carsona246
New member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2010
- Messages
- 1,073
- Reaction score
- 18
- Points
- 0
- Country
- United States
- Display Name
- Carson
Normally I wouldn't suggest a 100% water change but if the ammonia is at 2 the cycle is not kicking in. Do you have dechlorinator? If the tub is bigger stick with the tub. Sand would add more surface area for beneficial bacteria, but you either need to leave it in, or keep it out, taking the substrate in and out isn't going to help. If the filter is too big get a sponge filter. Those are cheap and allow bacteria to grow on it. Just keep it running 24/7. Cleaning the filter will probably get rid of all the beneficial bacteria it has already. Not sure what kind of filter you have but I'm gonna say leave it dirty. Do you know about the nitrogen cycle? If not start researching. I know very little about ammonia removers, but I think blackdog is probably right about them neutralizing the ammonia, but not removing it. I wouldn't use any products claiming to remove toxins becuase I've read poor things about them, but I really dont have any facts to back it up.
Because you don't have a canister filter that has been accumulating benificial bacteria like I previously thought I would just do a 50% water change, and if that doesn't get the ammonia down do 10% changes until the ammonia is way down. Get a sponge filter if you think the filter you currently has is stressing out your axolotl, but get some form of filter that will allow beneficial bacteria to grow on it. Do water changes at least once a day to keep ammonia down, and your water quality is bound to improve. Cycling can take a while, but I've fishless cycled pretty quickly so hopefully your tub will become cycled soon. Again if you don't understand the nitrogen cycle, start googling.
Because you don't have a canister filter that has been accumulating benificial bacteria like I previously thought I would just do a 50% water change, and if that doesn't get the ammonia down do 10% changes until the ammonia is way down. Get a sponge filter if you think the filter you currently has is stressing out your axolotl, but get some form of filter that will allow beneficial bacteria to grow on it. Do water changes at least once a day to keep ammonia down, and your water quality is bound to improve. Cycling can take a while, but I've fishless cycled pretty quickly so hopefully your tub will become cycled soon. Again if you don't understand the nitrogen cycle, start googling.