Experiments @ the MAD Scientists Lab

Real MAD Science? Not just a guess!

1. Do Mussels filter water? Yeah we know they do because that's what it says!
2. How much water can a Mussel filter?
3. How can we measure Turbidity- clarity of water? Not just I think it's clear?

Our MAD Scientists (Aquaculture) have planned a number of experiments:

• Exp.2 2 Identical Units... CONTROL... 1 * Pond (No Mussel) + 1 * Pond (1 Mussel). Monitoring/Observing Clarity/Turbidity over time.
• Exp.3 CONTROL + 1 * Pond (1 Mussel) + 1 * Pond (2 Mussel/s)
• Exp.4 CONTROL + 1 * Pond (1 Mussel/1l of water) + 1 * Pond (1 Mussel/s/5l of water) + 1 * Pond (1 Mussel/s/10l of water) + 1 * Pond (1 Mussel/s/20l of water)
• Research into available and invented (they are mad) tools to measure Turbidity/Clarity of water.

After eating the Caviar... are you feel'n a bit Secchi?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secchi_disk

* we will bring you updates and photos soon.

Bored of Studies?

Learn while you 'play'?

Deadliest Catch
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/deadliestcatch/game/game.html

Lost at Sea; Life or Death
http://dsc.discovery.com/survival/games/life-death-sea/life-death-sea.html

SharkRunners
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/sharkweek/shark-runners/shark-runners.html

AND then... 'try this quick quiz'!
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/blueplanet/quiz/quiz.html

AND then... explore the Titanic
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/titanic/technology/technology.html

mmmm Fish Eggs (lumpfish roe caviar)

What a subject... Caviar tasting in Marine & Aquaculture Technology? Yeah Right!

Talk about value adding. Caviar, fish eggs are sold at ENORMOUS prices. Caviar was once just from Sturgeon, a type of fish. Most of the fish species that contribute to 'caviar' are from Europe and Russia... however our Sea Mullet are netted from our 'Pelican Beach' by the Rosetti's and along the NSW coast.
The flesh of the Mullet is VERY low value HOWEVER the egg carrying females are 'stripped' of their roe (eggs) which are exported to Japan at a very large value.

Trout roe is also produced in Australia at the company that we source our Rainbow Trout from.
see http://www.rainbowtrout.com.au/products/

Observations were made: sight, smell, feel, taste & texture.

* We tasted the roe/caviar before seeing what a Lumpfish looks like. Poor thing!

Students are encouraged to add comments from their observations of Lumpfish Roe (Caviar).

Ordering our Rainbow Fingerlings

We have used a number of suppliers in past years including:
ARC-EN-CIEL TROUT FARM
http://www.rainbowtrout.com.au/
Nundle, NSW

Archvale Trout Farm
http://www.auzzie.biz/archvale/index.html
Lithgow, NSW

L P Dutton Trout Hatchery
http://www.nnsw.com.au/ebor/lpdutton.html
Ebor, NSW
* We will order approx. 300-400 trout for 2009. Trout have a crical 'high' temperarture of 24C at which they die. Wadalba waits... for our recirculation water temps to settle under 18C???

mmm Mussels mmm Leather Jacket

Practical sessions in MAT (Marine & Aquaculture Technology) can utilise; kitchens, Science Labs, Wood Work Rooms, the ARC, etc. This lesson involved discovering the 'Anatomy' of aquaculture species *Mussels & Leather Jacket.
During this lesson students dissected 'Green Lip- Salt Water Mussels' (NZ), Leather Jacket (Tuggerah Lakes) and got to taste marinated mussels & smoked mussels.
The dissection of the Leather Jacket included 'skinning the fish, noting external features and examination for freshness/shelf life.

Moving MORE Water! ... more?

The internal Aquaculture tanks are almost full. With the little rain collected over the past few days we are topping up the tanks ready to start the filters in preparing for fish.

*photos coming soon

Let it RAIN!

Currently- our closest official rain recordings are from Norah Head *just near the lighthouse. This does NOT reflect the 'real' rainfall at Wadalba (WCS).
We do intend to apply for support to construct an official Weather Recording System at the ARC.

Latest Coastal Weather Observations for Norah Head
Saturday 14/3/09... Rain- 0mm
Sunday 15/3/09... Rain- 2.2mm
Total for March *to 15/3/09... 5.8mm

http://www.bom.gov.au
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60701/IDN60701.95770.shtml

Topping-up water in the 'Ponds'. Work in the ARC!

Big day today... the whole class worked well. Thanks!

The pump had continued pumping water from the rainwater tank for P1-P3. The watertank is now at approx. 1/10 capacity... we need rain
Cody did a great job, with some help to clear the Nth facing gutter of leaves, rocks and rubbish to enable the next rainfall to collect clean roof water to our rainwater tank. The 'first flush' device was explained, cleaned and replaced after we flushed the gutter. The photos below show students topping up their 'Ponds'. Not much water had evaporated, probably due to the lids (even with air holes). Observations of the 'ponds' and Australian Fresh Water Mussels indicate that almost ALL had buried themselves in the gravel. Water is very clear- maybe the mussels are doing their job in purifying the water... getting close to the introduction of Yabbies.

Show us your 'Mussels'

Initial 'Ponds' have been prepared to house Mussels, then Yabbies. Teams are responsible for care, monitoring, feeding and collection of data.

SFIAQUA101A Carry out basic aquaculture operations
SFIAQUA208A Maintain stock culture and other aquaculture operations structures

SFIAQUA206B Handle stock

Drilling- Hi tech. tools for our Hi tech. Aquaculture Facility

One 'Small' breathing hole for Yabbies? One 'Giant' step for mankind!

BCG1005A Use hand and power tools

Proper Hand Washing

*SERIOUS STUFF!

JUST one drop in a pool! Our animals MUST be protected. Hands contaminated with 'Hand Cream', Deoderant, Soap etc. will contaminate our water and kill our animals.

Everyone MUST rinse their hands before working in our ARC.

At the completion of the lesson- !EVERYONE! MUST follow our 'Proper Hand Washing' procedures to remove, not just dirt BUT also germs! EVRYONE EVERTIME!

* see your Term 1 project 'Proper Hand Washing' OH&S

What are we do'n?

• identifies the nature and scope of the marine and aquatic environment
• identifies and describes the components of some marine ecosystems
• investigates attitudes towards the marine environment as a fisheries resource
• investigates some of the effects human activity has had on the native fish stocks
  identifies the nature and scope of aquaculture
• investigates plant and animal species suitable for aquaculturerelates to the ocean and its life forms with a respectful and caring attitude
• demonstrates sound and responsible judgement in their personal use of the marine environment
• selects, organises, assembles, uses, dismantles, cleans and stores equipment appropriately
  interprets and follows instructions with accuracy
• identifies employment opportunities in aquaculture, marine and maritime industries
• investigates the opportunities to join volunteer marine-based service organisations
• selects and presents the results of appropriate research from a variety of sourcesuses appropriate language, signals, signs and conventions to communicate in marine contexts
• identifies and describes a range of marine and aquatic ecosystems and investigates their complex interrelationships
• identifies, describes and evaluates the social and economic importance of marine ecosystems
• identifies, describes and evaluates the effects humans have had on the marine environment
• explains why aquaculture provides an economically sustainable source of foodassesses the potential of aquaculture to sustain wild fish stocks and the aquatic environment
• evaluates the economic and environmental sustainability of aquacultural pursuits
• identifies, describes and evaluates the ethical, social and sustainability issues related to the marine environment
• identifies, describes and evaluates policies for monitoring and conserving the marine environment
• selects and uses a broad range of contemporary materials, equipment and techniques with confidence in aquaculture and marine settings
• demonstrates safe and responsible use of a range of materials, equipment and techniques in different aquaculture, marine and maritime situations
• identifies and describes a range of aquaculture, marine and maritime vocations and leisure pursuits
• identifies and describes the role of volunteer organisations that assist in the protection and management of the marine environment
• collects and organises data by experimenting and accurately reading instruments, signals and charts and communicates this information
• recalls aspects of the marine environment using relevant conventions, terminology and symbols

ARC Working Bee

The rainwater tank holds 10,000l and has 24 corrugations on the outside of the tank. The Rainwater Tank was 6 corrugations from the top ... approx 3/4 full 7,500l before work commenced.
The sump required a topup of 500l, Tanks 3 and 5 were filled (1000l ea) which resulted in our Rainwater Tank now being half full (5,000l). This was considered a reasonable risk as the forecast for rain is of significant percentage.
Chrysanthemums have flowered early and are presenting great colours... we need to take advantage of this and move harvesting and sales NOW!

An experimental water cooler has been designed and engineered and installed by LG. It is hoped that this will extend the Trout (Cold Water Fish) growing season.

Trout arrive from Lithgow

ggwsi50 Rainbow trout were transported from Lithgow- ARCHVALE Trout Farm on Sunday. After acclimatisation fingerlings <10cm>

Slits were cut in the riser to enable suitable water flow while still preventing fish escape.

Photos to follow.

http://www.lithgow-tourism.com/trout.htm

MAT in the ARC 28/3/07

Weeding- well it was intended to be weeding?
Feeding: Australian Bass Fed very well
Poddy Mullet also continue to feed on artificial feed
Silver Perch and Yabbies also fed well
Cleaning ARC- thanks for the sweeping and reorganisation of storage boxes etc.
All systems checked and functioning well
Aquarium on stand in LAB ready for sea water and fish

Preparation

• 1000l Tank (6) which is isolated from Re-circulation System was filled and filter activated
• Main Recirculation system backwashed, rinsed and topped up approx. 500l
• Australian Bass Tank (4) fed
• Aquarium (1) Filled (no fish)
• Aquarium (2) Tadpoles/Frogs OK
• Aquarium (3) Silver Perch, Australian Bass, Yabbies- 1/3 water replacement
• Aquarium (4) Poddy Mullet OK (feed mullet artificial pellet- seemed to fed ok)

* Aquarium Collection Permit (Section37, Fisheries ManagementAct 1994) Expires 31/7/2007

SAD News 81 Australian Bass Dead!

We had pump failures (2) in the ARC Thursday March 16 which resulted in loss of air and recirculated water. 81 Australian Bass died, all from Tank 3. Tank 3's population was at a level that resulted in total loss of oxygen, so death. Tank 4 had less population and was able to survive. The air compressor is being evaluated. Recirculation has been restarted. SAD!

The Rain in ... falls mainly on Norah Head?

Rain water is ESSENTIAL to our Fish Farm and Aquaculture Research Centre.

Rainfall to date 2007
February / March... 1-6
40.8mm / 94.6mm

Comparison of Rainfall for 2006
March (total)
69.6mm

Source...
http://www.bom.gov.au/

Tadpoles and Frogs Sourced

A collection of Tadpoles and Frogs have been obtained from a single source to create herpetoculture. This is a significant research task for our students (management team) leading to the award of 'school certificate'. The amphibians will be released into their new home Tuesday. Why are strict regulation made when collecting Tadpoles and Frogs? ** Photos by Emily

New South Wales licences and protection

http://frogs.org.au/arc/legal.html

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/

What to feed Tadpoles?
http://allaboutfrogs.org/info/tadpoles/
What Frog is that...?
http://frogs.org.au/

February 2007 Update

Australian Bass were transfered from the office foyer area of the school to the ARC. One dead Bass was removed from the aquarium. This will enable a 'yearly' clean of the office aquarium and restocking with Barramundi

Chrysanthemums are thriving due to recent rain and continued watering from our recirculation system. Thanks to our MAT classes for the weeding and care. We expect that these plants will set flower heads in April, ready for sale prior to mother's day. Sale of 'bunchjes' of Chrysanthemums assists the ARC investments in farming and research.