Tubbing Help

[Junaz]

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

 

[JM29]

Well, sorry to read what happens to you.
If I have well understood your two posts, I would suggest :
- tub her with bottled water (safe I hope),
- let the tank cycle / get rid of the ammonia
- in the future, avoid massive water changes with your tap water
The sand is generally not a problem for axolotls, except that the first time they meet sand, they have to learn to separate sand from preys (it takes one or two weeks to learn it)

 

[Junaz]

Well, sorry to read what happens to you.
If I have well understood your two posts, I would suggest :
- tub her with bottled water (safe I hope),
- let the tank cycle / get rid of the ammonia
- in the future, avoid massive water changes with your tap water
The sand is generally not a problem for axolotls, except that the first time they meet sand, they have to learn to separate sand from preys (it takes one or two weeks to learn it)

Thank you, I think I’m definitely going to. I just didn’t know if 0ppm of everything is ok?

 

[JM29]

You don't need to have everything at 0 :
Nitrites 0 or near 0 (not measurable)
Ammonia < 0,25
Nitrates is the less dangerous although the high values (>50) can be stressful.

If you regularly have concerns with ammonia, try to stay at pH<7,5. Less dangerous

 

[Junaz]

You don't need to have everything at 0 :
Nitrites 0 or near 0 (not measurable)
Ammonia < 0,25
Nitrates is the less dangerous although the high values (>50) can be stressful.

View attachment 87977

If you regularly have concerns with ammonia, try to stay at pH<7,5. Less dangerous

Thank you so much, I really appreciate this. However, if I put her in a tub for a while with bottled water that had 0ppm for everything, would she be ok like that for a little while?

 

[JM29]

Yes, as long as you change the water of the tub frequently, so that the ammonia excreted by the axolotl doesn't have time to accumulate.
If you can, feed the animal with nightcrawlers. The subsequent poo will be less polluting.