Chinese FBN

I originally had this enclosure planned out for a paddletail, but now holds one cynops orientalis (sp?) I tried using sand but the sand just didn't want to settle with that filter (Play sand from home depot) so I got river bed rocks, I am very paranoid about gravel and them sucking it up, especially when I thought I was getting a paddletail since they suck in their prey) when they snatch their worms and inverts

If you want to keep Cynops or Hypselotriton in there you´ll need to get rid of the filter and increase the water level as much as possible. Also, if you decide to get a species in those genera, please purchase captive-bred animals. All pet-shop ones will be wild-caught and they are definitely not a good option for you as a consumer and keeper and neither for the species and the poor individuals.

No filter? How often will I need to change the water if I don't have a filter? If i should get rid of it just for the current in the water falling? Won't adding water help?

There are a couple of possible options here. I agree that you need to raise the water level. I think you could keep the filter, but do whatever you can to disperse the outflow. A vertically-placed brick, for example, or a whole lot of silk plants. Or partition part of the tank with a big rock so the water is quiet in part of the tank.

You could also do without the filter as Azhael suggested. It wouldn't really increase how often you would need to do partial water changes. (You know not to do total water changes, right?) But it might mean that the crud builds up more quickly under the gravel.

Regarding the sand, how did you rinse it? If it wouldn't settle, this usually indicates that it just needed a lot more rinsing. The easiest way is to put some sand in a 5-gallon bucket with a garden hose and rinse the heck out of it. At some point, you might want to consider switching back. I use sand with the same type of filter you have and there is no problem with cloudiness. You will have trouble keeping the crud from building up under the river rock.

And one final thing - how does the cord from the filter get out of the tank? Be sure the tank is 100% escape proof.
Caudata Culture Articles - Escape

I know not to 100% water change, my water is cycled and wouldn't want to wash all that time away, I currently have three gallons in that tank, how much water should I add? Make it actually five gallons? six? seven? fill her up as if I was keeping fish? (Which I wouldn't keep anything other then a newt with a newt)

As is, I think that filter would really bother Chinese FBN. I've tried a sand substrate, it can be a test of will to get the tank clear initially. Try putting a plate on the bottom of the tank to prevent stirring the sand up all over again as you refill the tank.

Jennewt said:

Regarding the sand, how did you rinse it? If it wouldn't settle, this usually indicates that it just needed a lot more rinsing. The easiest way is to put some sand in a 5-gallon bucket with a garden hose and rinse the heck out of it. At some point, you might want to consider switching back. I use sand with the same type of filter you have and there is no problem with cloudiness. You will have trouble keeping the crud from building up under the river rock.

And one final thing - how does the cord from the filter get out of the tank? Be sure the tank is 100% escape proof.
Caudata Culture Articles - Escape

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I didn't rinse it, I never thought I had too, I used to own fiddler crabs a few years ago, I used their sand without rinsing and the water cleared, but I suppose their enclosure was filter-less and half land. So I'll try to rinse it some time today, then replace the river rocks like tomorrow... Or will water conditioner work? I think I read somewhere that water conditioner could be harmful to fish, not sure about newts

Also, thanks. I would have NEVER guessed a newt had the possibility of pulling a gecko move