Is my tank cycled?

[Kendallykay]

Hello, first time Axolotl owner here, and I've just brought her home from the store to what I thought was a cycled tank. It's very hard to find axies here so I wanted to make sure I got her while she was available! But unfortunately my parameters don't seem right. I had a ammonia and pH alert in the tank but then I bought the actual big test kit from the store when I brought her home and now I'm worried about my water levels. She's luckily still in her bag but I'm not sure what to do now!
Here the tank info:
20 gal, sponge filter, water, sand, live plants, Seachem Stability and Seachem Prime.
Used both in the tank about a week ago and the Stability again today (I thought I'd read do it once a week, not once daily for a week...)
Ph=7.8
Ammonia=0.25ppm
Nitrite=0ppm
Nitrate=0ppm
Temp=68°F

What do I do with my little baby monster fish? Water change even tho it's not cycled yet? Put her in a small container with the water from the pet store until it's cycled? Use the Stability again and hope it stabilizes? She's about two months old so she's very wee, about 1.5" long.
I want to do what's best for this lil bb, thanks!

 

[Noodlethenewt]

If there were .25-.5 ppm nitrates the tank would be cycled. I believe 2.5 ppm ammonia is extremely high. Do large regular water changes don’t keep it in the water from the store

 

[Kendallykay]

If there were .25-.5 ppm nitrates the tank would be cycled. I believe 2.5 ppm ammonia is extremely high. Do large regular water changes don’t keep it in the water from the store

Shoot I meant 0.25 ppm

 

[EllieWind]

It'll probably take at least a couple of weeks for your tank to cycle. Just keep adding a source of ammonia until the nitrites and eventually nitrates appear, but hold back on any water changes. In the meantime since it's your first axolotl you should keep her in a tub or bucket of dechlorinated water (not the water from the pet store), and do 100% water changes daily until your tank is cycled and safe.

 

[Kendallykay]

It'll probably take at least a couple of weeks for your tank to cycle. Just keep adding a source of ammonia until the nitrites and eventually nitrates appear, but hold back on any water changes. In the meantime since it's your first axolotl you should keep her in a tub or bucket of dechlorinated water (not the water from the pet store), and do 100% water changes daily until your tank is cycled and safe.

Thank you for the response! A couple questions for you -
By dechlorinated do you mean I should use just tap water from the sink and the Seachem Prime (water conditioner)? Or should I also add the stability (new tank stabilizer)? And how should I do 100% changes without stressing her out, scooping her into a new container with a little cup?

 

[EllieWind]

Yep, just tap water with some Prime added. For the water changes, what I like to do is have a second tub that I prepare and then just quickly scoop them into it. You can use a small tupperware or a fine mesh net (I use a shrimp bet for small axolotls) to scoop them out. It won't stress them out all that much and they'll get over it quickly.

 

[Kendallykay]

Yep, just tap water with some Prime added. For the water changes, what I like to do is have a second tub that I prepare and then just quickly scoop them into it. You can use a small tupperware or a fine mesh net (I use a shrimp bet for small axolotls) to scoop them out. It won't stress them out all that much and they'll get over it quickly.

Thank you! She's now in an ikea tupperware with some holes in the lid on top of a bag of frozen chimichangas to negate the effects of my wood stove lol. She seems happy, she was very still until I put the frozen changas underneath her and now she's swimming a bit. Thanks again!

 

[Calgarycoppers]

How are you attempting to cycle your tank?

The bacteria needs to be "fed" with an ammonia source daily.

Its a busy process and you have to be vigilant

 

[Kendallykay]

How are you attempting to cycle your tank?

The bacteria needs to be "fed" with an ammonia source daily.

Its a busy process and you have to be vigilant

I have 4 or 5 live plants and I dropped some of the bloodworms in the tank. Anything else you'd recommend to speed the process up?

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Here is my cheat sheet - HHC - Cycling your Tank - A Cheat Sheet

you need to get actual pure ammonia liquid or ammonium chloride powder.

a heater and nitrifying bacteria after the ammonia help.

Have a read