Silly Axolotls
Filters, Water Changes, Cycling & Water Quality - Incomplete
Do axolotls need filters?
Yes. Unless you want to be changing the entire tank of water daily, then yes. Filters establish good bacteria, which cycles the tank, and deals with their ammonia output (poop by-product). If ammonia levels get high in a tank (and they will very quickly in an uncycled, filter-less tank), then your axolotl can get very sick and die. Filters also keep the water from stagnating, and increase oxygen flow into the water.
Why do weekly partial water changes?
A cycled aquarium with a filter should get a weekly water change of about 20%, give or take depending on ammonia output of the inhabitants. Water changes involve cleaning out poop and mess, and taking out 20% of the aquarium water, then replacing it with fresh water that has been treated with dechlorinator to remove metals, chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Treated water should be left to sit for awhile. Letting untreated water sit overnight will not remove chloramine from the water.
I do two 20% water changes on my big tank a week, and one 20% and another 10% in the smaller one, because the axolotls I have would better suit two big tanks (which I plan to upgrade to soon).
I mark 20% on the side of my tank like shown in the first picture, an the typical water level of the tank for guidance. I use the tube end of a gravel siphon to pick out any mess and poop, as well as a turkey baster, then use the small white bucket to empty out 20%.
I have green buckets for output water, and blue buckets used only for water change water. I always have my water ready in advance to replace asap.
While the water level is down, I do any tank cleaning/maintenance and feeding required, then I gently top it back up to the original level.
It is good before a water change to test your water quality, and afterwards as well (24 hours later, not immediately). Constant water testing will determine how frequently, and what quantity your water changes should be.
Water quality test kits include: Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, pH (lower and upper range), and some include Hardness, phosphate, iron etc.
What are safe water parameters and how do I know?
You can test your water parameters by buying a test kit. Avoid strip tests, these are highly inaccurate. Stick with the chemical liquid test kit. You want to have these readings:
Ammonia: 0ppm (Anything over 1ppm can kill your axolotl in a few days).
Nitrites: 0ppm (Same as ammonia, 1ppm or more is deadly)
Nitrates: 20-40ppm (anything higher becomes toxic. Water changes stop this level rising to toxic levels)
pH: 6.8-7.8ish,
Temperature: 16-18 celcius, fahrenheit 60-70.
Over about 22 celcius, 75 fahrenheit is dangerous and can kill your axolotl. They develop white fuzzy heat sickness, and are sensitive to disease and death.
Hardness:
What is cycling?
Cycling your aquarium involves healthy bacteria growing in your filter, to help make the water safe for your aquatic friends. It is a nitrogen cycle, where aquatic creatures excretions, uneaten food, dead plants, and poop/urine create ammonia. Without a cycle, your filter is pretty much useless, and ammonia levels build up incredibly fast, which can kill your axolotl.
It can take around 4-7 weeks for the bacteria cycle to complete.
When ammonia is present in the tank for a week or two, a bacteria starts to grow which converts ammonia into nitrite.
Nitrite and ammonia are both toxic to axolotls at levels as low as 1ppm. Large daily water changes are needed to keep these levels under control. After more time, another week or three, a bacteria grows which converts nitrite into nitrate. Nitrate is less toxic than the others, but at high levels it is dangerous. Over 40ppm is toxic, and weekly water changes are done to lower the nitrate level back to a safe degree. Around 10-20ppm is an ideal level.
This process takes week, and causes fluctuations in tank cleanliness. It is best to cycle a tank fish-less, and there are many methods online. Only people who know what they are doing should cycle with animals in the tank, as they can be killed easily from high levels of ammonia and nitrite.
Axolotls absorb through their skin, so toxic chemicals in the water hurt them very quickly. pH is important to keep level too, as it can affect the toxicity of ammonia. High levels burn their skin and can burn away their gills.
Follow the link for Caudatas guide on how to cycle:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml
Image belongs to Caudata Culture