Generate a customizable water quality monitoring SOP for zebrafish facilities. Includes daily, weekly, and monthly checklists, parameter reference table, and downloadable CSV log template.
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Load example Water Quality SOP data to see the full workflow
Toggle parameters on/off to customize your SOP.
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An uncalibrated pH meter can read 0.5 units off, turning a safe 7.0 into an apparent 7.5 — which changes the toxic ammonia fraction by 3×. Weekly calibration with fresh buffers is non-negotiable.
TAN peaks 2–4 hours after feeding. If you only measure first thing in the morning, you may miss post-feeding ammonia spikes. Consider rotating measurement times or adding a post-feeding check when troubleshooting.
Gradually rising conductivity in a recirculating system usually means water changes are not keeping up with evaporative concentration. Track the trend over weeks — a sudden jump suggests a dosing pump malfunction.
IACUC inspectors look for evidence that out-of-range readings triggered corrective action. Your log should include a notes column for documenting what was done when a parameter exceeded acceptable limits.
Default parameter ranges sourced from Westerfield (The Zebrafish Book, 5th ed.) and Aleström et al. (Lab Anim, 2020). Checklist structure follows AAALAC/IACUC documentation requirements. All computation runs client-side — no facility data is transmitted.
Last validated 2026-04-06. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.
ConductScience Water Quality SOP Generator (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/zebrafish-water-quality-sop-generator
Aleström P et al. Zebrafish: Housing and husbandry recommendations. Lab Anim. 2020;54(3):213–224.
Westerfield M. The Zebrafish Book, 5th ed. University of Oregon Press, 2007.
Water quality is the single most important factor in zebrafish husbandry. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are freshwater fish native to South Asian streams and require specific water chemistry for optimal health, breeding, and experimental reproducibility.
Modern recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) automate much of the water treatment, but manual monitoring remains essential for detecting equipment failures, biofilter upsets, and gradual parameter drift.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) require documented water quality monitoring programs for all aquatic vertebrate facilities. A compliant SOP should include:
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC, 2011) and the Zebrafish Husbandry Guidelines (Aleström et al., Lab Anim, 2020) provide the regulatory framework. This tool generates SOPs that address these requirements, but facilities should customize them to match their specific IACUC protocols.
Colorimetric and digital test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and conductivity
Browse EquipmentRecirculating rack systems with integrated filtration and UV sterilization
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