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Thanks for the help!! Another question : for the salinometer, is there a certain size that the calibration container has to be able to hold, such as 400-600mL? Or will we be testing the competition's saltwater solution in any size container of our choice?

sourpatchkids wrote:Thanks for the help!! Another question : for the salinometer, is there a certain size that the calibration container has to be able to hold, such as 400-600mL? Or will we be testing the competition's saltwater solution in any size container of our choice?

They're gonna provide a beaker that's either 400 mL or 600 mL.

For the salinity testing, are the students allowed to pour the unknown given solution into their own salinometer? Or, do they have to use the container (400 or 600mL beaker) that its given in?

briantom wrote:For the salinity testing, are the students allowed to pour the unknown given solution into their own salinometer? Or, do they have to use the container (400 or 600mL beaker) that its given in?

I think that largely depends on the proctor. However, I would say that most proctors would prefer if the solution stayed in the given beaker.

briantom wrote:For the salinity testing, are the students allowed to pour the unknown given solution into their own salinometer? Or, do they have to use the container (400 or 600mL beaker) that its given in?

"b. There are no restrictions on size except that the team must build the device to operate within a standard
400 – 600 mL beaker filled with the saltwater solution."

The wording of it on 3 (part III) b. makes it seem like the salinometer must function within the beaker, so you probably won't be able to pour the water out of the beaker into your own device. I'm not 100% sure though

Concord wrote:

briantom wrote:For the salinity testing, are the students allowed to pour the unknown given solution into their own salinometer? Or, do they have to use the container (400 or 600mL beaker) that its given in?

"b. There are no restrictions on size except that the team must build the device to operate within a standard
400 – 600 mL beaker filled with the saltwater solution."

The wording of it on 3 (part III) b. makes it seem like the salinometer must function within the beaker, so you probably won't be able to pour the water out of the beaker into your own device. I'm not 100% sure though

Don't you build a salinometer for a specific sized container though? So we'd have to build and bring multiple to fit beaker sizes between 400-600 mL?

sourpatchkids wrote:

Concord wrote:

briantom wrote:For the salinity testing, are the students allowed to pour the unknown given solution into their own salinometer? Or, do they have to use the container (400 or 600mL beaker) that its given in?

"b. There are no restrictions on size except that the team must build the device to operate within a standard
400 – 600 mL beaker filled with the saltwater solution."

The wording of it on 3 (part III) b. makes it seem like the salinometer must function within the beaker, so you probably won't be able to pour the water out of the beaker into your own device. I'm not 100% sure though

Don't you build a salinometer for a specific sized container though? So we'd have to build and bring multiple to fit beaker sizes between 400-600 mL?

I guess you have to be able to adjust your salinometer

sourpatchkids wrote:

Concord wrote:

briantom wrote:For the salinity testing, are the students allowed to pour the unknown given solution into their own salinometer? Or, do they have to use the container (400 or 600mL beaker) that its given in?

"b. There are no restrictions on size except that the team must build the device to operate within a standard
400 – 600 mL beaker filled with the saltwater solution."

The wording of it on 3 (part III) b. makes it seem like the salinometer must function within the beaker, so you probably won't be able to pour the water out of the beaker into your own device. I'm not 100% sure though

Don't you build a salinometer for a specific sized container though? So we'd have to build and bring multiple to fit beaker sizes between 400-600 mL?

It's really varied at the two competitions I've done Water Quality at so far, but at Cyfalls I know they had both a 400 mL beaker and a 600 mL beaker. I would probably say it's safer to calibrate your salinometer within a 400 mL beaker though, just to ensure that it won't hit the bottom if you use a larger one and the proctor provides a smaller one. If you do decide to use a larger sized beaker, as long as your salinometer isn't excessively long/large or anything, you should be fine.

So yeah, you should be fine with just one salinometer that's been calibrated in a 400 mL solution.

What is the basics for Water Quality?

goodgra1 wrote:What is the basics for Water Quality?

aquatic ecology, water cycle, nutrient cycling, aquatic
chemistry and its implications for life, potable water treatment, wastewater treatment, aquatic food
chains/webs, community interactions, population dynamics, watershed resource management issues,
sedimentation pollution, and harmful species. Then you also have to be able to id a list of organisms larvae and adult form Class 1 – Pollution Sensitive: Caddisfly, Dobsonfly, Gilled Snails, Mayfly, Riffle Beetle, Stonefly,
Water Penny, Water Scorpion
ii. Class 2 – Moderately Sensitive: Aquatic Sowbug, Crane Fly, Damselfly, Dragonfly, Scuds
iii. Class 3 – Moderately Tolerant: Blackfly, Flatworm, Leeches, Midge, Water Mite
iv. Class 4 – Pollution Tolerant: Air Breathing Snail, Midge Fly Bloodworm, Deer/Horse Fly, Tubifex
v. Class 5 – Air Breathing: Back Swimmer, Giant Water Bug, Mosquito, Predacious Diving Beetle,
Water Boatman, Water Strider, Whirligig Beetle
vi. Aquatic Nuisance Plants: Purple Loosestrife, Eurasian Water Milfoil, and Water Hyacinth
vii. Aquatic Nuisance Animals: Zebra Mussel, Spiny Water Flea, Asian Tiger Mosquito, & Asian Carp