Water Parameters
What are they and why they matter
What are water parameters?
Your water parameters determine the overall quality of your aquarium water and ensure a safe and stable environment for your axolotls. While axolotls can survive in a wide parameter span, it is important to know and maintain a consistent range to ensure your lotl can thrive in their environment. With axolotls, consistency is key. Water parameters are monitored using aquarium specific testing kits, like the API Freshwater Master Test Kit, and other monitoring devices. Let's go over each parameter you will need to monitor, how to monitor them, and why each is important to know. Whenever adjusting your parameters, it should be done slowly to not cause your axolotl to go into shock.
Ideal Parameters
Temp: 60-68ËšF (64ËšF ideal)
pH: 7.4-7.6 (7.0 -8.0 ok)
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: <20 ppm
GH: 125-250 ppm
KH: 53-143 ppm
Salinity: 0-2%
Chlorine: 0ppm
Temperature: 60-68​˚F (64˚F ideal)
Axolotls can not regulate their body temperature, so they depend on us to keep their aquariums cool. The temperature can affect their metabolisms, oxygen intake, and immune systems. Higher water temperatures also increase the toxicity of dangerous chemicals such as ammonia.
​
How to monitor:
Aquarium Thermostat
How to manage:
The best, but most expensive, option are aquarium chillers. These can be set to a precise temperature. For aquariums that need to be cooled 2-10 degrees, a fan can be pointed directly at the top of the water's surface. Incase of emergencies, keep frozen water bottles in your freezer and float them at the top of the water to cool it.
pH: 7.4 - 7.6 (7.0 - 8.0 okay)
Your water's pH (potential of hydrogen) determines how acidic or basic it is. Too high or too low of pH can burn your axolotl's delicate skin or damage their internal systems. A drastic, sudden change in pH can cause your axolotls to go into shock.
​
How to monitor:
Aquarium pH Test Kits (drops recommended over strips)​
How to manage:
​Most axolotl safe water sources maintain a pH around 7.0. Aquarium additives are available that safely increase or decrease your water's pH, including Seachem's Axolotl Buffer, which is designed for the ideal pH range of axolotls. Driftwood and baking soda can respectfully decrease and increase your pH as well.
Ammonia: 0ppm (DANGEROUS)
Axolotls naturally produce ammonia as a metabolic bi-product. If not maintained, it will accumulate in the aquarium water. Ammonia will burn an axolotl's delicate skin, gills, and can cause organ failure if left untreated. Ideally, there should be no measurable trace of ammonia in your axolotl's aquarium.
​
How to monitor:
Aquarium Ammonia Test Kits (drops recommended over strips)​
How to manage:
Cycling your aquarium before adding your axolotls is the best way to ensure it is ammonia free. Your tank's beneficial bacteria will consume the ammonia and turn it into less toxic compounds. In case of emergency, large water changes can reduce the ammonia load of your aquarium. Some additives, such as Seachem Prime, binds to and detoxifies ammonia for up to 24-48 hours. Water changes and aquarium products should only be used as temporary fixes. . Incase of ammonia spikes, removing your axolotl from the aquarium and tubbing it while cycling your aquarium is recommended.
Nitrite: 0ppm (DANGEROUS)
Nitrites are created from the second step in the Nitrate Cycle when you are cycling your aquarium. After the beneficial bacteria consumes the ammonia in your water, it will produce nitrites. Nitrites can inhibit an axolotl's oxygen intake and result in the death of your axolotl over time. Axolotls should not be in tanks with nitrites present.
​
How to monitor:
Aquarium Nitrite Test Kits (drops recommended over strips)​
How to manage:
Nitrites are a natural bi-product of an unfinished cycled aquarium. The best way to remove them is to completely cycle your aquarium before adding your axolotl. Like ammonia, Seachem Prime can detoxify nitrites for a short time, but this should not be relied on as the only management. Axolotls should be tubbed while the tank cycles if any nitrites are detected in their aquariums.
​
Nitrates: <20ppm (20-40ppm okay short term)
The last product of the Nitrate Cycle, Nitrates are non-toxic in low quantities. A cycled aquarium will almost always have some nitrates present in the water and is a sign your tank has finished cycling. However, if unmanaged, nitrate levels will continue to increase overtime in your aquarium and can harm your axolotl. Unsafe levels of nitrates will weaken an axolotl's immune system, leaving them more vulnerable to illness and death.
​
How to monitor:
Aquarium Nitrate Test Kits (drops recommended over strips)​
READ DIRECTIONS OF TEST CAREFULLY!
How to manage:
Partial water changes are the best and fastest way to remove excess nitrates. Depending on the nitrate level, 25-50% of the aquarium water can be removed and replaced with clean (treated water). This should be monitored weekly with water changes as needed. In addition to water changes, adding live plants to your aquarium helps to reduce nitrate levels.
​
GH (General Hardness): 125 - 150 ppm, 7 - 14° dGH
The GH, or General Hardness, measures the total dissolved calcium and magnesium ions in your water. Axolotls need these ions to survive and like their water to be harder than typical drinking water.
​
How to monitor:
Aquarium GH Test Kits (drops recommended over strips)​
​
How to manage:
Additives can be added to the water, such as Seachem Replenish, to increase the overall hardness of the water. In cases where your water is too hard, you can add distilled or RO water to decrease the GH.​
​
KH (Carbon Hardness): 53 - 143 ppm, 3 - 8° dKH
Carbon Hardness, or KH, measures the total amount of carbonate and bicarbonate ions in the water. It helps to stabilize your pH and prevent pH crashes, neutralize acids, and is important for a successful Nitrate Cycle.
​
How to monitor:
Aquarium KH Test Kits (drops recommended over strips)​
​
How to manage:
Like your General Hardness, the KH can be increased with aquarium additives, such as Seachem Alkalinity Buffer. It can be decreased with adding distilled water or additives such as Seachem Acid Buffer.
Salinity: 0 - 0.2%
Axolotls are freshwater animals and do not do well with large quantities of salt in their water. They do, however, benefit from small amounts of salt as it helps with their biological functions and inhibits the grow of harmful fungal or bacterial infections.
​
How to monitor:
TDS meter or EC pen
​
How to manage:
Most axolotl safe water sources will have a minimal amount of salt. If your salinity is too high, you can add distilled or RO water, but you will want to monitor your other parameters when doing so. To increase your salinity, we recommend using 1 -2 tbsp per 10 gallons of Aquarium Salt, fully dissolved before adding into the aquarium.​
​
Chlorine: 0ppm (EXTREMELY DANGEROUS)
Chlorine is often added to tap water to remove any potentially dangerous pathogens. However, it is extremely lethal to aquatic animals as well, like axolotls, and can be fatal in less than 24 hours. It is usually not found in well water or bottled water, it is best to confirm its absence before adding your axolotl into the aquarium.
​
How to monitor:
Aquarium Chlorine Tests Kits
​
How to manage:
Always add an axolotl safe water conditioner, like Seachem Prime, whenever you add new water into your aquarium. This instantly removes any chlorine and makes the water safe for aquatic life.​
​