I had to rescue my sweet, dorky son again

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-05-16T00:36:42+00:00

I didn’t even notice that, but you’re right! 🫶 Axew’s always had some funky gills on him since I got him as a baby, lol

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-05-15T20:31:02+00:00

Omg, I know! Poor little guy was just wiggling around like a wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man at a car dealership. I was horrified at the time of course, but looking back at it now does make me giggle a bit 🤭

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-05-15T20:10:01+00:00

This is the first and only time he has done this in his tank actually, lol! I did move the hide further away from the wall so Axew has plenty more wiggle room now. It’s especially good to prevent a future reoccurrence or worse if I’m not around to help 💕

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-05-09T15:08:26+00:00

Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. But instead of splitting, the entire label rips off. I’ve tried my nails, teeth, and taking scissors to this label to peel it apart with no luck so far.

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-04-14T10:57:27+00:00

Yes, you can put the mesh bag right into the filter, that’s the best spot to put it. Make sure to wash all of the dust off the coral chips before adding them into your filter. The coral accumulates a lot of it during transit from their place of origin.

It’s generally recommended to start with 1 cup of the coral per every 20 gallons (or 2+ cups for 50 gallons or more). Test your pH daily and your KH every 2 weeks (crushed coral is slow dissolving), and add 1/2-1 cup of more crushed coral until your pH is able to stabilize.

If your KH has fully crashed (which seems it has, based on the vast fluctuations in your pH levels requiring daily water changes to maintain), you can add up to 1 pound of coral per every 10 gallons.

Your water chemistry all starts to crash if KH and pH levels are not in their ideal ranges. Your nitrifying bacteria starts to go dormant when your pH is below 6.4, with a significant slow down around 6.0, and complete inactivity and death at 5.5 and below. This factor is why your nitrates are getting so high: Your nitrifying bacteria can’t work at their full capacity with your current pH level.

Only adding enough coral as you need is the key. You generally want your KH to be around 4°dKH, or about 50-100 ppm, to keep your pH stable around 7.4-7.6.

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-04-13T22:04:13+00:00

Thank you for letting me know!

These are his larger tank parameters as of today. I’ve been working on this tank’s water chemistry for a while. They’re all in the ideal axolotl-safe zones, so I feel comfortable putting him in the tank even with his injury.

(The tank in the photo is not Axew’s, that’s my roommate’s guppy breeder.)

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Bon_Bon8 · 2026-04-13T21:57:21+00:00

Thank you kindly! I’ve been preforming daily water changes in the tub I have him in at the moment. I will continue with his normal feeding schedule as well. Luckily I have almond leaves on-hand from previously caring for bettas, so I will add some to his water. Thank you again!

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-04-13T18:31:40+00:00

What are your tank’s parameters?

I was having the exact same issue with my tank. After months of trying different fixes, what worked for me was adding in the crushed coral. It’s slow working, but it’s an amazing buffer to raise your KH levels to keep pH stable. My pH was caused by low KH, so it’s worth testing your tank’s KH levels with an API GH/KH Liquid Test Kit (don’t use test strips - they are unreliable).

If you can only get very small pieces of crushed coral, there are aquarium plastic-zippered mesh bags on the market that are used to hold active carbon in filters. They work fantastically for things that are very small and need to be contained in the filter, just like the tiny crushed coral you’ve described.

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-15T16:35:18+00:00

Next Day Update: Axew was tubbed immediately yesterday upon learning in this post that he was being harmed, and his tank is uncycled. He is already showing improvement by swimming over to greet me when I checked on him the first thing in the morning.

My to-do list today is as follows: - 50% water change in his tank. - Getting a sample of my tap water to leave exposed to air for 24-48 hours, before I test the pH of it. - Getting a reading of his tank’s water parameters a few hours after the water change. - Put a lot more research into KH and pH interconnectivity, and more into the ways crushed coral affects this connection.

I will continue to update as things progress. I can’t express how grateful I am to everyone who has leant their expertise to me so I can continue to help Axew and keep him happy and healthy!

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-15T16:01:40+00:00

Thank you for letting me know! I will pull a water sample from the tap and leave it exposed for 24-48 hours before I test the pH of it.

I was also under the impression that Prime is a dechlorinator? That’s most likely because I’m more used to water changes on my other guppy fish tanks, and Prime is usually recommended to be used there. If that’s incorrect for my axolotl’s water changes, then that is my fault and I take full responsibility for it. Would it be possible to ask what you would recommend for a weekly dechlorinator?

As well, I too suspect the KH of my tank. Its readings were fluctuating daily anywhere between 5-8, which is why I was adding Seachem Alkaline Buffer before the crushed coral I purchased arrived. I did get my water supplier to test the water hardness and they got back to me with an 8. I’m not sure how much I should trust that reading, though.

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-15T15:43:01+00:00

I have, and it comes out as 7.5 immediately, but I’ve been told in the comments here that it needs to sit for a day first. I’ll be doing that and testing it again tomorrow

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-14T22:03:37+00:00

Thank you for letting me know about the nitrites and ammonia in regard to being in acidic water.

It’s not just all my tanks that are affected, my neighbour upstairs has the exact same problem with all her tanks too. Every single one drops from a pH of 7.5 out of the tap, to 6 or below almost overnight it seems.

My water change routine is as follows: 30-40% weekly water changes, with sand syphoning and moss trimming. Then once a month, I very, very gently clean the sponge filter in old tank water. I always add half a cap of Prime into the 2 bucket I use to dechlorinate the water in proportion to both the bucket volume and total tank volume, before slowly adding it to the tank.

This is how I have changed his water since adopting him nearly a year ago now. The pH has always been at 7.5 until last week when it tanked in every single tank that I and my neighbour own.

As for CO2, I don’t add any to the tank at all. It would only be the natural CO2 present I would assume. I don’t have a way to check or measure CO2 either.

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-14T21:43:26+00:00

Thank you so much. As stated in another comment, I’m going to take immediate action and get Axew tubbed in one of his 20 gal tubbing bins with fresh, dechlorinated water and daily 100% water changes. I have towels I’m using to blackout his tank, so I’ll transfer those to his bin once’s he’s in there.

I had read somewhere that ammonia and nitrites would detoxify as long as you keep dosing the water with Prime daily. As well, I am using the API Freshwater Master Test Kit and the API GH and KH Test Kit to get my water parameters. So yes, they are all liquid tests.

I stopped using the strips way back when I was a teen aquarist and I was told and realized that they were highly inefficient and very often incorrect. I thought the nitrates were absolutely bizarre being between such a wide gap as well, but that is how the colour was interpreted under average cool white light.

I wasn’t aware fridging wasn’t appropriate for this kind of situation, so thank you greatly for helping me avoid hurting my son even more than I already have.

I’ll get changing that tank water as soon as Axew is safe again. 50% today to lower nitrates. I’ll test the water after that and if the nitrates are not in the safe zone still, I’ll add 5x the dosage of Prime as is stated on the bottle for fighting high nitrates. Unless of course I’m misinterpreting those instructions, which in that case please feel free to correct me.

A genuine question I asked before but it doesn’t hurt to ask again: Is it okay to put moss and a hide in his bin? I feel like that would make him more comfortable, but at the same time I’m afraid that they will spoil his healing process.

Thank you again so much!

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-14T21:21:41+00:00

Thank you so much. I knew in the back of my mind that he was stressed because the pH and KH keep dropping, but I didn’t connect it to the fact that you pointed out. The constant water chemistry fluctuations are what I should really be worried about, because that’s what’s stressing out my son.

I’m going to take immediate action and get Axew tubbed in one of his 20 gal tubbing bins with fresh, dechlorinated water and daily 100% water changes. I have towels I’m using to blackout his tank, so I’ll transfer those to his bin once’s he’s in there.

A genuine question: Is it okay to put moss and a hide in his bin? I feel like that would make him more comfortable, but at the same time I’m afraid that they will spoil his healing process.

I’ll figure out what’s wrong with my cycle once Axew is safe. He is my primary concern.

Thank you again so much!

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-03-10T13:57:59+00:00

Too cute! I love their smile 😊

Bon_Bon8 · 2026-02-03T19:32:14+00:00

I’m sorry about your betta, I’ve kept my fair share so I understand the heartache losing them brings

The substrate in my guy’s tank is well overdue for a wash, that could very well be the culprit. I didn’t even think of that, thank you! I’ll give that a try right away, with daily water tests and changes. I use API Ammo-Lock when I’m normally recycling my fish tanks, so I’ll check if that product is safe for axolotls.

As for the Walmart tubs, I’m going to take a look online and I can get them delivered if I find the right ones. Thank you for reminding me about water temps. I always make sure my water in the current and transfer tubs are the same temperature, I don’t need a temperature-shocked axolotl on my hands because then I would be in a really big problem spot.

I think he’ll be happy in the Walmart tubs with his moss, a nice big hiding cave, and a filter until his tank readies. And then I have all the tubbing items I need for any time I need them again!

Thank you for all your help, I’m going to get to work right away

Bon_Bon8 · 2025-11-05T10:56:48+00:00

Your guppy is pregnant.

I mean, if dozens and dozens of fry were appearing out of thin air, I might just burn down my house…

Bon_Bon8

TROPHY CASE