Is large gravel ineffective for tank cycling?

[Leiopelma]

I think my tank is fully cycled now as I've tested for nitrite and it's negative but still have no ammonia testers. However, the gravel is too small in my tank for the axolotls and I need to change the substrate. I've removed most of it but have left some to cover the gravel filter so it has something to work with and only put their food on the tank bottom away from the gravel.

I thought about getting sand to use but it sounds like a huge hassle what with it clogging up the filters and especially about the bad smell it creates. So I think I would prefer to stay with gravel but get large sized gravel (>2cm) so the axolotls can't swallow it.

However, I think I read somewhere that bacteria don't really like the large gravel and so the tank cycling is really slow or doesn't cycle at all? Any advice on this?

Cheers!

 

[animalloversfb]

Are you using an undergravel filter? If so, those really aren't the best, but especially not in an axolotl tank. Aside from the fact that they can ingest the gravel, their waste isn't small enough to settle down well in there anyways. All your waste ends up underneath the plate making clean-up a hassle and then you are stuck essentially having to recycle your tank as you also remove with it a lot of the bacteria. I've heard the same thing you have about the large rocks supporting less bacteria(has to do with surface area). 2 cm would be too small for me to chance as larger axies could ingest it. I used larger smooth stones(maybe 6-8 cm) and that involves shifting each individual stone to clean around them and was more work in my opinion, although looked really nice.

I use sand now and haven't noticed any smell with regular cleaning. The filters can suck some of it up, but sponge filters are great or you can position the filter with several large rocks underneath to keep the sand from getting in it as much. You don't want a strong filter with them anyways and I've found its the stronger filters that have the tendency to suck up more sand and clog.

 

[lea]

I wouldnt use gravel at all. If you need something and you dont like sand you can use river rocks but they have to be bigger that the axies head otherwise they will eat them.

I use sand and it doesnt smell, make sure it isnt to deep and when I do water changes every week I give the sand a bit of a twirl around so the gasses are released and then they dont build up.

 

[carsona246]

Your tank will cycle regardless of the substrate you have. Beneficial bacteria will stick to large river stones just the same as gravel. Just make sure the stones you use are much bigger than the axolotl's head. You won't beleieve the size of stones axolotls can somehow manage to fit in their mouths.

 

[Leiopelma]

Okay sweet. I think I'll change to sand... best way to do that?

 

[carsona246]

If you don't have your animal in the tank I'd just dump out all the water and switch it out. If you do have your animal what I used to do is put my fish a bowl, take all the water out, while leaving the filter wet, and switch it out. I think it would be difficult to switch substrates with water in your tank. Make sure you rinse your sand well before you add it. I mean really well, if you don't your tank will be cloudy for weeks.

 

[animalloversfb]

Take the axie out for at least several hours. Someone at my pet store recommended cutting a hole in the bag and slowly setting it down into the water. Let it sit for at least a couple hours - you will notice the water seeping in slowly(poke the bag every so often to help loosen things up). Then gently dump out and nearly all of it will sink and it won't take long for the rest to settle. It worked really well for me at least with bags of aquarium sand.

You could also pour all of the sand into a bucket and rinse it for awhile(stick a hose into it. If you aren't getting aquarium-specific sand, this is really important to do first. Then slowly lower the bucket into the tank if possible and gently tip over. It will take awhile to settle though so wait until the water is clear to put your axie back in.