J.
Anderson, Saddleback College
MST
100: Marine Aquarium Systems
STUDY GUIDE FOR FINAL EXAM – Exam is
Fri, Dec. 17, 1:00 p.m.
Bring one
Scanton (1-100) and at least one pencil + eraser for the exam.
The exam will
cover: Filter Structures & Types, Protein Skimmers, Sterilization &
Lighting, Acclimation & Species Compatibility, Special Marine Aquarium
Systems, Feeding & Nutrition, Disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention,
and Aquarium Math.
Aquariums are a dynamic process
and you should be able to apply knowledge gained from the entire coursework.
Emphasis will, of course, be placed on the topics listed above as well as the
project goals.You should have a good understanding of the water chemistry,
ecosystem and the devices used in your aquarium systems since this was
This is a study
guide that specifically covers the last 1/2 of lecture topics (since the
last exam) and should be used along with your class Manual, your lecture notes,
lab exercises, quizzes, worksheets, etc., when preparing for the
examination.
Filter
Structures and Types:
Recognize, Identify and know which
types (i.e. slow or rapid) of filtering is accomplished:
Undergravel filter Submersible
Canister
filter
Foam block or Sponge Filter External
Canister filter
Fluidized bed Protein Skimmers
What
are “denitrifying” filters?
What are the problems associated with
in using them?
What are
problems associated with algae scrubbers?
What condition
or environment do biological filters work best?
Protein Skimmers:
What are they
(i.e other common names)?
What type of
filtering process do they use?
What serves
as the filtering media?
What is a venturi?
What are the most important factors
that affect their effieciency?
What
types of skimmer designs are there and which work best?
What types of conditions do skimmers
work best in (freshwatervs saltwater)?
What
are the advantages and disadvantages of using one?
Sterilization:
What are the types of sterilizing methods used and
how does each accomplish this?
What
are the hazards and precautions with each in their use?
Why is the air dyer recommended?
How do you install air dryer with
respect to the ozone unit, air pump and protein skimmer?
What factors affect the in the use of UV sterilizers
efficiency?
Lighting:
What does Kelvin degrees represent and what range do
we try to provide in the tank?
Why is spectral quality important to
some photosynthetic tank systems?
What region(s) of light spectrum do
marine photosynthetic organisms require?
What is the most important
consideration when selecting lights?
How do you regulate photoperiod? Why is
it necessary to regulate photoperiod?
Why do you need to replace bulbs, even
if they still provide light? How often?
What are they and something about each
type:
Actinic VHO Full
Spectrum
Metal Halide Compact
fluorescent 10,000
K
Super lighting
and custom lighting systems:
Height of the hood?
How
would you set the timers for actinics, low white-lights and halides and fans?
Acclimation
& Selection of organisms
What factors should you consider before
selecting organisms?
Examples
of negative interactions
Examples
of neutral and positive
What can you do to eliminate potential
“problems” when adding new organisms or fish?
What is the acceptable or standard
“acclimation” procedure?
What is not advisable when
acclimating?
What’s the big
deal about rapid pH increase and high ammonia levels in the transport bag of
water?
What is the biggest concern when transporting
organisms?
Special
Aquarium Systems
What is “live rock”?
What are “reef systems”?
Describe the basic design
features of the following “classic” marine aquarium systems
Be
able to explain the basic principles that allow the system to operate
effectively.
(I.e.
Protein skimmers, Calcium Reactors, Miracle Mud, Kalkwasser, thick gravelbed, void, space, etc,…)
Berlin
System Plenum
method
Natural
Ecosystems (Leng Sy’s system) Trickle
Filter or trays
Traditional
UG (Undergravel) system
Miscellaneous Hybridized Systems and
other ideas (what is the purpose):
Refugium Mangroves Sea
Grass Beds
How do you set
up Mangroves (range of water, circulation, temp and light needs, how can you
“plant” them?)What are Kreisel tanks?
How or what would you use
them for?
Feeding: Food, Feeding Modes and Nutrition
What are the easiest “feeding modes”? Which ones are
more difficult?
Omnivore Active
predator
Herbivores Passive
predator
Grazers Suspension
and Filter feeding
Recognize the common fish
& invertebrates used as examples for each of the above
Why is nutrition such a big deal?
What nutrients are important to look
for in the label?
What is Selcon and HUFA?Why
are they important?
What’s the difference between using;Ice-burg and
Romaine lettuce?
Why is Japanese “Nori” better to use
than just lettuce?
Nutritional
elements that are gained by using carrots, broccoli and nori/algae?
Nutritional deficiency and unknown silent
death or other symptoms.
How might you recognize?
Garlic – internal parasites! Well, you
do worm cats, dogs, horses … what do you expect!
What is HLLE? Prevention and
treatment…(i.e. new studies indicate)
Disease, recognition, treatment and prevention
What are some of the basic symptoms of potential
problems in fish and coral health?
What should you do first when you first
observe a problem?
What are some ways to prevent or reduce
problems?
How do you set up a quarantine tank?
Why do you not use a protein
skimmer during antibiotic treatment?
Why must you dim the lights with some
treatment procedures?
Recognition, type of infection and
treatment procedure for the most common fish related problems:Cryptocaryn,
Amyloodinium, Brooklynella, Uronema, Lymphocystis, Black Ich, HLLE,
bacterial infection
Describe prevention procedures for
reducing/introducing pathogens to tank in coral species?
Freshwater dips; How do you do these? How do they work
(i.e. What action is accomplished)?
How do you achieve the best “therapeutic”
effectiveness when treating for disease?
Math
for the Aquarist:
Formulas and constants do not have to
be memorized, but you must be able to use them to calculate answers correctly.
Weight
and volume of a given “tank” or system of tanks (rectangular and round)
Determine the
size of pumps and filters based on turnover rate desired for tank
Determine the
difference between Turnover Rate and Turnover Duration and be
able to use the formula to determine the unknown variable