How To Set Up An Axolotl Aquarium

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Care Guides

How to Cycle An Aquarium

Last Updated: February 8, 2022

Introduction

Caring for axolotls is quite easy, if you know what you're doing beforehand. Before you lot buy your first axolotl, information technology'southward essential that you take a few things prepared ahead of fourth dimension for your pet. In this article, y'all will learn step by stride how to gear up a brand new axolotl tank, establish a Nitrogen Cycle, and prepare a home for your new aquatic companion.

What Does it Mean to "Cycle" Your Tank?

If y'all were to study a torso of freshwater like a lake or pond, you would most likely find hundreds of unlike kinds of animals living at that place. Fish, frogs, snails, and many other species phone call these environments home.

However, there are other residents of these freshwater locales that are and then pocket-sized, you can't even run across them. Millions of microscopic bacteria live in the h2o besides! Don't worry, these aren't the blazon of bacteria that will make you lot sick. Instead, these are good bacteria that eat the waste product and other decomposable organic material floating in the water and recycle it to keep the water healthy for the other animals to alive in.

This process is called the "Nitrogen Cycle." Information technology is simply the conversion of waste and ammonia in the water into chemicals called nitrites, and then into chemicals called nitrates. "Cycling" your axolotl tank ways treating the h2o in your aquarium then that those same healthy bacteria that live in lakes and ponds volition be able to grow.

Equally you feed your axolotl, its waste volition cause the ammonia levels in the h2o to increment. If the ammonia levels get too high, it tin can be toxic to your animal. Even so, if y'all have a properly cycled tank, the salubrious leaner will intermission down the ammonia and go on the h2o clean and safe for your pet.

In this guide in that location are two cycling methods! Method 1 is heavily dependent on your ability to larn pre-seeded media or a seeded sponge filter. This method is geared towards experienced aquarium hobbyists. Method ii will teach you how to wheel a tank from scratch specifically for an axolotl. This method is geared towards beginners who have never had aquariums before and we highly recommend all start time axolotl owners to follow this method.

What Are the Ideal Water Parameters for My Axolotl?

Maintaining good water quality and chemical parameters in your axolotl'southward habitat is essential for keeping your animate being happy and healthy. These parameters are very easy to test using a freshwater examination kit, which you tin can purchase online or from your local Petco, PetSmart, or fish shop. For this purpose, we recommend using the Freshwater Master Test Kit by API. Simply follow the instructions on the kit and you'll be able to exam your water in minutes.

pH – Ideal: seven.4-seven.half-dozen | Acceptable: 6.v-eight.0

Ammonia – 0 parts per million

Nitrates (NO3) – Between 5 and twenty parts per million

Nitrites (NO2) – 0 parts per million

Temperature – 60–68°F; no higher than 72°F

How Long Does it Take to Cycle an Aquarium for an Axolotl?

Leaner grows slowly and axolotls produce a lot of waste that needs to be dealt with so they don't go sick and peradventure die. If yous are cycling a brand new tank from scratch with no access to seeded media it can take anywhere from iv to 8 weeks. If yous run into a stalled bike information technology can take much longer. It is essential that cycling your tank is done earlier purchasing an axolotl! If you are able to become admission to seeded media or a seeded filter, the length of time it takes to cycle an aquarium tin be significantly reduced.

Cycling Your Aquarium

There are several ways to properly cycle your aquarium. Some methods work quicker, while others have more time. In our experience cycling hundreds of aquariums for our axolotls, there are two methods that have worked best for us: Instant Cycling and Fish-In Cycling.

Method i: Instant Cycling

Summary:

Instant cycling is by far the fastest, easiest, and most efficient way to found a healthy Nitrogen Cycle in a brand new aquarium. In the outcome you receive an axolotl and however do non have a cycled aquarium, this method can work. Despite its name, the Instant cycling process can take upwardly to 2 to four weeks to complete. However, if you follow these instructions carefully, well-nigh aquariums will achieve a healthy Nitrogen Cycle in about 7 days. This method is also dependent on your ability to larn seeded media. If y'all cannot discover seeded media, yous will need to follow Method two instead.

Materials:

• Aquarium:
  • 20 Gallon Long – Minimum size for juvenile and sub-adult axolotls
  • 30-forty Gallon Breeder – Minimum size for developed axolotls
    • NOTE: Many sources online will claim that a 20 Gallon Long is an adequate size for an adult axolotl. However, axolotls can grow to lengths of 12 inches or more! Since a 20 Gallon Long tank measures just 12 inches from front to back, larger developed axolotls volition be unable to move freely in their habitat, which can crusade them stress and other health bug. The more space you can provide for your pet, the happier and healthier they will be!
• Filtration: There are many different filtration systems available for your aquarium, and although most tin work, nosotros have listed iv recommended varieties of filters that we have used in the past; any of them will do only fine for your axolotl.
  • Sponge filter (requires air pump and airline tubing) – For a twenty Gallon Long tank, we recommend the Small Hikari Bacto-Surge Biological Activeness Sponge Filter, and for a 30-40 Gallon Breeder, we recommend the Large Hikari Bacto-Surge Biological Action Sponge Filter.
  • Internal filter – For a 20 Gallon Long tank, we recommend the Sicce (pronounced: "run across-chay") Shark ADV 600, and for a 30-40 Gallon Breeder, we recommend the Sicce Shark ADV 800.
  • Hang-On-Back filter – For a xx Gallon Long tank, we recommend the Seachem (pronounced: "see-kem") Tidal 35, and for a 30-twoscore Gallon Breeder, we recommend the Seachem Tidal 55.
  • Canister filter – For a 20 Gallon Long tank, nosotros recommend the Sicce Whale 120, and for a 30-40 Gallon Breeder, we recommend the Sicce Whale 200.

• Seeded Media: Seeded Media are materials that take been pre-saturated with benign leaner for your water. If you have ane, yous can besides utilize a seeded sponge filter from an existing cycled aquarium to achieve the aforementioned upshot.
• Bottled Nitrifying Leaner: Adding a bottled handling solution will provide an immediate source of salubrious bacteria to your aquarium.
• Bottled Ammonium Chloride: Bacteria need a abiding supply of food or else they will starve and die which tin can crash your tank wheel.
• API Freshwater Chief Test Kit: A skillful water test kit is essential for any aquarium keeper. When showtime cycling your tank, yous must examination the water on a daily basis, so y'all can track the water parameters and notice the early signs of a stalling cycle, like a low pH or high nitrate levels. Be sure to purchase the kit with the examination tubes, non the paper strips. The newspaper strips are not accurate.

Instructions:

• Fill your aquarium with conditioned tap water. You can buy water conditioner from your local Petco, PetSmart, or fish store. To condition your aquarium's h2o, but follow the instructions on the bottle, and call us if you demand assistance!
• Place your filter in the h2o, and turn information technology on.
• Add your seeded biological media and/or a pre-seeded sponge filter from an existing cycled tank.
• Add nitrifying bacteria to the aquarium water according to the instructions on the bottle.
• "Dose" the tank water with 2-3 ppm worth of ammonium chloride. The bacteria needs a constant supply of ammonia in lodge to stay alive. Unremarkably your axolotl will provide nutrient for the bacteria naturally, but before you introduce the axolotl to your tank you'll need to add the ammonia yourself to boot off the Nitrogen Cycle. If you lot need help figuring out how much ammonia to add together to the water, enter your tank size and current concentration into our helpful Ammonia Calculator, and it will tell you how much ammonia you lot need.
• Allow your aquarium to run for at least one week, while regularly dosing with ammonia and testing your water parameters with the API Freshwater Primary Test Kit to ensure they are at optimal levels. Please notation: You should only does more than ammonia into the tank if the concentration has gone down! If your ammonia is not going down, do not add together more than!
• You will know your tank has begun to cycle properly when you run into nitrites AND nitrates appear during water testing. Nitrites will fasten and go back downwardly to zero during the cycling procedure; this is normal. It is also mutual for ammonia levels to fluctuate during the cycling process equally well. You lot will know for sure that your tank is fully cycled when the ammonia and nitrite (NO2) concentrations are at 0 ppm and the nitrate (NO3) concentration is between 5 and 20 ppm. Once your tank is cycled, you can stop adding ammonia to the h2o.
  • Note: If your aquarium's h2o parameters aren't where they need to be, you will near likely need to wait another week or two for your aquarium to stabilize. If they still aren't correct after that, information technology'southward time to investigate what is causing your water problems.
• If your water parameters are in club, you are now ready to purchase your axolotl! Visit our shop page or schedule an engagement to meet with one of our experts in person!

Method two: Fishless Cycling

Summary:

This method does not utilise fish at all and is the all-time method for beginners who do not have access to seeded media or sponge filters! While information technology is a more than involved method than instant cycling, it is the best method to brainwash yourself on tank cycling and to become accustomed to monitoring and maintaining proficient water quality in your aquarium! This method ordinarily takes between 4 and 8 weeks, though it can often times take longer depending on diverse factors! This is the most important step to keeping an axolotl good for you, so please do non rush this procedure!

Materials:

• A tank with a filtration system (see above for recommendations)
• Liquid Ammonia Solution (we recommend using Fritz Zyme Fishless Fuel)
• Water conditioner (we recommend using Prime)
• The API Freshwater Master Test Kit (Be sure to buy the kind with the test tubes and not the newspaper strips. The newspaper strip tests are non accurate!)
• A pipette for collecting water and measuring out your ammonia. Make sure information technology has measurements in mL increments, like this ane.
• OPTIONAL: Fritz Aquatic Turbo Beginning (Annotation: This product advertises that it is safe to add livestock afterward dosing. For best results, exist sure the aquarium is fully cycled before adding your axolotl.)
• OPTIONAL: A small aquarium heater. Any kind or brand works. This is but needed to aid with cycling equally bacteria will grow faster in warmer environments.

Instructions:

• Fill your tank with water and condition it with Prime by following the instructions on the bottle.
• Set up your filtration system.
• Follow the instructions in your API Freshwater Principal Exam Kit to examination your h2o. The parameters should read as follows:
  • pH: seven.4 - vii.6
  • Ammonia: 0 ppm
  • Nitrite: 0 ppm
  • Nitrate: 0 ppm
    • Note: It is beneficial to track your tank's water levels throughout this process. Keep a notebook to record the dates and results of the water tests. This volition be extremely helpful if you lot need help and have to consult our team or some other aquarium expert.

FAQs at this Step:

1. What if the water'due south pH is lower or higher than seven.4 -7.half-dozen?

Axolotls tin tolerate pH levels between vi.four and eight.0. Nevertheless, 7.4 - vii.half-dozen is ideal. A pH value below 6.4 can tiresome the rate at which ammonia is converted to nitrite and stall the Nitrogen Cycle in the water, crashing your tank.

If the water pH is consistently below half-dozen.4, you can enhance it past introducing crushed coral or limestone to the water. To prevent your axolotl from accidentally ingesting these materials, keep them in an aquarium-safe mesh purse or, if y'all accept room, identify them inside the water filter.

If the water pH is higher than viii.0, yous can lower it by putting driftwood or Indian Almond leaves in your tank. We recommend humid the wood first to preclude "biofilm" from accumulating on the surface of your tank's water. Biofilm is a slimy, white substance that is harmless to axolotls, but rather cruddy in a tank. Driftwood and Indian Almond leaves contain tannins they will release into the water. This is what lowers the pH but information technology does also plough water a brown color. This is normal and safe for axolotls and fish alike.

ii. What if the water'due south ammonia concentrations are higher than 0 ppm?

If ammonia levels in your tap water read above 0 ppm even after conditioning it with Prime, you lot will most likely have to switch to an alternative water source such as bottled or well h2o. Alternatively you can but business relationship for this ammonia in your tap water and adjust the amount of ammonia you lot dose into the tank. As long equally the ammonia levels of your tap water aren't in a higher place 2 ppm your tank, once cycled, should exist able to procedure the ammonia quickly enough to where it isn't an issue. If you are unsure what to practise if y'all meet this problem, consult the Axolotl Planet squad.

3. What if the h2o Nitrite/Nitrate concentrations are higher up 0 ppm?

The EPA has set a limit, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for nitrates in tap water at 10 ppm and for nitrites at i ppm [EPA 2002; EPA 2022].

If the nitrite or nitrate concentrations in your tap water are higher up the allowed limit by the EPA, then the water source yous are using may be contaminated. This can only exist resolved by contacting your water visitor and alerting them to the issue as soon equally possible. If you regularly drink from the tap, you should stop immediately. Consuming high levels of nitrites/nitrates tin can cause astringent illness and fifty-fifty death. Unfortunately, until this issue is resolved, your water will not exist safety for an axolotl and y'all should find an alternate water source.

4. These water parameters are the same as those in a cycled tank, so is my tank cycled already?

No. A cycled tank contains sufficient colonies of leaner to completely cycle, or metabolize, the "bioload" or waste matter output of an axolotl, which is approximately four ppm ammonia per day, and convert it into nitrites and nitrates. If you were to put an axolotl in an uncycled aquarium, it would rapidly succumb to ammonia poisoning and dice every bit there would be no bacteria in the h2o to keep it clean.

Instructions, continued:

• Carefully read the instructions on your liquid ammonia solution bottle. Measure out out 4 ppm worth of ammonia and add it to your tank water, letting it mix for 2-3 minutes. Be very conscientious non to add together besides much ammonia, as this can stall the wheel birthday. If y'all need assist figuring out how much ammonia to add to the water, enter your tank size and current concentration into our helpful Ammonia Calculator, and information technology will tell you how much ammonia you lot need.
• Examination the water'south ammonia levels again, ensuring that they are at or almost four ppm. it is important that the total concentration of ammonia never rises to a higher place 4 ppm as this can stall the cycle.
• Optional: Advisedly read the instructions on your bottle of Turbo Start. Add the recommended dosage for 4 ppm of ammonia. This production adds nitrifying bacteria and will speed up the cycling procedure.
• Exit your tank alone for 24 hours, then test the water's pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.
  • If nothing has changed, don't worry; this is normal and you shouldn't add together whatsoever boosted ammonia if it hasn't dropped below 4 ppm. Leave the tank for another 24 hours and then test the water once more. Echo this stride daily until yous notice the ammonia concentration showtime to drop and the nitrite concentration begin to ascension. If you notice right away that the ammonia concentration has dropped and the nitrite, and perhaps even nitrate concentrations, have gone up, then your tank has begun to wheel! Congratulations!
• If your ammonia has dropped, but the nitrate and nitrite concentrations have not risen, add additional ammonia to the h2o until the total concentration is back to 4 ppm then leave it for some other 24 hours. If you need help figuring out how much ammonia to add to the water, enter your tank size and current concentration into our helpful Ammonia Calculator, and it volition tell you how much ammonia y'all need.
  • Take note of how much ammonia y'all need to add (if any) as this is how much ammonia your tank can process per day. The more ammonia y'all demand to add, the more than your tank is able to cycle! ONLY ADD MORE AMMONIA IF YOUR AMMONIA LEVELS DROP BELOW 4PPM.
• Echo the previous step DAILY. If at that place is not a consistent level of four ppm ammonia in the tank, at this indicate in the process, the bacteria will not grow into large enough colonies to support an axolotl.
• At this point, usually after a week or 2, the nitrite (NO2) concentration in the water will kickoff to increment quite quickly. Once your nitrite (NO2) concentration reaches 5 ppm then you lot desire to reduce your ammonia dosage and then the full concentration in the tank is two ppm instead of 4 ppm. The bacteria cannot process nitrite as fast if the levels get above 5 ppm, so you want to deadening down how much ammonia is being converted to nitrite or else the bicycle tin can stall! Eventually, as the leaner begins to grow and automatically process the nitrite (NO2), it volition slowly decrease to 0 ppm.
  • Closely monitor your tank's nitrate (NO3) concentrations. Nitrates are acidic, and loftier concentrations can cause pH levels in the water to fall, which stops the leaner from beingness able to catechumen ammonia into nitrite, and may also stall your cycle.
• The goal of this process is for your tank'due south h2o to starting time automatically processing the ammonia that yous add together to it. At the same time, there should be undetectable levels of nitrites and the nitrate levels volition most likely be higher than 40 ppm in the water (y'all will fix the nitrates at the very end of the process). In one case you can add ammonia upwardly to a concentration of 4 ppm in the evening, and 24 hrs later both ammonia and nitrite (NO2) levels are 0 ppm again, it is time to bear the "iii Dose Test".

The 3 Dose Examination

The iii Dose Test is uncomplicated. First, dose the water with ammonia upwardly to a concentration of 4 ppm. After 24 hours, ammonia and nitrite concentrations should be 0 ppm. If they are, echo the process for two more days. If ammonia and nitrate concentrations continue to stabilize on their own later on 24 hours, then congratulations, your tank is cycled! If y'all need help figuring out how much ammonia to add to the water, enter your tank size and current concentration into our helpful Ammonia Calculator, and it will tell you lot how much ammonia you need.

• Although your tank's water is now cycled, you aren't quite finished. Now you must perform a water alter to bring the nitrate concentration downwardly to between 5 and 20 ppm. Exercise a 50% water change, look 24 hours, so test the water parameters. Repeat this step as necessary until nitrate levels are reduced to 5-20 ppm.
  • If yous added a heater to your tank to promote bacteria growth, remove it now.
• After your water change you may now safely add an axolotl to your tank! Please note: if yous cannot add together an axolotl immediately one time your tank is cycled, yous will need to keep dosing ammonia into the tank to keep the bacteria fed! Once you have your axolotl, be sure to follow the proper acclimation method found in our Bullet Proof Axolotl Care Guide!

More FAQs

What if I tin't add ammonia to my tank every day during the cycling procedure?

This will slow down the cycling process in your tank. It's not the cease of the globe and you won't necessarily have to kickoff from scratch, every bit long every bit you resume calculation ammonia to the water as before long as you can.

I added Turbo Showtime and my nitrites and nitrates spiked really high the very next day! Is this normal?

Yep, this is normal. Turbo Start is composed of nitrifying bacteria so information technology reduces the amount of time it takes for the beneficial bacteria to abound. Withal, this does non mean your tank is cycled. You must continue the cycling process until at that place is plenty bacteria grown to fully process 4 ppm-worth of ammonia in a single day.

What do I practice if the nitrate concentration gets besides high and my water's pH goes down?

Perform a 50% h2o change on the tank to reduce the nitrate levels in the water. This will reduce nitrate concentrations, increasing the water's pH and assuasive the cycle to go on.

Conclusion

Getting your kickoff axolotl is without a doubt a very exciting experience. They are extremely fun pets that can bring y'all more than a decade of joy when cared for properly. Once you have a properly cycled tank, you are ready to begin building the perfect habitat for your new pet. To learn more about creating the perfect environment for your axolotl, bank check out our article on Setting Upward an Axolotl Tank.

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Our long-term goal is to preserve and ultimately replenish the critically-endangered wild axolotl population to information technology's former glory.

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