jclee
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2009
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- 393
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- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Country
- United States
- Display Name
- jclee
I am an idiot.
I got my axolotls in the second week of July. They were beautiful, and in fabulous shape. I put them in a 10G that was fully cycled, until I could pick up the 20G that I planned to transfer them to. (I got a great deal on that 20G). Long story short, I was so excited about the new 20G that, although I used all the old tank water, I put in ~50% newly treated tap water and screwed up the nitrogen cycle, and put the Axies into the tank before I realized what I’d done. I knew better. I really knew better. We do stupid things when we get excited. To be honest, I was so preoccupied with keeping the temp stable at first, that I paid less mind to water quality. (The 10g was in the living room, and I was flipping ice every 3 hours or so. Part of my rush to get them into the 20G was that it was assembled in the bedroom, where the air conditioner is. I haven’t needed ice since making the switch. The temp’s been stable, ranging from 70-72.)
Other tank conditions: Yesterday's Ph was 7.0. GH was 80 (slightly hard) and Kh was 50 (mod-low buffer capacity.) I've got a bubbler going -- added a regulator to the tubing so I could put it on a low setting. There are a few pond snails and MTS to help a little with clean-up, and I suspect that, although I haven't seen Max eating much food, he's been picking off pond snails, because their population is down. I've been feeding salmon pellets, and I've given frozen bloodworms every third or fourth day. I'm using a foodbowl for easier cleanup, and I'm about to switch to a jar so the food is even more contained. The light's only over one corner of the plants, and I leave it on ~6-8 hours, mostly to keep the plants going. There are 2 hides. I've also got some Elodea, Java Fern, and Willow moss (tied to rocks -- not free floating) to help oxygenate the water. The filter has been modified to decrease current, which I explained in a post about a week ago: http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=63332
They’re not quite ill, but they’re showing signs of stress. Artie’s gills are thinning a little, and Max isn’t eating much. I realized yesterday that the ammonia level was ~2ppm(!) and did a 20% water change. Today, the ammonia was at 1ppm. I did another 20% change, and half of that was water from my fish tank to quicken the cycling process. (The tank has been established for years, and the fish are all in good health, so I am not worried about parasites/dirty water.) I ran out of NO2 and NO3 test kits, but the ammonia levels indicate that everything's seriously out of whack.
I know that fridging is an option, but I don’t want to jump the gun yet, since they’re just now showing symptoms of stress. I plan to continue to do 20% water changes every day until the ammonia is down to 0pmm. I also plan to continue using half new, treated water, and half fish tank water when I do the changes.
What am I missing? What should I look out for? What should I change.
I really am kicking myself, and embarrassed as I am to admit my follies, the health of these little guys comes first.
I got my axolotls in the second week of July. They were beautiful, and in fabulous shape. I put them in a 10G that was fully cycled, until I could pick up the 20G that I planned to transfer them to. (I got a great deal on that 20G). Long story short, I was so excited about the new 20G that, although I used all the old tank water, I put in ~50% newly treated tap water and screwed up the nitrogen cycle, and put the Axies into the tank before I realized what I’d done. I knew better. I really knew better. We do stupid things when we get excited. To be honest, I was so preoccupied with keeping the temp stable at first, that I paid less mind to water quality. (The 10g was in the living room, and I was flipping ice every 3 hours or so. Part of my rush to get them into the 20G was that it was assembled in the bedroom, where the air conditioner is. I haven’t needed ice since making the switch. The temp’s been stable, ranging from 70-72.)
Other tank conditions: Yesterday's Ph was 7.0. GH was 80 (slightly hard) and Kh was 50 (mod-low buffer capacity.) I've got a bubbler going -- added a regulator to the tubing so I could put it on a low setting. There are a few pond snails and MTS to help a little with clean-up, and I suspect that, although I haven't seen Max eating much food, he's been picking off pond snails, because their population is down. I've been feeding salmon pellets, and I've given frozen bloodworms every third or fourth day. I'm using a foodbowl for easier cleanup, and I'm about to switch to a jar so the food is even more contained. The light's only over one corner of the plants, and I leave it on ~6-8 hours, mostly to keep the plants going. There are 2 hides. I've also got some Elodea, Java Fern, and Willow moss (tied to rocks -- not free floating) to help oxygenate the water. The filter has been modified to decrease current, which I explained in a post about a week ago: http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=63332
They’re not quite ill, but they’re showing signs of stress. Artie’s gills are thinning a little, and Max isn’t eating much. I realized yesterday that the ammonia level was ~2ppm(!) and did a 20% water change. Today, the ammonia was at 1ppm. I did another 20% change, and half of that was water from my fish tank to quicken the cycling process. (The tank has been established for years, and the fish are all in good health, so I am not worried about parasites/dirty water.) I ran out of NO2 and NO3 test kits, but the ammonia levels indicate that everything's seriously out of whack.
I know that fridging is an option, but I don’t want to jump the gun yet, since they’re just now showing symptoms of stress. I plan to continue to do 20% water changes every day until the ammonia is down to 0pmm. I also plan to continue using half new, treated water, and half fish tank water when I do the changes.
What am I missing? What should I look out for? What should I change.
I really am kicking myself, and embarrassed as I am to admit my follies, the health of these little guys comes first.