg/L)
< 1 and pH < 5
<2
2-5
5-10
10-20
> 20
Figure: Addy, Kelly, Green, Linda, and Herron, Elizabeth. pH and Alkalinity; URI Watershed Watch, Rhode Island, Department
Natural Resources Science, 2004.
Carbon Dioxide
• CO2
• CO2 – readily soluble in water, important
for aquatic plant life survival. 5 Important
for plants to be able to produce oxygen for
fish.
Carbon Dioxide
• Ideal Range - Carbon Dioxide (CO2) =
less than 10 mg/L (3)
• To much CO2 can result in a drop in the
pH of blood in fish (6)
Chloride
• Chloride – commonly distributed and
found in nature as sodium (NaCl - salt)
concentrations in water. (2)
• Chloride concentrations are typically
higher near the coast.
Chloride
• Sources of Chloride – dissolving salt
deposits, salting roads, sewage, industrial
waste, oil well operations, irrigation
drainage, oceans (sea spray into coastal
regions). (2)
• Desirable ranges – 30 mg/L NaCl or more
(3)
Nitrite
• NO2
• Nitrogen is required for by all living
organisms for basic process of life, growth
and reproduction. (1)
• Too much nitrogen can stimulate plant
growth why can reduce O2 levels in the
water source. (1)
Nitrite
• Excess N comes from fertilizers applied in
fields, lawns, gardens, leaking septic
systems, sewage treatment facilities,
industrial runoff, livestock, animal wastes,
and more. (1)
• High levels of Nitrite (NO2) can be toxic to
fish. (4)
Nitrite
• Desirable levels - Nitrite (NO2) =
Concentration should be less than 10
times that of chlorides in water. (3)
• Example: Nitrite is 0.5 mg/L, chlorides
should be at least 5 mg/L. (3)
Hardness
• Total Hardness – total concentration of Ca and
Mg. (4)
• Ca and Mg are the most abundant alkaline earth
metals found in natural waters. (4)
• Soft water is easy to lather soap in.
• Hard water can’t seem to get soap off.
• White circles where water was on washed car.
Hardness
Water Hardness Scale
(7)
Grains Per
Gallon
Milligrams Per Liter
(mg/L)or Parts Per
Million (ppm)
Classification
less than 1.0
less than 17.1
Soft
1.0 - 3.5
17.1 - 60
Slightly Hard
3.5 - 7.0
60 - 120
Moderately
Hard
7.0 - 10.5
120 - 180
Hard
over 10.5
over 180
Very Hard
Other things that can be tested
• Dissolved Oxygen (O2)
• Ammonia (NH3)
• Turbidity – the amount of suspended
particles in the water (how clear the water
is)
• Conductivity – how well the water
conducts electricity (determined by certain
elements in the water).
• And more!
Works Cited
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Murdoch, Tom, and Cheo, Martha. Streamkeeper’s Field Guide.
Adopt-A-Stream Foundation, Everett, 1999 (p.164-182).
http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/operations/water/WWMeasure.htm
http://ces3.ca.uky.edu/westkentuckyaquaculture/info/Desirable%2
0water%20quality%20parameters%20for%20catfish%20ponds.do
c (see my docs for complete word document)
Hach Fish Farmer’s Water Quality Test Kit Manual
http://www.adbio.com/science/analysis/co2.htm
http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/103/the-importance-ofmeasuring-carbon-dioxide-in-aquaculture
http://www.fcwa.org/water/hardness.htm