My axie tank is green...HELP!

[PrincessK6869]

We just got an axie about 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, we didn't know we were getting such a big one, so his poor self is stuck in the 10 gallon until I get the 20 long cycled. However, the tank is green! I did a huge water change 2 days ago, and it helped a lot. But it's super cloudy again. What do I do? I read it can be brown algae....? I did find something floating around that looked like it could be brown algae. But I'm not positive it was. I am super new to all of this. It was a present for My daughter and I'm left to care for him. So I'm super nervous to hurt him! The fish store gave me Algae Fix. But I read that's bad for axies. So, what exactly do I do? Or is it better to just leave it be until the new tank is cycled and just do water changes every few days? I had a coconut bridge with Java moss in there. I moved it to the new tank to help with the cycle. Do I leave it there? Take it out? Move it back...?

The tank is 66-67°
Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates all come up 0 on the API freshwater kit.
I'm trying to do research and figure this out. But I'm so lost!

 

[wolfen]

was the ten gallon cycled before hand?
green algae water (pea soup) will help remove excess nutrients and nitrogen compounds from the water but it also reduces the oxygen content (make sure there is an air stone)
plants will out compete the algae, reducing the amount of direct sunlight or full spectrum light will help reduce algae growth, mechanical filtration with fine sponges will help remove algae from the water column, uv filtration will kill algae (make sure to have good mechanical filtration to remove dead algae), frequent water changes will remove nutrients and nitrogen compounds therefore reducing algae, barley straw and extract will kill algae and is safe for axolotls.

 

[PrincessK6869]

was the ten gallon cycled before hand?
green algae water (pea soup) will help remove excess nutrients and nitrogen compounds from the water but it also reduces the oxygen content (make sure there is an air stone)
plants will out compete the algae, reducing the amount of direct sunlight or full spectrum light will help reduce algae growth, mechanical filtration with fine sponges will help remove algae from the water column, uv filtration will kill algae (make sure to have good mechanical filtration to remove dead algae), frequent water changes will remove nutrients and nitrogen compounds therefore reducing algae, barley straw and extract will kill algae and is safe for axolotls.

Due to lack of knowledge, I thought "cycling" was setting up the tank and just allowing it to run. That's all my bad. So, no. It was not cycled. After more research, I got bacteria to add to it and learned about the cycle. I'm doing it the right way with the new one.
There is a sponge filter and an air stone in it. I took the moss bridge out because it was crowding the tank, and to help cycle the new one. But, I can put it back if that's safe to do!
When you say mechanical filtration, what exactly does that mean?
I did a water change today to get the water clearwr so I could at least see him. I ended up cleaning the filter too. It was absolutely disgusting. So, I'm going to guess that was part of the issue...? It's only a 10 gallon sponge filter. I have a 40 for the 20 gallon take tho.
The tank doesn't get direct sunlight. But it is in my kitchen where there is sunlight during the day. Should I cover it?

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Due to lack of knowledge, I thought "cycling" was setting up the tank and just allowing it to run. That's all my bad. So, no. It was not cycled. After more research, I got bacteria to add to it and learned about the cycle. I'm doing it the right way with the new one.
There is a sponge filter and an air stone in it. I took the moss bridge out because it was crowding the tank, and to help cycle the new one. But, I can put it back if that's safe to do!
When you say mechanical filtration, what exactly does that mean?
I did a water change today to get the water clearwr so I could at least see him. I ended up cleaning the filter too. It was absolutely disgusting. So, I'm going to guess that was part of the issue...? It's only a 10 gallon sponge filter. I have a 40 for the 20 gallon take tho.
The tank doesn't get direct sunlight. But it is in my kitchen where there is sunlight during the day. Should I cover it?

the axolotl should be tubbed if you are only just now cycling it. daily water changes.

 

[wolfen]

there are three main filtration methods used in aquariums, 1. mechanical.. normally sponges, floss etc.. this type of media is used to catch and remove debris from the water column, 2. chemical filtration.. normally activated carbon, zeolite etc.. this type of media is used to remove chemicals, medications, dyes, tanins etc.. from the water, 3. biological.. normally ceramic rings/balls, alfagog, volcanic rock etc.. this type of media is used to house bacteria colony that remove ammonia, nitrite.
the main issues that axolotl tanks have are the removal of ammonia and nitrites, this is because unlike a normal aquarium there is minimal to zero substrate (the substrate will hold some biological filtration ie.. ammonia/nitrite consuming/converting bacteria), this means that the filter has to do all the work of both removing debris and nitrogen compounds, hence the filter needs to be rated for at least double the tank size.
also due to the amount of waste an axolotl produces the biological filtration needs to be able to remove up to 4ppm of ammonia per day (hence why the cycling is done at a high level ie.. 4ppm)