Every year, as there is an increase in knowledge, there is an increase in the complexity of the project. Phase I, the Effects of Dishwasher Detergent on the Growth of Algae from Pond Water, was completed to determine if the percentage of phosphorus in dishwasher detergent did, in fact, affect algal bloom. As this was found to be true, phase II was created. It was designed to determine if certain chemicals, all of which were later found to be harmful to the environment, would reduce and eventually kill freshwater algae.

Phase III was done to determine if the percentage of phosphorus in dishwasher detergents affects saltwater algae growth and to compare the results to those of the freshwater algae. Phase IV, which is currently in its final stages, is composed of two parts. Part one was done to determine if certain chemicals, the same as those used in phase II, would reduce and ultimately kill algal bloom in saltwater and to compare the results to those of the pond water. The second part of the experiment was to determine if light filtration has an effect on fresh and saltwater algae growth, to determine if the effects are positive or negative, and to compare the results with each other, with respect to the concluding evidence of phases I and III.

If a solution of water and phosphorus containing dishwasher detergent is added to containers of saltwater, algae begins to grow rapidly. This growth, which soon becomes detrimental to life in its immediate surroundings, was reduced and eventually killed through the addition of chemicals to the saltwater. When the results of the two experiments were compared, it was found that the chemicals had similar effects on the saltwater algae as on the freshwater algae. However, in saltwater, the algae was able to stay the effects of the chemicals for a longer period of time than the pond water algae did. Thus, it appears that the saltwater algae is a hardier variety, which helps strengthen a point from phase III. Careful investigation concluded that the algal bloom was reduced quickest in the containers of algicide, sodium hypochlorite, copper sulfate, zinc oxide, and iron III sulfate, respectively. Therefore, it seems that heavy metals can be used to reduce and eventually kill algae growth because it acts as a retardant to the algal bloom. The rate of depletion and the hardiness of the algae may become an important factor in determining future uses of heavy metals in the reduction of both salt and freshwater algae.

TITLE: How Do Certain Chemicals and Light Filtration Affect the Growth of Algae? Page 2

 

As stated before, algae began to bloom when a solution of water and phosphorus containing dishwasher detergent was added to containers of saltwater and pond water. These containers were different form previous phases in that covered with six basic colored light filters: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The growth of the algae was measured as it grew and dispersed in the containers. When the results were compared to their previous phases, it was found that the light filters had what seemed to be a negative effect on the algae’s growth. The filters caused the algae to grow slower, this effect being greater in the pond water than in the saltwater. Also, the color the algae was affected in that both types of water produced the same varieties of green and brown algae as before but, each sample had a different shade. The green algae tended to take on a hue similar to the filter while the brown algae appeared to reflect the contrasting color. Also, in both red filtered containers green algae failed to grow. Close observation concluded that the algae was able to adapt to the lack of a certain wavelength of light and survive, though its growth was at a slower rate. This information can be used to support the zonation theory: the greater the depth of water, the less the penetration of light, thus leading to different algae types growing in different locations. Therefore, the light filters did have an effect on the algal growth, though this effect may be a natural one. The rate and color of the algae grown may become an important factor in determining future dishwasher manufacturing by showing the amount of water pollution that even one dishwasher can produce and determining how this can affect pond and ocean life at all depths.