Water change during cycle

crankbait · 02/10/2012, 09:42 AM

Well do I need to change water during the cyle or just keep topping off until its done?

yh1185 · 02/10/2012, 10:23 AM

Once you get rid of the ammonia and nitrites, it's not a bad idea to do a wc. Then wait a day or two, to make sure your numbers are good, and then you should be able to start putting in a cuc.

Sugar Magnolia · 02/10/2012, 10:25 AM

^^^ Yes. Wait until ammonia and nitrate have hit zero and nitrates are coming down then do a 20% water change. Test again in a few days and do another water change if needed. Wait until nitrates are are 20 ppm or less then you can add some cuc.

Agu · 02/10/2012, 08:40 PM

What kinda of rock are you cycling ? Live rock or base rock/dead rock?

When I've used live rock to cycle a tank water changes are done regularly to keep the life I paid for alive. An ammonia spike can kill off the beneficial critters you paid for. For some strange reason the ammonia doesn't kill off the pests too .

If it'd dead/base rock just let it cycle ....

jmo,

aamaya87 · 02/10/2012, 09:24 PM

imo no matter the rock type wait til the levels hit zero then do a water change, if you keep doing water changes during the cycle you may keep it in a cycle

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/11/2012, 02:57 PM

I agree that if there are nice organisms on the live rock, water changes may be a good plan. If it is dead rock or a synthetic filter, no need for changes until it is done.

thegrun · 02/11/2012, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Holmes-Farley

I agree that if there are nice organisms on the live rock, water changes may be a good plan. If it is dead rock or a synthetic filter, no need for changes until it is done.

+1, if you don't have corals or other organisms you are trying to save, skip the water changes. If there are some nice corals on the rock, try to keep the ammonia at 1 ppm with water changes.

edward45 · 02/11/2012, 07:21 PM

Yeah I agree with pretty everything they have said.

Hamsternuts · 02/11/2012, 08:47 PM

I agree also. The Nitrate, phosphate and whatever else accumulated during the cycle isn't going to hurt the bacteria in the tank, and you still should have a little bit of nitrite and ammonia in there to keep the same bacteria fed and growing in population during the cycle.

crankbait · 02/11/2012, 11:51 PM

Cool thanks guys

02/10/2012, 09:42 AM	#1
crankbait Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tulsa ok Posts: 180	Water change during cycle Well do I need to change water during the cyle or just keep topping off until its done?

02/10/2012, 10:23 AM	#2
yh1185 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 279	Once you get rid of the ammonia and nitrites, it's not a bad idea to do a wc. Then wait a day or two, to make sure your numbers are good, and then you should be able to start putting in a cuc. __________________ 40b, bh2000 skimmer, 48X3w Cree LED Eshine Systems with a sun-rise/set controller. 2X750gph koralia evolution powerheads

02/10/2012, 10:25 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	^^^ Yes. Wait until ammonia and nitrate have hit zero and nitrates are coming down then do a 20% water change. Test again in a few days and do another water change if needed. Wait until nitrates are are 20 ppm or less then you can add some cuc. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/10/2012, 08:40 PM	#4
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	What kinda of rock are you cycling ? Live rock or base rock/dead rock? When I've used live rock to cycle a tank water changes are done regularly to keep the life I paid for alive. An ammonia spike can kill off the beneficial critters you paid for. For some strange reason the ammonia doesn't kill off the pests too . If it'd dead/base rock just let it cycle .... jmo, __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

02/11/2012, 02:57 PM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I agree that if there are nice organisms on the live rock, water changes may be a good plan. If it is dead rock or a synthetic filter, no need for changes until it is done. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/10/2012, 09:24 PM	#5
aamaya87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 5	imo no matter the rock type wait til the levels hit zero then do a water change, if you keep doing water changes during the cycle you may keep it in a cycle

02/11/2012, 07:21 PM	#8
edward45 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 50	Yeah I agree with pretty everything they have said.

02/11/2012, 08:47 PM	#9
Hamsternuts Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 137	I agree also. The Nitrate, phosphate and whatever else accumulated during the cycle isn't going to hurt the bacteria in the tank, and you still should have a little bit of nitrite and ammonia in there to keep the same bacteria fed and growing in population during the cycle.

02/11/2012, 11:51 PM	#10
crankbait Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tulsa ok Posts: 180	Cool thanks guys