Assigning Experimental Groups
Oysters were randomly separated into five groups of 50 oysters each. To prevent overcrowding of the organisms, each of these groups was then divided into a sub-group of 10 oysters. 3.0 mm square mesh sieves were used to hold each sub-group. No oyster was smaller than 5.0 mm long x 4.0 mm wide when placed in the mesh sieves.
Treatments
Each group of 50 oysters was assigned to one of five treatments: 0 μg/L Atrazine, 3 μg/L Atrazine, 10 μg/L Atrazine, 30 μg/L Atrazine, or 30 μg/L Acetone.
The stabilization tank served as the holding chamber for the no-treatment control group (0 μg/L of atrazine, 0 μg/L acetone). Treated groups were removed from the holding tank and placed in separate glass tanks each containing 4 liters of water (salinty= 25 ppt). Atrazine was added to each tank according to treatment concentration. To mimic the heavy rainfall pattern surrounding the Chesapeake Bay, treated groups spent a total of 3 hours submerged in 2 liters of treated water within each glass tank twice per week. Each group was rinsed with 25 ppt water before being placed back into the holding chamber. Oyster development was tracked throughout the three-month stabilization period by measuring the following parameters: 
(a) Gross Weight Change: Each experimental sub-group was weighed (in grams) using a laboratory quality calibrated scale once/week.
(b) Growth: The growth of each sub-group was tracked using a visual analysis software called Image J (Fiji) once/week. Pictures were taken on either a Windows (Dell) Tablet XiD, Nikon D3200, or I-phone 6s, and uploaded via USB to be used in conjunction with the Image J (Fiji) software.
(c) Survivability: Observing deaths whenever present in a sub-group and replacing all deaths with another oyster that had the average weight (in grams) for that sub-group.
Relevant tank [TS3] water parameters were monitored and adjusted as needed by replacing old water with new water. The tank was consistently maintained to fit the following water quality parameters:
 
Salinity (ppt)
Ammonium (ppb)
Nitrate (ppb)
% Absorbance (654nm)
25
0
0
>.09 ~ 9,000 cells/mL
 
Water quality parameters were monitored using:
(a) Salinity (Detected using a Salinity Refractometer)
(b) Ammonium levels (Detected using an API Testing Kit)
(c) Nitrate levels (Detected using an API Testing Kit)
(d) % Absorbance (Detected using a Mass Spectrophotometer at 654nm)
 
8.     After the three-month stabilization period, the experimental groups were introduced to their first atrazine treatment. Four individual 4-liter glass tanks were used to hold different concentrations of atrazine in 25ppt salt water: 3μg/L, 10 μg/L, 30 μg/L respectively. A color group was assigned to each concentration. The original large holding tank acted as the control with 0 μg/L of atrazine or acetone.
 
[Green: 3 μg/L Atrazine] – [Pink: 10 μg/L Atrazine] - [Orange: 30 μg/L Atrazine] – [Blue: 0 μg/L Atrazine] – [White: 60 μg/L Acetone]
 
The oyster groups spent a total of 3 hours submerged in 2 liters of treated water within each glass tank twice per week on Mondays and Thursdays for X# of weeks in order to mimic the effects of heavy rainfall found within the Chesapeake Bay area (USGS: Chesapeake Region Climate/Precipitation Data).
 
9.      In order to minimize any contamination of each groups respective holding tank after the 3-hour exposure period, each group was washed using a constant stream of pressure-filtered water for three one-minute cycles. Oyster groups were then relocated to their own individual 40-liter glass bio-cube tanks. The bio-cube tanks were set to have the same parameters as the large holding tank.
 [TS1]Change to diploid
 [TS2]Should mention any type of treatments that were used to remove substances
 [TS3]Its okay to use this above but remove it from here on out and just say tank parameters. This also should be combined with step 4 since it all relates to water quality.