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.