Water cycling and testing

[Usakomomoiro]

I have two new baby axolotls, they are doing the tupperware bin thing while the tank they're going in is cycled. I have test strips, 6-in-1 Quick Dip Multi-Test by Jungle, and it says it tests for Nitrate and Nitrite but not Ammonia, is that okay or am I going to need to go buy a different type of test strip to do this properly? Also, the water they are in is the water they came in from the breeder, so would adding a little of that to the tank help seed it and speed up my process? I know that ideally the tank would have been fully cycled and ready to go before they came home, sadly somehow I completely missed cycling the tank in all of my research until it was too late and they were already here.

 

[Skudo09]

I would recommend getting a liquid test kit as the test strips tend to not be as accurate or reliable. You will need one that has ammonia as well. Many use the API Freshwater test kit which contains tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH.

The beneficial bacteria live on the surfaces rather than in the water. So filter material from an already cycled tank makes the best seeded material but also ornaments or substrate from a cycled tank will also help.

Also, whilst they are in the tupperware, you will want to be doing 100% daily water changes to prevent exposing the axolotls to ammonia. Below are a couple of links on cycling

Scales Tails Wings and Things, What is Aquarium Cycling? How to Cycle your Tank

This one below is how to cycle your tank without any aquatic life in the tank whilst cycling. Fishless cycling is much quicker and I believe more safe and less stressful on aquatic life as they are not exposed to toxins such as ammonia or nitrite. To make things easier for you whilst cycling your tank, you could have a second tupperware tub with cool, clean dechlorinated water that you could transfer your axolotls into each day and then dispose of the water in the first tub and refill with dechlorinated water ready for the next day. This will make it quick and easy to do 100! water changes daily as you will already have clean dechlorinated water the same temperature ready for the axolotls.

The (almost) Complete Guide and FAQ to Fishless Cycling - Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community

Your tank will be cycled when ammonia is zero, nitrite is zero and there is nitrate present. However once your tank is cycled, you will want to do water changes to get the nitrate to a safe level for the axolotls (below 40).