Sensitivity to Nitrate/Nitrite

How sensitive are axolotls to nitrate and nitrite?

I think they can be pretty sensitive to both - probably more so than fish. I've been treating Pancho for fungus lately and think it was most likely caused by levels getting slightly higher than they should. I've been a bit late doing water changes while I've been looking after my new larvae. Have learned my lesson now though! The adults are pretty tough compared to the babies, but really still need as much care as ever!

nitrite isn't as toxic as ammonia, but can still be toxic to axies. If you see your axie gasping I think are one of the symptoms, apart from actual test. If there are traces of nitrite in your tank then you should do partial 20-30% daily waterchanges. Anything over 0 for ammonia/nitrite levels needs to be brought down through daily partial waterchanges.

NitrAte is to be expected in an established tank; it aids in cleaning the tank of ammonia/nitrite. As long as the nitrite isn't excessively high which can happen if the tank has been established for a long time (few years) or if the tapwater is high in nitrates.

A good ppm level of nitrates is 20-40ppm. If nitrate exceeds 60-80+ppm then you may have a problem. Live plants bring down nitrate levels.

mt tap water always tests like this:
Nitrate: 10ppm/mgL
Nitrite: 0.5ppm/mgL

do you think that could be the cause of Sigourney's illness and death? she gasped a lot. a day after a water change the nitrite would disapear and the nitrate never got much higher before i did a weekly water change.

Do you mean tankwater or tapwater?

Do you add water ager/conditioner/dechlorinator drops to your tapwater when changing.

The nitrate is meant to be in the tank to aid in cleaning up nitrite. Nitrite disappears as nitrate consumes it. How high was your nitrate before you did a tankwaterchange?

Did waterchanges on our tanks today and all but one tested at 20 or 40ppm. One is low 5ppm.

What was your ammonia reading and tank temperature?

Also, what was your temperature?

Kapo, nitrate doesn't consume nitrite. Nitrobacter bacteria consume nitrite and convert it to nitrate. This is what happens in a cycled tank. But having the presence of nitrate in the tap water (which is fairly normal) doesn't automatically mean a reduction in nitrites.

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>Quoting Kapo on Thursday 29 March 2007 - 08:26 (#POST126253):</font>

Do you mean tankwater or tapwater?

Do you add water ager/conditioner/dechlorinator drops to your tapwater when changing.

The nitrate is meant to be in the tank to aid in cleaning up nitrite. Nitrite disappears as nitrate consumes it. How high was your nitrate before you did a tankwaterchange?

Did waterchanges on our tanks today and all but one tested at 20 or 40ppm. One is low 5ppm.

What was your ammonia reading and tank temperature?<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

no that is my tap water, strait out of the tap. i do add dechlorinator, it doesn't lower the nitrate and nitrite though. ammonia 0, temp 20 (celcius). before a water change Sigourneys tank has no ammonia, no nitrite and some nitrate. directly after a water change it has no ammonia, some nitrite and some nitrate. a few days after that it has no ammonia, no nitrite and some nitrate.