For cycling you can do fish or fish less. If you don't have anywhere to put the fish after you are done cycling then go fishless
All you will need to start is SOMETHING to use as a source of ammonia which is pretty much any organic matter but fish flake or an axie pellet are usually the easiest sources. You just add a tiny bit every couple of days. If you see it going all fluff and moldy fish it out and add some fresh stuff but if you crumble/grind it up nice and fine that shouldn't be a problem.
The cycle is basically
Ammonia source produces
ammonia as it breaks down or as the fish wee if you are going with fish.
As the
ammonia rises the colony of bacteria that feed on the ammonia start to grow and "eat" it. As they do this they produce
Nitrite.
As the
Nitrite rises the next colony of bacteria start to grow. These ones feed on the Nitrite rendering it almost harmless as they convert it to the ALMOST harmless
Nitrate.
NOW the only way to get rid of nitrate is with a water change although any live plants you have will use a little of it.
So the cycle goes
Ammonia rises and peaks > Nitrite starts to rise and peak as ammonia drops down > Nitrate is produced and Nirtite and Ammonia drop to zero.
Once your ammonia and nitrite as stable for a few days you are cycled. The whole process can takes anywhere from 2 to 6ish weeks to complete. It's slower at the lower temps of the average axie tank so if you want to speed it up a little you can put a heater in the tank and set if for about 25-28 degrees. In optimum conditions these very slow growing bacteria take 15 hours to double and it's much slower at the optimum axie temp of 19.
Do NOT put in the heater if you plan to put your axie in there while it's cycling and make sure you drop the temperature right back down once you're done and are ready for your new pet.
You can cycle with your axie as your ammonia source but I would REALLY recommend against that for any first timer.
You will need for this if you don't have them already a liquid test kit for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate and one for pH is also a good idea.
Keep your reading to the following or below with water changes during the cycle and you'll be fine. Ammonia 0.3, Nitrite 0.25 and Nitrate 20ppm do not let them get higher for ver long if you can avoid it. What;s toxic for fish is also toxic for bacteria
As far as plants
Javamoss is a popular choice.
Most of your green sword plants (echinodoris) will do well on low light, ambullia is EXCELLENT in an axie tank. I have liliopsis growing nicely in mine but I get some natural sunlight in there every day as well.
Ummm... Vallis (not the cork screw/twisty one) will also be very happy but you can pretty well choose from any of the plants out there that like a temperature of 19, slightly acid (6) to slightly alkaline (8) water and have low light requirements then take you new knowledge of to your local aquarium store or favorite webstore and see what you can find.
There is a very good plant catalogue at
Tropica you can use the
alphabetical list (time consuming) or the
Easy to grow list. Just click on the plants picture and it will show you what it likes to grow. Generally speaking plants with red on their leaves require more light than is available in an axie tank.
Have a look around the site. They have some great
layout ideas and what not on there as well.
My only concern with live plants and 1 inch of sand would be keeping them rooted. You would need to find a way to keep them in the sand with large pebbles/stones around the base of them or put in more sand so the roots have something to go into. Some of the members here have their plants growing in glass jars and puts that they place int he tank which is also an option if you like the look of it.
Most of all HAVE FUN!!!!
Mere.
