Phase 1 Freshwater Habitat

Of the Arkansas Aquarium and Marine Research Center

Overview

The Phase 1 Freshwater Habitat is designed to test the feasibility of keeping live fish within our facility. Budgetary requirements are a major factor in the habitat's construction and operation (we have kept the whole thing below US$200).

The habitat is an environmentally controlled enclosure containing approximately 3.0 × 10^-2 m³ (10 gallons) of chemically treated tap water. A temperature of 298 kelvins (about 75°F) is maintained through a combination of cool air around the tank and a thermostatically controlled heater within. A waterfall style filter with a bio-wheel cleans and aerates the water.

Habitat construction began on June 1, 2003, with the assembly of the tank stand, tank, water filter, heater, and other high-tech fish keeping equipment. Progress was slow at first, but we did manage to be "in the wet" later that same evening.

Flora

The following plants currently occupy the habitat:

• Six specimens of Dwarf Lilly-Hybrid Ulvaceus.
• One Amazon Sword plant (Echinodorus bleberi).

Fauna

The following aquatic animals live in the habitat:

• Two fan-tail goldfish
• One sword tail

Formerly, three specimens of tropical fish, Tiger Barbs, named Sampson, Delilah, and Merv occupied the habitat. They were the primary research animals from June 2, 2003 until the week of June 24, when they expired following a brief battle with Ick.

Status

June 1, 2003

Aquarium was constructed and filled with water. Equipment was engaged. Six specimens of Dwarf Lilly-Hybrid Ulvaceus were inserted in seed form.

June 2, 2003

After almost one full day of aquarium operation the first animals were added: three Tiger Barbs. We have named them Sampson, Delilah, and Merv.

The number was kept small, initially, to allow for the growth of the ammonia and nitrogen processing bacteria necessary for healthy fish.

When the fish were first inserted into the aquarium, they did a lot of swimming around the habitat to familiarize themselves with the new environment. After a thorough inspection, they settled on the back corners of the tank. There were a few minor skirmishes between the two largest fish (Sampson and Merv), but they appear to have settled their differences.

June 3, 2003

The fish seem to have adjusted to their new home. They have begun to swim freely about the entire enclosure.

June 5, 2003

We ran a chemical analysis of the water, and these are the results:

• pH = 7.5
• NO₂- (nitrite) = 0.3 mg/l
• NH₃/NH₄+ (ammonia) = 1.5 mg/l
• General Hardness = 5° dH
• Carbonate Hardness = 5° dH
• CO₂ = 5 mg/l

These figures were all normal except for the ammonia, which is dangerously high. It appears that the ammonia processing bacteria have not yet grown to sufficient quantities. To remove the excess ammonia, we replaced 25% of the water.

June 6, 2003

The ammonia level was still dangerously high, so I changed another 25% of the water

June 7, 2003

I bought a bio-wheel power filter to replace the existing power filter. The new filter turns out to be almost identical to the old one, except for the bio-wheel and the lid. That's great; it means my replacement cartridges will still work. I'm going to keep the old filter for use in the quarantine bowl.

We also got some bacteria starter to try to bring the ammonia levels down. And we bought an Amazon Sword plant to be decorative (and provide whatever biological advantages plants provide).

I ran another chemical analysis of the water, and these are the results:

• pH = 7.5
• NO₂- (nitrite) = 0.3 mg/l
• NH₃/NH₄+ (ammonia) = 1.5 mg/l
• General Hardness = 5° dH
• Carbonate Hardness = 6° dH
• CO₂ = 6 mg/l

As you can see, the carbonate hardness, and thus the CO₂ have both increased slightly, but their levels are still within the normal range. The ammonia is still very high. It is quite amazing that the fish have been able to live this long in such toxic water. I changed another 20% of the water, attempting to bring it back down. Hopefully, the bacteria will start to grow on the bio-wheel soon, so that the ammonia will go away. Otherwise, we may be buying some new fish soon.

June 8, 2003

Here are the results of today's analysis:

• pH = 8.0
• NO₂- (nitrite) = < 0.3 mg/l
• NH₃/NH₄+ (ammonia) = 1.5 mg/l
• General Hardness = 6° dH
• Carbonate Hardness = 6° dH
• CO₂ = 1.8 mg/l

The ammonia levels are still too high. I changed another 20% of the water, and I added some more bacteria starter. I am a little concerned that residue from anti-bacterial soap used on my hands might be killing the bacteria. I'll have to be careful about that in the future.

The pH levels have gone up slightly. It is still in the normal range, but high pH makes the ammonia more lethal, because it indicates there are more of the NH₃ and less of the NH₄+, which are less dangerous.

It still amazes me that the fish are still alive. I keep waiting for the water to get cloudy as the bacteria spreads, but it just isn't happening.

June 9, 2003

• pH = 8.0
• NO₂- (nitrite) = < 0.3 mg/l
• NH₃/NH₄+ (ammonia) = 1.5 mg/l
• General Hardness = 5° dH
• Carbonate Hardness = 6° dH
• CO₂ = 1.8 mg/l

Same story.

June 16, 2003

The ammonia levels continue to be high. We tested for several days, and changed the water for several days. Then we decided to let it go a few days without changing the water just to see what happens. So far the fish appear to be doing fine.

To eliminate the tap water as a source of the ammonia, we ran simultaneous tests on both the aquarium water and the tap water. The aquarium water read at 1.5 mg/l while the tap water showed 0 mg/l.

June 18, 2003

It finally happened! The ammonia level dropped to approximately 0 mg/l. We haven't changed the water in almost a week, so these low ammonia levels explain why the fish are still alive.

However, with the lowering of the ammonia levels, the amount of nitrite has risen to dangerous levels. (Our testing equipment is not sophisticated enough to accurately measure concentrations this high.) This increase was expected, but the nitrite is very toxic for the fish. We changed 50% of the water (which was a little bit dirty thanks to Jacksonville Waterworks). Now we must wait for the nitrite eating bacteria to spread. Hopefully, our fish will survive.

June 21, 2003

The fish are still alive, even though the researcher's brother-in-law caught one of the fish in his hands (grrrr!).

Here are the stats:

• pH = 8.0
• NO₂- (nitrite) = 1.6 mg/l
• NH₃/NH₄+ (ammonia) = 0 mg/l
• General Hardness = 5° dH
• Carbonate Hardness = 5° dH
• CO₂ = 1.6 mg/l

The nitrite concentration is still above healthy levels. The concentration of ammonia has remained at ideal levels for the few days following a change in the filter and 50% of the water, an indication that the bio-wheel is carrying the bacteria it needs to remove the ammonia.

We are still waiting for the nitrite processing bacteria to grow before we add more specimens.

June 22, 2003

Today the fish were discovered to have ichthyophthirius ("an often fatal parasitic disease," also called "Ick"). Bonnie procured some chemicals designed to treat that, and also some chemicals to remove algae. The Ick remover required us to temporarily discontinue the charcoal filtration. Hopefully, this will not cause the tank to get too dirty.

June 26, 2003

The fish have died. Merv died on Tuesday, June 24. Deliliah died on Wednesday, June 25; and Sampson died this morning.

We were unable to determine the cause of death. It might have been the high nitrite levels, but we suspect it was the ichthyophthirius.

This is an enormous setback in our research. We are not sure what to do about the tank should we get more fish. We do not want to lose our ammonia eating bacteria, but we do want to make sure that every trace of Ick is removed.

We deeply regret this loss, and we can only hope that their deaths were not in vain. We shall continue our research with the same lively spirit that our late fish exhibited during their short lives.