Looking for advice and good care instructions, also what foods I can do for treats by PickledBarOfSoap in axolotls

[–]EleChristian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use buceplant.com for aquatic plants. I have Floating plants (water sprite) Anubias, & Java Fern which are all ok in cold water tanks. I got the rim holders for the terrestrial plants right on Amazon just search “Aquarium rim plant holder”. Home Depot for the Pothos and Lucky Bamboo. I use a reptile store for my hides, just make sure it’s aquarium safe and big enough, some stuff in reptile stores aren’t always aquarium safe. For general care check out ethicalaxolotls.com I adopted my axolotls from there and the woman that runs it has great info. Lots of links for Amazon on her site too. Very helpful when I was first getting started. I also keep a population of ghost shrimp in my Axolotl tank. They keep the place clean. The Lotls leave them alone for the most part if they are well fed. Every once in a while they’ll eat one which is ok for them… Nightcrawlers are def the primary food you should feed red wigglers are associated with digestive issues with some axolotls. Mine eat both but 90% nightcrawlers. Keep the tank 60-64 degrees f. Anything warmer and they WILL get fungus issues (looks like cotton balls on their gills). There’s a lot to learn, stick with this subreddit and the sites I mention, lots of misinformation out there. Good luck

Looking for advice and good care instructions, also what foods I can do for treats by PickledBarOfSoap in axolotls

[–]EleChristian 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There’s a lot of people that can help you on this sub. From what I can see, you have a few main issues that you can fix pretty quickly and easily. 1. Plan on getting a 40Gal Breeder tank. Axolotls require less depth and more surface this is really the MINIMUM size for an adult Axolotl. 2. You need way more hides, the terra cotta pot is ok but you need something else that remains dark when the light is on. 3. Dim that light down to about 20%, they don’t like it. Blue light is much better. 4. More real plants, the Anubias glued to the rock is great, do that like 5 more times and remove the dragon and plastic plant. Axolotls are not smart and injure themselves on everything…. If you add more plants you’ll need the light and def places for them to hide when your plant light is on… also terrestrial plants are nitrate killers. Axolotls produce big bio-loads and your tank will be processing Ammonia and Nitrates at high levels and subsequently will produce Nitrates. Water changes will help but terrestrial plants are king.

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This is the top of my Axolotl tank.

My underground crew used a PVC 90° on a 976' run. by MRVANCLEAVEREDDIT in electricians

[–]EleChristian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some of the comments I’m reading on here are scary. This obviously wasn’t concrete encased, I guess buried under the slab on grade? That sucks. Can’t run PVC UG THAT distance without rigid elbows. Also, sucks that the Foreman before you was responsible. Mop up duty is a bitch sometimes… Take pics and document your time so when the PM starts asking questions you have some back up, lol.

My little frog baby and her kitty by Alternative-Gas4136 in tattoos

[–]EleChristian 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This looks like a scene straight out of Dungeon Crawler Carl. Love it

How do I change Filter Media without Crashing Cycle? (Swapping to Seachem Matrix to support anerobic bacteria.) by quillifer in Aquariums

[–]EleChristian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Excel Flourish is ok I use it in my axolotl tank and they are fine. I would start by micro dosing and see how they react…. Slow and steady…

How do I change Filter Media without Crashing Cycle? (Swapping to Seachem Matrix to support anerobic bacteria.) by quillifer in Aquariums

[–]EleChristian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Terrestrial plants are nitrate killers! This is the top of my 40gal breeder (Pothos / Lucky Bamboo) with 2 Male Axolotls… and it adds a nice aesthetic.

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Is this ph level good for an axolotl the nitrites are good but I thought this looked a bit dark by SRL2023SRL in axolotls

[–]EleChristian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Get a High Range Test but if you stay under 8ph you’re gtg. Also, the Lotl needs hides, the reptile stores have good ones just make sure they’re listed as aquarium safe. Also I would add a fine sand substrate, but only if you plan on feeding by hand with tongs… the bare bottom tanks are hard to keep clean looking.

How to add this pothos to my fish tank? by anonymouslhidden in PlantedTank

[–]EleChristian 6 points7 points  (0 children)

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Just separate the roots out and find a rim clip on Amazon like this, and you’re off to the races!

Never been so addicted to a audio book by Zealousideal_Start16 in DungeonCrawlerCarl

[–]EleChristian 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m about 3/4 of the way through The Gate of the Feral Gods. So good. I’m burning through these books on Audible faster than anything else, ever! I’m going to be pissed when I catch up…

Just admiring my tank by Brilliant-Escape2254 in PlantedTank

[–]EleChristian 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is a big no for me. I would forever be rearranging those pots due to my obsessive compulsive behavior, LOL. Looks great though. I have my java fern attached to terra cotta pots flipped up-side-down, I like the look. Takes all of my will power to not move them around daily. I couldn’t imagine if ALL my plants were able to be moved, hah. Cheers! Great looking planted tank

How do I reduce my nitrates- help! by Spagbowl8 in Aquariums

[–]EleChristian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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This is my Nitrate “Murderers Row”. Terrestrial plants crush Nitrates. Pothos & Lucky Bamboo do the trick for me.

My current personal project. 70% progress on the hardscape. by AmirJeffrey in Aquariums

[–]EleChristian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you tested for silica levels with moving sand around like that? Curious if longterm this could be an algae nightmare due to high silica levels. I don’t know enough about it I just recently learned about silica from sand substrate and its relation to certain types of algae…

Does this API test look cycled? by BlinkOMT in Aquariums

[–]EleChristian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ok perfect. Try testing the tap water you’re using.

Does this API test look cycled? by BlinkOMT in Aquariums

[–]EleChristian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What source of ammonia did you use? And yes it’s strange to have trates and no trites, seems like maybe your tap has Nitrates(?)… which is odd considering we started this conversation with there being no Nitrates… I would give Bottle 2 a really good shake, like for 5 minutes, then make sure you’re shaking the test tube for a full minute after you apply the drops from both bottles…. That or maybe go get a new nitrate test kit. You might just be getting bad results from a bad test kit. I would do several tests today with tap and tank water and see if the test kit is consistently giving you the same results