Purple Loosestrife

Scientific Name:Lythrum salicaria

Common Name: Purple Loosestrife

Description: long thing green leaves with small purple flowers

Reproduction: produces 2-3 million seeds

Problems Caused: clogs water canals

Prevention: immediate removal and herbicides

Salvinia

Scientific Name:Slavinia molesta

Common Name: Salvinia

Description: thick small round leaves

Reproduction: roots onto leaves

Problems Caused: produces thick mats and remove oxygen from the water

Prevention: immediate removal and herbicides

Water Lettuce

Scientific Name:Pistia stratiotes

Common Name: Water Lettuce

Description:looks like and open head of lettuce

Reproduction: through daughter plants

Problems Caused:forms a thick mat of leaves that prevent boating and vegetation

Prevention: immediate removal and herbicides

Water Hyacinth

Scientific Name:Eichhornia crassipes

Common Name: Water Hyacinth 

Description: large green leaves and large white flowers

Reproduction: through daughter cells

Problems Caused:take up all nutrients in the water and produce H ions which acidifies the water

Prevention: immediate removal and herbicides

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Scientific Name:Myriophyllum spicatum

Common Name: Eurasian Watermilfoil 

Description: long thin tan branches and this green leaves

Reproduction: seeds and fragments

Problems Caused:prevents sunlight from reaching the floor of a water body and prevents boating

Prevention: immediate removal and herbicides

Hydrilla

Scientific Name: Hydrilla verticillata

Common Name: Esthwaite Waterweed orHydrilla

Description: long stems, small leaves

Reproduction: tubers,turions, stolons and fragments 

Problems Caused:takes over vegetation

Prevention: immediate removal and herbicides

Alligator Weed

Scientific Name:  Alternanthera philoxeroides

Common Name: Alligator Weed

Description: long stems, simple leaves, and a white puff ball like flower

Reproduction: during warm months, spreads in seed or plant fragments

Problems Caused: can grow in a variety of climates, forms a mat like web of plants which eliminate sunlight to the bottom of waterways.

Prevention: immediate removal and herbicides 

Today's Lab

In today's lab it was interesting to see all the different organisms in the pond water. It was weird that Mrs. Wood and Ross put the leech on their arms! It was creepy to look up close at the leech and fish fly larva.

 

Free Day-Water Turbines

In Australia new forms of hydroelectric power are coming about. One of these is water turbines. These water turbines are placed in the ocean about 100 yards off the shore. They create energy by being pushed by the natural currents of the ocean. These water turbines show amazing prospects due to the fact that there is no way for them to stop producing energy since currents are always moving through the ocean. The turbines show better promise than wind turbines since the wind is not always guaranteed. Another great thing about these water turbines is that they do little to no harm to environment. They do not disrupt the animal life in Australia, nor to they produce any pollutants or emissions. Water turbines should be incorporated into the worlds energy program since they show nothing but good clean energy.

Volvox

Volvox is a colony of 500 to up to 50,000 cells and had two flagella. The volvox reproduces through daughter colonies. Some volvox colonies cause algae blooms in the summer, these blooms cause damage to fish gills. Most volvox colonies live in freshwater.

Aquarium

I learned that all sharks and rays can coexist in a tank. I learned that manatees and sea turtles can live in the same tank. I learned the different origins of several new fish. I learned that flashlight fish are nocturnal. I also learned that sea otters are the largest in the otter family. I loved seeing all the fish and seeing new species. I did not like not being able to see the octopus or cheetah.

Amphibians

Toads have dry and bumpy skin. They have poison glands behind their eyes. Toads do not hop, but walk. Frogs have slimy silky skin and leap great distances. Both have strong back legs and pulsate their mouths. They also both have acute hearing and can only see in black and white. Amphibians can tell change in the weather. When their is going to be rain, more amphibians are present, but when the habitat is unusually dry the amphibians go into hiding or find shelter. The decline in amphibian populations can be linked to the entering of a new predator, pollution, or the destruction of their habitats. Prevention of the extinction of these amphibians is to stop the destruction of their environments.

How to Assess a Pond

First you observe. You see if there are any dead plant or animals. Then for algae blooms or a film or foamy surface of the water. Then you examine the algae and insects under a microscope. You then identify it is good algae, or bad. Then you test the water quality. You can test temperature, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, or pH. After that you do chemical testing. You can test for mercury, foam, chlorine, soap, oil, or gas.

Watersheds

A watershed is an area of land in which water runs down rivers and streams to a large collection of water. Rivers make up my watershed, the Trinity River Watershed. It is important to monitor the water quality of our watershed so that we do not contaminate our water and can catch some pollutants before they hit open waters. Our benefits of our watershed is plenty if drinking water and a great irrigation system

Algae Search Lab

On our algae search we found scuds, copepods, and larva. When we added these organisms to our tank our fish, Smokey, didn't react. As far as I know all the microorganisms are still alive.

Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Cycle

In a pond, oxygen is high during the day because the sunlight increases photosynthesis. At night, oxygen is low because there is no sun to increase photosynthesis.

Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic, Eutrophic

Oligtrophic is water with a low amount of plants and nutrients. Mesotrophic is water with a moderate amount of plants and nutrients. Eutrophic is water with a large amount of plants, nutrients, and animals. Understanding these types of water is beneficial because certain organisms survive in each water type, and some organisms can't survive in others.

Ponds and Rivers

1. Webbed feet are an adaptation of aquatic animals
2. Dipper birds have unique feathers that keep them dry
3. Only strong rooted plants can survive on river beds
4. The sea lamprey has specific gill holes that allow them to breathe without using their mouths
5. Rivers were the start of our civilization
6. All rivers take water from high points to the ocean
7. 1/3 of the worlds water travels through the Nile
8. 1 1/2 billion tons of silt move through chinas rivers
9. Middle sections of the rivers carry the most life
10. A pond is one of the most rich environments in the world
11. A pond can provide more nutrients than a grassland
12. Ponds are naturally inhabited by frogs
13. Ponds act as a nursery
14. Water can carry diseases
15. Malaria is centered around stagnant water
16. The lower ends of rivers create banks made of silt
17. The rivers journey is circular

Lentic System

Lentic system is a body of standing water. Examples of this are:
Lakes- large body of standing water
Ponds- small body of standing water
Playa lake- a dried up lake
Swamp- a standing body of water filled with trees
Marsh- a collection of small standing bodies of water
Bog- a combination of mud and standing water
Reservoir- a man made body of water blocked by a dam

Observations

A good observation consists of a specific examination of the tank. It includes the types of fish, how many, plants, gravel, swimming pattern, fights, feeding, decorations, the bubbler, lights, etc. on the YouTube video of the fish tank there is a sunken ship on the bottom of the tank, 7 plants, black angel, skirt fish, stripe fish, yellow tang, a baby black tip shark, the stripe fish fight, the black angel stays by the glass, there is a cave in the back left, there is smooth river rock gravel, there is a blue light, the bubbler is in the back right.

Density and Temperature Demonstration

The distribution of the water in the experiment showed me how cold water will sink below the warm water because it is less dense.

Aquarium Project

I. Purpose-to monitor an aquatic ecosystem over time through observations and data collection.

II. Materials
•water
•tank
•bubbler
•dechlorinator
•bacteria supplement
•gravel
•windex
•light
•fish
•plants
•fish food
•pitcher
•fish net
•bucket
•strainer
•lab station
•decorations
•brush
•paper towels
•sink
•filter

III. Procedure
1. Pick group members and sign up for your tank
2. Choose which type of fish you would like for your tank
3. Pick your tank
4. Clean tank the inside and outside with water and a scrubber. Clean the outside with windex. Clean your bubbler, gravel, filter, and any ornaments you put in your tank.
5. Add water to tank.
6. Add recommended amount of declorinator and bacteria supplement.

7. Purchase your fish and add them to the tank with proper amount of food.

IV. Data
A.Qualitative
•Observations
-We have a 20 gallon tank.
-There's clear water.
-We have no fish.
-We have a castle in the middle of the tank with one plant on either side of the tank.
-The bubbler is hidden in the castle.
-April 16 we added a feeder minno and named him Smokey.
-April 17 we added a becopia plant. Smokey ate some of the plant. We added some pond water insects that include scuds, daphia, copepods, and larva.
-April 19 we added 2 more feeder minnos. Their names are Sherbert and Big Papa. Sherbert spends most of her day staring at the glass, and Big Papa typically lays on the gravel.
-April 23 we added 5 fish. 1 dwarf gurama named Glenn Coco. 1 black Molly named Gretchen. 1 spotted Molly named Regina. And also 2 zebra danios named Charlie and Lola.
-April 24 big papa, smokey, and sherbet were playing tag around the castle.
-Glenn Coco likes to stay around the filter, and every quick movement around the tank will make him wince.
-April 26 Regina is hiding in the castle and swimming around like she usually does. We think she might be pregnant!
-Glenn Coco and Gretchen like playing in the bubbles.
-Big Papa, Smokey, Sherbert, Charlie, and Lola act like they are their own school even though they are two different kinda of fish.

-There has been no sign of a "baby bump" on Regina, but she has not left her castle for a few weeks.

-Gretchen and Glenn Coco are very social with each other.

-Smokey likes to stay near the bottom of the tank.

-Big Papa and Sherbert swim around the castle chasing each other a lot.

-When given food Gretchen and Glenn Coco are very aggressive, whereas Smokey, Big Papa, and Sherbert remain at the bottom and swim up slow and dart underwater fast.
-May 1 we removed the castle from the tank and Regina started freaking out and actually leaped out of the tank and hit my hand when moving the castle.

-May 13 Gretchen got stuck in the filter foam/wool/fabric.

-May 17 Glenn Coco got stuck in the filter underneath the foam/wool/fabric. When we lifted it up he was a dark brown color.

-We removed the makeshift filter from the tank because it keeps trapping out fish.

-Regina swims around the tank when everyone is gone.

-We removed our becopia plant because it started to die.

-Our pea plant has grown a new stalk. It's growing very strong and healthy.

-May 22 Regina was freely swimming today, but once approached she retreated into her castle.

B. Quantitative

Chart A: Aquacheck
Total Chlorine: 0ppm
Free Chlorine: 0ppm
Total Hardness: 250ppm
Total Alkalinity: 80ppm
pH: 7.8

Chart B: Water Quality

May 20

Temperature: 22.12°C

Dissolved Oxygen: 100.0%

ISE Voltage: -14.9mV

Conductivity: 41 uS/cm

pH: 7.25

May 21

Temperature: 24.25°C

Dissolved Oxygen: 100.0%

ISE Voltage: 27.1mV

Conductivity: 10 uS/cm

pH: 6.54

May 22

Temperature: 21.25°C

Dissolved Oxygen: 100.0%

ISE Voltage: -36.3mV

Conductivity: 61 uS/cm

pH: 7.75

May 23

Temperature: 21.26°C

Dissolved Oxygen: 100.0%

ISE Voltage: -21.21mV

Conductivity: 50 uS/cm

pH: 7.36

Chart C: Nitrogen Cycle (Ammonia and Nitrite)
April 8- Ammonia: 1.0ppm
April 9- Ammonia: 1.0ppm
April 10- Ammonia: 1.0ppm
April 15- Ammonia: 0.50ppm
April 16- Ammonia: 0.50ppm
April 18- Ammonia: 0.50ppm
April 22-Ammonia: 0.0ppm
April 22- Nitrite: 0.5ppm
April 24- Ammonia: 0.0ppm
April 24- Nitrite: 0.25ppm
April 24- Nitrate: 15ppm
April 26- Ammonia: 0.0ppm
April 26- Nitrite: 0.0ppm
April 26- Nitrate: 10ppm

V. Conclusion Questions

1. Some water quality tests include- pH, alkalinity, nitrite and nitrate, water hardness, and ammonia. pH tests the acidity or basicity of a solution. This test goes on a scale from 1-14, 1 being the most acidic and 14 being the most basic. You want to monitor pH to make sure that the water has not been contaminated by an outside source and is safe to drink. Another water quality test is alkalinity. This test shows the totally amount of pH stabilizing compounds in the water. This prevents drastic changes in pH. A typical level of alkalinity is 120ppm. Water hardness is another test, this test looks for the metallic ions present in water. This affects fish living habits and homeostasis. Another test is nitrite and nitrate. This test monitors the nitrogen cycle in the tank. Nitrite levels should remain under 0.75ppm and nitrate should remain under 200ppm. This will keep the fish under the least amount of stress. The final test is the ammonia test. This checks the amount if ammonia in the tank. The scale is from 0.25-3.0+. A level of 0.50ppm is considered toxic in a normal temperature tank.

2. The Nitrogen cycle is the movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere. What happens is that ammonia is released through fish waste, from the water a bacteria nitrosonomas break down the ammonia into nitrite. From the nitrite a bacteria nitrobacter breaks it down into nitrate. Then the nitrate gets taken in by plants. Then the cycle starts all over again. The nitrogen cycle is important to the sustainability of a tank because without it the ammonia in the tank would kill the fish, and there would be no food for the plants to eat.

3. My water quality began being filled with ammonia. From April 8-18 our ammonia was was between 1.0 and 0.5ppm so we were not allowed to have fish for over 2 weeks. On April 22 our ammonia levels were finally at 0.0ppm so then we went an bought fish. Once we added fish and plants our nitite level stayed around 0.5ppm for 1-2 days and then it became 0.0. Our nitrate level was 15ppm our first testing day, but then it became 10ppm, and now it is about a 5ppm.

4. The carbon dioxide/oxygen cycle is very important to our ecosystem. Without this cycle oxygen wouldn't move through the atmosphere. Oxygen is produced through photosynthesis. This is when plants take in carbon dioxide and water with the addition of light and create oxygen and sugar. With out carbon dioxide and water plants in ponds and creeks would have no food. Without oxygen we would have nothing to breathe. 

5. Problems I had with my aquarium was eliminating the ammonia from my tank. It took about 2 weeks of changing water and adding bacteria supplement to get the water to become stable. After the first week of changing water, we stopped changing it and just added bacteria supplement. After a few days our water was perfect. Then we added fish, some live plants, and more bacteria supplement and our tank has perfect water levels.

6. 5 things that I learned from this project  was how to maintain a fish tank. I learned how to test water quality such as ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. I learned what types of fish can live together, and which are aggressive. I learned what to do when your fish is pregnant. I also learned the importance of maintaining a clean tank and how easily fish can die from ammonia. 

7. Some interesting things that happened in my fish tank was the pregnancy of the spotted Molly Regina. She began swimming around the tank the first few days and then she hid in the tank and has remained there. The worst thing that happened was when I was syphened the tank and the water from the tank shot into my mouth. IT WAS HORRIBLE! The weirdest thing that happened in the tank was when I was rearranging the filter in our tank and Regina came up and touched me. I freaked out!

8. My favorite part of this project was becoming attached to my fish. They are more than a project, they are like my children. I feed them, clean them, and take care of them. Also I liked be lining better friends with my tank mate Ashley and Lauren. 

9. When starting out do not change your water very often, you need your water to create a strong nitrogen cycle. When you change your water everyday you can not create a strong cycle. So my advice to the next class is to not change your water for a week and see how your ammonia levels are then. Then add your fish. Also do not use a makeshift filter. Your fish will get stuck in it.

Water properties

I have learned about water hardness, ph level, adhesion, cohesion, turbidity, density, conductivity, buoyancy, solvents, solutes, mixture, solutions, suspension, specific heat, and temperature. All of these are used in maintaining an aquarium. This project represents a real ecosystem because it provides realistic atmosphere for the fish, similar aquatic levels and environment.

Neon Tetra

Temperament: Community
Family: Characidae
Native To: South
AmericaDiet: Omnivore
Adult Size: Up to 2.5"
Temperature: 72° - 82°F
Water Parameters: pH 6.0-7.0; KH 4-8
Care Level: Easy
Tank Size: 10+ gallons
Scientific Name: Paracheirodon innesi
Environment: Freshwater
Not recommended for new tanks
Does best in schools of five or more
Needs plenty of hiding places

I am choosing this fish because it is the cheapest at PETCO

Water Property

http://youtu.be/YswL4dIDQuk

I learned all the steps of the water cycle

North Texas Water

Texas is home to 14 major rivers, over 100 lakes, and 23 aquifers that underlie about three-fourths of the state. Texas also borders the Gulf of Mexico. These bodies of water supply much of the state’s drinking water. Some lakes and rivers are also used for energy production, though hydroelectric power is still a limited resource in the state.Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are the main water sources for many cities, farmers and power plants in Central Texas. Droughts are a major concern in this part of the state where cities, like Austin, use lake water for drinking and recreation. Texas saw some of its driest months on record since 1895 during the eight-month period from October 2010 to May 2011. The water level in both Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan fell to 1.4 million acre-feet, 28 percent less than the average, causing the Central Texas region to begin stage 1 drought restrictions. As lake levels continued to fall, several Central Texas cities entered stage 2 drought restrictions, including Austin. As of June 20, 2011, nearly two-thirds of the state had entered into “exceptional drought,” the Lower Colorado River Authority’s (LCRA) most severe category. The LCRA is a powerful state organization that controls the water in the two lakes and much of the Colorado River. A way to help stop the drought is to try to conserve water.