Can you use pebbles for the base of the tank?

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Howie

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Hello,

I'm new to this forum and to Axolotls so sorry if this has been posted before, quite a lot to get through on this website!

is it ok to put pebbles at the bottom of the tank? they are a good size, far bigger than their heads, not sure if the gaps between them are to big so they can walk properly!

any help would be great, many thanks.
 
If they are bigger than their heads it should be okay as they can't swallow them However, be warned that lots of mess can get trapped under the pebbles and will make your water dirty/unsuitable for fish. It may be a good idea to silicone them down to close up the gaps
 
that's good, many thanks, I change part of the water quite often, I quite like cleaning the tank! just hope they don't mind the water change/disturbance.

I heard a turkey baster is also good for removing dirt
 
Howie said:
that's good, many thanks, I change part of the water quite often, I quite like cleaning the tank! just hope they don't mind the water change/disturbance.

I heard a turkey baster is also good for removing dirt
Click to expand...



Turkey basters are perfect for cleaning out axie waste/uneaten food !
 
I started out with large pebbles (3") but found it was a real pain to clean. So we made a base out of acrylic sheet and stuck sand down with silicone.
Other options include astro turf, sand and large marbles - if you do a search or spend some time trawling through you'll find loads of threads.
 
cheers, I like the sand idea, sand on it's on looks good but I'd imagine it would be a pain to clean
 
Howie said:
cheers, I like the sand idea, sand on it's on looks good but I'd imagine it would be a pain to clean
Click to expand...

,

It's actually pretty easy . I used to have large stones for my floor and I found that uneaten food and waste used to just accumulate between all the cracks and it wasn't fun. Now I just use a turkey baster daily , it is easy to see any uneaten food or waste as it sits on top of the sand.
 
Also, a siphon with a gravel-washing attachment works OK on sand, for those occasions when you want to clean it thoroughly.
 
Jennewt said:
Also, a siphon with a gravel-washing attachment works OK on sand, for those occasions when you want to clean it thoroughly.
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might try that, thanks, are they cheap enough?
 
RupertxGiles said:
,

It's actually pretty easy . I used to have large stones for my floor and I found that uneaten food and waste used to just accumulate between all the cracks and it wasn't fun. Now I just use a turkey baster daily , it is easy to see any uneaten food or waste as it sits on top of the sand.
Click to expand...

good idea, how often do you do a full water change then?
 
Howie said:
might try that, thanks, are they cheap enough?
Click to expand...
A pump action siphon is cheap enough (£10-15), but you'll need a big bucket too. A battery powered one can cost a lot (from about £25 - mine cost £50!) but they are worth the investment.
 
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