A few questions on cycling

[kerry]

Just got my axolotls a nice, big, new tank, which I have started to cycle. I would really like to put them in as soon as possible - I think Emilia's tank is too small and she seems to be getting pretty annoyed with it and is desperate for a good swim.

I've moved Emilia's filter into the new tank, plus some of their 'furniture' and sand. How much is this likely to speed things up? Also, what do people think of the idea of me moving them into the new tank now, keeping a close eye on parameters, and keeping their old tanks ready in case the water gets a bit dodgy? If I was to do this, how much water should I change and how often?

Thanks!

 

[Abrahm]

First off, the aquarium cannot cycle by itself. It needs some sort of ammonia source to be food for the bactera. No food, no bacteria. The most common ammonia sources are animals. Other sources include rotting food/waste and pure ammonia, these last two methods are difficult and I wouldn't recommend them without a bit of research, especially for the latter.

In the Nitrogen Cycle Ammonia is converted into Nitrite which is converted into nitrate.

If you want to put the animals in now, that should be fine. If you could put one animal in first that would be best. Also if you can feed a little lighter than normal that would be helpful. Both of these will reduce ammonia being produced in the tank.

There are some other important considerations to make note of. Water testing should be done often, probably two to four times a week to monitor the ammonia (and nitrite and nitrate) levels in the tank. If Ammonia or nitrite ever get over the lowest non-zero value on the test a water change should be performed to reduce the levels of these compounds and a new test should be done to confirm the levels are appropriate (between zero and the first registered number.)

Most pet stores will check your water for you for free. If you can't or won't use a water test kit make sure you bring a water sample in at least once a week and do a 25-30% water change at least once a week, preferably twice a week. Otherwise there may be a toxic buildup of ammonia or nitrite in the aquarium.

Once Nitrite and ammonia levels in the tank are zero and you have nitrates then you know your tank is cycled. This usually takes 4-6 weeks, but with furniture and a filter from an old tank it should be considerably faster.

 

[tara]

Hi Kerry, i have just recently finished cycling my tank after 10.2 weeks. My Axies were in the tank as i didn't know about cycling at the time, But thanks to some wonderful people on this forum they are fine. I did small daily water changes 20 to 30% and checked the water reading every day. It was a bit stressful but i always asked here for help if i didn't understand something. Good luck with your cycling tank.

 

[morph]

moving things from an already cycled tank into the new tank will help a lot. next time you do a 15-20% water change on the already cycled tank, don't throw the old water down the drain. put it into the new tank you are cycling. this will speed things up a lot more.

 

[kerry]

Thanks to all of you for the advice. I've put Emilia into the new tank and she seems quite happy. Pancho is going to stay in his tank a while longer. I'll be keeping a close eye on parameters, and will be keeping Emilia's cycled tank ready in case I need to do an emergency evacuation.

 

[cadams1]

Hi, this thread sounds very similar to what i was going to ask, so ill just ask it here if thats ok...

i too have just got a new bigger tank, ive just added about half the water from the old tank, along with a load of new treated water and new sand. What now? The axies are still in their old tank, and ive left the water low, just above them. Do i need to add more water to the tank they are in and do i still need to do water changes while they are still in it? Im going on holiday in two weeks, so will i have to wait til i return (ill be away for three weeks) to move them into the new tank?

 

[morph]

you can add a small ammount of water back into the old tank but not too much otherwise it will throw off the balanced cycle in it. low water isnt a problem as long as its not too low. 6 inches should be fine. i would recomend leaving the axies in the old tank until you are back from holiday to make sure the cycle is going ok. test the water when you get back and if all perameters are ok then it should be good to move them into the new tank. depending on what size your new tank is, it might be worth putting all of the water from the old tank into the new 1 and moving the axies accross now. it will keep its bacteria and the water will be the same quality that it was in the old tank.

 

[cadams1]

I've already added about half to two thirds of the water from the old tank, and left enough to be cover the axies sufficiently. As it is a significantly bigger tank ive also added a good few buckets of new water, so im guessing that means i will have to wait til after my hol to put them in, like you said, rather than it being ok to put them in now? There isnt enough water left in the old tank now to allow me to use the filter, will they be ok with that off?

 

[cadams1]

Anyone?

My dad reckons i can move them to the new tank now since i put some of the old water in it and have had the old filter running in it, but i only put the water in yesterday! (Hes a bit impatient...) He also thinks the axies are getting stressed what with me taking alot of their water out n moving the tank to make room for the new one...So how long should i wait to move them?

Just did water tests on the new tank, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia were 0, ph was somewhere between 7 and 8, think it looks more like an 8. Dunno what the temperature is since i left the thermometer in the old tank.

 

[Kaysie]

I think moving them to the new tank would be fine. If you have the old filter running, and the new tank is significantly larger, then you shouldn't have a significant spike in ammonia.

 

[cadams1]

Alrighty then! Here goes...ill take your word for it and move them!

 

[Kaysie]

Just keep an eye out for ammonia spikes. Test for them occasionally.

 

[cadams1]

I will do, though as i said ill be on holiday in two weeks, so hopefully nothing will happen while im away!!! What do i do if the ammonia rises? I assume id just do water changes...

 

[Kaysie]

If ammonia hasn't spiked in the next 2 weeks, I doubt it will. If you only have one axolotl, I wouldn't worry.

But you're correct. If the ammonia rises, do a 20% water change.

 

[cadams1]

No i have two axies, but ill be extra vigilant! Thanks for your help!

 

[tara]

ammonia in tank ?

Hi all. i have two 8cm axies in a 18inch tank, the tank has been cycled for about 8 months. The last few days the ammonia has started to rise, it's 0.25 . Everything else is 0. I have been feeding the babies twice a day, would this be causing the rise?. I have been doing small daily water changes but so far this hasn't helped. What else can i do? They have sand in the tank and one plant. Thankyou.

 

[Jennewt]

Do you have some way of cleaning debris out from the sand? This is important. Also, do they eat all of the food offered? There is nothing wrong with feeding twice per day, as long as they are eating well at each feeding, but it's not necessary. I'd recommend cutting back to once per day feedings.

An ammonia reading of 0.25 isn't too bad, but it's a sign that something isn't quite right. Keep up the partial water changes and try to figure out what might be causing the ammonia.

 

[tara]

Thankyou Jennewt, i will cut back the feeding, i hand feed the babies so they eat it all. I will clean the sand with the turkey baster and see if that helps. Thank you again.

 

[tara]

tank problems

well i don't understand what is happening to our small tank. As i said earlier it has been cycled for a few months now, but ammonia is now at 1, nitrite is 0.25. Why is the tank cycling again??. Nothing has changed i feed the babies (2) 8cm axies once a day they are hand fed,so they eat it all, i clean the waste out as soon as i see any, i do weekly water changes and everything was fine till last week. I will start small daily water changes till the readings come down, as the babies are in the tank. Why would the tank cycle again???. Will the babies be okay in that tank with the daily water changes?? . Thankyou.

 

[kapo]

Tara

Do you give the sand siphon or stir parts of sand with turkey baster, sometimes waste gets trapped/buried in sand, also, check under every deco/cave, near/between plants. Whenever our ammonia starts building up, chances are there's poo buried in sand beneath decos and it can be hard to see. Our new wildtype, still unnamed, only goes in the cave when she does a poo.