pH Tolerability of Goldfish

1. pH Tolerability of Goldfish Cyle Evan White Undergraduate Student Biology Department Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN 38505

2. Project Summary • What pH will lead to lethal effects on Goldfish • Find out what acidic pH will lead to death • Set up three pH levels with multiple test subjects • Run a 96 hour test, and collect data • I expect a pH below six will be lethal to fish

3. Introduction • What effects will acidic pH have on Goldfish? • Ikuta found that behavior is significantly inhibited when fish are in acidic environment (Ikuta et al 2003). • This experiment found that a pH below 5.5-6.0 damage to an aquatic environment will remain a problem (Doka et al 2003). • Driscoll’s research found that acidification reduces abundance and diversity of aquatic species (Driscoll et al 2003). • These findings lend to my thoughts of the effect of low pH on fish.

4. Objective/ Hypothesis Statement • In this experiment, I intend to find a pH where Goldfish can no longer survive. • I hypothesize that guppies cannot survive in a pH lower than six. • Null- I expect there to be no difference in survival rates in different pH environments.

5. Methods And Materials • I will run two tests on each of my three pH values of 4, 5, and 7. • Each run will contain 3 fish, which will be observed over a 96 hour period. • pH will also be monitored over this period and shown as pH as well as hydrogen ion concentration. • At the end of the 96 hour period survival rates will be determined.

7. Data Form • Data Form

8. Expected Results and Benefits • I expect to find that a pH below 6 will lead to death in the fish. • This will show the very negative effects of the continuing acidification of aquatic environments.

9. Project Timeline • Timeline

10. Budget • Budget