Kiwibird
New member
We recently moved to an area with much harder water than where we used to live, and even with water drops, the water gets cloudy and murky literally overnight. I don't feel it is a healthy environment for my newt to be in filmy, gross hard water. I **think** "he" is a Cynops pyrrhogaster (Japanese fire bellied newt), and I've had the guy for 6 years. I never had this issue before we moved either, so I'm sure it's the water and not me. I even replaced everything in his tank after we moved thinking the issue was with the old tank decor, but it wasn't. I have done 25% weekly water changes and monthly whole-tank clean since I got him, but it seems to not have made a dent in water quality since we moved. So, I decided to start using bottled (gallon jugs) drinking water and added a small, low-flow internal filter to his tank yesterday. The exact filter I got is a "Tetra Care Whisper In tank filter". I scrubbed everything in his tank thoroughly before addend the bottled water and filter. Water is still crystal clear this morning, which seems like a positive sign
A couple questions on this new filter-
1. Should I run it on a timer, so there are times of day the water is still? I was thinking of having it run from 6a-12p and then from 6p-12a. Though, I do have to say, it really does not seem to create a whole lot of "current". It is however loud, and I would prefer not to run it after midnight when everyone is in bed.
2. I installed the filter yesterday, and my newt seems to be attracted to it. I have caught him hanging out between the back of the filter and side of the tank 2x now. Is this norma or any possible harm come from itl? He has other hiding places in his tank. Perhaps he likes the vibrations or noise it makes? He isn't stuck, I just watched him scoot down and go under his decoration.
3. With the addition of the filter, how should I handle tank cleaning now? Do I still need to do partial water changes weekly, and if so, what %? Do I still need to empty it and haul the whole tank outside monthly to clean it, or should I just wash the decorations? I also use a turkey baster during my weekly water changes to siphon out uneaten food and poop from the rocks on the bottom, should I continue to do this, or does the filter take care of that?
Thanks. I'm something of a "novice" to all this even though I've had my newt for years now I got bad information when I got him, and am just now learning about better care practices! Oh, and this is where he's been hanging out behind the filter-
A couple questions on this new filter-1. Should I run it on a timer, so there are times of day the water is still? I was thinking of having it run from 6a-12p and then from 6p-12a. Though, I do have to say, it really does not seem to create a whole lot of "current". It is however loud, and I would prefer not to run it after midnight when everyone is in bed.
2. I installed the filter yesterday, and my newt seems to be attracted to it. I have caught him hanging out between the back of the filter and side of the tank 2x now. Is this norma or any possible harm come from itl? He has other hiding places in his tank. Perhaps he likes the vibrations or noise it makes? He isn't stuck, I just watched him scoot down and go under his decoration.
3. With the addition of the filter, how should I handle tank cleaning now? Do I still need to do partial water changes weekly, and if so, what %? Do I still need to empty it and haul the whole tank outside monthly to clean it, or should I just wash the decorations? I also use a turkey baster during my weekly water changes to siphon out uneaten food and poop from the rocks on the bottom, should I continue to do this, or does the filter take care of that?
Thanks. I'm something of a "novice" to all this even though I've had my newt for years now
I got bad information when I got him, and am just now learning about better care practices! Oh, and this is where he's been hanging out behind the filter-