Hi, so I need to cycle my axolotls tank. I jumped the gun on buying her, she is my first pet, and I made a serious mistake in not getting my tank cycled before I got her. I really want to get it cycled, however I know I need to tub her first. I’ve tried doing it in the past, but despite me treating the water, the ammonia levels in my tap water are crazy high and I felt like it was hurting her more than the tank water. So it’s been 4 months of me just doing regular water changes and filter cleanings, foolishly hoping the tank would cycle itself. She’s been ok, eating regularly, and she was pooping regularly but I added sand to the tank and I think it constipated her, cause she’s pooping less often and the turds are much larger than they were before, when she was pooping more often. But I’ve been spot cleaning too. However, today and yesterday after I did my 50% monthly water change, she’s looked very agitated. Her gills have been very curled forward, and sometimes her tail is curled and she swims frantically. Yesterday I did a water check, and the levels were:
Ammonia-0.50ppm
Nitrite-0.25ppm
Nitrate-5.0ppm
Obviously, not a cycled check, and after posting something before this asking for help, I’ve decided she absolutely needs to be tubbed while I cycle the tank, the only problem being I have no safe water to out her in. So here’s my question: can I use bottled water? Like purified water? What are the requirements for tub water? I know I’d have to do 100% water changes every day, and I have plans to buy the big gallons of like purified water, but would it work? I would really appreciate any feedback
Ammonia-0.50ppm
Nitrite-0.25ppm
Nitrate-5.0ppm
Obviously, not a cycled check, and after posting something before this asking for help, I’ve decided she absolutely needs to be tubbed while I cycle the tank, the only problem being I have no safe water to out her in. So here’s my question: can I use bottled water? Like purified water? What are the requirements for tub water? I know I’d have to do 100% water changes every day, and I have plans to buy the big gallons of like purified water, but would it work? I would really appreciate any feedback