Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Possible Crisis, need some expert advice

  1. #1
    100+ Post Member Kisa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Southern California
    Age
    33
    Posts
    991
    Blog Entries
    4
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Possible Crisis, need some expert advice

    Hey there all, it's been quite a while (3ish years) since I've posted anything here, but now's the time I suppose.

    I'll get right to it:

    I'm building a natural viv for my new Whites' (unfortunately the frogs I had when I was last active here have passed away, but I'm trying again with some healthy babies) and I've run into a snafu. Without thinking I grabbed a bag of sphagnum moss the last time I was at Home Depot to use in the background mix. I wasn't planning (and definitely am not now) on using it in the ground substrate and have only used it to cover the background (after the usual foaming and siliconing steps). It was only after I'd finished that I thought "Hey, maybe I should check this stuff out, since it's name-brand."

    Turns out it's Miracle-Gro (I know, I barely looked at the bag when I bought it) and after googling and reading some other forums I've decided I may have muffed this one up. The frogs have not been introduced yet, but they're quickly outgrowing they're baby tank (a 10 gal tall Exo Terra) and I need to move them ASAP.

    I am wondering if I should be worried about the chemicals used in the fertilizer that's in the moss. I used 1 part moss to 2 parts Eco-Earth and as I stated above ONLY to cover the background with. The ingredients are as follows:

    Total Nitrogen (N) = 0.19%
    - 0.10% ammoniacal nitrogen
    -0.09% nitrate nitrogen
    Available Phosphate (P2O5) = 0.11%
    Soluble Potash (K2O) = 0.15%

    Also listed are these chemicals: (polymer coated) ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, and potassium sulfate; and ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, calcium phosphate, and potassium sulfate.

    Knowing literally nothing about chemicals or gardening I have no idea what this means, but what I've gathered from my internet searches is that ammonium nitrates are bad (and ammonia in general). It also says there is 0.14% of a "wetting agent" and 1.18% fertilizer.

    I would appreciate any insight anyone has on the use of this moss, and if/how I should scrap the build () and start over.

    Thanks in advance!
    0.0.2 Litoria caerulea
    --------------------------------------
    "The gallows are no place for the stubborn//Just you and your lover as a dark souvenir" - Bad Books, Pytor

  2. # ADS
    Circuit advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many
     

  3. #2
    100+ Post Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    268

    Default Re: Possible Crisis, need some expert advice

    I don't know anything about "whites". However I don't see it as a big issue UNLESS.... your water feature, if you have one, flows through or comes in contact with the substrate containing the miracle grow. Then you'll see a spike in the nitrates and ammonia in the water which is essentially what you have when your frogs excrement and urine build up in the water. Might be that changing the water more often will keep the levels down, but then again it may not. You might get one of those aquarium test kits and test the water now. If over the range, then change it and test an hour or so after, then again a day after and see how fast it's going too high.

    But if you don't have a water feature, or it's isolated well from the "adulterated" substrate, then I see little to worry about. All of this IMO of course.

  4. #3
    100+ Post Member Kisa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Nationality
    [United States]
    Location
    Southern California
    Age
    33
    Posts
    991
    Blog Entries
    4
    Picture Albums: Member Photo Albums

    Default Re: Possible Crisis, need some expert advice

    Thanks for you quick reply and opinion, I really appreciate that. I won't have the water anywhere near where the affected substrate is attached as it is high up in the tank and I plan on having a water bowl at the bottom of the tank in case they need to soak. The peat moss is only mixed into the substrate I have used for the background covering and will not be used at all in ground substrate. I also don't plan on misting the tank much, as the live plants inside and sheet moss on the ground will keep moisture pretty high. Once again thank you for your reply. Does anyone else have experience with this as well, I'd love a variance of opinions.
    0.0.2 Litoria caerulea
    --------------------------------------
    "The gallows are no place for the stubborn//Just you and your lover as a dark souvenir" - Bad Books, Pytor

  5. #4

    Default Re: Possible Crisis, need some expert advice

    Quote Originally Posted by Kisa View Post
    Hey there all, it's been quite a while (3ish years) since I've posted anything here, but now's the time I suppose.

    I'll get right to it:

    I'm building a natural viv for my new Whites' (unfortunately the frogs I had when I was last active here have passed away, but I'm trying again with some healthy babies) and I've run into a snafu. Without thinking I grabbed a bag of sphagnum moss the last time I was at Home Depot to use in the background mix. I wasn't planning (and definitely am not now) on using it in the ground substrate and have only used it to cover the background (after the usual foaming and siliconing steps). It was only after I'd finished that I thought "Hey, maybe I should check this stuff out, since it's name-brand."

    Turns out it's Miracle-Gro (I know, I barely looked at the bag when I bought it) and after googling and reading some other forums I've decided I may have muffed this one up. The frogs have not been introduced yet, but they're quickly outgrowing they're baby tank (a 10 gal tall Exo Terra) and I need to move them ASAP.

    I am wondering if I should be worried about the chemicals used in the fertilizer that's in the moss. I used 1 part moss to 2 parts Eco-Earth and as I stated above ONLY to cover the background with. The ingredients are as follows:

    Total Nitrogen (N) = 0.19%
    - 0.10% ammoniacal nitrogen
    -0.09% nitrate nitrogen
    Available Phosphate (P2O5) = 0.11%
    Soluble Potash (K2O) = 0.15%

    Also listed are these chemicals: (polymer coated) ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, and potassium sulfate; and ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, calcium phosphate, and potassium sulfate.

    Knowing literally nothing about chemicals or gardening I have no idea what this means, but what I've gathered from my internet searches is that ammonium nitrates are bad (and ammonia in general). It also says there is 0.14% of a "wetting agent" and 1.18% fertilizer.

    I would appreciate any insight anyone has on the use of this moss, and if/how I should scrap the build () and start over.

    Thanks in advance!
    You will be ok. I have made the same mistake once myself. Of course, like you, i realized too late. I had no issues from the tank. I always grow my tanks for a month before adding frogs (some longer), so i am sure a month of being rinsed by heavy mistings for a month washed out any ferts.

    Just an FYI: the numbers are for the 3 crucial fertilizers plants need. Nitrogen, Potassium and Phostphate. You get the nitrogen from the ammonium nitrate, the phosphate comes from the ammonium phosphate and calcium phosphate and the potassium (potash) is from the potassium sulphate. Three of four of those are fertilizers we use in planted aquaria when we use powdered fertilizers in an EI (estimated index) method of fertilization for live aquatic plants
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Hey, you expert froggers! dwarf or giant? [PICS]
    By Frogger4673 in forum African Bullfrogs
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: April 5th, 2015, 01:18 AM
  2. Need Expert Help w/ Red Eyed Tree
    By TheLivingLegend in forum Tree Frogs
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: November 24th, 2012, 08:14 PM
  3. Estivation Crisis....Please advise
    By Sandy Bear in forum Budgett's Frogs
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: January 22nd, 2012, 06:40 AM
  4. Hey ya all. I'm new & need expert advice
    By LaceyRogue in forum Introductions Area
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: September 17th, 2010, 12:46 PM
  5. UK Press: Crisis for World's Amphibians
    By John in forum Press / News Items
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: October 10th, 2009, 02:34 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •