H2O questions please???

[mialma09]

Ok so I have definitely read up a lot on dart frogs and everything across the board is generally the same as far as enclosures and food and breeding goes but the one thing I cant get a strai answere on is the type of water that should be used for the as far as misting and just a little bowl for them to sit in and absorb from. Because I heard that oh distilled water is best because no chemicals or nothing at all and doesnt leave streaks or spots but also it has no nutrients the frog needs. I have heard spring water is ok but different spring water all have different locations where the water was collected so u never really now the different minerals or chemicals in it. And i also heard that RO water is what people use with their frogs and for eggs and tadpoles but i also read in an article somewhere that RO water should not be used because its reversal properties can drain the frogs nutients or hydration somehow because it is constantly reversing or something like that. So please could someone throw me a bone here help me out a bit and cut me a little feedback on whats best for the frogs because right now im just using distilled because its the only sure thing I know that has nothing in it is boiled at very high temps and nothing is in it...

[Zoomie]

The search function is your friend.

I can't tell you what's best. I can tell you what works for me.

I use Distilled for tank misting to avoid mineral build up on glass. Don't spray directly on the frogs. They can catch a little mist but shouldn't be sprayed.

For cups with water for tad transports when parents hide clutches, I use no name spring water.

For tad cups I use bottled spring water.

Some members use plain tap water BUT they have already done some homework to understand their city water processing procedures. They leave it in an uncovered container for 24 hours to let chlorine/chloromines (?) gas off. I may be worng here so you may want to do some more study.

Perfect world you can run a 4-5 stage R/O resin/membrane filter and get down to near zero TDS. I was forced to run one for a number of years growing SPS corals (saltwater tanks) I have schlepped thousands of gallons of water and hate even looking at an R/O filter. The other issue is that the size of my collection doesn't justify the need.

If you aren't sure, just run no name spring water from Wally World. The gallon containers with the blue caps.

[mialma09]

Thank you, yeah I wasnt really asking like a direct question as u prolly were able to tell I just wanted to hear what more seasoned owners and breeders have used and been successful with but I am basically picking up u cant really go wrong with just distilled for misting and either distilled or spring water for everything else right?

[Zoomie]

I am not one of the vets here. I am a relative noob. But, I am a serious one that has managed to do well with some of the beginner species of frogs.

If I can pass on anything regarding general learning, it is to embrace board consensus by the vets here. All of the questions that we beginners asked have been dealt with by our vets and pioneers here. They've lived it.

There are often two sets of rules. The general rules for those new to the hobby. And then there is rule bending, which is typically discussed between vets. When they bend rules, their experience allows them to see early warning signs (aggression, early deterioration of health) that we don't have the experience to see.

The key here when new is understanding that just because someone was able to bend the rules, doesn't mean that it is regularly repeatable by everyone. An example of this are those vets that keep breeding pairs in small tanks and do so successfully.

My point is that this hobby is most enjoyable for we beginners when when we take the safe route and embrace the general rules. Not directed at you, but lots of beginners get in to trouble for breaking these rules. Properly designed and sized tank, pair versus group dynamics, water type, strict culturing schedule with 30 day dump rule in play at all times, no mixing, suppliment dosing with popular products, etc

Follow the safe rules and you will be rewarded with lots of enjoyment from a fantastic hobby!

Keep reading and take your time.

[Ed]

There is a whole voodoo husbandry mythology about water. I think this should answer most of your questions water discussion..

In addition to that discussion, there is no requirement that "spring" water must come from an actual spring. Many of the top brands are actually filtered tap water.....

Chloramines do slowly go down if the water is allowed to sit but it takes a much longer time frame than most people realize. Letting the water sit for 24-48 hours, lets excess dissolved gases to come out of solution which makes it safer for tadpoles (but it still needs to be dechlorinated).

Some comments,

Ed

[Froggywv]

I use spring water mostly, I never use tap because a lot of city's will overdose the water supply with chlorine or chloramines after a good rain. I don't want to take a chance, so I grab a couple gallons of spring water from wally world and I'm set. I treat all water with Prime conditioner, just to be safe. a couple drops in a gallon of spring water and I'm good to go.

[mialma09]

Hey thanx a lot Ed that definitely got me to look at the differences in the water but really i see that its mostly about personal preference with water other than I would never use tap but it looks as though as long as they are healthy and get nutrients often from food the water should not have enough osmotic reversal to hurt the frogs in any way but thank u for the intel I appreciate it.

[mialma09]

Well I know there are a lot of pics up here but here are my two little ones.

[ZookeeperDoug]

I use Distilled water for hand misting and in my mist king system to avoid mineral buildup on the glass.

I use RO water to flush bromeliads occationally by hand.

I use a roughly 80/20 RO/Tap water solution for my tadpoles.

What Ed said about tap water is very important. Let it sit for at least 24 hours to offgas since it has been pressurized in pipes for some time. I always use an appropriate amount of dechlorinator in my tap water as well, because as Ed mentioned, chloramines are slow to offgas. Prime is a good one, but almost any dechlorinator will due.

[Ed]

Originally Posted by Froggywv

I use spring water mostly, I never use tap because a lot of city's will overdose the water supply with chlorine or chloramines after a good rain. I don't want to take a chance, so I grab a couple gallons of spring water from wally world and I'm set. I treat all water with Prime conditioner, just to be safe. a couple drops in a gallon of spring water and I'm good to go.

So you won't use your local tap water but you are willing to use tap water as long as it is labeled as "spring" water??? If your using Prime with the bottled tap water, why wouldn't that suffice for the regular tap water?

Ed