The Nitrogen Cycle’s Effect on Water Quality and Fish Growth in Aquariums and Fish Tanks

Jason M. Cave

South Carroll High School

Science Research I Level 6

Introduction

Throughout the course of this semester, we learned various experiments conducted by

scientists and researchers. We were even able to conduct our own experiments throughout the

laboratory, such as measuring duckweed and fish that live in the sample tanks we constructed

during the beginning of the term. However, one subject area that interested me the most was

experimenting water quality and fish growth by using the nitrogen cycle. While using the

nitrogen cycle, we were able to calculate the water quality of each sample tank that would house

the fish, and after double checking that the tanks would be in the right condition and temperature,

we housed the fish and weighed them in every week using a scale and measured their length in

centimeters with a ruler. During this experiment, however, we faced some major problems while

calculating the nitrite and nitrate into the water quality. Our pH levels were too low in toxicity

levels, so we added about 359 grams of KH(CO3) to help raise the levels. This was able to help

the nitrogen cycle come into full circle as it was able to help the water quality function properly

and get rid of all the bacteria and algae slowly growing in the tanks. The main purpose of this

research is to see how other scientists and researchers use the nitrogen cycle to build and
stabilize a suitable habitat for aquatic fish. The nitrogen cycle was able to help us calculate and

determine the pH levels of the nitrite, nitrate, and water quality, and to show us how bacteria in

the sample tanks can be removed along with nitrates by changing the water’s toxicity levels. We

realized that if we continually change the quality of the water and use the nitrogen cycle as our

advantage to rid of the nitrates, then we can build a more suitable habitat for aquatic fish to feed.

The reason why I chose this experimental design is because this really sparked my interest on

how the nitrogen cycle is used in aquatic habitats such as aquariums or sample tanks, and how it

can affect the growth of aquatic fish overall. It also gets me thinking on what I can do to help

other parts of the environment using the nitrogen cycle. The main question I was striving to

answer during this experiment was how we can use the nitrogen cycle to make a safer habitat for

fish. This design advances to that question because the importance of the nitrogen cycle keeps

habitats for fish healthy and stable.

The main point of this experiment was to determine the toxicity levels of water quality in order

to build a safe habitat for fresh aquatic plant and fish growth. We were successfully able to build

two large tanks that housed a number of aquatic fish, and as we measured their length and weight

every week, they progressively got bigger and heavier at a faster. Of all the weeks we measured

the fish, only two fish died towards the beginning of the experiment. So we calculated the water

quality of both tanks each week while measuring the fish. After that, we had no more casualties

to the fish, and we had successfully built two habitats for aquatic fish to grow happy and healthy.

Methods and Materials

Materials Used in the Study:

-PH Carbonate Hardness Test Kit

-API Freshwater Master Test Kit

-500ml beaker

-Digital Thermometer

-Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN)- ppm Chart

-Scale (Weight in Grams)

-Ruler

Experimental Design:

For our overall project, we hypothesized that if we were able to stabilize the water quality in the

tanks first, then it would bring a positive growth impact for the fish. For our water quality test,

we had to make sure that the ammonia levels were at a low level after the pumps got rid of the

toxic waste. We used the TAN chart to help determine the toxicity levels of the water and made

any adjustments to the tanks when necessary. After a month, the ammonia levels were down, and

we began to add the fish. One day, when the ammonia levels were too high to cover, we added

about 359 grams of Potassium Carbonate into the biofilters to form an alkaline reaction, which

helped dissolve the majority of the ammonia waste in the tank. After feeding the fish for a couple

of days, we activated the pumps to remove the waste, and began to select every fish by random
and measured their weight on a large scale in grams. Then we determined how long they were in

length from the tail to the mouth using a large metric ruler. There was no control method to keep

track of the same fish every day, hence why we had to select all of them by random one at a

time. We were unable to prove our hypothesis because we didn’t have a control method to keep

track of the same fish each day. The growth fluctuated because it was different fish each time.

Procedure Followed:

When conducting this experiment, me and my group used a pH Carbonate Hardness Test Kit,

which helps monitor KH to prevent pH problems as we build a safe habitat for the fish. We then

used an API Freshwater Master Test Kit, which can calculate and determine the water quality

levels when adding pH, high range pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate into a 500ml beaker of water.

When calculating the water quality of the room-temperature tank, each procedure requires

adding Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia, pH, KH and measuring the water temperature of the tank.

After adding each chemical to a small beaker of the tank water, they all changed color and began

to calculate pH of each chemical. After this, we used a digital thermometer to check the water

temperature in both tanks each day. We then took our data and used the total Ammonia Nitrogen

Chart to check to see if the Ammonia levels are toxic for the trout fish tank. We repeated this

process until all levels of the nitrogen cycle were at a non-toxic and safer level for the fish to

inhabit in the tanks. Throughout the process, we had organized our calculations and data use as

two people testing out the Ammonia levels and water temperature of the tanks, while the other

two calculated the data they visualized. As we constructed our tanks, we had many leaks and

misplaced pipes on the RAS system, but we were able to use our class findings to solve and fix

the problems. After this, we then added the fish and began our tank 6 measurements. Every

week, we caught one fish at a time and weighed them on a scale and measured their length on a
ruler. Each fish had different sizes, meaning that some weighed more than others, and more

length. We also had to keep track of the water quality to make sure the toxicity levels don’t rise.

We took the fish out one by one out of the tank and placed them in a 300-gallon bowl. Once our

scales and measurements were ready, we caught one fish and calculated their weight, and

measured their length from tail to mouth. We logged the data and averaged to get the total

growth.

Data:

For our fish growth data, we created a table of all the fish we measured and organized it by their

weight and length each day. Remember, the fish were selected at random, so the graph and chart

were both fluctuated because it was different fish each time. For each week, we calculated the

average growth of each fish’s weight and length. In the first two weeks, we had a 10% average

increase in weight, and a 2% average increase in length. In our third week, we had an 11%

decrease in the average weight, and a 1% decrease in the average length. This was due to a

malfunction in the water quality, which caused two casualties of the fish. We were able to go

back to our water quality experiment and lower the ammonia levels with more potassium

carbonate.

Results

General Flow: After using the nitrogen cycle in order to determine the water quality levels, we

used the water quality to help bring positive growth benefits to the fish. Since day 1 of our water

quality data, the tanks were at very high toxic levels, but after constructing the RAS system
properly, we were able to bring down the chemical levels to a safer habitat for the fish. After

measuring and weighing in the fish once a week, the average growth rate stayed stable, even

after a mishap with the temperature and quality of the water. In the end, we were unable to fully

prove our hypothesis since there was no control method when selecting the pish by random.

However, calculating the average growth rate helped us find out if the fish were growing at a

certain rate. It was unclear if a certain fish had grown or stayed the same size and weight, but

once we followed procedure during the second part of this experiment, we were able to

determine the overall condition and body change of all the fish.

Tables and Figures: Water Quality Data

Data #1: Un-chilled Tank Table- The results presented include the number of days, the levels of

ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH, KH and water temperature. The amount of potassium carbonate is

added into the graph but was not testing right away to begin with. We continued this until the

ammonia levels were below the safe level of 0.500.

MOD 1 data (mod2 sucks)

(Trout tank unchilled) (Not tested right away)
Date DAY Nitrite Nitrate Ammonia pH KH Temp added KH(CO3) (g) Nite-out II (mL)
10/29/2018 1 0 7 0.1 7.4
10/30/2018 2 0 7.5 1.55 7.5
10/31/2018 3 0 2 2.5 7.5
11/1/2018 4 0 3.5 1.7 6 120 359
11/2/2018 5 0 2 2 8 180
11/5/2018 8 0 2 2.5 8.2 240
11/7/2018 10 0 2 3 6.2 179 20.6 359
11/8/2018 11 0 3 3 8.2 256.4 20.9
11/9/2018 12 0 3 3 9.2 256.4 20
11/12/2018 15 0 2.5 5 9 256.4 17.6 29
11/13/2018 16 0.25 3 0.75 9.2 340 17.5
11/14/2018 17 0 5 0.35 9.2 340 17.8
11/16/2018 19 0 9 0.5 9 340 17.1
 11/19/2018 22 0 8.5 0.25 9.2 340 18.1
11/20/2018 23 0 10 0.25 9 340 19.3
11/21/2018 24 0 5 0.25 9 340 19.1
11/26/2018 29 0 3 0.25 9 340 19.1
11/27/2018 30 0 3 0.25 8.4 340 18.6

Data #2: Un-chilled Tank Figure-

Nitrogen Cycle Unchilled Tank

12

10
AMMOUNT (PPM)

0
1 2 3 4 5 8 10 11 12 15 16 17 19 22 23 24 29 30
Nitrite 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nitrate 7 7.5 2 3.5 2 2 2 3 3 2.5 3 5 9 8.5 10 5 3 3
Ammonia 0.1 1.6 2.5 1.7 2 2.5 3 3 3 5 0.8 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
DAY NUMBER

Calculaions
NO2 NO3 NH3
Mean Mean Mean
0.013889 4.5 1.511111

Standard Deviation
0.058926 2.695312 1.413127
The results presented include the average levels of the nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia levels. The

graph represents the drastic change of the chemicals being used in the nitrogen cycle each day.

Standard deviation was used to calculate the average toxic level of each chemical.

Data #3: Chilled Tank Table- The results presented included the same data as the un-chilled tank,

except with different outcomes, levels, and water temperatures. We continued this until the

ammonia levels were below the safe level of 0.500.

(Chilled Tank)
(Trout tank unchilled) (Not tested right away)
Date DAY Nitrite Nitrate Ammonia pH KH Temp added KH(CO3) (g) Nite-out II (mL)
11/1/2018 1 0 0 2 7.2 16.7
11/2/2018 2 0 0 1 7 71.6 15.7
11/5/2018 5 0 0 1 7.6 89.5 12.7
11/7/2018 7 0 0 1 6 53.7 13.1 300
11/8/2018 8 0 0 1.5 7.6 125.3 12.5
11/9/2018 9 0 0 1.5 7.8 161.1 13
11/12/2018 12 0 0 0.5 8 143.2 12.2 29
11/13/2018 13 0 0 0.5 8.2 143.2 12.2
11/14/2018 14 0 0.25 0.5 6.6 143 12.2
11/19/2018 19 0 0 1 8 143.2 12.2
11/20/2018 20 0 0 1 8 179 12.2 30
11/21/2018 21 0 5 1 8.2 125.3 12.2
11/26/2018 26 0 0 1 8 143.2 12.2
11/27/2018 27 0 0 0.5 8.2 143.2 12.2
11/28/2018 28 0 0 1 8.2 143.2 12.2
Data #4: Chilled Tank Figure-

Nitrogen Cycle Chilled Tank

6

5
AMMOUNT (PPM)

0
1 2 5 7 8 9 12 13 14 19 20 21 26 27 28
Nitrite 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nitrate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 0 0 5 0 0 0
Ammonia 2 1 1 1 1.5 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1 1 1 1 0.5 1
DAY NUMBER

Calculations
NO2 NO3 NH3
Mean Mean Mean
0 0.35 1

Standard Deviation
0 1.287994 0.422577

The results presented include the same chemicals and properties used in the un-chilled figure.

The graph shows the drastic change of the chem levels every day, and standard deviation was

used again to calculate the average toxic level of each chemical.

Tables and Figures: Tilapia Tank 6 Measurement Data

Data #1: Tilapia Fish Growth Table- The results presented include weight and length of the fish

each week. All fish were selected by random to be measured, hence why the control method

fluctuated because it was different fish every time. The average growth rate is included at the

bottom of the table, every week includes this, and you’ll be able to see how much the growth rate

has changed in the past three weeks.

Tank 6 Fish Measurements

Fish Length (cm) Fish Mass (g) Fish Length (cm) Fish Mass (g) Fish Length (cm) Fish Mass (g)
37 1462 39 1398 27 544
31 730 29 690 36.5 148.4
29 696 17 162 29 680
24 460 32 1130 21 321
34 1092 25 468 25 468
23 376 26 522 29 603
24 500 23 418 19 243
25 512 26 543 20 315
25 572 23 488 21 308
25 544 20 754 21 402
17 170 20 300 30 712
18 177 23 404 20 246
26 558 20 380 19 262
21 252 24 494 19 276
26 516 23 736 23 442
29 620 31 705.5 33 1038
25 580 34 1178 34 1392
33 1160 35 1444 29 656
21 328 24 478.5 23 430
18 216 26 748.5 25.5 604
24 485 29 620.8 30.5 842
23 460 29.5 655.5 25 330
23 436 22 401 20 310
36 1475 25 588 28 792
23 411 25 537 24.5 538
26 556 26 595.5 23.5 472
24 452 19.5 252.5 25 486
25 536 30 718.5 24.5 490
23 458 25.5 548 24 444
22 360 23 475.8 24 488
 Average Length Average Mass
25.33333333 571.6666667 25.81666667 627.8033333 25.1 509.4133333

Data#2: Tilapia Fish Growth Figure-

Tank 6 Tilapia Growth (Length and Mass)

1600

1400
TOTAL FOR MASS AND LENGTH

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
FISH NUMBER

Fish Length (cm) Fish Mass (g) Fish Length (cm)

Fish Mass (g) Fish Length (cm) Fish Mass (g)

The results presented include the fish length and mass each week. Since there was no control

level, the data on the graph is fluctuated. Each week had different measurements and drastic

changes to the average growth rate. Overall, all fish were able to grow on average 10% in weight

and 2% in length.

Discussion and Acknowledgements

Throughout this entire experiment, the research we conducted had numerous results per table and

figure. The water quality results provided answers to the first part of our hypothesis, which was

to stabilize the water quality. We were able to make the quality in both tanks stable and house

the fish in order for them to be measured. The tank 6 results provided answers to the second part

of our hypothesis, which was to give positive growth rates to the fish. However, since we

selected the fish by random, our control method failed which fluctuated the graphs and figures.

We were however able to calculate the average growth each week of each fish in order to

determine how much the fish grew and what we need to do better in order to keep the water

quality stable the whole time.

I have acquired understanding from this study from learning how to keep aquatic life safe in

dangerous environments. Throughout this experiment, I learned how to stabilize small bodies of

fresh water using only small test kits and thermometers to calculate the water quality. Taking

care of thirty total fish is not easy, but with the help of lab partners and past research, I was able

to successfully measure the fish and calculate the average growth rate to support the hypothesis.

There are many steps that I can take nest to improve my study. First, I can look back at past

research and experiments to help me conduct my research, whenever it’s on the nitrogen cycle,

or water quality to help fish grow. Next, I can ask the teacher for more help, and get more

feedback on how to conduct the experiment correctly. Finally, I can reach out to websites and

articles written by authors that have conducted similar experiments to this one. From there, they

can help me understand on what to do and how to do it correctly in order to support your

hypothesis.

Thank you to my research partners Jamie Pedicord, Brian Lewendowski, and Evan Harris for

helping me and each other conduct and achieve this research process. We worked hard and were
able to successfully help benefit the fish to grow under stable water quality conditions. With our

knowledge and research, we were able to show our skills in the scientific field by solving a

problem that has affected the environment for quite some time. This experiment was a real eye-

opener when it comes to keeping the environment safe from toxic chemicals and bacteria that

can affect aquatic life. Knowing that fish must grow in order to stay healthy, this experiment

helped us solve the problem of improper fish growth and stable environments.

Literature References/Resources:

Zehr, J. P., & Ward, B. B. (2002, March 01). Nitrogen Cycling in the Ocean: New Perspectives on

Processes and Paradigms. Retrieved from https://aem.asm.org/content/68/3/1015

https://enviroliteracy.org/air-climate-weather/biogeochemical-cycles/nitrogen-cycle/

“Nitrogen Cycle.” The Environmental Literacy Council, enviroliteracy.org/air-climate-

weather/biogeochemical-cycles/nitrogen-cycle/.

The global nitrogen cycle in the twenty-first century. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2013.0164