NANFA-- water quality lessons

Nick Zarlinga (njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com)
Wed, 25 Jun 2003 08:06:13 -0400

Does anyone have any idea of what phosphate levels in a "healthy" freshwater
ecosystem should be? Any references?

Here are some other questions that I posed to another list server.

OK, time for aquarist lessons 101. I am looking for a good, laymens way to
explain the following:

1. the relationship of ortho-phosphate to phosphate and how it relates to
aquariums
2. the relationship of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia nitrogen compared to
"nitrate", "nitrite", and "ammonia" and how it relates to aquariums
3. the relationship of total coliform, fecal coliform, and e-coli levels as
it related to mammal (and human) systems.
4. the relationship of total suspended solids, total disolved solids, and
turbidity as it relates to water systems (not necessarily aquariums)

That's alot to chew on but feel free to explain a chunk of what you know.
Open to any interpretations. Thanks.

Nick Zarlinga
Aquarium Biologist
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
216.661.6500 ext 4485
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