Max Depth for Cynops Orientalis?

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suztor

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I've just introduced my two adults in my new build about 5 days ago. I have a beach like area where the water comes onto their island and that is where they have been spending their time, wet but not submerged. The water depth is 14 inches deep and has a very mild current that is mainly on the surface, there i have some plants that break the water, some silk plants that sit just under the surface so they can be near the top to get comfortable and those fake water lettuce to add to the surface plants

I know 5 days isn't long at all but I'm wondering if 14 inches is too deep?

I thought they would be all over it! all that swimming space, plants, nooks and cranny's to explore!

Any input would be nice. I have managed to feed them since moving them in so I suppose all is not lost.
 
I just checked my water readings...

Ammonia 0
pH 8.0-8.2 pretty average for me.
NirIte - 0
NitrAte - 5ppm
Temp - 68-70 (20-21)

This is indicative of a cycled tank, correct?
 
Your water parameters seem fine. I'm guessing that it's the current across the surface that causes them to avoid the water. Or it could simply be that they are in a new setup and being cautious at first. I don't really know what a newt's preferred water depth would be. None of my tanks are tall enough to have 14" deep water, so I've never tried it.
 
Thanks for the reply.
I'm trying to cut down the current at the moment with some rocks. And am hoping it helps them chill out some.

I found a yahoo answer on this topic that said these guys are found in ponds up to 12 feet deep. That seems crazy deep to me. Not to mention that they might live in ponds that deep but they may not use the full depth.
 
I'm posting on this thread so that the background is known... so I don't have to write it all over again...

I'm pretty sure 14 inches is not too deep since I saw that Tudor keeps his in water close to that depth as well and has obviously had great success but, My newts still aren't going in the water, it's been nearly a month now. Although they don't frantically swim across it any more when I place them there or when they fall into it I even managed to get one of them to feed at the bottom of the tank when I placed them and the food down at the bottom. So I think they are pretty comfortable with the water.

What I'm actually suspecting is the vibration from the pond pump that I use for my built in filter. I've already packed it in with a sponge to dampen some of the vibration but you can still hear it and even more so feel it when you touch the tank anywhere. any suggestions on how to reduce the vibration even more?:confused:


I'm using a total pond pump that has an adjustable flow with the lowest being 90 gph ( which is where I keep it at to keep my surface current slow.
 
There isn't much you can do to dampen the vibrations of the pump anymore than you have. Any chance you could try switching your filter out for one that has less vibrations?
 
Unfortunately at this point I can't. I've spent way too much money on this project and I need to go on a spending diet, also because I've spent nearly a grand on my car in 3 days!

Although after posting this I took that section of my tank apart and did some changes (the simple version of the story) that utilizes the suction cups on the pump which helped dampen some of the vibrations. I also ended up using sponges to keep the hose from the pump away from things connected to the tank which also helped not distribute the vibrations.

The pump was sending vibrations up through the hose which came into contact with the platform that covers the filter box area which is connected to the rest of the tanks faux stone wall so it was making the entire tank vibrate.

So now although it does still vibrate a little I'm willing to bet it's at least 60-70% better than before.
 
I had the same problem. I turned off the pump for a couple of days until the newts got into the water. It didn't seem to bother them when I turned on the pump again after they got used to the water.
 
Why not stop using a pump? The newts will certainly apreciate it, and it´ll be ok as long as you have a large enough tank and a good amount of plants.
 
Our C.orientalis are in a trio and a pair, neither of the (smallish) setups have a pump/filter, and they're perfectly healthy and relaxed
 
I'm going to try to unplug the pump for a few days. But I don't want to run filter-less it just makes me uncomfortable i start getting all paranoid at every little thing. I may put a bubbler in there to help keep the water churned and aerated especially around my now established filter media.

Do you think it needs it? it's got air contact and isn't an entirely closed system just a faux closed system :bowl: just keeps the newts out of it and looks sealed at first glance.

How long do you think it takes for the good bacteria to die if there is less/no water movement?
 
I think I read somewhere that the bacteria start dying off after something like 15 minutes...not sure if it's correct.

Have you considered an air driven sponge filter? I think they're great - gentle water movement, aeration, not the best filtration but if you have plants in the tank it works well in my opinion. These filters are cheap and you can adjust the height. I am using these: Sera sponge filter
 
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I didn't realize they had sponge filters like that! but unfortunately it wont work for me. My cooling system is integrated with my filtration system, so if i want to cool the tank then i will have to run the filtration :p and I do want to still be cooling my tank.


Although i do have quite a few plants, the more plants i add the more comfortable they are getting, although still not in the water they are behaving more comfortable and finding the very shallow areas to explore, I think it just may be a matter of time and leaving them alone.
 
If it is an enclosed filter, I wouldn't turn it off. If off for too long, the bacterial slime inside will turn into a stinky, anaerobic mess and then when you turn it back on, all that yuck will be blown into your tank.

I second the idea of sponge filter. It will be perfectly adequate filtration. And in my opinion, it's ok to turn off sponge filters for a day or so. Since they are completely open to the water column, the bacteria inside still get some oxygen even if the current is turned off. I have those in all my tanks. They provide a huge surface area for bacterial colonization and make for very powerful biological filtration. When I start a new tank, I put a big established sponge filter in and it pretty much bypasses the cycling process.
 
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Could you change the cooling system so that the pump would be outside the tank?
 
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