Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have recently built a pond and it has a natural filter that I had used Lava rocks and Peat moss with some plants. Is it possible that the rocks have change the color a little bit to a light tea color? If so is it harmful to my pets?

Thanks

Ed

` It is the peat moss that is releasing the tea color. Rotting vegetation darkens the water like the lower Amazon system. If you used peat moss with no insecticides or other addatives, you should have no problem. The peat moss will lower the pH. It depends on the natural carbonate buffer in your water, as to how much/how fast. Get a cheap pH test kit and test it every few days. When/if it starts getting down towards 6.0 you can bring it back up safely with partial water changes, assuming your tap water is alkaline. The advantage is that acid water inhibits some bacteria and, Ammonia build up is less toxic. Just remember when you raise ( or lower) the pH too much at a time, it will stress the inhabitants.

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To Buddhist hot dog vendor. "Make me one with everything."

` It is the peat moss that is releasing the tea color. Rotting vegetation darkens the water like the lower Amazon system. If you used peat moss with no insecticides or other addatives, you should have no problem. The peat moss will lower the pH. It depends on the natural carbonate buffer in your water, as to how much/how fast. Get a cheap pH test kit and test it every few days. When/if it starts getting down towards 6.0 you can bring it back up safely with partial water changes, assuming your tap water is alkaline. The advantage is that acid water inhibits some bacteria and, Ammonia build up is less toxic. Just remember when you raise ( or lower) the pH too much at a time, it will stress the inhabitants.
I live where the Wapiti roam.
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To Buddhist hot dog vendor. "Make me one with everything."

Uh, no and no. The lava rocks probably weren't the cause of the tea colored water. The peat moss will turn your water that color. It is the tannins in the peat leaching into the water. It is perfectly harmless to your pets. The only reason to worry would be if you kept species that needed hard, alkaline, water. The peat will soften and lower the pH of your water.
Jim Annand

I am keeping Chinese Water dragons in a vivarium and I was thinking of putting in Feeder Fish for them and I was wondering if that would be harmful to the fish.

Ed