tortugaviejo
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I plan on getting an axolotl soon, but I'm hearing many, many different things from people regarding cycling and how soon I can put the axo in the tank. I've read up on this site and axolotl.org, and read through some posts on here, but when it comes down to it, I'm more terrified of getting an axolotl now because every story's different and I expect the little guy to die within days.
I just bought a 10 gallon tank, air pump (with air stone), filter, black sand and the chemical that de-chlorines the water. I also bought a Cycle chemical that's supposed to speed up the cycling process. I got 3 fish to put in the tank to get everything going as well so they can produce ammonia and everything goes from there. My axo is expected to be here in 3 weeks or so, but here's where I'm lost:
-A co-worker who had axolotl for a few years said that since I'm just getting one, the tank should be ready after a week or two. She's worked for PetCo for over 15 years in the aquatics department.
-Various forums have mentioned that the water in the tank needs to be changed every other day, every 4-5 days, or once a week. They also say to change either 1/3 of the water or all of it. I don't quite get this part because if I'm changing all of it, doesn't that essentially get rid of all the necessary chemicals/bacteria?
-A guy who was selling an axo on eBay a few months ago sent me the following info when I was about to get one but had to hold off on getting the tank due to bills:
"get a 10-gallon tank at Petco, and then fill it with water that's been treated with Aquasafe. You'll want to put sand at the bottom (NOT gravel, because gravel will kill your axie), and then you'll need a sponge filter and an air pump. You will also need to get some feeder fish to put in the tank so that they'll produce ammonia to begin the cycle of beneficial bacteria. The fish produce ammonia, which changes into nitrate, which then changes into nitrite, and then the cycle begins. Once the tank has the correct amounts of these chemicals, it will be ready for your axie to live in it, and the benefit of having a cycled tank is that you don't have to do 100% water changes. You just change out 1/3 of the water once a week."
So which is it? I feel like an idiot for saying this, but the summaries of how to cycle a tank either seem like they're missing something, or add in a lot of optional information that throws me off.
Any help is appreciated. I've been wanting an axolotl for years and will commit to making sure it lives a good, long life. Also, is the air pump really necessary since the filter's there?
I just bought a 10 gallon tank, air pump (with air stone), filter, black sand and the chemical that de-chlorines the water. I also bought a Cycle chemical that's supposed to speed up the cycling process. I got 3 fish to put in the tank to get everything going as well so they can produce ammonia and everything goes from there. My axo is expected to be here in 3 weeks or so, but here's where I'm lost:
-A co-worker who had axolotl for a few years said that since I'm just getting one, the tank should be ready after a week or two. She's worked for PetCo for over 15 years in the aquatics department.
-Various forums have mentioned that the water in the tank needs to be changed every other day, every 4-5 days, or once a week. They also say to change either 1/3 of the water or all of it. I don't quite get this part because if I'm changing all of it, doesn't that essentially get rid of all the necessary chemicals/bacteria?
-A guy who was selling an axo on eBay a few months ago sent me the following info when I was about to get one but had to hold off on getting the tank due to bills:
"get a 10-gallon tank at Petco, and then fill it with water that's been treated with Aquasafe. You'll want to put sand at the bottom (NOT gravel, because gravel will kill your axie), and then you'll need a sponge filter and an air pump. You will also need to get some feeder fish to put in the tank so that they'll produce ammonia to begin the cycle of beneficial bacteria. The fish produce ammonia, which changes into nitrate, which then changes into nitrite, and then the cycle begins. Once the tank has the correct amounts of these chemicals, it will be ready for your axie to live in it, and the benefit of having a cycled tank is that you don't have to do 100% water changes. You just change out 1/3 of the water once a week."
So which is it? I feel like an idiot for saying this, but the summaries of how to cycle a tank either seem like they're missing something, or add in a lot of optional information that throws me off.
Any help is appreciated. I've been wanting an axolotl for years and will commit to making sure it lives a good, long life. Also, is the air pump really necessary since the filter's there?