How Can You Model A

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How Can You Model A Balanced Marine Biome
Day 1
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Creating and maintaining a healthy reef tank
takes time and attention to detail. In this
activity, you will create and maintain a marine
biome in the form of a reef tank.
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In order to set up a reef tank, you will need a
tank, heaters, filters, and light. You 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. You will need to
populate and maintain a reef tank for 12 weeks.
You will test the reef tank's water each week and
record your test results in the table.
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We will begin by making ourselves familiar with
what it take to maintain a healthy reef tank and
creating a thinking map in our
notebook to organize our thoughts.
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Log on to http//www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtu
al_labs/BL_24/BL_24.html We will use this site
as a research guide
as well as a place to conduct your
experiment.
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Begin by looking through the Reef Tank Guide
(click on it)
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(No Transcript)
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You will also want to look through the Fish Guide
(click on it)
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(No Transcript)
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Your thinking map should include, but not be
limited to answering the following questions

• What is Specific Gravity?
• What should the specific gravity range
• be for your reef tank?
• How is it tested?
• What do you do if it is too low?
• What do you do if it is too high?

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Your thinking map should include, but not be
limited to answering the following questions

• What are ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?
• What affect does the nitrogen cycle
• have on your reef tank?
• What is an acceptable level of ammonia?
• ? Nitrite?
• ? Nitrate?
• What does ppm stand for?

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Your thinking map should include, but not be
limited to answering the following questions

• What is pH?
• What is a stable pH for your reef tank?
• How often should it be tested?
• How do you adjust the pH level of your
• reef tank

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Use the Questions section on the left side of the
page to answer the following questions (HINT
look at step 9)

• How big is your reef tank?
• How many inches of fish are
• recommended for your tank?
• What about in a new tank?

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In you table group create a poster detailing the
requirements for a healthy reef tank.
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Presentations!