Standard Operating Procedures for Water Analysis

Aquatic life depends on clean and pollution-free water. Fish and invertebrate animals such as freshwater crabs and marine anemones depend on toxin-free water and any drop in water quality profoundly affects them. Water analysis is therefore a crucial aspect of correct aquatic animal husbandry.

  1. Testing for Free Ammonia (NH3)

    • Ammonia, an inorganic compound that originates from the metabolic waste of aquatic life, is toxic to fish and invertebrate life forms. Determine free ammonia (NH3) in a water sample through a multi-test water test kit, and measure free ammonia to less than 0.05 mg/L.

      Draw up 0.5 ml of water into an "insulin" syringe or small pipette and dispense this into a cavity in the plastic test plate. Using forceps, remove one of the sensors from its container and place this into the sample water. Do not use excessive pressure when lifting the sensor.

      If you are reading from the "less sensitive" scale, compare the color of the sample water to the chart after 10 to 15 minutes. Allow 30 minutes to pass before comparing the colors if you are using the "sensitive" scale.

    Testing for Nitrite (NO2-)

    • Chemical tests gauge the presence or concentration of nitrite (NO2-) in a water sample. Using the test kit, draw 0.5 ml of sample water into the pipette and dispense this amount into a cavity in the plastic test plate. Place a second 0.5 ml sample into the same cavity. Alternatively, use a 1 ml insulin syringe to deposit the full 1 ml into a cavity. Invert the bottle of "Reagent 1" (liquid color indicator) and dispense one drop into the cavity. After three to five minutes, compare the color of water in the cavity to the color options on the chart.

    Testing for Nitrate (NO3-)

    • High levels of nitrate in a water sample indicate contamination, which in small volumes, such as ponds, may come from waste material of aquatic life, but sewage runoff or decaying aquatic vegetation may also cause this.

      Test for nitrate (NO3-) as you would if you were performing a nitrite test. After adding the Reagent, mix in one spoon of "Reagent 2" (powder indicator). Wait for up to eight minutes and compare the color options on the chart to the water sample.