Name: ______Biology I.

Ecology Lab: How can you model a balanced marine ecosystem?

(A) Procedure

In this lab, you will create and maintain a marine biome in the form of a reef tank (saltwater aquarium). Creating a maintaining a healthy reef tank takes time and attention to detail. In order to set up a reef tank, you will need an aquarium, heaters, filters, and light. You will need to mix the saltwater and add the sand, and then let this solution settle. These tasks have already been set up for you in the lab. In this lab, you are challenged with populating and maintaining a reef tank for 12 weeks (3 months). You will test the reef tank’s water each week and record your test results in the table.

* Use BOTH the Reef Tank Guide AND Fish Guide to help with your aquarium design and maintenance. Begin reading at Step 1 and follow instructions through until you reach Step 11 and answer the journal questions. Fill in the Data Table below as you build your saltwater aquarium.

(B) Data Table

WEEK / BUFFER ADDED? / HYDROMETER READING / AMMONIA / NITRITES / NITRATES / PH / WATER ADDED? / TEMP
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

* Place a final screen shot of your aquarium HERE after Week 12 in your lab report.

(C) Journal Questions

Respond to each question in bold face type.

(1) List the fish and invertebrates you selected after the nitrogen cycling process.

(2) What changes did you make to your reef tank during the 12 weeks and why did you make them?

(3) What problems, if any, did you have with any of the fish or invertebrates in the reef tank?

(4) Describe the final population of the reef tank.

(5) Compare the initial and final populations. What changes did you make to make to keep the fish and invertebrates alive?

(6) Study the data you collected. Describe the occurrences of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in your tank.

(7) Study the data you collected. Why is the population in the reef tank stable?