No filter?

[Zalth]

Hello!

I'm currently trying to cycle my new 3foot/140litres tank for my two little axies who are currently living in a 54 litres tank.

However, I'm putting some fish in the new tank and since I'm only having one filter, should I put it with the fish? I've heard that axolotls can live without a filter, so would they be okay without it for a few weeks?

And how many weeks should I wait before the axies move in? I've got 10 neon tetras and 2 plants in there now!

 

[memojo1979]

With no filter, you'd need to do daily water changes for your axies, to remove their waste effectively. And, don't forget, you'd be removing a big bulk of the beneficial bacteria e.t.c. that builds up in a tank that is cycled properly. Not impossible, but personally, (since I don't have a lot of plants or hides to cover the balance) I'd do the partial water changes on the new tank, so I'm not upsetting the balance in the tank the axies are in.

Obviously, it depends on what else you have in your current tank. I can't see that weeks without a filter can be any good for an axie, without regular water changes though.
But, I still count myself as a novice, so wait for advice from a more experienced axie keeper

 

[Zalth]

Thansk! Sounds more sensible, yes.

But still, will the other fish survive without the air?

Maybe I should just go get myself one more filter,
they're just so cccoooossttyyy....
http://tyda.se/search/sensible

 

[Zalth]

So, I just put the filter back to the axolotls and tomorrow I'll borrow my friend's old filter to put with the fish.




/Dramatic drums/ Will they or will they not survive the next 24 hours?

 

[memojo1979]

I can't see why they wouldn't survive 24hrs. The only problem with swapping between the 2 different types of animals could be the spread of disease, but plenty of people use fish to cycle their tanks, so as long as they are your own animals that you've had for longer than a quarantine period, I can't see this being a problem either. Maybe do a decent partial water change , to help remove waste + refresh the water a little, if that makes you feel more confident

 

[carsona246]

Like Mojo said, if those fish aren't quarentined I'd be cautious about using them. If your new tank is cycled, and you just want to swap the axolotls to the new tank, you can just move them to the new tank with the old filter, and the old filter should have enough beneficial bacteria to do a mini cycle in your tank. Make sure you don't let the cycled filter dry out though.

 

[Zalth]

Not my fish, feels like I'm doing everything wrong now..
The man in the pet shop told be about a pill to put in the water that included "all the bacteria needed". Any idea what this might be?

 

[Cheylee]

This "pill" probably just has some benificial bactiria in it and maybe some sort of stress coat thing as well ( The stress coat is meant for fish, not so much axolotls). As far as the fishing making it with out a filter, that's iffy. It depends on how much air in actually in the water. Many fish will only last a few hours before they "kick the bucket"

 

[carsona246]

The only time I've ever heard of fish suffocating is when you are dosing co2 at the same time. Otherwise I don't think I've ever heard of a fish suffocating from lack of air. I mean they get sent in the mail in a tiny bags for days at a time and are usually fine. You don't need a filter to provide air for your axolotls. I have no faith in anything that claims to provide beneficial bacteria in your aquarium. I've tried a few products, and none have worked for me

 

[Zalth]

I have no faith in anything that claims to provide beneficial bacteria in your aquarium. I've tried a few products, and none have worked for me

Thought so too!
Although, I've found another filter now, they'll get air in a few hours!