ACTIVITY MATERIALS

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WHY PLUMBING?

Aquaculture relies heavily on engineered plumbing and pump systems to maintain a healthy aquatic environment.

These systems ensure healthy water chemistry for our living organisms.

WATER CHEMISTRY

WATER CIRCULATION

Aeration pumps move water through our systems to deliver oxygen and nutrients while removing waste.

Tiny bubbles transfer oxygen from the air to the water.

This increases the Dissolved Oxygen (DO), making it easier for our fish to breathe.

WATER CIRCULATION

That's right, fish breathe, but not like us.

Fish breathe underwater using gills. These are specialized organs that extract oxygen from water and expel carbon dioxide, similar to how lungs work for humans.

Water flows over the gills, and oxygen diffuses from the water into the fish's bloodstream through thin, blood-rich tissues. 

WATER FLOW

WATER FILTRATION

Separates solid debris like uneaten food and fish waste.

Biofilters have bacteria that perform nitrification, a process where ammonia (a toxic waste chemical) is converted to nitrate, making the water safer for our fish.

2. Removing unwanted chemicals

1. Removing unwanted Solid Waste

Filtration is removing unwanted debris out of the environment.

WATER TEMPERATURE

GROWTH

Water temperature directly affects the health, growth, reproduction of aquatic organisms.

HEALTH

REPRODUCTION

Fish and other aquatic species are cold-blooded, so their body temperature matches the water that they live in.

Sudden temperature changes or extremes can cause stress and weaken immunity, making fish more vulnerable to parasites, fungi, and bacteria.

Even small deviations can disrupt breeding cycles or prevent fertilization and hatching.

WATER HARDNESS

Hardness...? What does that mean? 🤔

Water hardness refers to the concentration of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium, in water, which can be measured in parts per million (ppm).

We can often see these minerals build up on our shower heads and faucets!

TESTING pH LEVELS

In a simple sense, pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is, using a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. pH plays a crucial role in various chemical and biological processes, including the function of enzymes, the digestion of food, and the survival of organisms.

Values below 7 acidic, and values above 7 basic.

Acids are substances like Lemon Juice and Vinegar.

Bases are substances like Bleach and Drain Cleaner.

NOW THAT WE HAVE PLUMBING...

Lets test our tanks for their pH, hardness, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

We can analyze what the results mean for fish health and how to correct any imbalances.