Question: Will a small air stone help cycling process???

[lexfix]

I'm in the process of cycling my 10 gallon tank for my tiny, new axie before I place him in.
I have a quiet flow power filter on the back and a nanofilter sponge inserted to keep the water flow down to a minimum. No substrate. I also have a small, battery-powered air pump with an air stone smaller than the size of a ping pong ball for the tank and a small live plant to speed the process up a tad bit, as well.
Everything's going great so far. I placed a few pinches of tropical fish flakes in the tank 24 hours after conditioning for ammonia. So now, I just have to keep an eye out on parameters, etc. But for some reason, I couldn't find any info anywhere that tells me if the air stone is better or worse for the tank while cycling?

I haven't had it on at all, but will turning it on help clean the tank of the bacteria and screw up the process? Or will it help speed the process up a little more?
I attached a photo of my tank for reference. :happy:

 

[NaterPotater]

What are the fish flakes for? I haven't heard of doing that.

 

[lexfix]

Fish flakes serve as an ammonia source. I would use brine shrimp, but they're a lot messier and I rather save them because my axie won't eat anything else at the moment. I don't want to have to buy my own ammonia either when I could just use fish flakes that I don't need or even use.

 

[lexfix]

The flakes have already increased my ammonia levels to 0.25 so hopefully the nitrite levels will gradually rise soon, as well. Everything else is at 0 ppm (nitrites/nitrates) and pH is about 7.6.

 

[michael]

If it is a tiny axolotl I would just plunk him in. I'd just feed lightly and cycle the tank with the animal in. Their is no need for an airstone. The filter circulates the water enough for oxygen exchange. I see you are in Florida. I'd consider a cooling fan.

 

[AxolotlChris]

If it is a tiny axolotl I would just plunk him in. I'd just feed lightly and cycle the tank with the animal in. Their is no need for an airstone. The filter circulates the water enough for oxygen exchange. I see you are in Florida. I'd consider a cooling fan.

In another thread that lexfix posted I implied the 'fish-in cycle' would be okay.


xxianxx said (quote): 'Cycling a tank with an axolotl is unnecessary and potentially cruel, it should not be advised by anyone who considers animal welfare important.'

Obviously thought I should mention this since it's all mixed advice!