I understand. Maybe my point of view was besides this informative to the
group.
Steffen
> Von: "Nick Zarlinga" <njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com>
> Antworten an: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Datum: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 07:54:51 -0400
> An: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Betreff: RE: NANFA-- water quality lessons
>
> 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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