Axolotl habitat

[axiekeeper]

This is my little axolotl habitat, a 40 gallon breeder, to be home for 5 axies eventually.

the background is built out of polystyrene and quickwall white cement with liquid dyes. built in is a plant filter on the back that will be filled with lavarock, arrowhead plants and also wanting to find other suitable choices that will look good there and suck up all the nitrites! Maybe some kinda mini fern and something flowering? then it dumps into the tank waterfall like! its all powered by a sunsun/grech canister filter 370gph (turned down till the current is just right) it has a 9w uv and is better then the renafilstar it replaced by a mile! and much better priced!

this is with just the white cement so far, ill post more when im done with color.

 

[axiekeeper]

almost forgot the pics!!
I also took off top trim and will be bracing it, more on that next time.

 

[argray90]

That looks cooll!

 

[emily74]

omg I am sooo jealous!!!! looks awesome so far!

 

[axiekeeper]

Thank! took a number of hours I rather not think about and a huge mess of pink
polystyrene peices, but totally worth it!

nearly finished, all color is done. still wet and darker then final but I had to post.
in middle picture there is a piece visible, that is a dish shaped fake stone for feeding the axies.

 

[axiekeeper]

got the brace done. its 3/16"x 1 1/4" glass with 100% silicone (fish safe) front pane is very stiff now, even stiffer by far then the old trim made it, and it looks way better.

got dirt in it as well, letting it soak to "mineralize" it just need to get some laterite clay, then cap with black diamond sand. waterfall is functional and spills over entire surface except not above where intake will be which is good thing. I think Ill put a bubbler above intake that is in the cave in left back corner, and put a foam filter in the entrance to keep curious axolotls out.

seems the pictures show the color washed out now, they are actually more vibrant, Ill see about taking a non cellphone pic.
filled pictures coming soon!

 

[axiekeeper]

my 3 axies.

 

[felix453]

Just recommended this website to you from MFK

 

[axiekeeper]

HAHAHA I just responded to your recommendation on MFK!!

 

[axiekeeper]

got the back planted! used lava rock and it nearly matches the background! The Bonsai (well not yet) is a ficus and will have a dedicated water line running on it to keep it watered.

 

[hacelepues]

So lovely! Does the water run through the dry plants? If so, get ready to have some very perfect water levels

 

[axiekeeper]

yeah it does! its a built in basin where the output from my canister filter dumps.:grin:
when the water clears up Ill show everyone where the intake will be.
(the blue thing is temporary dont worry)

 

[MandiceP]

This is awesome! Question. With the background rock like thing... lol Do you have to seal it with anything? Or is just the foam covered in the cement good? I've made reptile rock structures using foam and non sanded grout before but I've never ventured to fish tank safe things... lol!

 

[axiekeeper]

it is waterproof quickwall cement, all that needs done is to soak a while to let the alkaline chemicals leach so it doesnt swing your ph. Ive got mine running a spare canister and letting my (currently) bare dirt substrate age a bit at the same time. two weeks should be sufficient just check the ph.

 

[axiekeeper]

I lost my wildtype, not sure what happened he was healthy, i have begun to notice my black diamond sand has long peices in it, i couldnt do an autopsy, i just couldnt.

He was eating healthy and looked good. Do not use black diamond sand even if u screen it, youll never remove needle looking peices.

 

[axiekeeper]

anyone got a suggestion for a very safe darker sand. something black or dark like dirt. I would leave a dirt substrate bottom If I could but I think it would be a mess.

 

[hacelepues]

I don't use this in my axie tank (I prefer white sand for them), but tahitian moon sand seems pretty fine, although the grains seem sharp.

I think your best bet would be to buy a ton of black "Sand Art" sand like the stuff they use at carnival craft tables and such. You should be able to find it online.

I think it's safe for aquariums but I'd double check that if I were you because I've only heard that it's safe, never verified.

 

[SapphireTigress]

that is extremely cool! You should make a tutorial!

 

[Minniechild]

To answer your question, hacelepues- Tahitian Moon sand isn't safe MereB lost one of her darling babies to a 2mm piece with a jagged edge that got swallowed, which then perforated the digestive tract and out of abdomen...
Axiekeeper- there's a really awesome thread around at the moment on walstad tanks- using soil as a base and then capping it with a finer grained sand. May not be just what you're looking for, but definitely closer than previous

 

[hacelepues]

Yeah, I figured. One of the main reason I only use it in fish tanks. That's why I followed up with a recommendation for "sand art" sand.