Smaxolotl

I would love to put my axolotls (current and future) in a huge tank. A glass 300g tank (the minimum I’m comfortable putting ten axolotls in) is like $4k, and even though this tank will not exist for years, I’d rather not spend that much of my future money. A 300 stock tank is anywhere from $200-400.

I am still not asleep (it’s 6:30am and I went to bed at 9pm. Ugh.) so I’m planning out my babies’ future home.

I’ve got questions.

1. What kind of filter would you use? Or would you use a sump?

2. How do you keep a stock tank clean? Are there water changes? Siphoning?

3. Would I need a chiller?

4. What kind of stand would I need? I’d rather not put it on the floor.

5. Do you decorate it like an aquarium? With sand and everything? Or leave it bare bottom?

6. I’d DIY a mesh lid to keep the lotls in and the cats out, but would this type of set up even work for axolotls?

7. If I wanted to watch them underwater and not just from the top, am I able to cut a viewing hole? Is that safe?

I like to keep my mind off disappointing things (my bad health, my lack of a job still) so I’m really curious if this would work. Gonna tag a bunch of people in the hopes that one of them can answer some of these or point me in the direction of someone who can.

2. You would just clean it like any other tank. So yes waterchanges and you would siphon any waste out. I would definitely invest in one of those sink hookup pythons.

3. If you’re unable to keep the proper temp year-round without one then yeah you would need one. Depends on your room temp so it’s hard for me to say for sure without knowing

4. I would get a couple of heavy duty workshop benches from a hardware store or a Sam’s. They wont be pretty but they’ll be cheaper. Make sure they can hold the weight. honestly it might just be better to keep it on the floor. (300gallons+decor&sand&filter ~2,500-3,000lbs)

5. It depends on what the axolotls need. You would decorate it with their needs in mind. I don’t know much about them but if they need lots of hides or plants then you would put those in there. If the do fine with barebottom then you could go with that or if they like sand then that would be fine.

6. For a lid, i would use mostly plexiglass/acrylic/waterproof tarp with maybe a mesh door if you really wanted it. You’re gonna have hella evaporation with a solid mesh lid (if you keep it inside you might have humidity problems with the room which could eventually cause you to have mold problems depending on how good your AC is at dehumidifying) also i would use plastic and not metal mesh due to the possibility of rust. (Craft mesh or some kind of outdoor netting would be good)

7. It’s definitely possible but it depends on how crafty you are. If you’re inexperienced i wouldn’t try it. You’ll have lots of water pressure on that one area and you’ll have to seal it really well. You can actually buy tubs with viewing windows already in them (i’ve seen DIY goldfish/koi people use them). I would go with that instead.

2. The sink hookup for siphoning is a requirement in my mind. Save yourself the frustration if you don't already have one.

3. Agreed, totally depends on the environment. I got a small "cheap" chiller that sucks water to an external unit and returns it chilled. Still >$100. And very hard to find. The ones for a tank that big.... Yikes.

4. Physics is involved in this, therefore I abstain - _-

5. OMG you could go crazy with the decor! Remember an ideal minimum of 1 hiding spot per lotl. I haven't had great success with plants in my big tank, because I keep their light to ambient, but depending on that you could explore various plants.

I personally find they definitely prefer some kind of substrate, I'm partial to sand. You can find cheap pool filter sand, and you'd need enough to cover ~1inch thick. You don't want to overdo it because several inches increase the possibility of toxic gas accumulating from detritus.

I also find that it helps to think vertically and give them options for different levels of height to hang out. Mine are fans of the floating logs you find in most LFS and online. Also, little collections of bamboo decor, etc.

6. Mesh lids work, although I haven't had anyone try to jump :p

You'll probably want a setup with more than one segment of hinged lid. Plexiglass is heavy enough that even my 45 gallon lids have curved a little over time, so only having a single lid would be more extreme.

7. Again, I defer on account of PHYSICS.

@swiggity-swoosername-no-username dish soap leaves residue thats hard to wash off so thats usually Not Good for aquatic animals! but vinegar is one of the things ive used to safely clean reptile cages or tanks before! just rinse it really really good and it should be okay :)