Poster ID: EPSCOR0005 -Microbiology

Microbiology in Fresh Water Aquarium

Dianna Arlene Baker, Dept. of Engineering and Sciences, Rose State College, Midwest City, OK. Faculty Advisor, Mr. Nick Bastani, Rose State College, Midwest City, OK.

ABSTRACT
Microorganisms surround us in our everyday lives. Some are even involved in our hobbies. An aquarium provides a passably controlled environment in which microorganisms can thrive and be isolated. The analysis was conducted to learn what types of microorganisms were needed to ensure a fish tank was a healthy and successful environment for its inhabitants. This experiment consisted of taking samples from various locations within a personal aquarium. The samples where incubated for a prescribed allotment of time. The samples where then placed onto a slide and analyzed under a compound microscope with various strengths of magnification. Many of the microorganisms found in the aquarium were the product of the carbon and nitrogen cycle taking place within the confines of the environment. At the conclusion of the paper, the experiment shed light on the microorganisms needed to preform those cycles efficiently and what would happen if an element of the cycle fell into disproportionate levels. Curiosity is what fueled the experiment, an interest in the inhabitants that exist unseen within the aquatic environment.