Noobie here

liverleef

Registered Member
Mar 19, 2009
2
0
0
Kentucky
Hello all. I'm new here but here is my aquarium situation, I had two small african clawed frogs in a ten gallon tank for my kids, before I knew it, my kids were bored with them and I was having fun with it. I bought a 55 gallon tank with oak stand and canopy, 110 aquaclear filter and some big pieces of driftwood. I built a DIY 3D background out of pink sheets of polystyrene insulation, cement, epoxy resin and lots of sand.

I then bought a big albino african clawed frog and after one of my other frogs escaped and died I bought a kenyan clawed frog (I have a top on the aquarium now, lesson learned). I now have 3 frogs and have since added 2 red bellied pacu, a bristlenose pleco and 2 small snails.

I love my tank, it's very relaxing to watch the inhabitants. The main problems I have is that my albino frog will not eat. How it is that he is still alive is anybody's guess. I love the pacu, very fun fish too keep. They were small when I bought them and I hoped to keep them a while before they outgrew the tank but after just a few months they have grown substantially. I guess I'll have to try to sell them on craigslist or something before much longer. That is too bad because they got along with my frogs so well. I'll have to find another fish that is too big for the frogs to eat.

The third problem I have is that my tank is ate up with algae. There is algae all over the DIY background which I really like because it gives the background a natural uniform color. Unfortunately it quickly spreads to all of my plastic plants and the aquarium glass. The pleco helps with the algae on the glass and rocks but not the plants. The plants are a pain to hand clean

cheers
 
Welcome to AC! I've never kept any of the fish(/amphibians?) you are having trouble with, so I can't be much help. One thing I noticed, is that you have an aquaclear 110 as the only filter on a 55 gallon tank. I believe that the 110 is rated for 110 liters, or about 29 gallons of water. I would reccomend getting at least another one of those, at a bare minimum. I personally, would get a filter rated for 100 gallons, or 400 liters. It is usually better to overfilter. You have come to the right place to get your questions answered. There are alot of friendly, knowledgeable people here.
 
Did you test your water with a liquid kit? What does it read? How often do you do water changes? What foods have you tried with the frog?
Algae control is simple- more water changes, less light, and less food.
Did you cycle the tank first?
 
Did you test your water with a liquid kit? What does it read? How often do you do water changes? What foods have you tried with the frog?
Algae control is simple- more water changes, less light, and less food.
Did you cycle the tank first?

I test the ammonia levels pretty regularly and they are always normal. I have not performed other tests. Good question about the food, I've tried reptile sticks, blood worms, dried krill, dried brine shrimp and tubifex cubes. The only critter in my tank that won't eat them is the albino frog. The pacu will eat all of those things including the algae discs meant for my pleco.

I do a 50% percent water change every weekend. You are correct about the light, the tank is in a location where it catches a good deal of light in the mornings and early afternoon. I also have a aquarium light which is not helping either. I like where my aquarium is because it's very eye catching there. Guess I'll have to buy some blinds!

As far as cycling, well no I did a poor job of this. What I did was I took all of the decorations out of my old established 10 gal tank including some gravel. I then put a tiny amount of ammonia in the new tank with the old decorations and gravel and hoped that the nitrites/nitrates would get to work. A week later I did a 50% water change, checked the ammonia levels and dumped all my frogs in. They all survived.

Oh and I checked the filter it is rated for 500 gph or 60-110 gal tank so I think I'm overfiltering.
 
Well, I'm afraid I am not a frog expert, but you could always put him in isolation and try feeding him some live food.
 
Im not a frog keeper but freeze dried flies might work or however they prepare them. Maybe a criket. Just guesses. Welcome aboard I am sure someone will try to be more helpful.
 
I test the ammonia levels pretty regularly and they are always normal.

Normal? I hope you mean 0.0 ppm. There is no 'normal' for ammonia, besides none detectable.

Oh and I checked the filter it is rated for 500 gph or 60-110 gal tank so I think I'm overfiltering.

If you are right about that flowrate, than yes, it is plenty.
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Welcome to AC! Most filters can barely handle 50-60% of what they are rated at.
 
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