[rycharles]

Any suggestions on creating a lab experiment having to do with water from a freshwater aquarium? 

[Borek]

Alkalinity, TOC, BOD come to mind.

Probably starting here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Water_quality_indicators

is a good idea.

[rycharles]

How do I find out what materials I need and what procedures the experiment needs?  Is it just plain research, if so can anyone suggest a website?  I was thinking about testing the amount of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate of the water because these are toxic to the fish in the aquarium.

[billnotgatez]

I got lots of links when using
testing for  ammonia, nitrite
on google
of course you can use library as well

http://www.aquariumguys.com/ammonia-nitrite-nitrate-tests.html
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquariumtestkit.html
http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/env211/lesson21_print.htm
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=testing%20for%20%20ammonia%2C%20nitrite&source=web&cd=61&ved=0CCQQFjAAODw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dep.state.pa.us%2Fdep%2Fdeputate%2Fwaterops%2Fredesign%2FNPDES%2520Lab%2FChapter%25209.doc&ei=Eo9QT4iZIIi5twem7JjWDQ&usg=AFQjCNGSlT9neteduXMKRuolWOkm6Dv4Cg&cad=rja