An axolotl, also known as Mexican walking fish, is an expensive pet to own. Thus, taking care of it must be involved by a good filtration system or you have to change the water regularly. Good tank size for one axolotl should be around 15 to 20 gallons. The axolotl is a kind of solitude pet so there is no need to hold them in a big tank with other companions. Thus, we have chosen out the best filter for axolotl tank by both considering the best tank size and the convenience in maintenance that the product could bring to you. Let scroll down and then decide on your own.
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Related:
==> Let’s figure out the best filter for 10 gallon tank through below guideline
==> Best filter for 50 gallon tank – Reviews and buying guide
Top 5 Best Filter For Axolotl To Consider
Top 1: AquaClear Power Filter, A600/30, Clip-On Aquarium Filter
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This A600 clip-on or hang-on-back (HOB) power filter from AquaClear could help circulate 150 US gallon per hour, that means at least 5 times of the tank volume. Thus, it could help to maintain your axolotl tank at the best and reduce your water changes.
Pros:
- Work well and powerful for cleaning water of a tank holding 10 – 30 gallons: The kit goes with 3-stage filter media – a Poly foam insert (mechanical filter media), a bag of activated charcoal (chemical filter media), and BioMax insert (biological filter media) and make your tank work well. Just observe the water regularly and do some water changes if necessary. You just need to change charcoal every month, change the foam every two months, and the BioMax every three months. The Cycle Guard brings you peace of mind when changing media without worrying about a biological crash.
- Quick and easy to install: It is a hang-on-back filter so it will take you only some minutes to install.
- Lifetime guarantee: Any defect is detected within your using time will be warranted by the manufacturer.
Cons:
- Cleaning filter: you need to unplug it, detach the parts of the filter, and clean every 2 weeks to ensure maximum operation. Especially cleaning the intake U-shape tube will be a little bit challenging. Try to do it with a filter stem brush.
Top 2: Fluval C Series Power Filter, Clip-On Aquarium Filter
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This is another good filter for a tank holding from 10 – 30 gallons and could circulate 30 US gallons per hour.
Pros:
- Offer 5-stage filtration system: The multi-stage filtration system includes the top foam for catching debris, the polyester film for screening out the fine particles, activated carbon for removing odors, discolorations, and impurities, the final layers are bio-screen and C-nodes to allow bacteria growth.
- Self-prime: Just plug in and the power filter will self-start and begin running in seconds.
- Less maintenance: You just need to replace one filter medium at a time. Replace the foam/poly film every 4 – 6 weeks, the carbon every 2 – 4 weeks, the bio-screen every 2 – 3 months, the C-nodes every 6 months, and the motor O-ring every year. You also need to clean in the impeller once a year and the other parts of the filter every 3 months.
Cons:
- You need to clean the top mechanical foam frequently because it is easy to get clogged.
Top 3: Fluval 107 Performance Canister Filter
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This could work out for a 15-gallon – 30-gallon tank with a circulation rate of 145 GPH.
Pros:
- Ergonomic design: It is well-designed so that you could easily detach all the parts for cleaning. It looks neat but actually, the trays could hold multiple filter media.
- Very quiet: You will be surprised with the 107 series from Fluval about its dead-silent operation. You could only hear the whispering sound when put your ear right above the motor.
- Easy-to-setup and maintain: The Aquastop valve looks sleek and neat with a raised lip for smooth operation. The motor-head dual-locking clamps also help quick release and attachment for easier maintenance. Moreover, the center handles added to the media baskets also speed up your media changes.
Cons:
- It does not include the spray bar.
Top 4: Tetra Whisper EX Silent Multi-Stage Power Filter for Aquariums
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The Tetra Whisper EX30 suits well an average axolotl tank (15 – 20 gallons) with a flow rate of 160 GPH.
Pros:
- Quick and easy to set up: It is a kind of hang-on-back filter so just take it out of the box, hang it on the tank wall and plug it in to run the system.
- Optimize oxygenation: The filter could add more oxygen to the water with constant water flow and your axolotls will love it because they get oxygen through their skin contact with the water.
- Multi-stage filtration: With equipped media carriers, you now could change the media without touching your hand to the floss screen. Especially Bio-scrubber which is the final bed for bacteria growth; it is clog-free and you never need to change. Thus, you will change the filtration cartridge without worrying about a biological crash.
Cons:
- Make sure you have a good tank top to stop your axolotl to jump out of the tank because a HOB filter usually creates a large exposure space.
Top 5: Aqua-Tech Power Aquarium Filter
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The AquaTech filter 10 – 20 is suitable and will do just fine for a tank holding 10 – 20 gallons.
Pros:
- Complete 3-stage filtration: There are 3 complete stages: mechanical filter cartridge floss, chemical filter cartridge carbon, and biological Bio-Tech Grid which never needs to be changed as the third step to remove ammonia and nitrite.
- Easy to set up and maintain: It is a hang-on-back filter so it takes some minutes to hand it on and run it. The filter cartridge is easy to be replaced without affecting the nitrogen cycle.
- Budget-friendly: This filter uses an Aqua-Tech EZ-Change filter cartridge which is rather cheap and you only need to change the cartridge every 2 – 4 weeks, which will only cost you 2 – 4 US dollars per month.
Cons:
Many people do not like the hums it makes but for me, I am satisfied with this price and the efficient cleaning.
How to choose the best filter for axolotl?
An axolotl should be in a tank holding 15 – 20 gallons. Thus, the best filter for an axolotl tank should well-clean this tank size and create a good water environment for an axolotl. Choosing a filter for an axolotl tank should not miss the below key points.
- A good filter with the adjustable flow to get water highly oxygenated and crystal clear: This is one of the key points for a good filter for axolotls. Axolotls have very sensitive skin since they get water and oxygen through their skin contact. Thus, keeping the tank water in a highly oxygenated and clear situation is very important. The flow rate should be kept slow so it is also important to have a flow control to adjust the current and do not make your axolotl stressful.
- A filter that will not take up much space of axolotl in a tank: An axolotl is usually from 6 to 18 inches long in adult size, thus, keeping a big space for them to explore is important. Both a hang-on-back or a canister filter could do this. However, a hang-on-back filter should come with a good top lid to assure that the axolotl will not jump out of the tank and die.
- A filter that is convenient in changing media: A good and complete filtration system is important but an axolotl tank needs weekly water change, thus, the convenient filter will help aquarists save more time.
- A filter could run quietly: This is important for most aquarists because you do hope to enjoy water life with peace of mind when coming back home more than the busy life outside. Thus, a noisy filter will normally trouble you the most.
FAQs
What is an axolotl?
An axolotl, also known as Mexican walking fish, is a kind of salamander that can be various in colors like black, gray, gold, and white. They look very exciting and rather hardy. Thus, they could be a good option for aquarium starters. They are unique among amphibians because they do not undergo metamorphosis; instead of going to the land at the adult time, they remain aquatic and gilled their entire life.
- Common names: Axolotl, Mexican walking fish
- Originated from: lakes in Mexico City
- Scientific name: Ambystoma mexicanum
- Adult size: Between 6 and 18 inches long, though over 12 inches is rare
- Life expectancy: 10 to 20 years on average
What are the most common notices when taking care of an axolotl?
Housing:
- An axolotl needs at least a 15 to 20-gallon tank.
- They enjoy a solitary life.
- The tank should be kept away from bright sunlight.
- Tank temperature should be around 57 – 680F (14 – 200C).
- If there are gravels at the bottom of the tank, it should be coarser than axolotl’s head or it could be ingested and get obstructed.
- If the tank is using a filter, you could do 20% of water change weekly, or else, you should change 20% tank water daily.
Diet:
- In the natural world, snails, worms, crustaceans, small fish, and small amphibians are usually food for axolotls. In aquatic captivity, you could feed them by a variety of brine shrimps, small strips of beef or liver, earthworms, bloodworms, worms, other frozen fish foods, and commercial fish pellets as well. Substrates are very important to axolotls because just like other salamanders, they tend to ingest the bedding material together with food.
Water:
- The safest water for axolotls is bottled water which has been treated by reverse osmosis. If you are going to tap water, keep in mind that you should let the water sit for at least 24 hours for the chlorine to dissipate and evaporate; or you could buy special dechlorination drops at the local pet store and treat them before using.
Handling an axolotl:
- You should never handle an axolotl by hand because of their very sensitive skin. Consider using a net that could gently catch them without affecting their skin.
Should I give companions to my axolotl?
Axolotl tends to eat other pet fishes and the fish may also nip at axolotls. Juvenile axolotls or even adult axolotls can be cannibalistic toward one another. Thus, it is best to keep them alone.