Axolotls and planted tanks?

[robert]

Hey all

I've gone through the excellent website attached to this forum and I think I have a grasp of the basics now. I'm planning on keeping a single Axolotl, maybe a pair (breeding?) in a Rio180 with an Ehiem ProII keeping things nice and tidy.

Thing is..

I've kept fish for several years (everything from Discus to Guppies

) and I love my planted tanks.

My last setup (Rio180 I now want to use for the Axolotls) employed a pressurized CO2 system and 120watts of T8 lighting. From what I've understood this would be a no full stop? but what about something not quite as mad but still quite heavily planted with hardier plants like Java ferns/moss, Amazon Swords and Anubus type plants?
Also how mad can I go on substrate decor, are plenty of caves and surfaces of various levels gonna work well or do I really need plenty of flat even space?

Sorry for the long post

and thanks in advance.

 

[robert]

Oops... Just incase a Jewel Rio180 is about 40UK gallons(180litres) and measures approx 38inx16inx17in (LxWxH)

 

[pete]

I have a lot of plant life with my axolotl with no problems. The only thing that I've noticed is that when my anacharis get over grown and covers the water surface, my axolotl doesn't seem to like the tangled fight to get a gulp of air at the surface. He still manages though, so it's not really a problem.

 

[robert]

Hmmm.. Ya know, I was expecting them to be prolific diggers.

Think I'll give it a crack with some hardier plants and if everything goes ok, I'll look at taking it a little further.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[joan]

They are prolific diggers. Nothing really stays in the substrate for long. Ontop of that, they will rip any plant you have to shreds (if they can). I had a beautiful 7 inch tall sword plant that now stands all of an inch tall. *shrug* I use lots of java moss and silk plants.

 

[pete]

To avoid digging, I keep the plant bases covered with sizable stones. This has worked well for me.

 

[joan]

Doesn't stop them from tearing the leaves apart. Pothos works well though! Indestructable!

 

[hayley-jane]

Pete do you have a picture of your axolotl tank?

 

[pete]

If you look at the "Bozo" thread in the Axie photo gallery, there is an older picture of my tank. The plants have grown more and I've since added another plant. I'll be upgrading to a 40 gallon soon, so I don't have a current picture, because I've let things get a little over-grown lately.