Cloudy Water From Sand

[scampi]

Hi

I'm setting up a small tank for two ADF's & have washed playsand as a substrate. Trouble is it's taking a hell of a long time to clear. I did it this morning and 11 hours later the sand still hasn't settled. I rinsed it under the tap til the water more or less ran clear before putting it in the tank.

I'm wanting to get the frogs tomorrow, apparently as they sell out really quickly, but would they be ok in a cloudy tank til it cleared?

 

[Andy_G]

hi,

as you said it was a small tank you could try emptying the water out and putting a plastic bin liner over the sand and refill using a hose to syphon water fresh water into the tank. if you pour the water slowly onto the bin liner you should be able to fill the tank, then take the liner out and have clear water straight away

Andy

 

[scampi]

hi,

as you said it was a small tank you could try emptying the water out and putting a plastic bin liner over the sand and refill using a hose to syphon water fresh water into the tank. if you pour the water slowly onto the bin liner you should be able to fill the tank, then take the liner out and have clear water straight away

Andy

Thanks Andy will try that. Will the water clear anyway though if I leave it ?

 

[Andy_G]

it will in a while, but depending how cloudy it could take up to a couple of days to really clear. Someone may correct me, but I don't think cloudy water would harm your frogs, and they hunt by smell and sensing vibrations in the water so they will still be able to find any food you feed them.

A

 

[Jenste]

cloudy water will not harm your frogs in the least, if anything it may help your new ones settle in easier because it will help disperse the light and make it more soothing as they adjust.

is your tank cycled? that would be the only concern I have about adding new frogs

 

[scampi]

cloudy water will not harm your frogs in the least, if anything it may help your new ones settle in easier because it will help disperse the light and make it more soothing as they adjust.

is your tank cycled? that would be the only concern I have about adding new frogs

Oh no - I was told by my LFS that the tank doesn't need to be cycled as the frogs breathe air from the surface, only heated, and that regular weekly water changes would suffice ?

Andy G - thanks, I did the water change thing & it's worked a treat only I used a bowl instead of the plastic. Nice & clear now.

 

[Jenste]

cloudy water will not harm your frogs in the least, if anything it may help your new ones settle in easier because it will help disperse the light and make it more soothing as they adjust.

is your tank cycled? that would be the only concern I have about adding new frogs

Oh no - I was told by my LFS that the tank doesn't need to be cycled as the frogs breathe air from the surface, only heated, and that regular weekly water changes would suffice ?

Andy G - thanks, I did the water change thing & it's worked a treat only I used a bowl instead of the plastic. Nice & clear now.

Unfortunately the LFS was only interested in profit - - ADF are actually extremely sensitive to water conditions - - do you have a test kit at all?

At least a 25-50% water change should be done daily during your cycling period - -(You are filtering the tank correct? A lot of lfs will tell you that a filter isn't needed either )

If you are not yet filtering, please install a filter as soon as possible so you can begin cycling. This is where testing becomes important - - any time after a water change you get any readings for nitrite or ammonia At ALL you need to perform another waterchange. Ammonia will burn the frogs skin and can lead to infections very quickly.


Also, when doing the water changes, remember to replace with temperature matched dechlorinated water (pick up a water conditioner if you haven't already, also Stress coat will be useful to help keep the frogs healthy during cycling)



If you have any other questions I am more than happy to help

 

[scampi]

cloudy water will not harm your frogs in the least, if anything it may help your new ones settle in easier because it will help disperse the light and make it more soothing as they adjust.
is your tank cycled? that would be the only concern I have about adding new frogs

Oh no - I was told by my LFS that the tank doesn't need to be cycled as the frogs breathe air from the surface, only heated, and that regular weekly water changes would suffice ?
Andy G - thanks, I did the water change thing & it's worked a treat only I used a bowl instead of the plastic. Nice & clear now.

Unfortunately the LFS was only interested in profit - - ADF are actually extremely sensitive to water conditions - - do you have a test kit at all?

At least a 25-50% water change should be done daily during your cycling period - -(You are filtering the tank correct? A lot of lfs will tell you that a filter isn't needed either )

If you are not yet filtering, please install a filter as soon as possible so you can begin cycling. This is where testing becomes important - - any time after a water change you get any readings for nitrite or ammonia At ALL you need to perform another waterchange. Ammonia will burn the frogs skin and can lead to infections very quickly.


Also, when doing the water changes, remember to replace with temperature matched dechlorinated water (pick up a water conditioner if you haven't already, also Stress coat will be useful to help keep the frogs healthy during cycling)

If you have any other questions I am more than happy to help

Hi Jenste - thanks so much for that that bl--dy LFS man, god don't they care at all about their fish etc ? I was totally convinced when he told me that they have lungs & breathe from the surface so it doesn't really matter how dirty their water gets as long as I change 50% once a week. So anyways, forget that idea & on to plan 'B'

Originally I was going to put them into my 3ft cycled tank that has 8 Black Phantom Tetras, 7 female Platys & a Bristlenose Pleco which is about 4 inch long. What put me off is the Bristlenose. I'm worried in case the tiny frogs might get injured or eaten by him?? Do you know whether this might happen please? I'm confident the other guys won't interfere much altho the platys are really curious about everything, it's just the BN that concerns me.

Any advice please?

 

[Jenste]

If your 3 foot is already cycled you could steal a little media and instantly cycle the new tank that way also.

As for the three foot...the bristlenose should be fine... just make sure he has driftwood and he will be happy. Becareful though...these frogs will need to be spot fed in community tanks because the fish will steal the food.

What do you have for food for the frogs? Frog/tadpole bites are perfect or broken up reptomin sticks...blood worms as treats

 

[scampi]

If your 3 foot is already cycled you could steal a little media and instantly cycle the new tank that way also.

As for the three foot...the bristlenose should be fine... just make sure he has driftwood and he will be happy. Becareful though...these frogs will need to be spot fed in community tanks because the fish will steal the food.

What do you have for food for the frogs? Frog/tadpole bites are perfect or broken up reptomin sticks...blood worms as treats

The BN has two lots of Bogwood & there's loads of plants. He just seems to get a bit aggressive when the fish are around his food which is understandable really & he just lunges at them & wriggles around .

I've bought some really tiny Zoo-Med Frog/Tadpole pellets off Ebay & I have frozen bloodworm & daphnia which I give as a treat to my other fish once or twice a week. I've got a little jar which I've tied strings to so it's horizontal which I'm hoping fill with tank water then drop in 1/4 bloodworm cube & sink it down to the frogs so hopefully they will crawl inside & get it before the fish cotton on to the idea. Other than that I will try turkey basting it right over their heads. I assume they'll soon find a hideaway which they'll call home so I can sort of be a takeaway service delivered right to their door.

 

[Jenste]

I am sure you will be fine - - have you considered the option of taking media from your cycled tank and adding it to the little frog tank? it would solve your worries both about cycling and the BN

 

[scampi]

I am sure you will be fine - - have you considered the option of taking media from your cycled tank and adding it to the little frog tank? it would solve your worries both about cycling and the BN

I have thought about it, but will try them in the big tank & if there's any problems then I'll transfer them (if i can catch them). I went out & bought 4 this morning, little darlings they're so sweet. They have all gone their seperate ways in the tank, I hope they'll meet up with each other so they know they're not all alone .

When it comes to feeding them how do you tempt them out of the undergrowth - I don't want them to starve

 

[saltynay]

No need to tempt them either turkey baste food right in front of them or use a container and put it in a regular place everyday they will learn finding the container before the bristlenose may be a prob though.

 

[scampi]

Thanks saltynay - should I feed only at night or during the day?

 

[saltynay]

I fed mine in the evening. btw don't get freaked out if it looks like they are eating each other as in have another frogs leg in their mouth they occasionally moult and their buddies don't like to waste the nutrients and can't wait until it fully sheds. No one told me that and one day I walked in to find them in a very strange position. They are also partial to shrimp if they can get them:

(Click to enlarge)