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WATER QUALITY

What You Need To Know


To Keep Your Fish Alive
Gary Fornshell, University of Idaho
Terry Patterson, College of Southern Idaho

To a great extent, the success or failure of fish culture is determined by water quality

Water Quality Why Is It Important?

Your fish live in it Are supported by it Receive their oxygen from it And excrete in it

Water Quality Why Is It Important?


Water quality factors influence and interact with each other What may cause problems in one situation may be harmless in another Influences effectiveness/toxicity of treatments

Water Quality Why Is It Important?

Most disease problems can be avoided with proper management of water quality This includes maintaining water quality at a level that provides an environment conducive to fish health and growth

Water Quality Variables


Temperature Dissolved oxygen Total ammonia-nitrogen, NH3, NO-2 Alkalinity Hardness

pH
Carbon dioxide

Water Quality Variables Temperature

For each 10C (18F) rise in temperature the metabolic rate doubles Controls the reaction rate of chemicals Influences solubility of gases in water

Influences toxicity of ammonia and therapeutants


Optimum temperature for tilapia growth is 85-88 F

Water Quality Variables Dissolved Oxygen


First limiting factor for growth and fish health Solubility decreases with increasing temperature and elevation Respiratory rate increases with increasing temperature, activity and feeding In general the minimum DO should be 60% of saturation or 5 ppm (mg/L) > 2 ppm in biofilter effluent

Water Quality Variables


Total Ammonia-Nitrogen
Usually the second limiting factor nitrogenous

waste: feces & feed TAN includes ammonium ion (NH4+) and ammonia (NH3) The proportion of NH3 increases with increasing temperature and pH < 0.05 mg/L NH3 < 0.5 mg/L nitrite-N (NO-2)
,

Percent of Total Ammonia in the Un-Ionized Form at Various Temperatures and pH


percent Ammonia Temperature (F) 50 68 (pH) 7.0 0.19 0.40 8.0 9.0

___________________________________________
1.83 15.7 3.82 28.4

86

0.80

7.46

44.6

The Nitrogen Cycle


Water plants Food
Excess food Algae Fishes

Nitrate (NO 3 )

Urine

Feces

Urea

Peptides Amino acids

Nitrite (NO 2 )

Ammonia (NH 3 )

Time Required for Bio-Filter to Mature


0.8 NO 3 0.6 Ammonia (mg/l) NH 3 NO 2 6 Nitrites & Nitrates (mg/l) 8

0.4

0.2

0.0

10 14 18 Time in Days

22

Water Quality Variables - Alkalinity


Is the buffering capacity of water

absorbs acids and/or bases


High alkalinity prevents wide pH fluctuations Maintain levels between 75-120 mg/L as CaCO3 7 grams of alkalinity consumed by 1 gram of NH3

Effects of pH on Various Buffers


Percent of Total CO 2 100

Free CO 2

HCO3

CO 3

50

0
4

8 pH

10

11

12

Water Quality Variables

Hardness

50 100 mg/L as CaCO3

pH
Carbon dioxide

78

< 20 mg/L

Water Quality Variables Total Dissolved Gases

Supersaturation caused by:

leaking water lines


air leak on low pressure side of pump source of water

mixing cold and hot water


Recommended total dissolved gas pressure <104%

Water Balance in Freshwater Fish


Water Salts

Ammonia

Large quantities of dilute urine

Stressors
Poor water quality Environmental conditions Improper handling

Most Fish Diseases Are Stressed Mediated

Stress is a physiologic state caused by a procedure, environmental condition or other factor which interferes with the fishs ability to maintain a normal state. It extends the adaptive responses of an animal beyond the normal range or which disturbs the normal functioning.

Low Level Mortality


100%
M
O R T A L I T Y Chronic Acute Peracute

Usually the first sign of water quality/environmental problems

0%

Time

Loading Effects
Number of fish which can successfully live and grow in a given amount of water depends on: DO level Metabolic rate of the fish Amount being fed Pathogen load Water exchange rate

Management Recommendations
Maintain water quality within suggested guidelines Maintain fish loadings at optimum levels of 1/4 to 1/3 lb./gallon (1/2 lb./gallon maximum) Monitor water quality on a regular basis/keep good records

Management Recommendations
Low DO: increase aeration; stop feeding High CO2: increase aeration; add air stripping column Low pH: add sodium bicarbonate; reduce feeding rate; check ammonia & nitrite High NH3: exchange system water; reduce feeding rate; check biofilter, pH, alkalinity & DO in biofilter High nitrite: exchange water; reduce feed; add 6 ppm chloride per 1 ppm nitrite; check biofilter, pH, alkalinity & DO in biofilter

Good Stuff To Know


~ 300 square feet biofilter material per 100 lbs. fish Add 0.125 to 0.167 lbs. baking soda/ 100 gallons to maintain alkalinity Add 0.275 to 0.413 lbs salt/100 gallons to maintain chloride levels of 200 300 ppm Do not make any rapid changes to any WQ parameter, except to increase DO

Resources
SRAC Publications: http://www.msstate.edu/dept/srac/publicat.htm Hach WQ test kits: http://www.hach.com/ LaMotte WQ test kits: http://www.lamotte.com/

Equipment Suppliers:
http://aquaticeco.com/ http://www.tecinfo.com/~aqcenter/

Eagar, Inc. 1-800-423-6249

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