Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering which tap water conditions people use I have seen several on the market and I don't know if there is a better one that most people use or what.
Thanks
Christina
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1 Russian Tortoise (Willy)
1 Ornate Box Turtle (Lily)
1 Red Eared Slider (Chester)
2 White's Tree Frog (Kermit & Phil)
1 Red eyed Tree Frog (Justin)
2 Big Eyed Tree Frog
2 Bubbling Frog
2 Tiger Leg Tree Frogs (Akari & Shiro)
3 Amazonian Milky Tree Frogs
1 Dwarf Megophrys
1 Rainbow Burrowing Frog??
1 Praire Dog (Timmy)
2 Chinchillas (Layla & Snickers)
4 mice (Gabby and friends)
1 dog (Holly)
2 Cats (Champ & Bear)

Oh and a husband

i use the aquatize water conditioner for my herps. And some generic brand water conditioner for my betta.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 normal ball python (felix)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

I currently use NovAqua and Amquel by Kordon. I think these work great because it removes chlorine, ammonia, and other toxic matters. I worked at a pet store for a bit and this is all we used for our reptiles and fish. Also, they won't mess up the biological filters or alter the pH.
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::hsuANsTerZ::

It's about time someone recommends the good stuff.

NovAqua and Amquel by Kordon are the best, and are the professional standard with zoos and aquariums as far as I know. The important thing to remember is that you need a water conditioner that removes chlorine, chloramines, AND ammonia. If it does not say that it removes ammonia, then it does not. Ammonia is the primary waste product from aquatic amphibians and the nitrogen cycle and is very toxic. It makes no sense to give your amphibians fresh new water that is toxic to them! The Amquel all three, and Novaqua adds a protective slime coat which is beneficial to any stressed amphibian. Go to aquaticeco.com and buy their brand of water conditioners similar to Amquel and Novaqua, but are a whole lot cheaper. This kind of thing does get expensive, but remember this is not optional, when you signed onto getting amphibians you signed on to buy dechlorinators and water conditioners for the rest of its life.

Check out the link below for more water chemistry information.
click here for the link

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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

do you know if amquel and novaqua have bottles that you can put drops fo the stuff in the tank?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 normal ball python (felix)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

I just use stale water that's been out for at least 24 hours.
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1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn snake Fuzzy
1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John & Helmut Newton
3 Hermit crabs Cletus, Jethro & Bubba
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

>>I just use stale water that's been out for at least 24 hours.
This does NOT work for most people. If you have chloramines in your water you must remove it chemically.
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

How would one know if everything is out of the stale water & it's safe to use? Or, how would one know the stale water you've been using isn't safe?
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1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn snake Fuzzy
1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John & Helmut Newton
3 Hermit crabs Cletus, Jethro & Bubba
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

You certainly could throw some $ into water testing, but that money could be better used towards water conditioners. Since it is difficult to know the exact water chemistry, it is better not to take unneccessary risks and just use the conditioners.
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

"it is better not to take unneccessary risks and just use the conditioners."

I would consider using the conditioners an "unnecessary risk". I used to use them and my water quality fluctuated wildly and I couldn't keep anything alive. I've never had a problem with water quality or health issues since I STOPPED using the chemicals.
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Martin Whalin
My Email

Quotes from guys named Carl:

"Science stops at the frontier of logic. Nature does not, she thrives on ground as yet untrodden by theory."
-Carl Jung

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld

guess I'm not the only one.
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Martin Whalin
My Email

Quotes from guys named Carl:

"Science stops at the frontier of logic. Nature does not, she thrives on ground as yet untrodden by theory."
-Carl Jung

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld

I guess I'm the only one still manually conditioning my water. I just leave it sitting out for a few days. The chlorine and ammonia evaporate naturally. I've always used this method and I've always had superb water quality any time I've had it tested. All these chemicals do is neutralize the chlorine which automatically dissipates anyway.
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Martin Whalin
My Email

Quotes from guys named Carl:

"Science stops at the frontier of logic. Nature does not, she thrives on ground as yet untrodden by theory."
-Carl Jung

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld

they also get rid of ammonia and chloramines. Chloramines need water conditioner to be rid of from water. also the water conditioners detoxify metals.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 normal ball python (felix)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)