How is This System How is This System Different From a PondDifferent From a Pond

You MustYou Must

Critical Environmental Critical Environmental ParametersParameters

•Concentrations Of:Concentrations Of:– Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen– Un-ionized Ammonia-nitrogenUn-ionized Ammonia-nitrogen– Nitrite-nitrogenNitrite-nitrogen

•TemperatureTemperature

Other Important Other Important Environmental Environmental ConsiderationsConsiderations• Nitrate ConcentrationsNitrate Concentrations

• pHpH

• Alkalinity levelsAlkalinity levels

• Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

• ChloridesChlorides

Dissolved OxygenDissolved OxygenWhy Is It ImportantWhy Is It Important

•Fish Fish RespirationRespiration

•Bacteria Bacteria RespirationRespiration

•Waste Waste OxidationOxidation

How Much Oxygen DoHow Much Oxygen DoYou Need?You Need?

How Do We Maintain How Do We Maintain Dissolved Oxygen LevelsDissolved Oxygen Levels

• AerationAeration– Air StonesAir Stones– MechanicalMechanical

• OtherOther– Pure Oxygen GasPure Oxygen Gas– Liquid OxygenLiquid Oxygen– Oxygen GeneratorsOxygen Generators

AirstonesAirstones

Downflow Bubble ContactorDownflow Bubble Contactor

Vertical Pump AeratorVertical Pump Aerator

What if Oxygen LevelsWhat if Oxygen Levels Too Low ? Too Low ?

•Fish StressFish Stress

•Bacteria Go AnaerobicBacteria Go Anaerobic

•CO2 and Ammonia levels CO2 and Ammonia levels become more criticalbecome more critical

pH - What Is It ?pH - What Is It ?

What Happens to pH What Happens to pH In The TankIn The Tank

•Tends to FallTends to Fall

•Effects Toxic Ammonia LevelsEffects Toxic Ammonia Levels

•Tied to AlkalintiyTied to Alkalintiy

pH - What Should It pH - What Should It Be In Your TankBe In Your Tank

How Do You Maintain How Do You Maintain Proper pH ?Proper pH ?

•Maintain Correct AlkalinityMaintain Correct Alkalinity

•Water ChangesWater Changes

AmmoniaAmmoniaWhere Does It Come From?Where Does It Come From?

Ammonia Exists in 2 FormsAmmonia Exists in 2 Forms

• NH3 - Which is NH3 - Which is ToxicToxic

• NH4NH4+ + - Which is relatively - Which is relatively non-toxicnon-toxic

• The balance of these two compounds The balance of these two compounds depends on the depends on the temperaturetemperature and and pHpH of the tank water of the tank water

NH3 <-> NH4NH3 <-> NH4++ EquilibriumEquilibrium

NH3 <-> NH4NH3 <-> NH4++ Shift Shift

Ammonia ConvertedAmmonia ConvertedTo Nitrite (Still Toxic)To Nitrite (Still Toxic)

Nitrite Conversion to NitrateNitrite Conversion to Nitrate

How Can You TellHow Can You TellIf Your Filter Is Working ?If Your Filter Is Working ?

What About Nitrates?What About Nitrates?

• Non toxic up to Non toxic up to 300ppm300ppm

• Generally not a Generally not a problem if water problem if water is changed is changed regularlyregularly

• Some is Some is converted to converted to nitrogen gasnitrogen gas

TemperatureTemperature

• Different fish Different fish prefer different prefer different temperaturestemperatures

• A 10 degree rise in A 10 degree rise in temp doubles the temp doubles the metabolism of warm metabolism of warm water fish - water fish - everything speeds upeverything speeds up

• Remember affect on Remember affect on ammoniaammonia

Alkalinity - What Is It ?Alkalinity - What Is It ?

• Measure of the total bases in waterMeasure of the total bases in water

• Buffering CapacityBuffering Capacity

• Ability of water to resist changeAbility of water to resist change

• Main bases in water are carbonate Main bases in water are carbonate and bi-carbonateand bi-carbonate

AlkalinityAlkalinityWhere Does It Come FromWhere Does It Come From

• Calcium Carbonate - CaCOCalcium Carbonate - CaCO33 - - LimestoneLimestone

• Sodium Bicarbonate - Baking SodaSodium Bicarbonate - Baking Soda

AlkalinityAlkalinityWhat Is It Used For ?What Is It Used For ?

• Buffering CapacityBuffering Capacity

• Carbon is used bacteria during Carbon is used bacteria during growthgrowth

• Tends to decrease over time as it is Tends to decrease over time as it is incorporated into new bacteriaincorporated into new bacteria

AlkalinityAlkalinityWhat Is A Good LevelWhat Is A Good Level

• 50 -250 ppm50 -250 ppm

• Can be increased by adding sodium Can be increased by adding sodium bicarbonate bicarbonate – rate of 10% of feed weight daily or as rate of 10% of feed weight daily or as

needed determined by testingneeded determined by testing

• Alkalinity is tied to pH Alkalinity is tied to pH

• Helps the system remain stable and Helps the system remain stable and controls pH dropcontrols pH drop

Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide

• Can build up in closed systemsCan build up in closed systems

• Fish can take up to 60 ppm if there is Fish can take up to 60 ppm if there is adequate oxygenadequate oxygen

• Not usually a problem is system is Not usually a problem is system is aerated and has regular partial water aerated and has regular partial water exchangesexchanges

ChloridesChlorides

• Important in helping fish be resistant Important in helping fish be resistant to nitrite toxicityto nitrite toxicity

• Chloride levels should be at least 6x Chloride levels should be at least 6x the nitrite levelsthe nitrite levels

• Can increase chlorides if necessary Can increase chlorides if necessary by adding by adding NONNON-Iodized-Iodized Salt at a Salt at a rate 1 tablespoon per 10-20 gallonsrate 1 tablespoon per 10-20 gallons

Water Quality For Best Water Quality For Best GrowthGrowth

RecapRecap

• Pay AttentionPay Attention

• Be ObservantBe Observant

• Watch Do LevelsWatch Do Levels

• Check Ammonia, Check Ammonia, pH, and Nitrite pH, and Nitrite RegularlyRegularly

• Don’t OverfeedDon’t Overfeed