Release Day: Into the Aquarium

Yesterday was release day. The students were able to view their fish up close as we put them in the viewing cups. Some measurements were taken and reported lengths on some fish were about 2cm. After viewing the fish, the students released them into the main tank. We then turned the hatching baskets upside-down and let all of them go.

There are many now with little or no yolk-sacs so they were given their first feeding. I was hesitant to do this because uneaten food means ammonia build-up but I don't want them to starve to death either.

Saturday morning my wife and I tested the water. pH was elevated to 8.4 (the highest we have seen it), ammonia was at 1.0 ppm (the highest reading so far), nitrite and nitrate levels were at 0 ppm. Our babies are getting bigger so we can expect the levels to start going up. We changed 20% of the water and dropped a little bit more food in. Keep your fingers crossed.

Check out the videos. I hope to be able to post some of the release videos soon if I can get parental permission.