Our first ponds.

[Hermiesguardian]

My goal was weekly but it's more like every 2 wks. But if the water seems to be getting low, I top it off.[/quote]Ok thanks! I assume that's because you have an air bubble you can do that? I don't have an air bubble and change the water like every two days

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I only have a bubbler in the fresh water. I don't think they go in it. I don't see any evidence of that, so no need to clean too often.[/quote]When I top of the water, I use fresh water in both because the salt in the salt water doesn't evaporate.

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I think I read that too much salt is better than less salt. But it's only a teeny bit of topping off.

[Hermiesguardian]

My goal was weekly but it's more like every 2 wks. But if the water seems to be getting low, I top it off.

Ok thanks! I assume that's because you have an air bubble you can do that? I don't have an air bubble and change the water like every two days

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk[/quote]

I only have a bubbler in the fresh water. I don't think they go in it. I don't see any evidence of that, so no need to clean too often.[/quote]When I top of the water, I use fresh water in both because the salt in the salt water doesn't evaporate.

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I think I read that too much salt is better than less salt. But it's only a teeny bit of topping off.[/quote]Here's Stryper dipping his toes.

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[Crabsalicious]

My goal was weekly but it's more like every 2 wks. But if the water seems to be getting low, I top it off.

Ok thanks! I assume that's because you have an air bubble you can do that? I don't have an air bubble and change the water like every two days

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

I only have a bubbler in the fresh water. I don't think they go in it. I don't see any evidence of that, so no need to clean too often.[/quote]When I top of the water, I use fresh water in both because the salt in the salt water doesn't evaporate.

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk[/quote]

I think I read that too much salt is better than less salt. But it's only a teeny bit of topping off.[/quote]Here's Stryper dipping his toes.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk[/quote]That's a cute picture!! I'm glad he likes it.

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[Hermiesguardian]

I'll be honest, for my experience, my family doesn't "crab". So they are tired of hearing my crab tales. I could probably tell them that one jumped up and gave me five and the response would be the same if I said they're hiding.

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I know what you mean. My mother in law does not understand at all why I have them. Especially since it wasn't really my choice. My daughter came home from a trip with them. So now it's up to me to make sure they're happy.

[Sillysheep]

I'll be honest, for my experience, my family doesn't "crab". So they are tired of hearing my crab tales. I could probably tell them that one jumped up and gave me five and the response would be the same if I said they're hiding.

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I know what you mean. My mother in law does not understand at all why I have them. Especially since it wasn't really my choice. My daughter came home from a trip with them. So now it's up to me to make sure they're happy.[/quote]I joined Facebook just a couple months back, and I posted a really cool picture of my biggest crab just chilling out and she was balancing between two flying saucer wheels. I said "who wouldn't love coming home to see this" my Aunt said "what is it?".......I almost died laughing!!!

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[Hermiesguardian]

I'll be honest, for my experience, my family doesn't "crab". So they are tired of hearing my crab tales. I could probably tell them that one jumped up and gave me five and the response would be the same if I said they're hiding.

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk

I know what you mean. My mother in law does not understand at all why I have them. Especially since it wasn't really my choice. My daughter came home from a trip with them. So now it's up to me to make sure they're happy.

I joined Facebook just a couple months back, and I posted a really cool picture of my biggest crab just chilling out and she was balancing between two flying saucer wheels. I said "who wouldn't love coming home to see this" my Aunt said "what is it?".......I almost died laughing!!!

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk[/quote]

[LadyJinglyJones]

Sillysheep!!! I was just thinking about you when I saw this thread.

I was off the grid back in Nov. when y'all were talking water changes - just wanted to offer a tidbit about ammonia & chloramines.

If you use Prime, this is for you. When a dechlor gets rid of chloramines, it does so by removing the chlorine, which leaves behind ammonia (which is why you need a dechlor that will nutralize ammonia too). Ammonia is neutralized by binding it so that it's innert and won't affect fish, but can still be gobbled up by the beneficial bacteria in a fish tank filter.

The only problem with this is that we dont have filters.
The binding is temporary (about 48 hrs. with Prime). Then the ammonia-hounds are released again.

If you keep adding more dechlorinated water without removing the old as your water evaporates, I assume you'll end up with a whole bunch of bound up ammonia, that if you then don't add any dechlor to for a few days, will likely be a lot-lot.

Other dechlor work along similar principles... you can research how long they bind ammonia by writing the manufacturers.

If you're gonna leave the water longer than a few days it's important to try to get an idea of what's goin' on chemically in those pools.

[Hermiesguardian]

Sillysheep!!! I was just thinking about you when I saw this thread.

I was off the grid back in Nov. when y'all were talking water changes - just wanted to offer a tidbit about ammonia & chloramines.

If you use Prime, this is for you. When a dechlor gets rid of chloramines, it does so by removing the chlorine, which leaves behind ammonia (which is why you need a dechlor that will nutralize ammonia too). Ammonia is neutralized by binding it so that it's innert and won't affect fish, but can still be gobbled up by the beneficial bacteria in a fish tank filter.

The only problem with this is that we dont have filters.
The binding is temporary (about 48 hrs. with Prime). Then the ammonia-hounds are released again.

If you keep adding more dechlorinated water without removing the old as your water evaporates, I assume you'll end up with a whole bunch of bound up ammonia, that if you then don't add any dechlor to for a few days, will likely be a lot-lot.

Other dechlor work along similar principles... you can research how long they bind ammonia by writing the manufacturers.

If you're gonna leave the water longer than a few days it's important to try to get an idea of what's goin' on chemically in those pools.

Oh wow! Who knew??!! Ok. I'll have to be more dilligent about changing the water.

[Sillysheep]

Sillysheep!!! I was just thinking about you when I saw this thread.

I was off the grid back in Nov. when y'all were talking water changes - just wanted to offer a tidbit about ammonia & chloramines.

If you use Prime, this is for you. When a dechlor gets rid of chloramines, it does so by removing the chlorine, which leaves behind ammonia (which is why you need a dechlor that will nutralize ammonia too). Ammonia is neutralized by binding it so that it's innert and won't affect fish, but can still be gobbled up by the beneficial bacteria in a fish tank filter.

The only problem with this is that we dont have filters.
The binding is temporary (about 48 hrs. with Prime). Then the ammonia-hounds are released again.

If you keep adding more dechlorinated water without removing the old as your water evaporates, I assume you'll end up with a whole bunch of bound up ammonia, that if you then don't add any dechlor to for a few days, will likely be a lot-lot.

Other dechlor work along similar principles... you can research how long they bind ammonia by writing the manufacturers.

If you're gonna leave the water longer than a few days it's important to try to get an idea of what's goin' on chemically in those pools.

Hmmm....Ms. Jones....I think of you a lot!! I have always used tap water...we are blessed here, with super clean well water. I know I don't change the water as on as I could though. What can I do to test it here? It's been tested, it's the best water I've ever tasted.... Is there a way I can test it to see what it's going on with it?

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[LadyJinglyJones]

Ah, I suppose your well water isn't chlorinated (that's a thing, right? I'm such a city dweller, I don't know the first thing about wells, lol)?

If you don't have chloramines added, you won't have ammonia from broken up chloramines (it's a by-product of de-chloramine-ation, basically). You can still develop ammonia from any organic stuff that breaks down in the water over time.

You can get an ammonia test kit for fish keepers if you're curious about how much ammonia might have built up after a week with no water change. Liquid tests are good, but test strips can be unreliable (I speak from experience).

(For anyone reading this who uses Prime, if you're thinking about testing for ammonia, just know that because of the way Prime works, some kinds of liquid ammonia tests will give false readings of high ammonia.)

[Sillysheep]

Ah, I suppose your well water isn't chlorinated (that's a thing, right? I'm such a city dweller, I don't know the first thing about wells, lol)?

If you don't have chloramines added, you won't have ammonia from broken up chloramines (it's a by-product of de-chloramine-ation, basically). You can still develop ammonia from any organic stuff that breaks down in the water over time.

You can get an ammonia test kit for fish keepers if you're curious about how much ammonia might have built up after a week with no water change. Liquid tests are good, but test strips can be unreliable (I speak from experience).

(For anyone reading this who uses Prime, if you're thinking about testing for ammonia, just know that because of the way Prime works, some kinds of liquid ammonia tests will give false readings of high ammonia.)

I think I'm gonna do that, Mom might even have some already. Not long ago, the water got way down, I was very sick and truly unable..... When I pulled them out to change, the fresh water smelled a little rank. The one with instant ocean seemed fine.

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