I forgot about cycling.

[Lucille]

I've kept fish in the past and aquarists know about cycling a tank, which is developing a crew of the proper bacteria that will help neutralize ammonia and other bad stuff.

This terrarium has a significant water feature and I neglected to think through the cycling procedure because I was thinking in frogthink, not fishthink.

So today I went to the store, got anacharis, got Amquel plus, got new filter stuff (there is a powerhead and filter).
I'm apprehensive about an ammonia spike although the Amquel plus seems to advertise that weekly use will keep ammonia in check.
Opinions?

[mpgt]

It would help a lot if you added some gravel and filter media from an established tank.

[Lucille]

OK ALL YOUSE HOUSTON DUDES n DUDETTES, who will give me a cup of gravel please?

[mpgt]

How about a pet store?

[telefrag]

The ammonia that amquel and other dechlors will help remove is not a biological type, its the chemical type that is found in tap water.

A biological ammonia spike is completely natural and its best to let it run its course.
You can use giant danios (which are pretty resilient to it) to help cycle the tank.

one thing anyone who keeps aquatic animals should keep in mind is water quality is crucial, frogs are as sensitive to water quality as fish are, so if it would kill fish, it will not be good for amphibians.
Some are more resistant than others, but why take the chance when you can just wait the week or so to let it cycle naturally.

[Lucille]

I got some water with my plants today and put it in; I might have to go to a real pet store because the lady at Petsmart did not seem to know a lot about fish stuff.

[Lucille]

Originally Posted by telefrag

The ammonia that amquel and other dechlors will help remove is not a biological type, its the chemical type that is found in tap water.
A biological ammonia spike is completely natural and its best to let it run its course.
You can use giant danios (which are pretty resilient to it) to help cycle the tank.
one thing anyone who keeps aquatic animals should keep in mind is water quality is crucial, frogs are as sensitive to water quality as fish are, so if it would kill fish, it will not be good for amphibians.
Some are more resistant than others, but why take the chance when you can just wait the week or so to let it cycle naturally.

I read cycles take 4-6 weeks.
How do biological ammonias differ? I was unaware that there was ammonia in my tap water.
I am having an RO system put in as soon as I have disposable income again.

[telefrag]

there may or may not be ammonia in your tap water
many municipalites have trace amounts, I do in my tap water here (fort worth) and thankfully they are kind enough to limit it so it doesn't react with the chlorine.

I've had a tank cycle in as little as 10 days depending on:
how many fish are in it, and the size of the tank and overall amount of water, and how many times the water gets put through the filter every hour.
its said by many that 3 times an hour is the minimum you want your water to "turn over".

a larger tank with few fish and smaller filters may take 4-6 weeks
but again, I generally cheat by adding a few cups of gravel from an established tank too.

careful with plants like anacharis, if it doesn't do well, its going to make a huge mess and delay the cycle process, I generally don't add plants till the tank is fully cycled, but that is usually by choice.