CCAC-Compliant Water Quality Monitoring
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) establishes animal welfare standards for research in Canada. Our monitoring solutions meet all requirements of the CCAC Fish Guidelines.
Foundational Principles
The guidelines are built on several principles:
- Animal Welfare: Fish are recognized as sentient animals deserving appropriate care
- The Three Rs: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement guide all research
- Environmental Control: Water quality is the most important factor for welfare
- Predictive Management: Monitoring should prevent problems, not just react to crises
Mandatory CCAC Parameters
CCAC requires continuous monitoring of these critical parameters:
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - Guideline #37
Why it’s mandatory: Oxygen is essential for immediate fish survival. A drop in DO causes suffocation and mortality within minutes.
| Level | Status |
|---|---|
| > 6 mg/L | Optimal |
| 5-6 mg/L | Acceptable |
| < 5 mg/L | Critical - intervention required |
Our solution: Optical DO probes with 4-20mA output. Fast response time, stable calibration, minimal maintenance.
Temperature - Guideline #36
Why it’s mandatory: Temperature directly influences metabolism, feeding, growth, and disease susceptibility. Rapid fluctuations cause significant stress.
CCAC requirement: Maintain thermal stability suited to the species. Avoid sudden variations that affect animal welfare.
| Species | Optimal Range |
|---|---|
| Salmonids (trout, salmon) | 10-15°C |
| Zebrafish | 26-28°C |
| Tilapia | 25-30°C |
Our solution: PT100/PT1000 probes or thermistors with 4-20mA output. ±0.1°C accuracy, fast response.
pH - Guideline #39
Why it’s mandatory: pH directly influences ammonia toxicity. A one-unit increase in pH multiplies NH₃ toxicity by 10. pH also affects respiration and fish stress.
| Level | Status |
|---|---|
| 6.5 - 8.5 | Acceptable range |
| 7.0 - 8.0 | Optimal for most species |
| < 6.0 or > 9.0 | Danger |
Critical interactions:
- High pH → More toxic ammonia
- Low pH → More problematic CO₂
- Rapid fluctuations → Stress
Our solution: pH probes with sealed reference electrode, 4-20mA output, simplified calibration.
Nitrogen Compounds - Guideline #40
Why it’s mandatory: Ammonia (NH₃) and nitrites (NO₂) are toxic metabolites produced by fish waste. Prolonged exposure causes poisoning and mortality.
Nitrogen cycle: Fish waste → Ammonia (NH₃) → Nitrites (NO₂) → Nitrates (NO₃)
| Parameter | Safe Threshold | Danger |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonia (NH₃) | < 0.02 mg/L | > 0.05 mg/L |
| Nitrites (NO₂) | < 0.1 mg/L | > 0.5 mg/L |
| Nitrates (NO₃) | < 50 mg/L | > 100 mg/L |
Our solution: Amperometric or colorimetric inline probes, continuous monitoring with configurable alarms.
Salinity - Guideline #41 (if applicable)
Why it’s mandatory: For marine or euryhaline species, salinity affects osmoregulation. Sudden changes cause stress and physiological dysfunction.
| Environment | Salinity |
|---|---|
| Fresh water | < 0.5 ppt |
| Brackish water | 0.5 - 30 ppt |
| Marine water | 30 - 35 ppt |
Our solution: Conductivity probes with salinity conversion, 4-20mA output.
Total Gas Pressure (TGP) - Section 3.4
CCAC status: Qualified as “valuable” and “important” - strongly recommended for optimal compliance.
Why it’s important: Supersaturation causes gas bubble disease (GBD). Unlike DO, TGP detects ALL gases including nitrogen (78% of total) - invisible to DO probes.
| Level | Status |
|---|---|
| < 100% | Optimal |
| 100-103% | Increased surveillance |
| 103-110% | Alert - risk for fry |
| > 110% | Critical - EPA/CCME limit |
Priority applications:
- Well or borehole water
- Hatcheries and fry tanks
- RAS systems with oxygen injection
- Research with strict CCAC requirements
Our solution: TGP sensors with 4-20mA output, complete integration with ATEK monitoring system.
CCAC Parameters Overview
| Parameter | Guideline | Status | Critical Threshold | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissolved Oxygen | #37 | Mandatory | < 5 mg/L | Continuous |
| Temperature | #36 | Mandatory | Species-specific | Continuous |
| pH | #39 | Mandatory | < 6.5 or > 8.5 | Continuous |
| Ammonia (NH₃) | #40 | Mandatory | > 0.02 mg/L | Min. daily |
| Nitrites (NO₂) | #40 | Mandatory | > 0.1 mg/L | Min. daily |
| Salinity | #41 | If applicable | Variable | Continuous |
| TGP | §3.4 | Recommended | > 103% | Continuous |
ATEK Monitoring Packages
| Package | Sensors Included | Target |
|---|---|---|
| CCAC Essential | DO + Temperature + pH | Limited budget |
| CCAC Complete | DO + Temp + pH + NH₃/NO₂ | Standard research |
| CCAC Premium | All parameters + TGP | Optimal compliance |
| Hatchery | DO + Temperature + TGP | Sensitive fry |
| RAS | All parameters | Recirculating systems |
Why Choose ATEK?
- Complete compliance - All CCAC parameters covered
- Standard 4-20mA output - Universal integration
- Continuous monitoring - Alarms before it’s too late
- Accredited calibration - ISO 17025 laboratory
- Local support - Bilingual Canadian team
Documentation and Traceability
Meet CCAC record-keeping requirements (Guideline #34) with:
- Automatic data logging with timestamps
- Calibration tracking and reminders
- Exportable reports for audits and inspections
- Long-term data storage for retrospective analysis
24/7 Emergency Response
Support your coverage requirements (Guidelines #17 and #30) with:
- Battery backup for monitoring during power outages
- Immediate alerts to on-call staff
- Configurable escalation protocols
- Integration with building management systems