Setting Up A Permanent Home...

[Gimpdiggity]

I knew when I first got my Axolotl back in December that the 10 gallon aquarium I was using was going to be temporary. I spent a lot of time, money, and effort getting that 10 gallon tank setup...three different filters, two different tops...things like that all added to the cost. I probably should have just set the 20long up in the first place.

Anyway, I'm in the process of doing that right now.

I got the 20L yesterday, and ordered a Penn-Plax Cascade 500 canister filter for it. I went canister because from what I have found out it's easier to control flow with an adjustable canister filter and a spray bar. I also plan on getting a chiller (if I need it) this summer, and the canister will mean I don't have to end up buying a separate pump to run the chiller.

Today I went and got the same tile that I have in the bottom of my 10 gallon, and some more of the aquarium safe sealant to permanently install it in the bottom of the new 20 gallon. I also went all out and bought a nice Top Fin stand for the tank so that I can easily store the canister out of sight and have all of my supplies and equipment right with the tank.

After 48 hours, the sealant should be fully cured and I can begin adding water. I have a pretty low pressure water supply system in my house (we are on well water) so filling it might end up being somewhere where I go and get a couple of five gallon jugs and fill those up at the store from the RO filter machine and then fill it up that way.

Once the tank is filled, I'll go ahead and add hides and decorations. I might end up making some out of PVC, or going ahead with some of the DIY hide/cave instructions I've found while looking around the site and such.

Once filled, I'll be doing a fishless cycle to get the biological filtration in order. See, I'm having a really hard time with the cycle in the 10 gallon...it's been up for nearly six weeks and I still haven't seen ANY nitrites...let alone nitrates...so I'm hoping to get the 20 gallon fully cycled BEFORE I put the Axolotl in. Once it's cycled, and I know it's cycled, I'll begin the process of figuring out how to catch the Axolotl and transfer it from one tank to the other. The two are in the same basic location in my house, so temperatures should be pretty much exactly the same, so I'll probably try to get the Axolotl into a jar, then let the jar sit on top of the new tank in the water just to make sure that the temperatures are the same, then I'll unleash the beast into his new digs.

All of the money spent on the 10 gallon won't be completely wasted, however. I plan on using the low flow filter that I got for it to try setting up an aquarium for Red Cherry Shrimp...but that will be a bit down the road, as near the end of February I also will be starting a jelly fish tank.

Anyway...I'm on a tangent now. I'm glad that I went ahead and made the purchases now. I spent a LOT of money on all of the stuff, but I think I kind of "future proofed" for the little guy. I know that the 20 long will be big enough for him even if it ends up being a LARGE adult, and I know that the canister filter will allow me to have good filtration with minimal flow while also giving me everything I need if I end up needing a chiller.

I'll get some pictures of the setup once it's up and running.

 

[Gimpdiggity]

Here is the 20 Long on it's stand.

The tile is installed, and it's still curing. It says to let it cure for 24 hours on the package...then 48 hours on the tube itself. Last time I let it go for 24 hours and it seemed fine, but this time I'm letting it go for the full 48 just to make sure...that, and my filter won't be here until tomorrow.

I hope to get the water added and have it up and running Wednesday or Thursday evening.

 

[RupertxGiles]

Looking good, you should post more pics as the tank progresses ! As far as the cycling goes, be patient....it can certainly take time! As for your 10 gallon....maybe you could sell the setup and make some $ back? Or you could save it for future baby axie use ! The tile looks good and is very versitile, and easy to clean which is great. As far as a chiller goes they are not cheap but they are worth the $ ! Personally though, I just keep all of my axies in an air conditoned room in the summer months. It will jack up the electric bill a bit but it keeps he tanks right at about 69. Good luck!

 

[Gimpdiggity]

Looking good, you should post more pics as the tank progresses ! As far as the cycling goes, be patient....it can certainly take time! As for your 10 gallon....maybe you could sell the setup and make some $ back? Or you could save it for future baby axie use ! The tile looks good and is very versitile, and easy to clean which is great. As far as a chiller goes they are not cheap but they are worth the $ ! Personally though, I just keep all of my axies in an air conditoned room in the summer months. It will jack up the electric bill a bit but it keeps he tanks right at about 69. Good luck!

The tank is actually in the lower level of our home, and we have the whole house air conditioned. I would venture a guess that it rarely gets above 68-69 down there in the summer time...but if it ends up getting into the 70s then I'll have the ability to get the chiller hooked up very quickly, which will be nice.

I don't think it would really be worth it to sell the aquarium. I've got like three 10 gallon tanks just laying around, and enough stuff to get two of them up and running pretty much immediately. I had thought that shrimp would be kind of unique and interesting, so I may give them a try. I'd REALLY like to do a small reef aquarium, but I don't know that I have the skill to do it.

20 years ago I kept numerous aquariums in my bedroom at my parents house. It was kind of my "main" hobby. When I moved out, though, I ended up giving all the fish away and tearing them all down, and I'm just now kind of getting back into keeping them.

 

[Gimpdiggity]

Silicone should be fully cured by tomorrow evening. I bought 20 gallons of water at the local grocery store today, and some ammonia to begin the process of cycling the tank. The filter arrived today as well.

I'm hoping to get it filled and set the filter up tomorrow night if I get a chance. If not, then for sure on Friday.

 

[Gimpdiggity]

Tank is up and running!!!

The canister filter is REALLY quiet. Very nice.

I'm letting it run for 24 hours before beginning the process of cycling it. I've got some ammonia that should arrive tomorrow afternoon to help with the process. I had to get a gallon of it, despite the fact that I'll probably need about 15ml of the stuff...but I couldn't find a source locally that had it without any kind of dyes or fragrances.

I'm trying to decide if I want the spray bar above or below the water. I'll probably end up having a bubbler hooked up in the tank to provide extra oxygen, so I don't NEED the bar out of the water to agitate the surface...but I'm not sure if having it under the water would actually cause it to dissipate the flow even more. I can adjust the flow on the canister pretty easily, and with it turned to about 50% output, it's barely a trickle...so I don't think it will be too much of an issue once I get it all dialed in.

I'm going to need some more tank decorations for it, though. The cave and branch thing I have in the 10 gallon aren't going to look nearly large enough in this tank.