Please help me diagnose my ADF before it's too late. Pictures included. - Emergency Room - Help - Flippers 'n' Fins - Message Board - Yuku

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Please help me diagnose my ADF before it's too late. Pictures included.

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Mattsmommy2		#21	[-]
Posts: 12826 (06/30/09 07:05:16) Administrator Fond of Fins Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Just throwing an idea out there (I'm not a frog keeper either)... What about Black Flourite SAND? I don't know how smooth this actually is... when I wanted to change over to it... I couldn't find it locally anymore (except through mail order, which would make it $$). Or... Tahitian Moon Sand??? (Is that fine enough??) Michele *edited to add links Last Edited By: Mattsmommy2 06/30/09 07:08:57. Edited 1 times.
tetralina3		#22	[-]
Posts: 15199 (07/01/09 03:42:01) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Hi, Sorry for the late response. * Is the 7.6 tapwater pH test done with a low-range pH tester? If yes, do you have a high-range tester you could use to check it? (Other way as well - if the tester is a high-range tester, do you have a low-range one you could use and tell us the results)? * Can you test the nitrates in your tapwater and let us know the results? How high did you see the nitrates get in the past? It is possible that the gH testers are showing different readings although I am not an expert on the differences between how they work chemically. If your TDS says 390, and one of your testers says close to that, then I would go with that for now. Your RO water is almost the same quality as my tapwater. Once I know the tapwater tests from above, we can discuss your alternatives. t
capturedbyrobots		#23	[-]
Posts: 3390 (07/01/09 18:16:31) Administrator The Heavy Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	That is the sand I use. It's just sand, not concrete.... it is inert, doesn't change PH, or hardness, uniform grain size, it's some good stuff. It has been fine for my frogs, though I do prefer gravel that is just large enough to not fit in their mouth. Sand has a way of getting into their digestive tracts, and the results are not in yet whether or not it harms them.
MikeL		#24	[-]
Posts: 11 (07/02/09 02:06:47) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	tetralina3 wrote: , Sorry for the late response. * Is the 7.6 tapwater pH test done with a low-range pH tester? If yes, do you have a high-range tester you could use to check it? (Other way as well - if the tester is a high-range tester, do you have a low-range one you could use and tell us the results)? Hi t, No worries. I used both my low & high range test for PH. * Can you test the nitrates in your tapwater and let us know the results? How high did you see the nitrates get in the past? Oops, forget to mention the amount of nitrates. I got a reading of 5. I don't remember the nitrate readings going higher than that. It is possible that the gH testers are showing different readings although I am not an expert on the differences between how they work chemically. If your TDS says 390, and one of your testers says close to that, then I would go with that for now. I just read somewhere about estimating GH by dividing TDS by 17.9. Assuming that's correct, it looks like the API test is the most accurate based on the 390 reading.
MikeL		#25	[-]
Posts: 12 (07/02/09 02:19:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Mattsmommy2 wrote: Just throwing an idea out there (I'm not a frog keeper either)... What about Black Flourite SAND? I don't know how smooth this actually is... when I wanted to change over to it... I couldn't find it locally anymore (except through mail order, which would make it $$). Or... Tahitian Moon Sand??? (Is that fine enough??) Michele *edited to add links I haven't seen the black Flourite sand in person, but I have seen the Tahitian Moon sand. It's definitely on the fine side from what I recall. It looks nice but the 50# bag of Quikrete sand at $6 with tax included looks very nice too.
MikeL		#26	[-]
Posts: 13 (07/02/09 02:29:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Mac wrote: Hi Mike ! I just wanted to welcome you and tell you I was sorry about Darth Vader On that pic you have, I wouldn't use it in a fish / frog tank if it is truly Quikrete. I think it has the hardening agent(s) added. That's what I fill post holes with. ~Mac Hi Mac, Thank you very much. I'll be sure to check the bag ingredients before I head to the counter. Don't want to have to start another thread with a title something like, "Please help: My ADFs and I need a chisel and hammer."
tetralina3		#27	[-]
Posts: 15225 (07/04/09 03:40:25) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	Water discussion continued . . . H m m m . . . right now you are altering the pH of your RO water up to the pH of the tapwater. So, from a pH point-of-view either tap or tank would be fine to use. Also, the if the tap doesn't currently contain nitrAtes or ammonia (although that could vary) and chlorine/chloramines could be treated with Prime. * Can you test the tapwater for nitrates and ammonia (just curious!!!)? I realize you seem to have had some problems in the past with the tap. So, in this case, if you are comfortable altering the RO water and it is consistent then you could continue. I personally like the products "pH Stable" and "RO Right" for altering my RO-equivalent tapwater as they do not contain phosphates and there is no need to monkey around with acid buffers. Just target your pH and gH and add in the equivalent amount to bring up the RO water. Just an idea to consider. * How do you prepare the water? I am just checking for any chance of big pH swings at waterchange time. * Why have you chosen to go to 7.6? Why not a bit lower say 7.0? Just curious. (It might be easier to get to 7.6 with those products?) BTW, I have seen a few creatures that seem to have had a bad reaction to plant supplements so just keep that in mind. t * edited to add question
MikeL		#28	[-]
Posts: 15 (07/05/09 01:21:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	I haven't seen the tap water without ammonia for several months. After getting that nasty surprise I'm afraid to see what the encore would be so I feel much safer going with the RO water. Recently I bought a kg of RO Right. I'm going to try using that after the SeaChem stuff is used up. It looks like it won't have the clumping issues that the Equilibrium has. I'm going to get the PH down to 7.0. I'll look into PH stable. I definitely want something that doesn't contain phosphates. Yeah, I won't be adding any more plant supplements. I tossed out all the plants from the frog tank in case they had any contamination. Thanks for the recommendations, t.
tetralina3		#29	[-]
Posts: 15245 (07/05/09 03:37:54) Mad Scientist Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Report Post	You are very welcome. It is a pleasure to add any info I might have to help out a clearly dedicated fishkeeper. The RO Right does clump a bit if it is in a damp environment but you can easily "unclump" it with a teaspoon (it doesn't get rock hard just stuck together). I would try to use it with the pH Stable as a duo as I find they are good together - I spoke with the makers of it and they said they add a slower-releasing mineral to the formulation so that is why it produces more stable, longer lasting results than, say, baking soda (I find baking soda to be inherently unstable in my RO-equivalent water). The products you are using I am sure are fine, it just might be interesting for you to try these two instead and see if you find the process easier (and also to see if they work well for you as they do for me). t

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