Murky Water

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cate_el

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I bought my first axolotl 5 days ago! The few days after setting up his tank, the water was extremely clear. Yesterday it got really murky though and has not cleared up since.
I have a filter, fan, and chiller probe for the tank that I’m using. He has 3 small moss balls in his tank, but no other live plants.
I have tested his water with test strips and it came out as pH 7.5-8.0, and nitrate and nitrite at 0. I also dechlorinated the water before I put my axolotl in the tank.
Does anybody know why the water is so murky? Or how to fix it (if I should)?
Here’s a pic of his tank now, compared to the second day tank.
9C7398E3-80ED-49ED-B859-B6F1DD70541B.jpeg
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Last edited:
cate_el said:
I bought my first axolotl 5 days ago! The few days after setting up his tank, the water was extremely clear. Yesterday it got really murky though and has not cleared up since.
I have a filter, fan, and chiller probe for the tank that I’m using. He has 3 small moss balls in his tank, but no other live plants.
I have tested his water with test strips and it came out as pH 7.5-8.0, and nitrate and nitrite at 0. I also dechlorinated the water before I put my axolotl in the tank.
Does anybody know why the water is so murky? Or how to fix it (if I should)?
Here’s a pic of his tank now, compared to the second day tank.View attachment 86129View attachment 86131
Click to expand...
That’s from ammonia, you need to get your axolotl out right away and tub them with 100% water changes daily. In the meantime you can pick up a liquid water testing kit and begin cycling!
 
Binditheaxolotl said:
That’s from ammonia, you need to get your axolotl out right away and tub them with 100% water changes daily. In the meantime you can pick up a liquid water testing kit and begin cycling!
Click to expand...
I’ve only had him in the tank for 5 days and have been cleaning it and doing water changes. Could it really be ammonia?
 
cate_el said:
I believe so! I added the water, dechlorinator, and a pH level increase solution and let it cycle for about 6 hours before putting him in.
Click to expand...
Okay, so that’s not cycling. It’s fine tho, I did the same thing!! Cycling is a 4-6 week process where u build beneficial bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrite, then nitrite to nitrate, it’s much less toxic form. Since your in the US, I ordered a precycled sponge filter from michaels fish room. It cycled my tank in 4 days. You’ll also need an air pump and standard air tubing. There’s a guide on here, let me find it!
 
Cycling Guide-Website
Here it is! It’s a website, you can find a lot of other websites as well, this is the first one I found! You really need to cycle your tank, I tried to ignore it after I found out about it, and it resulted in my axolotl getting a severe ammonia burn which I had to buy Methylene blue and Furan2 to treat, and it was a 2 week process with daily water changes getting her better. I’m sure you can find other guides!
 
Binditheaxolotl said:
Cycling Guide-Website
Here it is! It’s a website, you can find a lot of other websites as well, this is the first one I found! You really need to cycle your tank, I tried to ignore it after I found out about it, and it resulted in my axolotl getting a severe ammonia burn which I had to buy Methylene blue and Furan2 to treat, and it was a 2 week process with daily water changes getting her better. I’m sure you can find other guides!
Click to expand...
I just went to Petsmart and got a water test done. They said the ammonia is 0! Is there still a possibility that could be the cause of it? And I’m so glad your axolotl turned out ok!! That sounds really scary!
5E76974E-9704-45C1-BAA0-4CFC9DAFCE09.jpeg
 
Hi! I have 2 axolotls and would love to help as well. When I first got into fish and axolotls I had two goldfish get ammonia burns since I was uneducated and didn't cycle the tank. So you really have to be 100% certain to make sure that the tank is cycled. As Binditheaxolotl said the tank has not been cycled. 5 days is just enough time unless you bought a pre cycled filter.

Some reasons why the ammonia levels came back as zero:
1. Your axolotl didn't poop yet or the poop didn't break down which would release ammonia
2. Since your axolotl is tiny the amount of ammonia released was very small and was either undetected or round to zero.

It's very risky having an axolotl in an uncycled tank. What will happen is the ammonia will rise and eventually hurt or kill your axolotl. It's important that you remove and tub the axolotl and allow the tank to cycle before putting it back. You will need to buy ammonia in order to cycle the tank and put in the amount that is recommended on the ammonia container(I bought mine on Amazon). This is so the beneficial bacteria learn to convert the ammonia into a safe form(nitrates). I am currently in the process of cycling a tank and tubbing my axolotl with 100% water changes daily while I wait for it to cycle. If you have any questions about tubing your axolotl or cycling the tank feel free to ask.
 
You did not cycle your tank you you are seeing some of the blooms etc that happen.

As stated you need to tub your axolotls and do 100% water changes every day

Here is my Cycling HANDOUT

Cycling can take 8 weeks or longer - The heater and nitrifying bacteria I talk about is soooo important and you must get your own api freshwater master test kit.
 
Hi guys. Turned out the cause of the cloudiness was from a fan I had on the tank. As soon as I took that off, the cloudiness went away. Maybe the water was just highly oxygenated, I don’t know, but my axolotl has been vibing ever since :)
 
cate_el said:
Hi guys. Turned out the cause of the cloudiness was from a fan I had on the tank. As soon as I took that off, the cloudiness went away. Maybe the water was just highly oxygenated, I don’t know, but my axolotl has been vibing ever since :)
Click to expand...
Glad it's doing better! Even so, cycling is INCREDIBLY important. Additionally, I would highly recommend not using test strips, as they tend to be super inaccurate. Use API's Freshwater Master Test Kit. It's expensive, but worth it. Until your tank is cycled, you will want to test ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate every day until your levels are CONSISTENTLY:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: below 40
 
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