Safe Cleaning Advice

[boa10jeh]

Hi everyone,
This is potentially a very stupid query, but I'm going to make it all the same!
I keep several species of frogs, salamanders, and lizards, as well as inverts, and I use the exo terra pump sprayer to water everything. My problem is that the sprayer grows a lot of green algae, slime and general muck, as well has being very sticky inside the tube that makes up the pump. I use tap water treated with exo terra water conditioner, so I'm not entirely sure what causes this.
Has anybody else had this problem? or know what causes this?
Does this present a problem to my animals? and is there a safe way to clean the sprayer? ie. a disinfectant or something that will kill whatevers growing without residues that will harm my frogs? I'm sure bleach would work, but I wouldn't be so foolish!
Just so fill in, I have a group of 4 red eyed tree frogs, 2 blue poison dart frogs (azureus), 2 green anoles, 2 fire salamanders, some fruit beetles, and a mantis.
Thanks
Jane

[deranged chipmunk]

algae won't hurt your animals at all. you can try flushing it out with very hot water, not boiling, but hot. then try using distilled water to mist with. i actually use aquarium water to mist with and i never have a problem. but distilled is void of any minerals, so there should be no way for algae to grow. oh, and also make sure you store the sprayer away from any light sources. algae cannot grow without light. hope that helps.

[Mentat]

I keep my sprayers in the dark (inside cabinet) so nothing grows on water kept away from live bearing sunlight. Could it be you are overdosing water conditioner and that is creating the muck?

If using distilled or de-ionized water for misting; you have to avoid the frogs since it's not good for them. For misting the frogs use tap or filtered water treated with a water conditioner. Spring water (if really from spring) is normally safe to use as is. Good luck !

[deranged chipmunk]

as a primary water source, distilled water is unhealthy for the frogs due to the lack of beneficial minerals. however, as a misting source, it is perfectly safe. in fact, a majority of people use distilled waster for misting due to the fact it leaves no water spots as it evaporates.

also water conditioner will not cause algae to grow. there is no nutritional value for algae in it. remember, algae requires 3 things to grow. water (obviously), light, and "food" (nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus. mostly nitrogen).

[Mentat]

... I use the exo terra pump sprayer to water everything. My problem is that the sprayer grows a lot of green algae, slime and general muck, as well has being very sticky inside the tube that makes up the pump. I use tap water treated with exo terra water conditioner, so I'm not entirely sure what causes this....

... also water conditioner will not cause algae to grow...

OP clearly states the bottle is collecting "slime and general muck." Overdosing with some conditioners leads to it collecting in systems and eventually depositing itself on hard surfaces like plastics and even water surfaces of aquariums causing foaming. Nowhere did I stated water conditioners cause algae to grow; go back and read my post. Thank you and have a nice weekend !

[deranged chipmunk]

i apologize if i misread your post. but if it were a build up of water conditioner enough to cause the condition that the op is describing would most certainly be lethal to any living animal within any tank that the sprayer is being used on. especially since that much build up would be highly concentrated.

most likely, the muck and slime is an algae build up within the bottle. possibly, some anaerobic bacteria as well. there also could be underlying factors involved that the op has not mentioned, i.e. tap water quality,.

[guilletto]

Hi guys! Can I use mineral water which is bought in supermarkets as a primary water source? Thnks!

[deranged chipmunk]

Hi guys! Can I use mineral water which is bought in supermarkets as a primary water source? Thnks!

since there is so much difference in terminology between continents, is there any chance you can post a link to the product you are talking about? what is sold in your country as mineral water may not be the same as here in the states.

[guilletto]

Agua Mineral Bezoya - desmotivaciones.es
MEAL&1
I bought a bottle of weak mineralization which contained 1,9 mg Cl / 1L The normal concentration of Cl in mineral waters is 10mg/L. What do you think?

since there is so much difference in terminology between continents, is there any chance you can post a link to the product you are talking about? what is sold in your country as mineral water may not be the same as here in the states.