My axolotl's filter broke!

[Biance]

I went to work this weekend for the first time since I got my axolotl. I have to stay over night at my work, so I fed my axolotl and cleaned his tank yesterday morning and then I came back just now (Sunday evening) and for some reason I could swear he is a paler colour than he was before. So as I'm going about replacing some of his water, right while I'm looking at it, the filter totally stopped!! It was running just fine and then all of a sudden it just switched off.

Other than the paleness (which I might be imagining) I don't think anything is wrong with him, he seems lively, I have no idea if the filter has been going on and off while I've been away. But I took it apart and cleaned it, and let it cool down and then plugged it in again, and still it doesn't work. I've left it turned on now incase it spontaneously decides to start working again, but it doesn't seem so.

Can my axolotl live without a filter?? It's 10pm! Also, I have no moneyyyyyy to buy a new one. But I suppose if this one doesn't start working I'll have to go and buy a new one tomorrow, but will my axolotl survive until then without a filter?
I bought the filter online so no going back to a store, and ughhhhh, filters in stores are so expensive, the only money I have is what I was going to spend tomorrow on christmas presents :S

 

[melfly]

Hi, your axolotl will be absolutely fine without a filter. I would recommend checkin the water more often while the filter isn't running, you may need to do extra water changes. I keep my larvae and a couple of juveniles unfiltered. The paleness can be completely normal when your axie is not active for a while. Hope this helps and stops you worrying. Mel

 

[Biance]

Hi, your axolotl will be absolutely fine without a filter. I would recommend checkin the water more often while the filter isn't running, you may need to do extra water changes. I keep my larvae and a couple of juveniles unfiltered. The paleness can be completely normal when your axie is not active for a while. Hope this helps and stops you worrying. Mel

Oh really? What does a filter actually DO actually?

Thanks!

 

[melfly]

Well i'm not a filter expert but as far as i know the filter keeps the water clean so it wont be cloudy, and the filter is the main place for the beneficial bacteria. I think it also allows oxygen to circulate around the tank. So if you have no filter you need to do more regular water changes. Please correct me if i'm wrong. Mel

 

[big a little a]

As the filter is there to assist in keeping the tank water clean and the water levels correct, I would advise being particularly vigilant with water parameter tests, spot cleaning any waste and an increase in partial water changes - maybe 2 20% changes a week, instead on 1.

Zoe x

 

[melfly]

I would say do water changes as regularly as your results show you need to.
I wouldn't want to guess at how often so check regularly.
Mel

 

[Biance]

Okay thanks! So this means he'll be okay for a few weeks if I can convince the store to send me a new one for free :happy:
He's gone back to his usual colour now too

 

[Coastal Groovin]

Add an air stone and do 2 small water changes a week until you can go get a 10 dollar sponge filter.

 

[Biance]

Oh okay, I'll get one of those. I contacted the ebay seller and said it broke and I want a new one and they sent one immediately! How awesome is that! I've had it for a month, and they don't even want me to send it back.

I've looked at it againa and the motor part is actually morphed out of shape, like it got so hot that the plastic melted. Oops. I guess with the new one I'll turn it off for a bit every few days to cool down.

 

[Kerry1968]

A filter is supposed to be able to run 24/7. If you turn off your filter for any length of time you will starve the good bacteria of oxygen and they will die off, which will cause serious problems with your water chemistry.