Ammonia spike

[Day]

I just got a new axolotl from a reptile show that happened in my area on the 9th after owning my previous one for 10 years who unfortunately passed away from old age.

My new axolotl can be no more than 3 months old.
I had a cycled 20 gallon tank ready to go a few weeks prior to getting a new axolotl until I realized that the pH was reading 6.0 (ammonia 0, nitrate 10ppm, nitrite 0) on the day of buying the axolotl. I panicked and did a 100% water change and now I’m thinking I shouldn’t have.
Using the API freshwater master kit, the parameters read pH is 7.4-7.6 and ammonia is 0.5ppm (or 1ppm I couldn’t tell) this morning. The nitrate was 10ppm & nitrite is 0.

I used Seachem Prime once & Seachem Stability since the 9th (I know I stop using it on the 7th day) and also added Aqueon Pure Bacteria to the tank.

At the moment, I see its veins in its tail very slightly. I don’t know if that’s a sign on ammonia problems or a leucistic thing.

I heard that driftwood helps with pH which ultimately helps with ammonia, but it makes water brown. Not to mention the reviews for the ones in pet stores float and the tannins are insane.

My filter consists of Seachem Denitrate, Fluval Ammonia Removal (which I purchased earlier), Fluval biomax filter insert and sponges with activated carbon in them.

I currently have it tubbed in filtered tap water with prime, stability and an almond leaf. It was recommended that I do 100% water changes everyday (I have a second tub ready since this morning, ready to be used tomorrow and the cycle will continue)

I did a 50% water cycle on the 20 gallon tank and used prime, stability, and api quick start this afternoon and it went from 0.50-1ppm to 0.25. I was informed that I should be making 20% daily changes until ammonia is no longer visible.

My parameters this morning read
pH: 7.6
High pH: 7.4
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia .50ppm-1ppm
Nitrate: 10ppm

Parameters this afternoon
pH: 6.8
Ammonia: 0.25

Am I doing what I need to be doing? This has never happened to me before.
Am I suppose to be using prime everyday since it only binds for 24 hours? I don’t normally use prime, I use API products but I kept getting told to use prime, use prime and then this happens.
Do I just start over??

 

[wolfen]

ph6 is likely to crash the cycle.
test the kh gh levels of the tank and tap water.
use enough bicarbonate of soda to increase ph to 7.4-7.6 rather than doing a water change (if your kh is bad/low water changes will only alleviate the problem for a period of time and then the ph will drop again).
unless it is a water change day allow the filtration to remove the ammonia (this is also assuming the tank is still cycled)
adding driftwood whilst having ph problems will make the ph drop faster due to tannins being acidic, boil the driftwood in a large container to remove some of the tannins and to allow the wood to be saturated and sink (may need something holding it down until it no longer floats).
the ammonia level is quite safe although not pleasant, the ph swings are more likely to be a major cause of stress.

 

[Day]

ph6 is likely to crash the cycle.
test the kh gh levels of the tank and tap water.
use enough bicarbonate of soda to increase ph to 7.4-7.6 rather than doing a water change (if your kh is bad/low water changes will only alleviate the problem for a period of time and then the ph will drop again).
unless it is a water change day allow the filtration to remove the ammonia (this is also assuming the tank is still cycled)
adding driftwood whilst having ph problems will make the ph drop faster due to tannins being acidic, boil the driftwood in a large container to remove some of the tannins and to allow the wood to be saturated and sink (may need something holding it down until it no longer floats).
the ammonia level is quite safe although not pleasant, the ph swings are more likely to be a major cause of stress.

Have you ever tried Microbe-lift ammonia remover? Someone on reddit in a axolotl forum told me to use it, I see pretty good reviews but wasn’t sure if this is like a good product for Axolotls

Btw:
Readings after 24 hours
pH: 7.0
Ammonia: I wanna say 0.10ppm cause it’s not quite green and it’s not quite yellow either?? It’s lighter than 0.25ppm on the measure card for the master kit.
Nitrite: 0

 

[wolfen]

I haven't tried Microbe-lift ammonia remover (sodium formaldehyde bisulfite) as I use sodium thiosulphate for dechlorination and allow the filtration to deal with ammonia, there isn't any information as to whether axolotls are reactive to sodium formaldehyde bisulfite although it does have an advantage over zeolite and ion exchange resin where it can be used in both fresh and salt water environments.
be aware that sodium formaldehyde bisulfite may lower ph due to chemical reactions.