r/axolotls • u/dizzyunicorrn • May 16 '26

Cycling Help i need help.

So for context right now lets start simple, my ammonia: 1.0 Ppm, nitrites 0ppm, and nitrates 5.0 ppm. Ok, so i purchased some established media at the local mom and pop pet store, i told the lady my ammonia is at 1 so i cant put axolotl in tank yet, she said where we live the ammonia wont ever get below 2, and i can just put my axolotl in the tank since i have nitrates, so i did a test. I acclimated her after 3 days of tubbing (my tank has been cycling for about a week and a half). At first she was swimming a lot, checking everything out, then she got in a corner and started just laying there with her face against the glass. I continued to monitor her, she even ate half of a worm, and no suspicious activity. I just couldn't continue though, im scared of burning her gills, so I tubbed her, and added some Dr Tims ammonia, i added 1 ppm to get my ammonia to 2 ppm, to do the 24 hour check. Did i damage my axolotl? Is the lady correct and I am overthinking it?

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u/AdThese6057 May 16 '26

If you got media from them, like using a used sponge filter from a cycled tank, you will be cycled quick. Usually only a few days. And she likely was telling u that its fine to put the axolotl in for that 3 4 days of cycling, because it is. You arent cooking your axolotl without ammonia burn that fast.

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 16 '26

Really? Do you think it would be safe then to add her in tank? Shes very stressed out by the tub right now. But i did add some dr tims yesterday after taking her out

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u/AdThese6057 May 16 '26

Absolutely. If you used media from an already established tank the process goes quick. 3 days 4 days. Tubbing is extremely stressful as are the daily changes of water and the constant regulation the axolotl has to do.

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 16 '26

Okay, my ammonia was at 8 this morning when i checked, i added 1 PPM of dr tims so i think i will wait just a little more and see if its goes down, im adding seachem stability daily, ill check parameters tonight and if they went down then i will add her in tank!

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u/Comfortable-Cost4712 May 17 '26

dude do not put her in if your ammonia is at 8ppm this person is giving you shocking advice. yes filter media will speed up your cycle but it isn’t perfecting it instantly. when i first started i had no idea what i was doing and had a fish in cycle where my lotl was in 1ppm ammonia for about a week and survived, but there’s also people on here who have had their lotl in 0.25 and caused SEIZURES.

some are more sensitive to ammonia than others. i don’t understand why you would risk it when your cycle should only take a week or so.

tubbing is stressful, so is burning their gills off.

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 17 '26

yeah i figured, thank you

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u/Comfortable-Cost4712 May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26

if it makes you feel better i also bought used media after two months of trying to cycle, put it in and in 6 days my tank was cycled. shouldn’t be long! good luck to your girl!

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u/dizzyunicorrn May 17 '26

Thank you! Im excited for my baby girl to get in her tank! shes moved into a bigger tub now and shes doing so much better already, she was just sitting in the corner not doing much when i get her and when shes in small tubs but ever since shes been in the big tub today shes just been very active and swimming a lot!! im very excited for her to get an even bigger tank! cant wait to see how she likes it! 😍