HELP Tank Cycling/Testing ???

[lexfix]

I got my leucistic axie only two days ago, and I had him in a tank that hadn't been cycled. ): (I'm a new axolotl owner.) My little fella was actually doing pretty well at first. The only problem I had was he lost the pink in his filaments and they seemed like they shortened a little as well. He ate a few bites of brine shrimp here and there. I've come to find that he likes to float among his plants, but he voluntarily swims around when he pleases.
I have him in a 10 gallon until I can upgrade him to a 20/30 when he gets bigger. I used API StressCoat to dechloronize, etc. The flow of the tank is perfect, after I added a nano filter sponge. The water remains at 68/69 degrees F. No substrate. But, I bought an API Ammonia test kit (not the strips) and it's been consistent at 0 ppm. I was doing routine water changes. I also have a small live plant in my tank, as well.
I had been posting on another thread, and they said that I should definitely cycle the tank. But so many people were giving me mixed advice about it all. Although he ate more this morning, my axie wasn't looking so good, so following the thread's advice the best I could, I removed him and fridged him for a bit. I did a 70% water change and added a bit of StressCoat. I've let it sit for a while now (about 8 hours), and ran another test on it. I attached a photo so someone can help me determine. It seems more green than yellow now.

So, will someone please give me some direct advice and let me know what in the world I should do. I took my axie out of the fridge and he definitely looks a little better than he did before. Still not a lot of pink. But should I keep him in the container until the tank cycles and not fridge him at all, or should I place him back in the tank?

 

[lexfix]

Well, if anyone would still like to help me. My axie ate a kibble of frozen brine shrimp after being taken out of the fridge. He's a lot pinker and looks way better than he did before. I ran another test on the water to make sure the ammonia wasn't going up in my tank, but it came back 0 ppm this time, or dark yellow. I'm only afraid to keep him in just a container because I'm not sure how to keep it cool enough for him. I live in Florida. It's extremely hard to keep a tank cool even when it's away from windows.

 

[AxolotlChris]

The only mixed advice you were given was whether you could do a 'fish in cycle' or a 'fishless cycle' it was concluded that a 'fishless cycle' is safest and kinder to the Axolotl. Other than that it was suggested to keep your Axolotl in a separate container of water with 100% daily water changes until your tank has cycled. (Make sure you are adding dechlorinator to water as you mix it, do this before you add it to your Axolotls container.)

You need a test kit which allows you to test for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrates. Currently you seem to only have a test kit for Ammonia. Welcome to API Fishcare: FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT You can purchase this test kit from Amazon.

The cycling process can take from 3-6 weeks.

For your tank to be cycled, a beneficial bacteria needs to grow and colonize your tank to convert the toxic Ammonia into Nitrites then these Nitrites into Nitrates. Ammonia is lethal to Axolotls and is produced from your Axolotls waste and decomposing food. Nitrates are slightly less toxic and created from the Nitrites being converted by the beneficial bacteria.

During cycling the beneficial bacteria will colonize your tanks surfaces such as substrate, ornaments, filter, and first begin to feed on the Ammonia turning it into Nitrites, then bacteria will break down the Nitrites into Nitrates. The bacteria is known as a 'biofilter', as it filters the ammonia and nitrites into less harmful nitrates. Then you can lower the Nitrates by performing weekly water changes.

You need to feed your tank with a source of Ammonia, because you have no Axolotl or fish in your tank to produce waste which creates Ammonia. You can purchase bottled Ammonia so you can put some drops in your tank to feed the bacteria. You can also use fish food, pellets or a dead shrimp, since when these decay they create Ammonia.



Caudata Culture Articles - Cycling
Caudata Culture Articles - Water Quality

Also, your tank seems to have a temp of around 21 degrees Celsius, you would do best to invest in a chiller, since the optimum temperature is 16-18 degrees Celsius. Higher water temperature promotes stress and disease. If you were to have a heat wave while your tanks water is at 21 degrees, it could increase. Anything above 24 degrees Celsius is deadly. So it is safer to invest in a chiller to create a consistent temperature of 16-18 degrees Celsius.

Read all this websites articles, it will give you the information you need to care for an Axolotl: Axolotls: The Fascinating Mexican Axolotl and the Tiger Salamander

 

[NaterPotater]

Or blow a fan on the water surface if you aren't already doing that.

 

[big a little a]

Re keeping your axie cool in the container, I would keep him/her in the fridge until your tank is fully cycled. If he's gone through some stress due to the un-cycled water in the tank, the fridge is the best place for him, to distress ?