Question: Substrate Question

[ambystomaj]

Hello, I've only had one axolotl before, and it stayed in a 10 gallon, bare bottom tank with a few large slate stones for hide holes. I've got 4 baby axolotls now, but I only plan on keeping one, and finding good homes for the other three. I've been following some posts on the forum about substrate, and it seems as though sand or large, smooth rocks are the general consensus for what is best for an axolotl. I've also been looking around at different sands, and I was curious if anyone has had any experiences with Tahitian Moon sand. Also, I've seen some things about sand "going anaerobic," how does it happen, or what exactly does that mean?

Short version: Is Tahitian Moon sand safe for an axolotl and will it "go anaerobic?"

*Edit* Not the best sources, I know, but here a few links to the sand type I'm speaking of.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ8wIwAA#

http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind...-552C-DF11-9DA0-002219319097&mr:referralID=NA

 

[carsona246]

just make sure it's sand, and not adding anything extra into the tank. About anaerobic bacteria forming, I used to be pretty concerned with it when I first moved to sand. After reading a ton about freshwater deep sand beds I'm less concerned. It forms when wastes get stuck under the sand and has no access to oxygen(I think? havn't researched it in a while). One way to make sure it never forms is to stir your sand once a week. Keeping it under an inch should prevent any from forming as well

 

[Kaysie]

Like Carson said, just keep your sand shallow. There's no need to have 4 inches of sand on the bottom of the tank!

 

[AuraCantos]

I personally use the T.Moon sand in my axolotl tank, as well as my several fishtanks. I have absolutely no qualms about it, it seems to be an all-around great sand. Maybe not as fine as some people would prefer it, but it has no risk of impacting your axies.

You say your axolotls are babies. How many inches/centimeters are they? In baby axolotls, like newly hatched, I've heard that it's best to keep them on bare bottom until they get bigger. The reason being because even the finest sand can cause impaction in very tiny axolotls. It's also much easier to clean up the baby shrimp shrimp/pellets/worms that you're feeding them.

Check this thread out by Siona: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...-ups-filters-substrate/72769-sand-gravel.html

About 11 posts down, I posted some pictures of my own sand to give her a rough idea of how it looked in and out of the water.

EDIT: Er... seems I accidentally deleted those pics from Photobucket... XD Here's the link to another picture, from my own tank: http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/AuraCantos/Axolotls/P1060089.jpg

 

[ambystomaj]

Yeah, my axies are babies, I was just looking for information for the future, to see if it was acceptable to use in a tank.

Thanks all for all your information.

 

[ambystomaj]

Is Eco Complete Planted Black Aquarium Substrate safe for Axolotl use as well?

Eco Complete Planted Black Aquarium Substrate at PETCO

 

[slimer]

Is Eco Complete Planted Black Aquarium Substrate safe for Axolotl use as well?

Eco Complete Planted Black Aquarium Substrate at PETCO

Yes it's safe. I use it in my tank , had it for 4 years with no problems.