Science Experiment Help

[cranfordrd]

My daughter wants to do her 7th grade Science Project on algae growth. I have 3 fw tanks and no algae! If we fill a container with water and put some food in it will algae grow? How can we "force" the growth of algae for her experiment? Any ideas?

[Andy16]

Put it in direct sunlight. And put fish food in it. The main causes of algae in a fish tank is overfeeding and putting your tank in direct sunlight.

[anonapersona]

Fertilizer ought to do it faster than fish food.

[Andy16]

I wish growing algae would have been my goal. you cant grow it, and most people cant get rid of it. lol

[cranfordrd]

Thanks! Such quick answers, looks like we'll fill 3 jars with water and a little food or fertilizer, place them in the sun and let it grow. She then wants to try 3 different types of algae killer to see which works best. Goes against my grain a bit since I change water often and keep the tanks very clean so I never use chemicals to get at the algae. I prefer Algae eaters!

[GoLdFiSh_GrL]

Good luck with your daughter's science fair project! I'm in 8th grade and my project this year was "Water Temperature and its' Effect on Goldfish Respiration." It was a direct hit! My teacher LOVED it! I got an A+. Teachers seem to have this thing for experiments with growing, live objects, so I bet she'll get an A+ like me! :) :D

[Andy16]

I wish my teacher did stuff like that. Today, we got to identify leaves:rolleyes:

[cranfordrd]

Tell us more about your goldfish experiment, she is crazy for her goldfish and would LOVE to do an experiment with them!

[GoLdFiSh_GrL]

ok.

The question is "How does water temperature affect goldfish respiration?"

the supplies are: 250mL beaker, 1 goldfish (preferablly 2 Comets), thermometer, ice, fish net, a stopwatch, and a graduated cylinder

[GoLdFiSh_GrL]

I suggest you go to this website for the whole procedure and everything:

http://core.ecu.edu/phys/flurchickk/Projects/Revitalise/OtherExamples/fishLab.html

OR

http://www.iit.edu/~smile/bi9207.html

and for her to make a rough estimate of gill (operculum) openings, she can go to:

http://core.ecu.edu/phys/flurchickk/Projects/Revitalise/OtherExamples/fishLab_data.txt

I suggest you do this instead of the algae one because if you already have goldfish you practically don't have to make any extra cost, and it's a great experiment! It's fun, and you learn about your goldfish at the same time.

[cranfordrd]

Fabulous! Thanks so much I will share this with her (she is sleeping now) and bet she'll love it!

[GoLdFiSh_GrL]

GREAT! :D passing on the project... I have 2 go now. Bye! ;) good luck!

[demon_surfer]

umm just so you know introducing ice to a beaker of water with a goldfish in it has a chance of killing the goldfish.

Im not saying it definatly will but the sudden change is not a good thing.

[cdawson]

Originally posted by anonapersona
Fertilizer ought to do it faster than fish food.

Not true, most ferts don't have nitrates or phosphates in it. The main source of food for algae.

[anonapersona]

Originally posted by cdawson


Not true, most ferts don't have nitrates or phosphates in it. The main source of food for algae.

Nope, ammonia and urea is a better source of food for algea. Most land ferts have the n from urea. And check the label, most ferts for land plants have plenty of phosphates. N-P-K. The middle number is the Phosphate.

[GoLdFiSh_GrL]

people... relax. i've done this experiment before... remember? they won't die. My experiment was a 100% success! I have experience on my side. I suggest you use a comet (feeder) fish for the experiment... just in case

[valerie]

just becuase you did it and your fish didn't died doesn't mean that that will always be the case.

I would stick with the algae, no need to put fish through experiments that aren't needed. Plus i dont' think your daughter would be too thrilled with possibly killing a fish(i dont' think you get good marks if your experiments dies)

[GoLdFiSh_GrL]

well, that's true... that's why I suggested she buy a cheap feeder fish: a comet. If it dies, she won't get bad marks, it'll just prove that her hypothesis failed... She won't get bad marks for that.