My setup... am I on the right track?

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mekkha

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Melissa
Hi everyone. I have finally finished setting up my tank. I just want to make sure I am on the right track.

mekkha-albums-process-picture13808-tank-set-up-complete.jpg


Tahitian Moon sand as the substrate, fake plants and a few hiding spots. I got a new thermometer and so far it is staying at 19. I have no started running the filter yet, as I was not sure exactly when to start cycling? I'm still on the lookout for axolotls and it might be a few months... is it ok to cycle that far ahead? I was planning on starting to cycle by dropping some frozen bloodworms in there, is that a good idea? The woman at the pet store suggested I use "nutrafin cycle" to do it but I was not sure if that would be safe for axies or not?

Also my tank came with a light, which I am thinking I might not use. What would you recommend? It seems quite bright. It reads "natural daylight F15t8/18".

Thanks for reading,
Melissa

ETA: Its a 20 gallon, and the thermometer is on the inside, I know it looks like it isn't in the picture!
 
Start researching the nitrogen cycle, it can take a long time for your tank to be fully cycled, so I would start now. I would recommend going to a hardware store and finding pure ammonia. Make sure it is not cleaning ammonia, because they sometimes add soap and other toxins you do not want entering your tank. Pure ammonia will cycle your tank faster, because you will be able to control exactly how much ammonia is going in your tank, and you will avoid all the rotten food that will build up in your tank. Do you have a screen lid? if not I would get one of those, it should lower the temp down a little more to give you wiggle room in case your filter comes with a motor, which might raise the temp a bit. I don't think nutrafin cycle will hurt your axolotls, but I really dont think it contains live beneficial bacteria like it claims to, so i would just stick to the old fashioned fishless cycling method. How big is that tank out of curiosity? Looks like you have enough hides, I'd say your on the right track. Glad to see your researching before you buy the axolotl
 
I agree with Carson, start now! However, do NOT use pure ammonia. It's far too strong. A better way is to get a few guppies or mollies and let them live in the tank. Afterward, they will provide a tasty snack for your new little predator.

Nix the light. Unless you have live plants, there's no need for it.
 
I've always been advised with using pure ammonia. You have to use a small dose each day, but its far more humane than using live fish to cycle a tank. Just do a quick google search about fishless cycling, and you will see many people use small doses of pure ammonia to cycle their tanks. Furthermore once the tank has cycled by using pure ammonia you do not have to figure out what to do with the fish you used for cycling. I think using fish for the sole purpose of cycling is a little cruel, becuase your intention is to put them into an uncycled tank and allow toxins to build up in the tank. If anything put a prawn in the tank and allow that to create ammonia. However using pure ammonia in the proper doses, which you could find with a simple google search, will allow you to control how much ammonia is introduced in the tank.
 
There is absolutely no need to use pure ammonia, just sprinkle some fish food or something similar, it will decay and feed the bacteria, will grow a population... It works just fine for fresh water and EVEN salt water tanks.
 
FRANCOIS said:
There is absolutely no need to use pure ammonia, just sprinkle some fish food or something similar, it will decay and feed the bacteria, will grow a population... It works just fine for fresh water and EVEN salt water tanks.
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Your absolutely right, just one way to do it. Was definatly not trying to make it sound like pure ammonia is the only way to cycle a tank. I just think its handy to be able to control exactly how much ammonia enters the tank, and my tanks always cycle fairly quickly when I use this method.
 
Excellent, thank you guys. It is a 20 gallon like I mentioned. Looking back now I should have gotten bigger, but it will do. I'd prefer to cycle it without fish, I know it is silly but I feel bad for the guppies. I'll try the food route first and see where it takes me.

I'll probably be on here with a hundred more questions :wacko:.

Thanks again!
 
There's no need to let guppies fester in their own filth. You can still do water changes while cycling a tank. The point is just to provide a continual nitrogen source.

If you prefer, get some fantail guppies and then get them their own tank. They're pretty.
 
mekkha said:
Excellent, thank you guys. It is a 20 gallon like I mentioned. Looking back now I should have gotten bigger, but it will do. I'd prefer to cycle it without fish, I know it is silly but I feel bad for the guppies. I'll try the food route first and see where it takes me.

I'll probably be on here with a hundred more questions :wacko:.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

We are here to help you out if we can... The only stupid question is the one you don't ask... Btw I have a preference for 20 gallon long tanks... sometimes harder to get, though. They appear more spacious and provide a better water / air exchange...
 
great looking setup there, start cycling now if possible.

I agree with getting some small fish to start with, and there is the added plus of not having a empty tank to look at in the meantime, as you might rush out and buy an axolotl out of boredom and anticipation.

as for the light, you only really need one if you are growing live plants or for display purposes.

switching the hood over to a screen lid will help a great deal to cool the tank, as would not using a light.
 
Thumbs up to you, your setup looks way more thought out than mine was when I first got my axos. The decorations is really a personal thing, there is no right or wrong about it, ultimately, I think the axis are the judge of that. The hiding was definitely a must. Just watch out if the axos like the plants :).

If you have your hands on those huge floating pellets, they are easier to pick out of a tank when you are cycling. You can consider buying a poop ladle.
 
Hey,

Just start the filter and leave that ammonia out. There is no need to put anything in there to start and do the cycle. Moreover, axolotl and chemicals do NOT go together !!!! We just had an axolotl on the sick pages that died from this stuff !!!

I am against putting in any fish during the cycling as they may well die during the nitrogen peak which is a nasty way to die, especially if it's done on purpose !
Changing water during the cycling is not a good idea as it constantly stirrs up the equilibrium of the growing bacteria in the filter. The best way is to leave things alone, measure and start changing water when the nitrogen values start going down by their own.

If you want to do things faster than nature, put one or two flocks of fish food in there every other day. That'll help accelerate things.

20 gallons will not be enough... argh. Not more than one axolotl in there or else really juvenile ones and then look for a bigger tank quickly.
 
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Just curious, but what kind of filter do you have on that tank?
 
SwissAxie said:
There is no need to put anything in there to start and do the cycle.
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So where does the initial ammonia come from? You need an ammonia source (continuous) to feed the bacteria. You have to put SOMETHING in the tank, be it 'canned' bacteria (which are dead, and therefore provide ammonia), or a piece of flesh, or some fish.

SwissAxie said:
Changing water during the cycling is not a good idea as it constantly stirrs up the equilibrium of the growing bacteria in the filter.
Click to expand...

How do you figure that? The bacteria you're trying to grow live on the tank, in the filter, on the decorations, but are not free-floating in the water. As long as you have a continual source of ammonia, there's no harm in changing the water. I've cycled dozens of tanks with salamanders in them. Not changing the water for 6-8 weeks 1.) smells TERRIBLE, and 2.) is a death sentence for anything in the tank. It takes a little longer to cycle, but there's absolutely no harm in it.

SwissAxie said:
20 gallons will not be enough... argh. Not more than one axolotl in there or else really juvenile ones and then look for a bigger tank quickly.
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20 gallons is fine. This tank is a 20-tall, so footprint-wise, I wouldn't put more than 1 adult in it, but one can put 3 small adults in a 20 long without any problem.
 
Yes the tank is for one axolotl only. I'm reading a few conflicting messages here, so just to make sure I am ok...

Drop something in there (meat or I was thinking frozen bloodworms). Let it start to do its thing then do a partial water change, while continuing to add a substance (bloodworms). Check the levels every day, and go from there?

Also I have decided I won't be using the light, and am going to try and find a mesh top to replace what I have now. Good idea!
 
If you're not cycling with live animals:

Drop in a piece of meat (be it shrimp or fish food or whatever. Bloodworms will be fine too). After a few days, it should start to decay. Take a reading. Every few days, check the levels. You'll see ammonia skyrocket, then ammonia will start to drop, and nitrites will rise. When nitrites start rising, put in a little bit more ammonia source. Then you'll see ammonia drop, nitrites drop, and nitrates rise. Once nitrates start going up, you should remove any decayed food, do a partial water change and introduce your axolotl!
 
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