Cyclops and Nematodes...

[Linus]

Did you bleach the substrate/filter/decor?

 

[Asuka]

Did you bleach the substrate/filter/decor?

decor yes, filter no, substrate no. I am thinking of keeping the tank barebottom for better maintence.

 

[Linus]

Cool. I use bare bottoms for all my tanks, makes maintenance very quick and easy. I'd just be very careful if the decor was a porous cave or anything like that as I don't know if you'll ever fully be able to get the bleach solution out without boiling or soaking for a long time. Maybe someone else can comment on that.

When in doubt throw it out, etc.

 

[Kaysie]

Anything porous is a lost cause. It would cost more in dechlorinator to remove the bleach than it would cost to buy a new decoration.

 

[Asuka]

Anything porous is a lost cause. It would cost more in dechlorinator to remove the bleach than it would cost to buy a new decoration.

Alright I'll keep that in mind. It's fine anyways, I get my decor from a dollar store, expensive decor is just to please the eyes, axies don't mind what they have as long as they can hide and have fun with it XD

I'm getting seeding material from a betta breeder I met on the net, so cycling should take less, I'll have an extra filter cycle with the seeded sponge in a bucket. Since I interrupted my cycle, might as well boil the filter sponge of the old ones. whats the point of doing all this if I'm allowing them to live in the filter. I will have to recycle anyways.

I hear my axie is better, that the vet gave it a shot. No idea why or what it was, but it seems he ate a bite yesterday. I am going to check on him today and find out more in detail.

 

[Kaysie]

Be careful with stuff from the dollar store. If it's not aquarium-safe, it can leech harmful chemicals into the water.

 

[Asuka]

Be careful with stuff from the dollar store. If it's not aquarium-safe, it can leech harmful chemicals into the water.

True could you tell me if any of these items I intend to buy dangerous?

- Silk plants (craft store style)
- Coffee mug or Terracota pot

Other things I might add:

- Sea shells (I have some from the pet store to raise my ph)
- Pizarra (I'm not sure what it's called in english, its a black stone used for blackboards in the olden days, I think I read somewhere they were safe for lotls
I will look into that)

It's temporary till I start working again after xmas, I was thinking that I might as well set up a theme in the tank and start planting it, however I'm not good with plants, the only thing I havent killed plant wise is java moss and marimo moss balls (the plant I killed were anubias and grisebachii herbs)I. I'm also a little scared since I know lotls don't like too much light and I'm not sure if fertilizer liquid or in tablet form are dangerous... (sorry if it is going off topic but I thought I should just ask)

 

[Kaysie]

I've used silk plants without any issue. Make sure they don't have any metal bits in the stems, and soak them in hot water for a while (or run them through the dishwasher with no soap). Then soak them some more. Watch for breakdown of the plastics.

Anything for human food use should be okay.

Shells are fine, and slate is also fine. Most people silicone slate to the bottom of the tank to keep waste from getting trapped.

 

[Asuka]

I've used silk plants without any issue. Make sure they don't have any metal bits in the stems, and soak them in hot water for a while (or run them through the dishwasher with no soap). Then soak them some more. Watch for breakdown of the plastics.

Anything for human food use should be okay.

Shells are fine, and slate is also fine. Most people silicone slate to the bottom of the tank to keep waste from getting trapped.

Ah silicone! That's a great Idea, is it better than aquarium glue though? I hear aquarium glue has to cure first or something. They are pretty much the same price but I thought i should ask first before acquiring anything

I haven't thought about the metal parts, thankfully I got just plastic stems with nothing in them.

 

[FX1C]

Silicone has a cure time as well - especially before it can be submerged.

Make sure the silicone is aquarium safe - some have mold inhibitors which are toxic for aquariums.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[JessKB]

Alright I'll keep that in mind. It's fine anyways, I get my decor from a dollar store, expensive decor is just to please the eyes, axies don't mind what they have as long as they can hide and have fun with it XD

I'm getting seeding material from a betta breeder I met on the net, so cycling should take less, I'll have an extra filter cycle with the seeded sponge in a bucket. Since I interrupted my cycle, might as well boil the filter sponge of the old ones. whats the point of doing all this if I'm allowing them to live in the filter. I will have to recycle anyways.

I hear my axie is better, that the vet gave it a shot. No idea why or what it was, but it seems he ate a bite yesterday. I am going to check on him today and find out more in detail.

Why? As you pointed out earlier, most of the bb lives in the filter. Your tank would cycle much faster with your already cycled filter. nematodes are HARMLESS. They will come back at some point in any tank no matter what you do. Their populations run in cycles of booms and busts. Why not just put up with them for a week or two until their population crashes? That takes a lot less time than cycling a tank over, even if you do get seeded material. The faster you have a safe, cycled tank for your axolotl the better.

 

[Asuka]

Why? As you pointed out earlier, most of the bb lives in the filter. Your tank would cycle much faster with your already cycled filter. nematodes are HARMLESS. They will come back at some point in any tank no matter what you do. Their populations run in cycles of booms and busts. Why not just put up with them for a week or two until their population crashes? That takes a lot less time than cycling a tank over, even if you do get seeded material. The faster you have a safe, cycled tank for your axolotl the better.

Well I believe it was Elena that said I was going to have to re-cycle the tank regardless of saving my filter and such.

But it's too late now... I'm using ammonia in a bottle with cycled seeded material, plus the breeder was kind enough to give me some ammonia tests for free so I can keep an eye on my cycle. Fishless cycle is always nicer than submitting my lotl to it. Though he's not home at the moment and I miss him...

If they return then well-- I tried. I'll have a clean up crew take care of it hehe, as I said I know they aren't harmful now and I will not touch them, I'll just send in my guppy fries to do some cleaning MUAHAHAHAH-- sorry you would think my lotl would eat them, but he always ignores everything-- even my shrimp which were meant to be treats... and also I don't understand if they are everywhere how come more people don't have them when a tank is cycled?

And does having them mean your water conditions are good?

And not having them means that your water is not as good?

I'm sorry I'm getting confused.

I'm not worried so much about cyclops as I understand its kinda like having daphnia, which is an excellent food source for small fry, though, I'm worried about the nematodes, because some say it's a sign of overfeeding, dirty water, etc... though I doubt it's dirty water since i changed water daily 20% while the tank was cycling.

 

[JessKB]

This thread is frustrating because you rush out and take drastic action before getting advice. Its better to ask about something and THEN take action. We have all said the nematodes are harmless and you have chosen not to believe us because of other sources. I think its good to look at other sources too, but this forum is the most comprehensive salamander site on the Web. The people here are salamander fanatics. There are people here who have been keeping salamanders for decades, and there is a healthy sprinkling of biologists, other scientists, and authors that are willing to lend their expertise. This is your best salamander source.

As Kaysie said, Axolotls are very easy to keep. Thousands live in fish bowls in universities all around the globe. If you had asked questions before you took action, your Axolotl would be much less stressed and likely in a cycled tank.

I'm not trying to be mean but why ask questions on a forum if you don't want to follow the advice?

 

[Kaysie]

Just changing the water isn't necessarily going to provide a clean tank. You have to physically remove debris from the substrate too, or it'll just sit and rot.

 

[Asuka]

This thread is frustrating because you rush out and take drastic action before getting advice. Its better to ask about something and THEN take action. We have all said the nematodes are harmless and you have chosen not to believe us because of other sources. I think its good to look at other sources too, but this forum is the most comprehensive salamander site on the Web. The people here are salamander fanatics. There are people here who have been keeping salamanders for decades, and there is a healthy sprinkling of biologists, other scientists, and authors that are willing to lend their expertise. This is your best salamander source.

As Kaysie said, Axolotls are very easy to keep. Thousands live in fish bowls in universities all around the globe. If you had asked questions before you took action, your Axolotl would be much less stressed and likely in a cycled tank.

I'm not trying to be mean but why ask questions on a forum if you don't want to follow the advice?

Okay I'm home now and not my crappy phone.

I'm not willing to go back into the matter, but since you insist, it was too late, this thread is already a few days old. When I saw a post from one of the forum members who is known to be knowledgeable, said you will have to re-cycle your tank regardless of the measures taken to save the filters, and NO ONE till now had mention that I could indeed make use of the filters and save them and even you said:

Your filter is very likely full of nematodes too... So they will come back. No matter what really.

I decided to start from scratch using the bucket method with seeded material. really no one mentioned what to do with my filter at all until your post around 21 hours ago and I didn't merely jump in, I asked other places because honestly, no one was saying anything about if my filter was fine being in QT or anything and I needed to know because I had to go urgently somewhere. So I asked a betta breeder and friend of mine to ask about what to do about cycling. And he said might as well clean everything and start anew, clean slate and provided me with an ammonia testing kit which was the only thing I needed.

But as I said "What is done is done" If I had a time machine I would probably fix these mistakes, if it is frustrating for you, imagine for me, I have made a personal commitment to breathe and think before panicking and acting. And I had made that clear on this thread. To ask and listen and wait before acting like a prudent person.

You say you don't want to be mean, Yet you insist on bringing up these mistakes I have done that now I cannot do nothing about. What is the point you are trying to achieve? Wasn't it for me to listen before acting? Have I not made it clear that is what I am trying to do?

I do not see any advice in YOUR posts but criticism for something I have realized accepted and APOLOGIZED personally to EACH participant of this thread for doing, yes even to you.

I asked questions, but you didn't answer any now did you? I don't see a single post replying to what I have asked.

I don't understand if they are everywhere how come more people don't have them when a tank is cycled?
And does having them mean your water conditions are good?
And not having them means that your water is not as good?

No answer, but the response I have quoted above. I understand people are passionate but I am really trying to set things right here, thus starting anew, fresh sounded good. Besides My lotl ISN'T EVEN AT HOME at the moment! I don't know when he will be coming back, it could be a week, or more. By then my tank will be cycled, perhaps not matured, but within 2 weeks with seeded material plus a JBL product I have with nitrfiying bacteria should accelerate the process.

And I'm sure when you started you weren't perfect either, there were moments you were at loss or perhaps panicked, or perhaps you didn't. Either way everyone was once new in the hobby, were they not?

It could have been a worse mistake. I could be not listening at all, I could be not even on a forum which is known to be experienced with lotls. I could just be doing as I please not caring at all for the lotls and acting like a god of sorts, but I am not, I'm here, I'm ADMITTING I have done wrong.

Now, next time I ask for advice and act before getting a response feel free to bash me with a baseball bat, till then lets drop this it is frustrating for you as it is for me, we gain nothing from this, you point your finger at me, I nibble on it a bit lol.

Seriously though, I'm here because I want to learn to be a better keeper and provide my lotl the best care that is in my hands. And that is my only reason.

 

[Kaysie]

All well-established tanks have micro-fauna. Nematodes, cyclops, planaria, all sorts of things. Initially, they often go through population blooms, but they will go back to baseline levels. They're a sign of a normal, healthy tank. Think of a pond; it's full of all sorts of little swimmers.

I'm going to lock this thread. No point in beating a dead horse.