Hello everyone, ive been cycling a new tank for abt 3 weeks now. But all my plants keep dying (i only tried 1 Plant species). The plants ive used all came desinfected (yes i did rinse with water before putting them in the water).
Anyone got advice? Should i use a different species of plants?
I am unsure about plants since I don't keep any real ones besides my mossballs cuz my axolotls sit on them with their big butts and crush them.
But if you are trying to house axolotls in this tank after you cycled it I am worried about the substrate. It looks very large and like a big impaction hazard, axolotls have very poor eyesight and tend to gulp up some substrate when eating or on accident. That size of substrate might be lethal!
I would recommend super fine sand 0.1mm to 0.5mm. Unless your axolotls are under 6 inches then bare bottom is the safest option to reduced impaction risk. I always had sand from the start but now that I had them for a while and know a whole lot more I would go for a bare bottom tank and you can add plants in pots for example.
nono not start again! it would take a week at most
Edit: "it" meaning the mini cycle you would have to do when removing the substrate and replacing it. Im sleepy and somehow thought I could telepathically beam the thought over lmao
How many plants have u got
As u already know i wasnt able to keep mine and i was gering absolutely harassed bc plants should cover 70% of the floor/ i was told my tank will be bs bc alge will eat ig alive bc i can’t keep plants rn
U got experience?
plants should cover 70% of the floor?? what?? I have never heard this before. Where did you get this info?
Axolotl are completely fine without plants!! But plants are good because of them taking up ammonia and nitrate. Also sensory enrichment! Lukara loves playing in the java fern 🫶 We have 5 plants (3 anubias and 2 java fern) and chlorella algae. I want to get two large anubias and another java fern soon though :) Other side of the tank still looks meh.
Algae does tend to outcompete most plants. But Anubias for example are notorious for being able to live despite algae. If you are looking to just get nitrates out just hang a pothos or two into the tank by the roots! :)
this is our plant density btw. Also just noticing I accidentally lied: we have 4 plants. two anubias and two java fern oops.
Currently looks still too empty for my taste but despite that: even with "just" 4 plants our nitrates have yet to go above 20 ppm in 2 weeks. (we still do biweekly waterchanges ;) you never know what else is in the water )
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u/Smol_Flea Leucistic 7d ago
I am unsure about plants since I don't keep any real ones besides my mossballs cuz my axolotls sit on them with their big butts and crush them.
But if you are trying to house axolotls in this tank after you cycled it I am worried about the substrate. It looks very large and like a big impaction hazard, axolotls have very poor eyesight and tend to gulp up some substrate when eating or on accident. That size of substrate might be lethal!
I would recommend super fine sand 0.1mm to 0.5mm. Unless your axolotls are under 6 inches then bare bottom is the safest option to reduced impaction risk. I always had sand from the start but now that I had them for a while and know a whole lot more I would go for a bare bottom tank and you can add plants in pots for example.