API liquid master test kits are a little over 20 bucks on amazon
Okay, we need to understand cycling then - i'll do my best to explain!
1.
Why you do it: Because as fish (well in this case an Axolotl) breathes/poops etc it creates ammonia in the water, kinda like when we breathe we create carbon dioxide. Ammonia is toxic to them, so in a closed system like a tank, the ammonia will build up and up and up until the animal is burning in it's own waste and it
dies.
So how do we keep animals in tanks at all??? The Nitrogen cycle!
Nitrifying bacteria will convert the ammonia to nitrite, then to less toxic nitrate which can be removed via water changes.
Basically the bacteria keep the water safe for our animals.
2.
How to do it: Cycling takes WEEKS, i'll state that right now. The bacteria only colonize so fast, there's no way to speed it up.
You cycle your tank by adding ammonia to it(WHILE IT IS EMPTY - do not put ammonia in the tank while there is an animal in it) until the ammonia is up to 4ppm, four parts per million. You keep the levels up to 4 DAILY. You'll start seeing nitrites as the bacteria starting 'eating' the ammonia, then after a few more weeks you'll see nitrates, and when you have nitrates with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, your tank is cycled!
Once your tank is fully cycled with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and a nitrate reading, your tank is ready for an Axolotl.
Can I wait a few weeks AFTER cycling the tank to add my axie?
Only if you keep adding ammonia! the bacteria are living creatures and if you don't 'feed' them they die.
Do I have to do it more than once after the first time or just test the water?
Once your tank is cycled, it should stay cycled unless you do something which would crash it (kill the bacteria) The bacteria live in your FILTER so turning off the filter will kill them, etc. Removing all the water and letting the tank get dry will kill them, basically doing anything to mess up their environment will kill them. XD
You should test your water regularly to make sure your cycle is still in effect (I test my water at least twice a week).
If you test the water and find ammonia/nitrate over 0, do you just change your water?
Yes, change the water right away until the levels go below .5ppm
Also, are you supposed to have your filter on during the cycling process?
yes yes yes! So very much yes, the beneficial bacteria live in your filter media! That's their home and if it's off, you can't cycle your tank!
Also never turn your filter off once it's running. It should be on 100% of the time. always. Leaving it off for more than a few minutes will kill the bacteria.
Do you take your axie out of its tank and put it in a tub or fish bowl or something when you change your water? If so, do you use a net to get it out or your hands or what?
No, there's no need to move it. Just scoop/siphon water out of the tank while he's in there and put new (dechlorinated) water in. Obviously watch him around the siphon, I've seen axies damaged by siphons but if you mind him he's fine in there while you're doing changes. It's better to not stress him by moving him.
Though if you ever have to do a 100% change for some reason (spilled something into the water etc) then yes obviously move him to a container as he can't be dry XDDD
You can move him GENTLY with a net, but what I do is nudge him into a cup then use that to move him to a new container. You CAN lift him with your hands, but he's likely to struggle and I've seen to many horror stories of axies dropped on the floor.
How do you feed your axie? When can I start feeding it earthworms? Should the worms be alive or dead?
As juvies they're fed on frozen bloodworms- I defrost a cube then suck up the worms with a turkey baster then squirt them into the tank in front of my Axolotl. He sees the movement and noms them up! Earthworms can be fed when his mouth is big enough (when he's around 5 inches?) the worms can be alive or dead, but if they're dead they should be recently dead lol. Some axies like live worms because of the movement, but some don't because of the defensive secretion the worms emit. So to kill one you just blanch it - put it quickly into almost boiling water then quickly into cold water. This kills it without cooking it - don't cook the worm lol.
I don't mind all the questions! throw them at me haha 8> I'm glad you're doing your research! If there's something about cycling etc you still don't understand, keep asking ,I'll do my best to make it clear!