New Tank Set Up, I need help...

[Jess]

I am a soon to be axie owner, and want to make sure I have everything perfect.

I set up a new 10 gallon tank today with sand as the substrate. I have a few plastic plants, and a rock cave as well. I have the filter going, as well as an air stone pumping.

I used water from my already set up fish tank. The water is still a little cloudy from the sand, but I tested the parameters and got these results:
pH= 7.6
Ammonia= 0-.25 ppm
Nitrate=0-5 ppm
Nitrite=0-.25 ppm


Seeing as how the parameters are measuring at a good level, do I need to go ahead a cycle the tank? The fish that were living in the water are perfectly healthy, I have never had any problems with the water. I am eager to get my axie into it's new home, but want to make sure it's gong to be okay.

 

[Jacquie]

I am a soon to be axie owner, and want to make sure I have everything perfect.

Hi Jess,

Welcome to the forum! :happy:

I set up a new 10 gallon tank today with sand as the substrate. I have a few plastic plants, and a rock cave as well. I have the filter going, as well as an air stone pumping.

Well done on the sand substrate and providing hides for the axie!

I would advise you to get a bigger tank. Axolotls can grow any size from 7-14 inches and need a lot of floor space - the tank needs to be at least 50cm in length.

I would not use an air stone - axolotls are easily stressed by any water movement and with the filter there will be sufficient aeration. To ensure the axie does not get stressed from the outtake flow of the filter, you will need to diffuse the current of the outtake by either directing the flow into the tank wall, putting an obstruction in front of the flow, or making a spray bar.

What sort of filter are you using?

I used water from my already set up fish tank. The water is still a little cloudy from the sand, but I tested the parameters and got these results:
pH= 7.6
Ammonia= 0-.25 ppm
Nitrate=0-5 ppm
Nitrite=0-.25 ppm

Seeing as how the parameters are measuring at a good level, do I need to go ahead a cycle the tank? The fish that were living in the water are perfectly healthy, I have never had any problems with the water. I am eager to get my axie into it's new home, but want to make sure it's gong to be okay.

The tank is still cycling. When the axolotl is living in this water, you will need to continue with 20% daily water changes until the Ammonia and Nitrite read at a consistant '0' and the Nitrate is between 10 and 60.

Ammonia readings are the most important as any reading higher than '0' is toxic to an axolotl. Daily partial water changes will keep undesirable Ammonia and Nitrite levels under control until the cycle is complete. This article explains cycling in more detail: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

Your PH reading is good. Axies prefer PH range of 6.5 - 8.

Good luck with your axie! They are fascinating little creatures

Cheers Jacq.

 

[Jess]

The tank is actually 51 cm long. How lucky am I? Haha.

I really have no idea what kind of filter it is. I can take a picture though. Its just a regular fish tank filter.

 

[Jess]

This is my tank. ^

This is the filter. ^

Should I cover these openings so my axie can't escape?? ^


And I should remove the air stone?

And what did you mean about diverting the filter water flow?

 

[Jacquie]

Should I cover these openings so my axie can't escape?

If you intend to leave the water level as it is, then covering the openings won't be necessary.

However, I would consider filling the tank and leaving an inch clearance between the water surface and the tank hood. With a small tank, the more water volume you have in the tank, the more efficiently wastes will be dilluted - axolotls are very messy. If you opt to do this, then yes, I would cover those openings as axies can and do jump out of tanks.

And I should remove the air stone?

I would. Axolotl's do not like water movement.

And what did you mean about diverting the filter water flow?

Power filters often let out a powerful jet of water from their out take nozzle. These nozzles are often adjustable and you can divert the flow so it is either pointing to the wall of the tank or if the outtake is not adjustable put an obstruction in front of the flow such as a plastic plant, rock, anything that will dissipate the water flow as not to stress the axolotl.

A spray bar is another way of reducing the water flow: http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=52065

 

[Saspotato]

Hate to disagree with you Havelock, but I use an airstone and my axie loves that thing. So Jess, I wouldn't see a problem with using an airstone personally, but if your axolotl ever seems stressed by it I would remove it.

I definitely agree with filling the tank as much as possible, the more water in there the better as it helps reduce the potential for water quality issues as well as makes the temperature slower to increase/decrease. Definitely use a lid though as axolotls can lunge quite far if startled and there have been a few people here who have had escaping axies.

With spray bars, you can make your own. My friend used cut up coke bottles with holes and placed it near the water flow. The ones in aquariums are a bit of a rip of usually.

 

[Jess]

What would you suggest covering the openings with?

 

[Jacquie]

Hate to disagree with you Havelock, but I use an airstone and my axie loves that thing. So Jess, I wouldn't see a problem with using an airstone personally, but if your axolotl ever seems stressed by it I would remove it.

Well all right then! Havelock will stop being a party pooper and say okay on the airstone.

The ones in aquariums are a bit of a rip of usually.

Agree totally.

What would you suggest covering the openings with?

Electrical tape. Or you could stuff foam in there - these are two of many ideas in this article:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/escape.shtml

 

[Saspotato]

Which openings are you referring to? I can't really tell how big the openings are and where abouts they are. It appears you have a lid already on your tank which should be sufficient.

Edit: Oh I get it, it looked like there was no gap. How big are they though? They don't appear to be big enough to allow an axolotl to get out but hard to know from the picture! But Havelock's suggestions are good if you are worried.

 

[Jess]

I am also trying to get the water temperature down from about 74 Fahrenheit to 68.

I'm using ice packs, and I also have the tank sitting in front of a window unit air conditioner, which sure makes my room freezing cold.

I'm trying to find some type of cooler or chiller online, but all I can find are heaters.

Any suggestions?

 

[Jacquie]

I think that's one of the problems with a tank that has a hood top. The cool airconditioned air I would say is not hitting the water and is therefore not cooling the water.

This article has many cooling tactics:

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

 

[Saspotato]

74 should be ok, you want to keep it under 75F. Having a lid heats up the water for sure so I use a net I made myself out of screenwire I got from a hardware store. I did a pretty poxy job of making it but it keeps the tank cooler and my axie can't jump out.

Chillers are a good idea if you have heaps of money and don't mind noise... I bought a cheap one but it only makes a few degrees difference and my partner can't stand the noise so I doubt I will be using it again next summer. I now refridgerate my axolotl when there is going to be a few days heat wave, or I use floating icebottles.

 

[Jess]

I might just have to rig up a home made screen top as well.