Still want to solve a few things before adding axies..

[jhonny]

Hello.

yet again i come seeking help from the people who know all about axies.
people who read my earlier post know that i already managed to fail an entire tank setup, and had to start over completely.

so, that is what i did now. my dad kindly took over the pebbles i bought.
and i could start over with a blank canvas.

i went to the aquarium shop and bought 2 stone-tree-log shelters, one high and one low.
also replaced the pebbles with huge slabs of lime stone as bottem cover.
which i think will come in handy to anchor plants.
and just to add some depth to the tank, i bought a styrofoam background, which i glued to the back.
making the entire tank look more like a terranium then an aquarium.
also managed to minimize the filter outflow by making a tube that connects trough the exhaust, which i pierced with holes.and it worked.. i see no more movement in the water now.
but that does not fix all the issues i want solved and answered before i add axies.
(really don't want them to end up unhappy) so it has to be 100% right before i buy them.

my dad was kind enough to donate me some live-plants to add to the tank.. but will any plant do, or do they have specific needs in plants?
as far as i know, they all provide oxygen, and filter ammonia.. so the more the merrier, as they can hide in them as well?

but reading the forum.. i see another problem having these plants.. as plants need light to grow.
but i cant have to much light in the tank. neither can i put the tank in a sunny place, as it will heat up my water..
and i cannot use the lamps already fitted in my lid, as they are to bright for axies. and they heat up the water way to much. which is another issue at the moment.
logic thinking does not get me any further on this point
leaving the top off might fix 3/4 of the problems noted here, but then again.. ( not trying to make people feel bad ) i saw quite a few tank setups here. i would totally hate seeing my own tank like that. a mesh lid with a fan blowing on the water is no option!
i would rather buy a €300 chiller and €300 lights then doing that. i want people to see a well taken care of, finished tank.
so, i asked the guy at the aquarium store to order me 4 fans in a row, which i will customize in my lid. but will this be enough to bring down the water temperature from 21°c to an a more acceptable number? and what kind of lighting should i use then?

please help out as much as you can in your experience. i would be very grateful.
-jhonny

 

[michel3171]

Hello!
Everything seems allright, for the lighting:
Buy some ''Tropical/Warm lights, they will give a not too bright light, it is stimulating plant grow, and Axies don't bother about it.

21C is a good temperature, I keep my axies in that temp, they are active and don't have any problems. The fans will keep your aquarium chil, maybe make a thermostate in the water, and make it so that the fans go out if the water is at the desired temperature? (If you like hobbying, off course )

If the water travels true air, it will automatically get some Oxygen, but you can off course add an Air pump, this will add a lot of Oxygen to the water. Axolotls don't need any kind of plant, but if you check my post ''Axolotls hanging IN plant'' you can see mine like to hang around in a certain type of plant (I don't know what plant it is).

At last: Good luck with your Axolotl(s)

 

[jhonny]

thank you for that.. but i have a silly question perhaps.
if i am trying to keep the water temperature down, how will a warm lamp help me?
what i understand from the word is that this will disperse even more heat in the tank.

 

[michel3171]

thank you for that.. but i have a silly question perhaps.
if i am trying to keep the water temperature down, how will a warm lamp help me?
what i understand from the word is that this will disperse even more heat in the tank.

Haha, no I don't mean it is a ''warm'' lamp. The colour the lamp gives are warm: ''Warme kleuren'', you know? Not bright white, but red, or purple, and it gives a warm feel. It is not warm as in ''boiling water'' but as in ''warm colours in this painting''

 

[jhonny]

and i can get those as TL's? would be quite a shame to have a tank with a lid if i cant use any of the equipment :happy:

so, the heat is no problem.. its the brightness of the lamp?

 

[michel3171]

Yes, you can get them as TL, and ''warm lights'' is that they have a ''warm colour'', and with 4 fans the lamp won't be an issue, even with a heating lamp
I hope I don't confuse you too much

 

[jhonny]

no its quite ok, i'm no expert. i try to use logic..but i'm not a native english speaker as you can see at my flag, so translating it to dutch gets troublesome at times.. especially when specific terms are used
i understand what i need now, all i need to figure out is what colour to use.. something that would look good.

 

[michel3171]

Good luck with that!
If you liked my info, please add reputation if you like!

 

[Axel]

Help, my tank which has been cycling for a few weeks now has a clear layer on the surface, what could this be?

 

[jhonny]

Help, my tank which has been cycling for a few weeks now has a clear layer on the surface, what could this be?

a clear layer.. could you upload a picture?
i am having a hard time imagining what you are saying.

water is supposed to be clear :wacko:

 

[melr70]

Hi, only just seen this post and I might be wrong but wouldn't limestone mess with the ph of the water???

 

[shultzbaby]

I have also heard that limestone is a bad idea. Slate tiles work very well and look really good. Or sand. But limestone from what I have heard reacts with water and will continually raise the pH.