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Thread: Best substrate for ACF tank?

  1. #1
    mattman0182
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    Default Best substrate for ACF tank?

    Thinking of rasing 1 or 2 young albinos in a smaller tank until big enough to hang with the adult thats in my 29 gal. He has been in there over 2 years and I have sand, this is probably not the best thing. If i get 2 young albinos for the 20 gal, what substrate should I use. Also just buy bottled spring or drinking water and treat it to get rid of the chemicles?

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  3. #2
    Wojtas
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    Default Re: best substrate for ACF tank?

    Soft small sand is the best substrate for ACF. If swallowed,do not hurt them. I do not use any substrate for ACF.Practical and easy to clean the tank.

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    Moderator Jenste's Avatar
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    Default Re: best substrate for ACF tank?

    do not use bottled water - - use simple tap water with a tap water conditioner such as Stress Coat.

    Sand makes a fine substrate.
    72 Gallon Bow - ACF and GF tank.
    26 Gallon Bow - ACF tank.

    20 Gallon Long - ACF tank.


    "If there were an invisible cat in that chair, the chair would look empty. But the chair does look empty; therefore there is an invisible cat in it." C.S. Lewis, Four Loves, 1958

  5. #4
    mattman0182
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    Default Re: best substrate for ACF tank?

    I have been using bottled spring water because my tap has a stubbornly, very high ph level. Well over 8. I use the stresscoat water treatment still, but my tap ph is crazy high, and chemicals are not effective on it and not good to rely on.

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    Moderator tgampper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Best substrate for ACF tank?

    Since your pH is quite high, I suggest mixing tap water and spring water in various ratios and see if the pH level lowers. According to several sources I have in my frog library, ACFs prefer a pH between 6.0 and 9.0, with optimum levels slightly alkaline between 7.4-7.5. I understand that it is much easier to raise pH then to lower it, maybe Jenna has some ideas.

    Sources:
    The Laboratory Xenopus by Sherril Green
    Guidance on the housing and care of the African clawed frog by Barney Reed (available online in PDF)
    The Biology of Xenopus by Tinsley and Kobel
    Terry Gampper
    Nebraska Herpetological Society




    “If we can discover the meaning in the trilling of a frog, perhaps we may understand why it is for us not merely noise but a song of poetry and emotion.”
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    Moderator tgampper's Avatar
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    Default Re: best substrate for ACF tank?

    Quote Originally Posted by Wojtas View Post
    Soft small sand is the best substrate for ACF. If swallowed,do not hurt them. I do not use any substrate for ACF.Practical and easy to clean the tank.
    I do not use a substrate either. It makes the tank easier to clean and food particles don't get trapped causing the water to foul. However, it dosen't do much for pleasing looks
    Terry Gampper
    Nebraska Herpetological Society




    “If we can discover the meaning in the trilling of a frog, perhaps we may understand why it is for us not merely noise but a song of poetry and emotion.”
    ---
    Adrian Forsyth

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    Moderator Jenste's Avatar
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    Default Re: best substrate for ACF tank?

    Driftwood lowers pH - - Try picking up a piece in your local petstore (Malasian driftwood is a great type - usually you can get a decent piece for under $10 dollars).

    New pieces do release tannins (will make your water look brownish like a pond) - - it is not harmful at all to your tank and fades over time with water changes. Boiling the driftwood first seems to reduce the amount of tannins released, but again it is only a temporary cosmetic change to your water and will cause no harm what so ever.

    In addition to lowering your pH, it can also soften really hard water.

    Try picking up a piece of driftwood and see how it effects your pH. For a 29 gallon you may need 2 pieces, but try one and see how it helps.


    Some people also try adding Peat Moss to their tank filter, but this can have a slight yellowing effect of the water.

    To me, driftwood has always been an easier way to lower my pH (my tap also runs a bit high) and looks great in a "natural" aquarium. Also, I lean it against walls and other driftwood (securely!) and it makes great hiding places for the frogs
    72 Gallon Bow - ACF and GF tank.
    26 Gallon Bow - ACF tank.

    20 Gallon Long - ACF tank.


    "If there were an invisible cat in that chair, the chair would look empty. But the chair does look empty; therefore there is an invisible cat in it." C.S. Lewis, Four Loves, 1958

  9. #8
    mattman0182
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    Default Re: best substrate for ACF tank?

    i actually have a piece in there... its in the middle of the tank though, the frog actually moved it there. He loves to hide under it in the sand. When he darts in or out from under the piece of driftwood, you can see it rocking back and forth lol. I just tested the PH, and since its mostly bottled water, it was like 6. I did a partial water change with my tap, which is actually like 7.6. Im about to set up a 20g for a young albino i plan to get.

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