10:00 AM to 10:25 AM Group A B Group C Group D Group E 10:30 AM to 10:55 AM Group D Group E Group A 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM RELEASE OF TROUIT 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM LUNCH 12:30 PM to 12:55 PM Group C D E Group A B 1:00 PM to 1:25 PM D Group E A Group B Group C 1:30 PM to 1:55 PM Group E Group A B Group C D 2:00 PM to 2:15 PM CLOSING CEREMONY G. EQUIPMENT NEEDED arrival at stream and water testing: a. for arrival 1. 2or 3 aquarium nets (6x4 inches) 2. 10-gallon cooler 3. Battery aerator 4. Bottles of frozen de-chlorinated water b. testing 1. water testing kit. 2. 3 jars for the water samples 3. digital thermometer c. estimated stream flow
worth noting that there are two naturally high-mortality periods: first during the egg stage and then again when the trout first learn to feed. Some fish never learn to feed and simply starve. What is a normal death rate? Death rates are different from one stage to the next. With eyed eggs, a high survival rate is expected because they come from the hatchery tempered and treated against fungus. The loss of most of your eyed eggs suggests a problem. As the eggs hatch, and the fish age, survival rates improve. By the time fish are free swimming and have learned to eat, death should be an uncommon event. Losing many free swimming fish is, above all else, a sign that the tank environment is not healthy. As they grow, fish produce more waste, so cleaning and water changes may be needed more often. FISH My alevin are very active and are pushing fish into the corners of the basket. What does this behavior suggest? Should I be feeding them more? This is normal activity. At this stage, young trout prefer dark corners. Putting some opaque material over the breeder box may help to reduce the amount of light these fish are exposed to. UV light can be harmful to eggs and alevin. Fish at this age do not need any food. When at the end of the alevin stage the fish begin to feed, start with small amounts. See in Chapter 8 for guidelines on feeding the trout. Trout are being sucked into the filter. How can I prevent this? BioMax media bags or similar screening over the filter intake as recommended in Chapter 3. How sensitive are the fish to temperature changes? For best results, the tank water temperature for trout should be maintained as close as possible to 52° F. Fish can handle small fluctuations of one or two degrees, but sudden changes of almost any scale will be stressful. Rapid changes of 50 F or more are a serious threat to trout survival.
clean the tank regularly and change the water. All debris such as food, waste, and dead fish should be removed as soon as possible. There is no substitute for regular cleaning and water changes. See Appendix D for a description of the nitrogen cycle and Chapter 6 for guidance on cleaning the tank and changing the water. Can I use AmQuel Plus or ammonia removal grains to prevent ammonia spikes? They may be used only in a dire emergency and if a large water change doesn’t reduce the ammonia. These chemicals tie up the ammonia in the water, rendering it harmless to the fish. However, by tying up the ammonia, it deprives your biological filter (the “good” bacteria) of the food it needs to live and grow. So in the long run, while you have reduced your ammonia, you are killing off your long-term ammonia reducer (your biological filter). Please consult your TIC volunteer or coordinator before adding any other media to the tank or filter. If water tests indicate that ammonia levels are excessive and fish are exhibiting signs of ammonia stress a large water change is recommended. This is generally necessary only in extreme cases. POWER FAILURE What happens if there is a power failure? How much time do I have? It is important for the fish to have as stable a water temperature as possible and proper filtration and oxygen. Short downtimes of an hour or two probably will not harm the fish or change tank temperatures or other parameters significantly. However, loss of power over a weekend or even worse, over a long vacation, will likely be fatal to the fish. What should I do if the power must be turned off? The custodians who are authorized to turn the power on and off should be informed that the trout system needs constant power. If constant power is not possible, see if you can cycle the power. This means running the chiller for two hours on, then two hours off. This is better than simply letting the tank sit all day without power. It is best to prevent any such problems and carefully maintain the tank environment. The priority in an emergency is getting the tank environment back to normal. No emergency procedure can replace the stability of a working tank. TANK What tools are needed for tank installation?
APPENDIX C SAMPLE TROUT INSPECTION RECORDS Version 1 Tank Inspection Record Week of: Inspectors: Day of Week Temp. 50 - 55ºF Mortality Remove & count Water Condition Correct Level? Equipment Is everything working? pH 6.8 – 7.8 Ammonia < .5 ppm Hardness GH/KH 100ppm Nitrates < 40 ppm Nitrites 0 ppm Mon. Clear - _______ Level - _______ Filter - ______ Chiller - ______ Bubbler - _____ Tues. Clear - _______ Level - _______ Filter - ______ Chiller - ______ Bubbler - _____ Wed. Clear - _______ Level - _______ Filter - ______ Chiller - ______ Bubbler - _____ Clear - _______ Level - _______ Filter - ______ Chiller - ______ Bubbler - _____
Fri. Clear - _______ Level - _______ Filter - ______ Chiller - ______ Bubbler - _____ Average Temperature: Average pH: Average Ammonia: Mortality (total for the week): Version 2. Tank Inspection Record Week of: Inspectors: Date pH Hardness GH/KH (100 ppm) Ammonia Concentration < .5 ppm Water: clear? Correct level? Vol. changed? Food size? Amount? Filter, Chiller, & air pump operating? Number of live trout Mortality (dead picked and recorded) Initials of inspectors MON TUE WED THU FRI
Appendix G Sources of Volunteers 1. TIC Coordinators/Lead Volunteers: a. Allegany County – Joe Metz,(301) 689-5662, buzi-eamnz-flifish@atlanticbb.net b. Anne Arundel County – TBD c. Baltimore City/County – Tom Gamper, (410) 889-3879, tgamper@smgarch.com d. Carroll County – Don Boian, (301) 938-5973, dboian@hotmail.com e. Charles County – Alan Burrows, (410) 730-3613, aburrows53@gmail.com f. District of Columbia – Sandy Burk, (301) 502-8833, swburk@gmail.com g. Fredrick County – Chuck Dinkel, (301) 401-5066, troutintheclasroomcd@gmail.com h. Garrett County – Joe Metz, (301) 689-5662, buzi-eamnz-flifish@atlanticbb.net i. Harford County – Tom Gamper, (410) 889-3879, tgamper@smgarch.com j. Howard County – Alan Burrows, (410) 730-3613, aburrows53@gmail.com k. Montgomery County – Sonny Bell, (301) 305-7166, imsonnybell@aol.com l. Prince George’s County – Alan Burrows, 410) 730-3613, aburrows53@gmail.com 2. WSSC – Nicole Horvath, Environmental Outreach Coordinator Communications & Community Relations Office, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, , 301.206.8240 (office)’ 240.205.3431 (cell) Teachers should contact the Community Outreach Office to request volunteers: 301-206-8240 3. Izaak Walton League of America –Sarah Mitchell, Chesapeake Conservation Corps Volunteer (301) 548-0150 X229 smitchell@iwla.org 4. International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF) a. Chesapeake Council – Pete McCall, b. Antietam Fly Anglers (Washington County) contact person TBD c. Harford Fly Anglers (Harford County) Pete McCall,
d. Potomac Valley Fly Fishers (Frederick County) – Chuck Dinkel; 301-401-5066; 5. Hill Regional Park – Mr. Jim McMahon, manager, Black Hill Regional Park, (301) 528-3471/ 6. Catoctin Mountain Park – Bell, Resource Management; Teachers should contact Scott, provide a date and time for the release and he will check if there is a staff biologist who can speak to students. 7. Catoctin Forest Alliance – Jim Robbins, President CFA; , P.O. Box 411 Thurmont, MD 21788; 8. Chesapeake Anglers – Louise Peltier, president: (410) 785-3457, 9. Outdoor Education Center – Ms. Laurie Jenkins, Montgomery County Outdoor and Environmental Education Supervisor. (301) 924-3123 / 10. Robinson Nature Center – Ms. Pamela Community Liaison, (410) 313-0400/ 11. Community Involvement – Parental or other volunteer involvement can facilitate the TIC experience by providing assistance with release program