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Question: Fungus in Axolotl Tank?

EllieWind

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Hello! I've been a long-time lurker around here, but this is my first post.

So, I've had my first axolotl Azalea for about 4 months now in a 15 gallon cycled tank with a few white mountain cloud minnows (the minnows are there to help with an outbreak of planaria), but very early on, maybe within the first two months, I noticed what looks an awful lot like a fungal growth on the plastic plants. I started doing daily water changes and attempted to clean the plants several times, which very nearly crashed the cycle (I've since gone back to weekly 20-30% water changes and monthly 50% water changes), but I can't seem to get rid of it no matter what I do. Here's some pictures of what I'm talking about: https://sta.sh/01ubg45y4ea3 https://sta.sh/01lll625gpft https://sta.sh/01vt7g16ogqw

Throughout all of this my axolotl has remained healthy and I haven't seen a trace of any fungus on her at all. She's very active, eats well, and has beautiful full gills.
Here's some pictures of her: https://sta.sh/01lonzxhm8dz https://sta.sh/08ycvei3sdy (sorry for the hard water deposits on the tank).
The minnows have also shown no sign of any fungus since I introduced them to the tank about half a month ago, but I'm still worried about everyone in the tank.

A friend of mine who also has quite a few freshwater tanks says she has had the same growth show up in tanks that don't have live plants and have very low water flow, but she's also never had it effect her animals but can't seem to get rid of it. So part of me wonders if it's a problem with our city's water.

Also, my tank's parameters are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 20ppm nitrates, with an alkalinity of around 180ppm and a ph of 7.8. The tank temperature usually sits around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

I've recently added an extra HOB power filter (with the outflow modified to reduce any current, of course) in hopes that it will clean out some of the fungus. I'm also wondering if I should try adding some aquarium salt to the tank. Would that help, or would that be a bad idea?

Has anyone else had anything like this? And does anyone know how I can get rid of it?
 

Hayleyy

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I'm not too sure about the fungus on the plants, I have something similar in my planted tank that I've just set up but that is because of the wood I put in there. All of your parameters are perfect so they aren't causing any issues. Is there any poop or uneaten food hiding in the tank?
I don't know about adding aquarium salt because the axolotl will be sensitive to it, but the new filter may help!
Sorry I'm not any help, I hope someone else can add suggestions!
 

EllieWind

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There's no poop I can see, and I clean it out the minute I do see it. I also hand feed my axie so I keep track of everything she eats. I had to nix the extra filter though since she started becoming very stressed and actually ended up bursting a little blood vessel in her tail (nothing major, just a couple of blood spots that are already going away).
 

EllieWind

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Probably should update this as it has been quuuuuite a while. :p

I removed the plastic plants that had the gunk on them and let them dry out before returning them to the tank and from there just kept a close on eye on it and stuck to strict cleaning schedules. It's been several months now and I haven't seen any trace of fungus or algae or whatever kind of growth it was. :D

Axel has been fine through all of this and never showed a trace of any kind of growth on him. I did notice that he was beginning to develop some worrying red spots on his sides, but after adding some Indian almond leaves those cleared right up and he's been in perfect health ever since.
 

Hayleyy

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Thank you for the update! Happy to hear it is going well :happy:
 
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