Topic: Lab 1: Aquarium Set Up

Goals: Use lessons described in aquatic based symbiosis lecture to successfully set up, and create a
working aquarium for lab groups.
Objectives: 1. Discuss the concept of symbiosis outside of a marine environment that are familiar
2. Use posters created from previous class to use as a spatial recognition supplement
for lesson
3. Discuss Fish, Algae, and Bacteria Symbiosis
4. Set up Aquarium successfully with those that do not work being able to do write up
the following week explaining potential weaknesses with their systems
5. Write up each step of the procedure justifying why each step is necessary according
to the question issued as guidance
Materials: - Fish Bowl
- Aerator
- Bacterial Starter with beads
- DI Water
- Gravity Pump (will be provided prior to lab)
- Feed
- Gold fish
- 5 in 1 test strips (pH, Temp, Conductivity, Nitrates/Nitrites, Hardness/Chlorine)
- Sponges
- Na(CO)2
- Instant Ocean
- Cheese bag
- Charcoal
Procedure: Step 1: Add 1 L of DI H20 to your bowl
Step 2: Add bedding with saturated bacterial starters
Step 3: Create Carbon filters with crushed up charcoal, cheese bags, add to general water
container
Step 4: Use 5 in 1 strip to assess parameters, wait till pH is corrected by instructor
Step 5: If Chlorine is present refill with DI H20
Step 6: Add Fish to system with sprinkle of fish
Step 7: At conclusion of class, set up group observation times for following weeks lab write
up
Step 8: Feedings will be instructors responsibility, students will be responsible for lab write
ups due at the beginning of the following weeks lab

Lab Write Up 1. What are you observations of tank when fish is first added?
2. How does this change the following week?
3. In which tank is more algae present and why?
4. What is the responsibility of the algae in this symbiotic relationship?
5. What is the responsibility of the bacteria?
6. What is the responsibility of the fish?
7. Why was the bacteria added to the fish tank first before the fish?
8. What would happen if the fish were added to the tank with no bacterial beads?
Would algae form? Why or why not?
9. What is the health of your fish? If you fish is not healthy, what could have been
some possibilities for its illness?
10. Describe, with a labeled drawing, the cycle of this symbiotic relationship.
11. Describe the enzymatic process the bacteria provides in this syste.
Lab Rubric
Group Number:
Name:

Category 5 3 1 0
Preparedness Total Partial Preparation Poor Preparation Does not
Preparation and Review of and Review of complete
and Review of Terms Terms
Terms Demonstrated Demonstrated
Demonstrated
Write up Completed Partially Poorly Completed Does not
completion Completed complete
Comprehension Total Partial Poor Does not
Comprehension Comprehension comprehension complete
Participation Total Partial Poor Participation Does not
Participation Participation complete