Question: Check my tank and Water Quality Questions!

[ElaineSelene]

Is this tank ok? I made the stone decorations myself. (except the dock in the corner and the two white plants bases!) Otherwise I took apart the blue plant and put its pieces down on a rock with a "cave" left in the middle of them so my axolotl (when I get it) can hide there. The big rock cave is also designed to break the current from the filter above it (hopefully!)

I don't have anything else to put in there except maybe some more rocks from my collection... Any advice? I'm picking all tumbled, smooth rocks.

I realize the plastic plants are not the best idea but they are only there until I can get silk.

ALSO: having trouble with my water readings. Please help?
PH: 7.6 OR HIGHER (it won't read above 7.6)
High Range PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 1.0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm

I put in ammonia detoxifier for now and I don't have any idea what to do about PH unless you think that "Proper PH 7.0" would be a good bet. I own some of that.

Thanks for any advice and help!

Right now there is one little fish I borrowed from my boyfriends turtles tank keeping the tank cycled but I'll remove him when the axolotl comes.

Here is my tank photo though:

 

[Alkylhalide]

With those readings you havent even began to cycle your tank. A cycled tank will have 0ammonia 0nitrite and under 40ppm of nitrate. And this process can take 4-8weeks or longer. One fish will definately not create the ammonia needed to create a stable cycle for an axolotl, i used 17guppies and that still wasnt enough! I would suggest doing a fishless cycle before you get your lotl.

Also if you keep using the ammonia detox you will never get a cycle going in that tank. You need ammonia to create nitrite and nitrite to create nitrate.

And then water changes to get rid of the nitrates.

 

[ElaineSelene]

With those readings you havent even began to cycle your tank. A cycled tank will have 0ammonia 0nitrite and under 40ppm of nitrate. And this process can take 4-8weeks or longer. One fish will definately not create the ammonia needed to create a stable cycle for an axolotl, i used 17guppies and that still wasnt enough! I would suggest doing a fishless cycle before you get your lotl.

Also if you keep using the ammonia detox you will never get a cycle going in that tank. You need ammonia to create nitrite and nitrite to create nitrate.

And then water changes to get rid of the nitrates.

Oh. I assumed it was cycled because I had 6 fish in it for 3 months. (I just got rid of them).

Ok. Thanks.

 

[Quentari]

Oh. I assumed it was cycled because I had 6 fish in it for 3 months. (I just got rid of them).

Ok. Thanks.

Hmm maybe something crashed your cycle? or it died when you removed your other fish? how long was it empty?

 

[ElaineSelene]

Hmm maybe something crashed your cycle? or it died when you removed your other fish? how long was it empty?

I wonder... I only removed my other fish 2 days ago. That is how long it was empty for. Oh well. Since it isn't working right I guess I'll drain it, clean it, and start over. I bought some beneficial bacteria. (petsmart and petco don't sell ammonia around here.)

 

[Alkylhalide]

You will most likely need to go to a hardware store to get pure ammonia.

And you dont need to clean it and start over, just leave it like it is and dont add any ammonia detox.