Hihi,
6. How big of a tank should I get for 1 or more axolotls, and how high should the water be? I've read on www.axolotl.org that tank size and water amount doesn't need to be a lot, but there is no concrete guideline, and the picture on that page has a huge tank?
I read from various sources that indicate floor space is more important than water volume depth. I agree in the sense that since axolotls tend to crawl along the bottom of the tank, the bigger the floor space, the better. I remembered Kal has once mentioned that he goes by the general guidelines of 2 foot per axolotl. However some other experts here, with their experience, has found that if you are diligent with your water changes to maintain water quality, and provide enough environmental enrichment such as hiding caves and logs (ideally 2 hiding places per axolotl), you might be able to house more. I personally have 5 adult axolotls in a 4x2x2 ft tank. Jennifer Macke (2006) has defined overcrowding as follows:
"10-gallon tank can support about 12 inches of animal (three 4-inch newts, for example), and a 15-20 gallon tank can easily support about 16 inches of animal. These figures assume that the tank is at least 2/3rds full of water. Any fish or other animals in the tank also count toward the total. Any animals beyond this could result in overcrowding."
However, it is always best to provide the biggest available tank/space for your axolotl. Besides giving it the freedom to move about more freely and reduce chance of overcrowding, it also assists in maintaining a more stable water chemistry environment. Some references, especially those from laboratory setups suggest half tanks of water, i figured they have the capacity to change water more frequently and also to optimise manpower especially if they have huge colonies of axolotls. I personally prefer a full tank of water. The rationale being that the larger the volume of water, the water chemistry (and even temp) tend to be more stable and fluctuate less. Think of a glass of water and a swimming pool of water both under the same ambient temperature, which one takes longer to equilibrate with the temperature? Its the larger volumed one. Secondly, harmful nitrogenous waste products like ammonia can be more diluted in a larger volume of water. This is not to say you can do away with water changes though, it just means that the harmful effect is 'buffered'. Lastly, i think of the aquatic home of the axolotl in a 3D perspective. True that they tend to 'walk' along the ground, but lets not forget they can also swim up and down, left and right. Why not give it the bigger space to roam? Since axolotls are fully aquatic, i would say why not have a full tank?
For some fantastic examples of tank setups, take a look at this site
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/setups1.shtml
7. How often does the tank, filter, and accessories need to be taken out and completely cleaned? I know this may be dependent on filter strength, water level, and tank size, so any input wil be much appreciated.
Please take a look through these two VERY important articles, they answer ALL your questions in great detail.
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/waterquality.shtml
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/filters.shtml
I would recommend only 20 water change each time and NOT total water changes. You can use a siphon or turkey baster to get rid of visible solid wastes on the bottom of the tank. I would NOT completely clean the accessories, filter etc. because we want to keep the beneficial bacteria alive. However, crystal clear water also doesn't mean that its good to go.
You would need a healthy colony of beneficial bacteria in your tank to detoxify ammonia and nitrite. A well-established fully-cycled tank will be able to efficiently biofiltrate and keep the water healthy for your axolotls. A totally clean tank is dangerous because the tank isn't fully cycled yet with the beneficial bacteria. Ammonia and nitrite can then build up and cause toxicity in your axolotl. Furthermore they are colourless and odourless and by the time its too late, you won't know what hit you.
These are some tips on protecting the biofilm (slimy bacterial colony). The following is an extract from the article written by Jennifer Macke, 2006.
Protect your tank slime .
Where do beneficial bacteria grow? On any wet surface in your tank: on the glass, the gravel, the rocks, the aquarium ornaments, the filter. You may notice that these surfaces are slimy. This slime is your biofilter. Here are some simple things you can do to take care of it:
- If you must use an antibiotic treatment for a sick axolotl, do the treatment in a separate quarantine tank so you don’t kill the good bacteria in your main tank.
- If you want to clean your tank, don’t clean all the ornaments and the filter all at once. If you do, you’ve just killed most of your biofilter and the tank may have to start the cycling process all over again.
- Choose tank decorations that have rough surfaces where more bacteria can colonize, such as natural rock and terracotta.
- Choose a color of gravel that won’t show the algae, and you will never have to scrub it. (However, you will still have to remove debris diligently.)
- Understand that algae, in moderation, is not bad. Most algae have all the same benefits of live plants – oxygen production and nutrient consumption. If you get excessive algae, particularly the ugly kinds, take steps to reduce it. But never take the whole tank apart and scrub everything off unless absolutely necessary.
- If you are starting a new tank, use some pieces of filter media or gravel from the older tank to help establish the bacteria in the new tank.
Remove debris and clean the filter frequently.
Filters do not make dirt
go away. They only concentrate the dirt in one place to make removal easier. Even if you can’t see it, the dirt in the filter is still in the aquarium, producing waste products.
This means that you have to remove the solid wastes accumulated in your filter. However do not wash the filter media in boiling water. Otherwise it does the same thing as cooking your bacterial colony to death.
Hope these sites are useful for you.
Cheers
, so I want to avoid the same jam.
