New tank help!

[axolotlgangster]

I just got a 12 by 45 by 75 cm tank and I want to put my 3 axolotls in it. I have 2 ghost shrimp a piece of drift wood 3 plants and a cheep'o moth ball. I have my axolotls in a tub and do regular water changes. Do I have to use a filter and what substrate should I use and fertilizer for the plants, can it affect the axolotls?Sorry about spelling!

 

[Seizan]

I'm no expert, but here is my advice, although you should wait for sure from one of the others who have been here longer;

What is the moth ball for? You don't have to use a filter, but you will have to do water changes every day otherwise. You can use sand, large stones, or go bare bottom for substrate. Don't use fertilizer because there could be chemicals that could harm the axies, most plants will do ok with a little light and something to grow in.

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi all,

I think axolotlgangster meant Moss ball. Moth ball is a pesticide normally used in wardrobes to get rid of moths. I do hope he meant Moss ball though because otherwise i think the axies will be in big trouble.

There is no absolute necessity to use a filter although i highly recommend it. It greatly eases maintenance and can help the water parameters stay more stable. A filter will also provide the aeration that supports the growth of beneficial bacteria.

If you want to use a substrate, sand is the best. You can use freshwater sand, pool filter sand or children play pit sand. Alternately you can just leave the tank bare bottomed.

I would not recommend the use of plan fertilisers. Remember that the axies are the main focus in the tank. The plants are a secondary feature. You should select plants that can thrive in an axie tank such as Anubias, Java fern, Java moss, Elodea. Other more fragile, demanding type plants will not do well in axie tanks and will quickly rot and foul the water. Axies can also root them up and damage them. If the plants you currently have in there requires additional fertiliser support, they are not suitable for axie tanks in the first place. Axies also produce a lot of wastes which can act as plant nutrients in a way.

Lastly, i feel that your tank is too small to house 3 axies and 2 ghost shrimp. I would advise you to get a bigger tank if possible.

Cheers.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

http://www.axolotl.org/

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/articles_axolotl.shtml

 

[axolotlgangster]

Hi all,

I think axolotlgangster meant Moss ball. Moth ball is a pesticide normally used in wardrobes to get rid of moths. I do hope he meant Moss ball though because otherwise i think the axies will be in big trouble.

There is no absolute necessity to use a filter although i highly recommend it. It greatly eases maintenance and can help the water parameters stay more stable. A filter will also provide the aeration that supports the growth of beneficial bacteria.

If you want to use a substrate, sand is the best. You can use freshwater sand, pool filter sand or children play pit sand. Alternately you can just leave the tank bare bottomed.

I would not recommend the use of plan fertilisers. Remember that the axies are the main focus in the tank. The plants are a secondary feature. You should select plants that can thrive in an axie tank such as Anubias, Java fern, Java moss, Elodea. Other more fragile, demanding type plants will not do well in axie tanks and will quickly rot and foul the water. Axies can also root them up and damage them. If the plants you currently have in there requires additional fertiliser support, they are not suitable for axie tanks in the first place. Axies also produce a lot of wastes which can act as plant nutrients in a way.

Lastly, i feel that your tank is too small to house 3 axies and 2 ghost shrimp. I would advise you to get a bigger tank if possible.

Cheers.

It's a moss ball the tank is a 25g and thanks for the info.

 

[slimer]

Hope your not to attached to Those ghost shrimp they won't last to long with the axies in there.
iI tried live plants before they look nice at first but are difficult to keep flourishing because most require a lot of light , which in turns make alot of algae and make that tank not look good. kind of defeating the purpose. I would recommend using fake plastic plants they look good and require no fertilizers.
the moss ball is cool its slow growing + needs very little light .

 

[Azhael]

I´m personally a huge fan of natural plants.
There are several species that thrive with low light and require no fertilizers or special care whatsoever. The ones mentioned by Ray, elodea, java moss, java fern and anubias do great with low light, and all you have to do is trim them every few months.
Natural plants are a huge help with maintaining water quality. They absorb nutrients, add oxygen to the water, provide a lot of surface area for beneficial bacteria to stablish on, bring a new dimension to the aquarium(because as they grow, the aquarium is constantly changing), and compete with algae. They also acomodate a variety of microinvertebrates that also help controlling water quality.
The downside of course is that you need to syphon out the dead matter that accumulates as parts of the plants decay, but you need to syphon out debris anyway, so it´s not a big deal.
As a plus they can also takeover the function of the filter. A low current filter is of help in an axie tank, but since the species lives in a lake, i think it´s good to avoid currents altogether....
As i said, live plants pretty much do the same job as a filter, without the issue of currents.

I really recomend them. Mind you, it´s not like plastic plants aren´t good...they just don´t have the same advantages as live ones.
It´s all up to you, since all options mentioned work, i´m just letting you know what works for me.

 

[axolotlgangster]

I´m personally a huge fan of natural plants.
There are several species that thrive with low light and require no fertilizers or special care whatsoever. The ones mentioned by Ray, elodea, java moss, java fern and anubias do great with low light, and all you have to do is trim them every few months.
Natural plants are a huge help with maintaining water quality. They absorb nutrients, add oxygen to the water, provide a lot of surface area for beneficial bacteria to stablish on, bring a new dimension to the aquarium(because as they grow, the aquarium is constantly changing), and compete with algae. They also acomodate a variety of microinvertebrates that also help controlling water quality.
The downside of course is that you need to syphon out the dead matter that accumulates as parts of the plants decay, but you need to syphon out debris anyway, so it´s not a big deal.
As a plus they can also takeover the function of the filter. A low current filter is of help in an axie tank, but since the species lives in a lake, i think it´s good to avoid currents altogether....
As i said, live plants pretty much do the same job as a filter, without the issue of currents.

I really recomend them. Mind you, it´s not like plastic plants aren´t good...they just don´t have the same advantages as live ones.
It´s all up to you, since all options mentioned work, i´m just letting you know what works for me.

Ok, I'll see where I can buy those plants.