Science Fair Project

[Baby Ray]

Hello everyone!!
I have a science fair project coming up and I wanted to get some good ideas for what to do. I defiantly want to do something that involves saltwater tanks
I am having a hard time coming up with good things to do that won't harm any animals and can be easily experimented. I have one idea but I am still on the edge with it. Here it is-
How does food abundance affect the reproductive rate of micro brittle stars?
I though I could get 2 5 gallon buckets and put an aerator on them both. I could but maybe 5 micro brittle stars in each. Feed one bucket more then the other (I would do exact measurements) and see how many more there are in the end. Right now my only problem is that I am not sure how fast a reproduce in the first place and considering I only have a month or 2 to do the project, I need it to be really fast. Do any of you know how fast they reproduce?
What other ideas do you have? Thank you!!

 

[Baby Ray]

bump!!

 

[Untamedrose]

my understanding was the little micro brittles are spawners, and may be limit by time of year for breeding. Very likely you could end up with 5 in each bucket at the end...OR the larva being so small you cant see them yet. Plus not sure they would be real thrilled with no LR no sand that you would have for this.

Quick I think is your biggest issue what about something like...
Growth rates of macro algeas under different light spectrums red vs blue vs yellow. Q that comes up pretty often here anyway and people mostly go..oh anything will work.

 

[Baby Ray]

my understanding was the little micro brittles are spawners, and may be limit by time of year for breeding. Very likely you could end up with 5 in each bucket at the end...OR the larva being so small you cant see them yet. Plus not sure they would be real thrilled with no LR no sand that you would have for this.

Quick I think is your biggest issue what about something like...
Growth rates of macro algeas under different light spectrums red vs blue vs yellow. Q that comes up pretty often here anyway and people mostly go..oh anything will work.

Thank you!! I have a feeling that there are going to me to many "what ifs" with the micro brittle star so I probably won't do that. I would have LR and sand in the bucket though.
I like the light spectrum affecting algae growth. Could I do 3 5 gallon buckets with an aireator on each one? Is that the only filtration I would need? Should I feed the buckets? Water changes?
Thank you!!

 

[Brew12]

How about testing the impact of temperature on the bacteria needed for the nitrogen cycle? You could take (2) 5 gallon buckets and put around 2 gallons of water in each. Keep one at room temperature and keep the other at 90F. Add a similarly sized raw shrimp to each. Plot ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate over the course of several weeks.

 

[Baby Ray]

How about testing the impact of temperature on the bacteria needed for the nitrogen cycle? You could take (2) 5 gallon buckets and put around 2 gallons of water in each. Keep one at room temperature and keep the other at 90F. Add a similarly sized raw shrimp to each. Plot ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate over the course of several weeks.

That is a good idea!! Thank you!!!

 

[oigimsar]

My son did a saltwater science fair project a few years ago that was fairly easy to establish controls and was well received.

He set up 3 10gallon tanks with all the same filtration, temp, etc. after cycling them, he used various macro algaes to see which was more effective at combatting nusance algaes. The control tank received the same amount of feeding and only had the air filter. It was pretty amazing to see how much more algae built up on the glass in the one without the macros.

It also displays well for a science fair...charts of the nitrogen cycle, test kits, vials of different colors, etc.

 

[Baby Ray]

My son did a saltwater science fair project a few years ago that was fairly easy to establish controls and was well received.

He set up 3 10gallon tanks with all the same filtration, temp, etc. after cycling them, he used various macro algaes to see which was more effective at combatting nusance algaes. The control tank received the same amount of feeding and only had the air filter. It was pretty amazing to see how much more algae built up on the glass in the one without the macros.

It also displays well for a science fair...charts of the nitrogen cycle, test kits, vials of different colors, etc.

That is a good idea!! I just don't know if I have the time to set up 3 tanks and let them cycle. I also don't have the money All the money I have I spend on my tank

 

[Untamedrose]

Ok cheaper.....
What about brine shrimp? they are fast 24 hours to babies, week to adult sized.

Could hatch them in different salinity levels. different ph's. Effects of Pollutants?

 

[Chefbill]

My son did a saltwater science fair project a few years ago that was fairly easy to establish controls and was well received.

He set up 3 10gallon tanks with all the same filtration, temp, etc. after cycling them, he used various macro algaes to see which was more effective at combatting nusance algaes. The control tank received the same amount of feeding and only had the air filter. It was pretty amazing to see how much more algae built up on the glass in the one without the macros.

It also displays well for a science fair...charts of the nitrogen cycle, test kits, vials of different colors, etc.

Sounds like a perfect time to do something like that...you could also combine the light spectrum idea with a DIY algae scrubber and end up with soneyhing useful to your DT when you're done.

 

[oigimsar]

Yep. An algae scrubber could be a good option. This is actually cheaper than you might think. You probably already have the test kits and the other set up costs are minimal. If you are on a local forum and told them what you were doing , you could likely get your tanks and algae for almost nothing.

 

[Baby Ray]

How about testing the impact of temperature on the bacteria needed for the nitrogen cycle? You could take (2) 5 gallon buckets and put around 2 gallons of water in each. Keep one at room temperature and keep the other at 90F. Add a similarly sized raw shrimp to each. Plot ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate over the course of several weeks.

We have a winner!!! I decided to go with this. Thank you so much!! I am going to order the heater soon. It is going to be hard finding one rated for 2 gallons
Would you recommend putting a air pump on each of them?

 

[SandJ]

They make some small heaters for betta tanks:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...uWoAwsfndhxJi70UuLZLSlGaO-8yMBm_V0aAkkz8P8HAQ

 

[Baby Ray]

They make some small heaters for betta tanks:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...uWoAwsfndhxJi70UuLZLSlGaO-8yMBm_V0aAkkz8P8HAQ

Thanks!!

 

[Brew12]

We have a winner!!! I decided to go with this. Thank you so much!! I am going to order the heater soon. It is going to be hard finding one rated for 2 gallons
Would you recommend putting a air pump on each of them?

Glad to help! Air pump would be up to you Putting an identical sponge and an air pump in each might be a good idea.

 

[Baby Ray]

Glad to help! Air pump would be up to you Putting an identical sponge and an air pump in each might be a good idea.

Thank you!!

 

[Baby Ray]

Well, the project is under way and I did the second testing just now. I got ammonia but I think it is higher then the test can read
What do you all think the ammonia is?

 

[Brew12]

Well, the project is under way and I did the second testing just now. I got ammonia but I think it is higher then the test can read
What do you all think the ammonia is?

Yup, I would document it as >2

 

[Baby Ray]

Yup, I would document it as >2

That is what I was thinking. I just think my science teacher might want numbers more specific as that.

 

[Brew12]

That is what I was thinking. I just think my science teacher might want numbers more specific as that.

Just explain to her the limitations of the test set. You are looking to see when the cycle is complete, not how high the ammonia peak gets. When one gets back into the range of the test kits that will be a good trigger of which is working better. Also, the nitrite and nitrate tests provide supplemental data so you will still get some accurate information the entire time.