First Tank Set Up :D

[vainglory]

Hiya! I'm a new soon-to-be dad of a little axolotl. I'm a 19 year old full time college student who does art commissions on the side to have a little money and I've been saving for an axolotl for about half a month. I figured I'd post asking about some stuff for axolotl tanks because I want the little guy to have a really nice tank that will last him.

I bought a 20 gallon long and a stand just for him. I was originally going to get a 10, but I wanted him to have plenty of room for when he grows up.

A few questions~
I'm thinking about helping the new tank cycle by using my goldfish tank water when I change it. Is it safe? The water sits in a cabinet for a week, and gets treated with API Quick Start when I add it to the gold fish tank. My baby goldfish are healthy and happy, but I don't know if it will affect my lotl. I don't want to use real fish because I couldn't kill them or feed them to something else.

I'd love for the tank to have black sand, since I am getting a leuistic. Where can I find reasonably priced safe lotl 20 lb bag of sand? I've found some stuff on amazon, but I have no idea if it is ok.

Finally, does anyone know of an online retailer who sells black slate or something so I can make my own caves. The premade caves are pretty expensive considering they are just odds and ends silliconed together.

Thank you~

 

[emmyk]

Hi! Congrats and leucistic is a good choice) (I'm biased) I would suggest just seeding the tank with something from the goldfish tank. A filter, a hide, a rock, wood, anything. Also I would highly suggest a planted tank. My lotl loves it. I have a walstad tank (read up, they're cool!) I used pool filter sand so its light colored. Just make sure when you get the black sand that its very very fine
Also the cave thing, there are some pretty cool tutorials on making foam + cement ones . I'm not sure where to buy slate though! Good luck!

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[vainglory]

I have a rock hide ornament thing I think the goldfish might not mind letting me borrow. And I want to go for a planted tank, that's why I wanted a substrate instead of bare bottom. I would have gone for some silk plants then.

Thank you :3

 

[emmyk]

Walstad tanks are basically fortified organic soil covered with your choice of substrate. It really helps the plants grow

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[auntiejude]

You might not be able to find black sand - you need kids play sand ideally, I don't know if you'll find black. But keep looking.

If you haven't got your axie yet I'd recommend fishless cycling - much easier and you don't need to keep changing the water until it's done. You can seed the start up with fish tank water, an ornament or you can use the old filter medium to start, but only if the fish are healthy. You just need the bacteria to kick start the cycle.

 

[vainglory]

No, I haven't ordered an axie yet. I planned on cycling for at least a week, and I can delay if necessary. The fish are healthy, so I think I'd want to give that a go.

And to emmyk What brand of soil would you recommend?

 

[vainglory]

Oh surprise! My stand came in early, I wasn't expecting it till tuesday or thursday next week.I'll be setting that up this weekend then.

 

[iSuzie]

Regarding the sand, if ur going for a stains sand then I suggest u wash and rise it very very well, all sand takes some back aching sand washing time... But it's even more critical because even with washed sand, it is still going to leak the dry slightly, although I never had a problem with mine. At the moment we are all the slate bottom

 

[vainglory]

I don't mind having to wash it if it will look pretty in the end. I thought manufacturers would display grain size but I'm having no luck telling which sand is small.

 

[auntiejude]

It's not only the size of sand grains, but the shape. You want sand that is smooth rather than jagged - the grains need to be rounded.

 

[vainglory]

No luck finding any sort of black sand I'm comfortable with. I saw a horror story with that Carib Sea stuff. I think I'll pick up some kiddie play sand instead.

 

[SariYappa]

The kiddie play sand sometimes comes in cool colors too... I had blue, purple and pink... Even though it was for a sand box...

 

[emmyk]

Hi! I used micralegro organic potting soil, but any organic soil with no extra fertilizers will work.

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[PatchworkClocks]

No luck finding any sort of black sand I'm comfortable with. I saw a horror story with that Carib Sea stuff. I think I'll pick up some kiddie play sand instead.

I would think black sand wouldn't be the best idea anyway. Harder to see any droppings your axolotls leave.

 

[vainglory]

True! And I'm going to get a baster to help with that, I heard that was a good idea. I already have a gravel cleaner. Its weird but I don't mind cleaning up my tanks, but I absolutely hate taking care of the family pets. I guess because my pets are actually mine and I asked for them. And my goldfish don't pee on the counter.

 

[vainglory]

Here's my set up so fa plus plushie axolotl I made. I have some playsand, a terra cotta pot, a marimo, and a few live plants to add, but they're rooming with the betta as there's no water in the tank and it is too hot and humid to wash out the sand.

 

[vainglory]

Tank update:

The betta is still holding two of the plants hostage. Oh well. Its still cycling, about .12 of ammonia, no nitrite, and 5 of nitrate I think. The pH is a bit wonky, I think its over 8. I'm going to see if that will change, if not, how do I fix that safely? I live in texas so the house is sort of warm, at 73 or 74. The tank is at 69 or 70 though, the fan and no lid really helps. The temp is pretty steady at least.

I took pictures with the nice camera.

 

[auntiejude]

Don't worry too much about the water parameters or pH if you're still cycling it. What are you using for an ammonia source? When your cycle is done you'll find ammonia going to 0 in 24 hours after you have added it, nitrite at 0 and nitrates high. You then need to do water changes until nitrates are under 40 (your pH will sort itself out with the water change), then you can add your axie.

If you don't have a lid you're going to have to keep an eye on your axie, as some of them like to jump out of the tank. You might consider a mesh lid if you want to use a fan to keep it cool.

 

[snuggly time]

If you don't have a lid you're going to have to keep an eye on your axie, as some of them like to jump out of the tank. You might consider a mesh lid if you want to use a fan to keep it cool.

I second that! Mine jumped the other day but I have mesh which stopped him. :happy: