Keep an eye on the Ammonia and Nitrite (highly toxic), you don't want those levels getting higher than 0.5 if you can help it. If you do experience a spike (1.0+), DON'T panic, but DO do a partial water change to bring those toxins down to acceptable levels for the axolotl.
Test the water each day and write down what the test results were (it's fun - honest!
) so you can see how your cycle is going. It may take any time from one to three months to complete the cycling process.
While the tank is in the process of cycling, you need to be changing out 10-25% of the water
EACH DAY. If you experience a spike (as I mentioned above) increase this to 25-50% to bring those levels right down.
If the ammonia and nitrite read at a
consistent "0" for more than two weeks, and nitrate is present in the tank, you can consider the tank cycled.
Tip the tests down the sink after testing. These chemicals are no good for plants so don't tip them into the garden beds or pot plants, and as you've read, they are corrosive, so take extra care when disposing of these chemicals near people and animals.
Axolotls prefer pH towards the higher end of the scale, 7.6 is just about perfect! :happy:
It's strongly recommended you get a thermometer. Warm water is very bad news for axolotls. Not only can it make them very sick leading to likely death, it also increases the toxicity of Ammonia which can kill them, too. If you live in a warm place, a thermometer is a must have when keeping axolotls.