HappyFace
New member
So I'm setting up a tank for an axolotl for the first time. I've been researching and reading for about a year. Anyone have any comments on these ideas? I'm planning to have one axolotl.
Already done:
10 gallon tank has been cycling for about 2 months with two small goldfish and a HOB marineland penguin mini filter with bio wheel. It has playground sand, a hiding cave and two plastic plants. It is covered and has a basic light. It has to be upstairs in my house and with ambient temperatures, it gets up to 74 degrees F in the summer.
Ideas for changes before I bring home the axolotl:
* Replace sand (such a mess and hard to clean) with large glass pebbles (1-1.5 inch diameter) or a few larger river rocks with no substrate. The down side to this change is that this will give less biological filtration because less surface area for good stuff to grow on.
* I just purchased a small chiller that operates through a basic-looking empty HOB filter housing. It is called Coolworks microchiller and temperature controller http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idProduct=CW1131. Maybe attach a piece of sponge filter to the housing output waterfall. This will help biological filtration and cut down on water flow. I'm not sure how to attach it. String through the middle sponge filter cavity maybe?
* Remove my existing HOB marineland filter and put a sponge filter around the intake of the chiller's intake. This will also help with biological filtration and protect gills.
* If I remove the existing filter and start up the new sponge filter system, I probably need to cycle the tank again, right? But maybe not for so long.
* Using a small aquarium nylon bag, make a bag of Marineland Diamond Blend Ammonia Neutralizing Carbon pebbles to place in the empty filter housing. Amazon.com : Marineland PA0392 Diamond Blend Activated Carbon/Ammonia Neutralizing Crystals, 50-Ounce, 1417-Gram : Aquarium Filter Accessories : Pet Supplies
* Remove fish?
Thanks for any comments!
Already done:
10 gallon tank has been cycling for about 2 months with two small goldfish and a HOB marineland penguin mini filter with bio wheel. It has playground sand, a hiding cave and two plastic plants. It is covered and has a basic light. It has to be upstairs in my house and with ambient temperatures, it gets up to 74 degrees F in the summer.
Ideas for changes before I bring home the axolotl:
* Replace sand (such a mess and hard to clean) with large glass pebbles (1-1.5 inch diameter) or a few larger river rocks with no substrate. The down side to this change is that this will give less biological filtration because less surface area for good stuff to grow on.
* I just purchased a small chiller that operates through a basic-looking empty HOB filter housing. It is called Coolworks microchiller and temperature controller http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idProduct=CW1131. Maybe attach a piece of sponge filter to the housing output waterfall. This will help biological filtration and cut down on water flow. I'm not sure how to attach it. String through the middle sponge filter cavity maybe?
* Remove my existing HOB marineland filter and put a sponge filter around the intake of the chiller's intake. This will also help with biological filtration and protect gills.
* If I remove the existing filter and start up the new sponge filter system, I probably need to cycle the tank again, right? But maybe not for so long.
* Using a small aquarium nylon bag, make a bag of Marineland Diamond Blend Ammonia Neutralizing Carbon pebbles to place in the empty filter housing. Amazon.com : Marineland PA0392 Diamond Blend Activated Carbon/Ammonia Neutralizing Crystals, 50-Ounce, 1417-Gram : Aquarium Filter Accessories : Pet Supplies
* Remove fish?
Thanks for any comments!