Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am not seeing anything in my research about cleaning the poop out of the tank...what is the scoop?(no pun intended)

Also, is it necessary to filter the water as it cycles through the waterfall, or is that the gravels' job? I will be using a simple, submersible Rena water pump.

And lastly, Is feshwater fish chlorine treatment adequate for nuetralizing the water? I am not keen on buying a $100 dollar RO filter right now....By the way, how many of you have your own RO filter?

Thanks,
Matt
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Matt

In my tank cleaning the poop out is easy. I don't ventilate my tank so the poop stays moist. Every friday I open the bottom drain and use a long hose connected to my RO filter to wash down the inside of the tank. So the poop gets washed into the substrate to become plant fertalizer. This complete flushing is also neccessary to prevent nutrient buildups that could harm my Nepenthes plants. I don't use any other sort of filter.

joe

I follow a program similar to Joseph's, but more on a daily basis since I do the daily misting with a hand sprayer. I just wash the plant leaves and sides off into the soil. I do regular partial water changes in my water features. The tubing is inoculated with a denitrifying bacteria film, but otherwise I don't use any kind of filters except in one tank that also contains an aquarium with fish. A couple of my tanks contain some accidental helpers in the form of some small centipedes that help recycle the frog wastes.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
3 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
4 D. leukomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you can actually culture springtails in your dart frog terrarium and they will recycle your frog's waste. The springtails will reproduce and thrive in the terrarium and also serves as a food source for your frogs. Its like having a self sustaining food source for your frogs.

Dart terrariums seem to be just a bit too warm for good springtail production. I've tried this quite a few times, but the darts always hunt them down and eat them up faster than they can reproduce. I've even tried introducing them into a newly planted terrarium way ahead of the frog introduction. They last a little while, then seem to just disappear. Maybe there's a trick to it. I wish I knew what it could be. It would sure be a great system if it could be made to work.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
3 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
4 D. leukomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos

Patty,

I had the same problem until I started using a lot of leaf litter. Once I had a good amount of decaying leaf litter the springtails just took off and have been self sustaining for a couple of years now. My enclosures that have leaf litter are loaded with springtails. I used oak for a while but switched to magnolia last year (looks better and lasts longer IMO).

Donn

I have a magnolia tree in my backyeard and am interested in this, but, what exactly is leaf litter?
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Matt

Leaf litter is just the old leaves that have fallen off the tree. Magnolia and oak are especially good for this because they don't disintegrate rapidly or pack down into a slimy layer. Oak leaves contain some tannins, as well. Some people use "oak leaf tea" for their tadpole water. They are somewhat acidic, which modifies the soil to suit many of the tropical plants that prefer this to limestone conditions.
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
3 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
4 D. leukomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos

Thanks!! This is good to know. I have both an oak and a magnolia tree in my yard.
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Matt

That would be perfect. I live in SE Idaho where neither oaks nor magnolias grow. I just got back from a trip to New Orleans, however. I knew I should have thrown out my clothes and filled my suitcase with oak and magnolia leaves. That would have given the airport luggage investigators a turn, as well. Aspen and cotton wood leaves just don't do the same thing, but you do have a point. Anyone want to trade me a box of oak leaves for a box of volcanic rock?
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Patty
Lost River, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
3 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
4 D. leukomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos

Just give a shipping address and I'll send you all you want of both.

Donn