cro117
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2008
- Messages
- 30
- Reaction score
- 5
- Points
- 8
- Location
- California
- Country
- United States
- Display Name
- CRO
hi, i'm currently working on a twenty long vivarium setup that is not going well- no materials. anyway, if i don't get my newts (Cynops orientalis, possibly C. pyrrhogaster) tomarrow i won't have an opportunity for some time. so my questions are in regard to a temporary tank.
firstly, cycling is not an issue really. i know the nitrogen cycle quite well and will be using established materials. the only issue i possibly see is that in a few weeks i will probably have 20ppm nitrate(NO3) wich usually falls to below 5ppm after a few weeks. what i don't have experience in is how sensitive amphibians are to this.
now i'll describe the tank, 20gal tall with very fine sand, it will soon be a triop tank so it is extremely basic, that i was going to add 5 or so gallons of arrowhead water to, and then a few rocks reaching out of the water. i'll probably toss in some plant clippings as well.
one concern i have, though, is that a large part of the bacteria i will be using for this will come from aquarium cotton fiber that i have in a emperor 400 optional grey cartage. it will be an approximately 5"x3"x1" block of cotton that i will unceremoniously tossed in the tank. will there be issues with this? swallowing, getting trapped, etc.?
lastly, i will be feeding and frozen foods at first, and mostly later on as well. i'm picky about the foods i feed, and i actual find i prefer dry and frozen to live most of the time. i always use spectrum as a base food, then i like to give hikari frozen blood worms, or aquatrol spirulina depending on the species. obviously blood worms for the newts. i will feed other high quality foods as well, and would like to hear some suggestions as too quality amphibian pellets.
sorry about digressing there, my question is- dose it seem likely that i will be able to get away with none live foods? i have no concerns about the nutritional aspect, it's one of my specialties, but i am concerned about the lack of movement and the behavioral aspects. i've heard some will eat none live foods. any practical information on this or experiences would be most helpful.
sorry about the long post. i'll start another one with a few more questions soon, some of this could have gone there probably. thanks for any help, cro.
firstly, cycling is not an issue really. i know the nitrogen cycle quite well and will be using established materials. the only issue i possibly see is that in a few weeks i will probably have 20ppm nitrate(NO3) wich usually falls to below 5ppm after a few weeks. what i don't have experience in is how sensitive amphibians are to this.
now i'll describe the tank, 20gal tall with very fine sand, it will soon be a triop tank so it is extremely basic, that i was going to add 5 or so gallons of arrowhead water to, and then a few rocks reaching out of the water. i'll probably toss in some plant clippings as well.
one concern i have, though, is that a large part of the bacteria i will be using for this will come from aquarium cotton fiber that i have in a emperor 400 optional grey cartage. it will be an approximately 5"x3"x1" block of cotton that i will unceremoniously tossed in the tank. will there be issues with this? swallowing, getting trapped, etc.?
lastly, i will be feeding and frozen foods at first, and mostly later on as well. i'm picky about the foods i feed, and i actual find i prefer dry and frozen to live most of the time. i always use spectrum as a base food, then i like to give hikari frozen blood worms, or aquatrol spirulina depending on the species. obviously blood worms for the newts. i will feed other high quality foods as well, and would like to hear some suggestions as too quality amphibian pellets.
sorry about digressing there, my question is- dose it seem likely that i will be able to get away with none live foods? i have no concerns about the nutritional aspect, it's one of my specialties, but i am concerned about the lack of movement and the behavioral aspects. i've heard some will eat none live foods. any practical information on this or experiences would be most helpful.
sorry about the long post. i'll start another one with a few more questions soon, some of this could have gone there probably. thanks for any help, cro.