Need help with cycling tank!?!?!?

[Shayxoxoxox]

My tank has been cycling for 2 months. There's a strange red algae in there on the base of my new tank and as well as an odor. I have not yet put my axie in, has been living in glass containers. The filter looks like it needs to be changed but I'm not sure how to change it without disrupting the cycle. My tank is not not even half full, as I was advised to put less for a baby axie. So my questions are:

Should you put water conditioner in the tank while it's cycling?

Can the axie go in the tank with all the algae and black seed looking things?

Should I have the tank half full for a baby axie?

How do I go about cleaning the filter without ruining the cycle?

Will the cycle get ruined if the filter is ever turned off?

 

[Axolotlee]

I have had my ladies for 1 year now never cycled a tank or used a filter do a 90% water change on them weekly. I use a sponge filter just to get the extra missed stuff ill leave a link. As for the babies I have them in a small tub half way filled may bet a few inches over their heads and I do water changes every 2 days they have a small betta filter in with them just to be safe
I don't put declorinator as it dissipate s after time anyways and axolotyl breath air not water so chlorine is fine as long as you have safe tap water to drink its ok for them. As long as you keep the tank clean weekly and take out the 90% ammonia from them toileting they will be fine as you see they are in the tubs with no filter.. They are very easy to manage. Clean that tank with water and a safe sponge I'm sure that algee is not good. I have 6 axolotyl currently two large 1 medium 1 small and two babies 3 inches also I have a bundle baby blue gills hatchlings I'm raising now same method. So conclusion
1.Ditch the filter for a sponge filter they hate currents from that hangover filter.. but mines love the bubbles the sponge filter makes.
2. Do 90% water changes for first few months weekly even with sponge filter and 50% every other week after sponge has cycled. Although you don't need a filter at all if you stay the 90% method. I do both just to keep them disease/fungus free
3. Chlorine won't hurt them it goes away when contact with air in 24 48 hours and it could help kill any fungi in tank. All other products may harm axolotyl and they prefer hard water anyways.
4. Remember they were found in a lake I'm sure the babies will be fine with tub half full. Those lakes are deep in ther natural habitat ..Mexico so I think if you want to be safe...Put Babies in tub few inches over there heads are fine. As long as its enough for them to swim/exercise and come up for air without exhausting themselves so I would say put them in a tub with about 5-6 inches over there heads..they will have room to stretch out at least
You can feed the babies red wigglerrs chopped up the length of their head from mouth to back of head so not to big to swallow with sucking back in. It will go straight in the first time. Blood worms are so messy and foul the water and the pellets suck you have to get them soft they cloud the water etc. Worms keeps the water clean and you know how much you feed them

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=corner+bio+filter+20+gallon
Filter for my 40 gallon breeder I use ...

Filter for babies in tub I use
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Elive-Betta-Filter-w-Glow-Plant-Aquarium-Filters/182624253116

 

[Axolotlee]

Oh one more thing put like a ramp type rock cave they love to sit on that just like normal salamanders. I notice they like doing most of the stuff a regular salamander would do like hang on a hammock I have one attachef with sick still cups they loooove it ...also that way they can be close to the top of the tank without it swimming far when coming up for air.

 

[Hayleyy]

While it is true that chlorine leaves the water after 24 hours or so, during that 24 hours the axolotl is exposed to chlorine. Chlorine is dangerous to axolotls and can indeed hurt them. They have gills and a fine membrane around the body which absorbs chemicals in the water. I would not recommend going without dechlorinator. The only way to avoid using dechlorinator and keep your axolotl safe is to keep the water out in a bucket for at least a day then add to the tank. Never add directly from the tap. A lot of tank additives can harm axolotls, but dechlorinators are not one of them.
Unless you're well versed with aquariums (and have a planted tank) you should use a filter. A sponge filter is great, and I always recommend it, but a HOB or canister filter works wonders as well (I use a sponge and a HOB). They create a current but you always keep it at the lowest setting and add a sponge or plants at the output to lower water flow. The only water movement I get is from the bubbles on the sponge filter and when I have the fan on.
For a cycling tank you don't want to remove 90% of water every week, it will take forever to cycle. If there is nothing in the tank you can go without water changes until the end of the cycle.
The rest of advice about baby axolotls I agree with, half filled water is fine for them. Worms are the best food

TLDR; Use dechlorinator. Half full tank is fine. You don't really need to clean the filter too much. If changing the filter media change one section at a time (a month or so between each change) so you don't remove too much bacteria. If turned off for too long (or left to dry) it will probably affect the cycle by killing the bacteria. I can't see the algae in the pic too well, is the algae stuck to the glass or is it loose and floating?