Hello!
Thank you for the reply.

I will definitely begin the hunt for black worms. We have a ton of shops around here since this is a larger area. Hopefully I can find some!
We do have a locking lid for our tank but we will seal around the pump wires/air line to be safe. I didn't realize they could squeeze through something so small. Better safe than sorry!

I'll swap the tank around to a more aquatic setting this afternoon so the extra water has time to filter. I was worried when I set it up that I may have made a mistake seeing everyone else's set up for their alpines. What parameters are safe for adding the newts? I've read 6-7.5 PH is ok with no ill effects? Our testing kit comes tomorrow so I can monitor the nitrite/ammonia more closely.

Thank you again for your help
Tia