New and need help setting up tank for axolotl

[sm249]

I'm trying to set up a tank for an axolotl. I'm thinking my water has cycled as my nitrate and nitrite and ammonia are at 0ppm. I need to make sure that I have this setup direct before I purchase my new axie. I know that the ones I'm choosing from are about 2-3" babies. So here are my questions:
1: Can I use the sand I purchased to cycle my tank (pre-seeded sand substrate) with the axolotl being so small or should I set up my 20 gallon and cycle it with no sand until he grows a bit?
2: I live in Oklahoma so it's over half the year. I was considering buying a chiller to keep the tank cool. I need a fairly inexpensive chiller to start off with. I have a 55 gallon long tank I'm using for the axolotl with about 12-15 gallons of water. I may increase that volume based on feedback. Would clip on fans be suitable enough for the extreme heat? Tank is in living room with no direct sunlight and it sits just diagonally under the living room air vent. That room gets the best air circulation for some reason.
3: What diet do you feed your axies? Do you have minnows or shrimp in tank? Are these guys good ideas to be tank mates?
I know that as the axolotl gets bigger it will eat those things but I'm fine with breeding minnows or shrimp in a smaller tank if i do use them for feeders. Also would fish like minnows and the shrimp help reduce physical waste from the axolotl or is that just a gravel vacuum type job? Obviously I will still need to clean the sand on occasion with the gravel vacuum to prevent fungus and such.
4: Tank setup. Will you guys post some pictures of your axolotl tanks for reference? I don't think I have enough hiding spots yet. I want to get a few plants too. Can those be added after the axolotl? Should I even use a light for the tank? I have a light that fits the lid of my tank but I would change the bulb out for led to reduce heat output. How much light should an axolotl have per day (should I buy a timer for the light)? How much sand should I use in lbs if I fill the tank to 25 or 30 gallons of water? Do axolotls like to burrow in the sand? How deep do I need my sand layer in other words?

Sorry for all the detailed questions but this is stuff I am not finding enough suitable information on the internet. I've been working on this tank for 2 months to get it ready so I want it correct. Any feedback is helpful. Thank you guys!

 

[wolfen]

to cycle an axolotl tank you need to dose the tank at 4ppm ammonia (the ammonia level some adult axolotls can produce), this then tested after 24hrs then topped back up to 4ppm repeat daily until the ammonia and nitrite levels are zero three days in a row after dosing, during this time the ph and nitrate levels should be monitored, if the ph drops to 7 or below add bicarbonate of soda to increase to 7.4-7.6, if the nitrates get to 110ppm or higher do a water change (no more the 50%, dechlorinate water before adding), if the ammonia and/or nitrite levels are stuck or increasing check ph, ensure good oxygenation, ensure adequate/good level of bio-media, once ammonia and nitrite levels are zero three days in a row do a water change to reduce nitrates, if the tank isn't being used straight away continue feeding bio-media with ammonia to sustain bacteria colony.
sand is fine with axolotl which are five inches or longer as some sand will be ingested and in smaller axolotls can cause impaction/blockages.
although cooling a large tank can take time it will also take longer for it to warm up, if there is a lid then the tank can be filled to normal level to allow for maximum area of movement, if the tank hasn't got a lid reduce level by at least three inches (axolotls have a bad habit of jumping out, try to get a lid or a means of preventing jumping ie.. grid, mesh etc..), a larger amount of water means it will take longer for nitrates to build up.
my axolotls are fed a variety of food ranging from live river shrimp to platys/guppys/mollys, frozen bloodworm/krill/mysis/cockle/mussel also the occasional earthworm and maggots, basically a carnivore diet but mostly aquatic meat based.
I use tank lights but I also have plenty of shade and hides (slate and covered jars), the plants I used in the tank are sagittaria, moss, duckweed, they grow quite well in most water conditions although at a slower rate when the water contains holtfreters solution, my tank is a fifty gallon housing three large axolotls (12",13" and 14" in length), I tend to have the tank as a natural minimal interaction with 75 litre weekly water changes only, the tanks clean up crew at this moment are river shrimp, gammarus (hyalella azteca), soft shelled snails, rams horned snails and black worms.
axolotls will dig through sand etc.. so it has to be regularly turned over to prevent debris/gas build up which can be quite nasty for an axolotl to get a face full whilst digging around, depth can be anything from a light layer to a couple of inches although ensure filtration can cope with the water debris that can be produced.