IACUC Policy On Water Quality For Aquatic Species
Background: On September 25, 1988, our IACUC established a policy regarding water quality relevant to the housing of aquatic vertebrate species. That policy endorsed the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council standards. This established a requirement here on campus that various chemical tests be performed, including weekly tests for ammonia, nitrate, salinity and pH.
In practice, most of the fish tanks here on campus undergo frequent water changes, and these chemical tests have characteristically yielded extremely low levels of contaminants. In light of this history, it has been argued that when frequent water changes are performed chemical tests for ammonia, etc. are superfluous.
Accordingly, the following policy statement has been established as an alternative.
Policy: When aquatic species of vertebrate animals are to be housed on campus, the IACUC must be assured that the water quality in the housing tanks will be maintained at a suitably high level. The applicant should include all practices relating to water quality maintenance in his/her protocol. One of two possible tactics will be expected to be carried out:
- once weekly water quality tests as outlined in the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council standards, OR
- frequent partial water changes with dechlorinated water--the frequency and amount depending on the density of fish in the tank.