RE: NANFA-- water quality lessons

Nick Zarlinga (njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com)
Thu, 26 Jun 2003 07:54:51 -0400

Steffen, thanks for the treatise on the nitrogen cycle, but that is not what
I was asking. I want to explain the difference of "nitrate nitrogen" and
"nitrate" and what test kits test for. Likewise, the difference between
"ortho-phosphate" and "phosphate" There are several different species of
these compounds but which are the important ones from an aquarists point of
view? I agree, for all intents and purposes there should be no ammonia or
nitrite (although there has to be some in minute quantities) and like wise
for nitrate and phosphates. The question is, what is useable to algae, etc.
Thanks for taking the time.

Matt, thanks for the EPA website suggestion. I'll check it out.

Mysteryman, we have an intern who is not too familiar with this ecology
stuff and his assignment is to try to figure out why the 2 1/2 acre pond on
the zoo's property is algae choked. (couldn't have anything to do with the
heavy duck and fish load and sediment phosphate levels of 20 mg/L, now could
it? ;)> So, he is supposed to come up with a plan based on testing results
which he knows little about. I am going to try to give him a crash ecology
course this summer and these are some of the topics that I could use help in
explaining the differences to him.

Nick Zarlinga
Aquarium Biologist
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
216.661.6500 ext 4485

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nanfa_at_aquaria.net On Behalf
Of Steffen Hellner
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 9:54 AM
To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
Subject: Re: NANFA-- water quality lessons

Simple answer: NONE!

Why? Mesure intact natural habitats of most fishes and you won4t find any
PO3, NHX, NOX or mesureable concentrations of any bacteria. This doesn4t
mean fish can4t stand certain pollution up to a certain degree, but better
is not having any of it.

Nitrate, Nitrite do influence the metabolism of not only fishes. They are
cell-toxics at very low levels. It is a oxidation (or in worst the other way
around a reduction) chain of substance from biological "vaste" (i.e. organic
products of metabolism) starting from complex nitrogenous molecules over NHX
to NOX to elementary Nitrogen N2 which is a gas and not dilluteable and will
be evaporated from the water. The chain is leading from higher toxical to
non-toxic (N2) and is influenced by several factors esp. the pH-rate and the
REDOX-potential.

My resume after 30 years in aquaristics is: keep that mist out of tanks or
ponds and your fish will do fine. And change water as often as possible!!!
Every theory as of "stable water blabla" is utter nonsense! Take either
rainwater or the same water from the tab the fish are used to and it will be
ok (as long as the water quality is suitable for the fish species of
course). Fish from streams are less sensitive to water changes than from
ponds etc. The latter are less sensitive to pollution. All in general. All
personal view. All works for the fish I had and have. Killis, NANF,
Anabantoids, Cichlids, Characins, Snakeheads.

Forget about any concentration limit or paying lots of money for testing
supplies. Check your water source once (or require it from your water
supplier - they have detailled analysis). But if your tab water is already
polluted with more than 20 milligram of Nitrate (the European legal limit is
50 mg and already way too high!), or any Nitrite (messureable), or Phosphate
more than 50 mg - take another water source! Because then it is over the top
for having healthy fish on the long run (except you like to keep Gambusia
affinis etc. only.) SOME fish can stand nearly everything ;-)

Steffen Hellner

> Von: "Nick Zarlinga" <njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com>
> Antworten an: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Datum: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 08:06:13 -0400
> An: "NANFA List Server (E-mail)" <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Betreff: NANFA-- water quality lessons
>
> 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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--
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
Association
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/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
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/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org