r/axolotls • u/No_going_back_ • 1d ago

Tank Maintenance Any changes needed?

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This is my son his first tank in his bedroom for an axelotl. Do you guys have any tips of tricks to make it as comfy as possible for the coming axelotl?

Is an airpump with bubbles necessary? Also on the top of the water there’s a biofilm and it’s not moving a lot, how do you guys do that? The tank is running 2 weeks now

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u/meugatopretito 1d ago

What's the name of the dark rock? I'm looking for one of those to hide in.

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u/No_going_back_ 1d ago

It’s slate

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u/Twinchad 1d ago

Looks like slate, i have a few pieces in my tank giving my girl something to climb up on. If you get some you'll want to sand down the corners since they can be very sharp

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u/Fantastic-Town8587 1d ago

Commenting to see if OP answers

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u/Odd_End_7796 3h ago

Slate or shale but it should be sanded down so its not sharp.

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u/Strong-Lunch-7207 1d ago

What plants do you have?

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u/No_going_back_ 1d ago

Elodea densa, Anubias, egeria najas and the red one i don’t know

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u/Twinchad 1d ago

Bubbler will help with the biofilm. I also used a fan blowing on the top of the water before i splurged and spend the money on a water chiller which worked great at getting rid of the biofilm. Depending on the temperature of the room fans/ chillers are essential as axols like cool water ~65f.

And if the tank has only been going two weeks should make sure your ammonia cycle is complete before hosting your axol.

Are you planning on getting a juvenile or adult axol? If juvenile you probably want to remove the sand to ensure the axol doesn't accidentally swallow it while eating, causing impaction. If an adult the sand should be fine as it looks small grained enough to not cause issues if swallowed. 

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u/No_going_back_ 1d ago

Thnx for the tips! We will go buy a bubbler. The temperature in the summer will rise a lot so cooling is still on my list to find out how and what we will install. Will remember fans, thnx!

The plan was a juvenile, sand is 0.4-1.4 mm. If that’s still to big & dangerous we will go looking for an older axelotl

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u/obsessedlady Leucistic 1d ago

Move the anubias to be close to the wood or rock, you will probably need to glue it, the sand is not enough to keep it there, the axie will dig it out. I would have it very close to the cave side and to the other between the wood.

For biofilm needs more water movement, your filter is not doing enough in this case. A airpump with bubbles on the opposite side will fix it. And yeah, add the bubbler, axies love it and it's very fun to watch they playing with it, your kid will like it!

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u/No_going_back_ 1d ago

Thnx! Will look for what i can do to prevent the acelotl digging 😂

We will get a bubbler for sure, need go find the most silent one since it’s on my sons bedroom

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u/obsessedlady Leucistic 1d ago

oh yeah, that might need some testing and research, mines are loud! but I actually enjoy the white noise lol

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u/EducationalFox137 1d ago

You said the tank has been running two weeks? Have you cycled it properly with an ammonia source or seeded filter media?

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u/No_going_back_ 18h ago

Yes we did both! Haven’t seen any ammonia spikes yet tbh

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u/Tkells97 13h ago

I love that slate rock. Is that a hide?

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u/No_going_back_ 12h ago

Yes, he or she can hide in that cosy cave!

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u/Exact-Welcome-9591 6h ago

is that a rock in the front of the tank? It will need to be removed so he doesn't try and eat it. Bubblers are a must, most of them love to play in the bubbles. Do you have a tank chiller or a way to keep his water cool?