Regarding your tank and cycling read this article:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml
Your tank may be cycled, but you need to check the other water parameters not just ph. So if you don't have any test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate then take a sample of water to your petshop and ask them to test it for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and give you the no.s. You shud try and test your water parameters regularly, weekly, and/or when there appears to be a problem with your axies.
Iceblocks (esp. if they weren't dechlorinated water) are not ideal to pop into your tank. This can cause fluctuating temperatures which in turn stresses your axies, which may lower their immune systems which is when fungus can develop.
Other ways to cool your tank, are keep it away from direct sunlight or light. If possible, move your tank to the coolest part of the house. Use a fan to blow across the surface of the water, pedestal fans are great for this as you can raise and angle them. Use bottles of frozen dechlorinated water, or those icebricks but sealed in plastic bags in case they leak, and rotate them before they melt so the temp doesn't fluctuate too much. The most ideal way would be using a chiller but they;re very expensive.
The size your axies are they shud be fed once every two days, sometimes their appetite increases when temp goes up. Are you using beef heart cubes? If you can try and feed them earthworms, crickets, pellets, 1/2inch to inch sized thin strips of raw meat (fat and tendons cut off). Some people use frozen bloodworm cubes, but we personally find them too messy.
How much of a waterchange and how often do you usually do? You shouldn't need to do a full water change at all, only partial waterchange (20-30% of tankwater). Also, how often do you clean up any uneaten food/poos daily or weekly and do they have any other tank companions apart from the critters?
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Quoting Row on Sunday 03 December 2006 - 09:42 (#POST113380):</font>
What sort of salt should I use. Sea salt? Normal salt? I have read differing post.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>
use aquarium (also known as tonic salt) salt or if u don't currently have that and need to start saltbaths straight away uniodised table salt. I assume you have a bottle/container of dechlorinated water in the fridge near their container for the daily 100% waterchanges. Might pay to have an extra one and when you need to do the saltbaths use the water from the chilled bottle, use icecream container or plastic bowl (someone even used a casserole dish) for the bath. No more than 10-15mins max. The axies may find it a bit uncomfortable the first few baths but persevere and it may take longer than a week or two. Try not to mix/add any medicines - do the saltbaths and see how you get on.
(Message edited by kapo on December 03, 2006)
Also, the longest one of ours hasn't eaten was 6-7weeks.
(Message edited by kapo on December 03, 2006)
