Cycle question

Simon68 · 07/04/2008, 12:26 PM

When do I do a water change, have done one so far, tank cycling about 4 weeks now.
Ammonia 0
Nitrites .25
Nitrates 10

I do a have a lot of livestock that came as amazing hitchhikers and throw ins on my TBS rock, so I want to do what's right by them also, but I don't want to prolong a cycle by doing water changes prematurely or too often. The highest the ammonia ever got was .5 and now it's solid 0.

Nitrites did get down to 0 also but with my second part of "the package" they have been where they are now.

So how often should I be doing water changes and how much to change?
Thanks, I love this site!!

Victor1046 · 07/04/2008, 12:38 PM

My recommendation is not to do any water changes...as you do not have anything significant enough to produce the waste that water changes are used to dilute.
Let your tank cycle is my opinion for approx 2 - 3 months before adding anything at all. Not even a clean up crew.
It's boring looking at rock but it will pay off in the end.
Patience is a must in this hobby.
Good Luck

Simon68 · 07/04/2008, 01:19 PM

I am fine being patient, no problem waiting. With TBS rock I have TONS of life in there to look at.

Playa-1 · 07/04/2008, 01:34 PM

At this point I would wait until you nitrites are un-dectable and the nitrates are near undetectable. Then I would use a Turkey-Baster and get the loose stuff off the liverock and do a good water change (maybe 30 to 50 percent). Give it a few more days and double check all your water parameters to see where you are at.

Simon68 · 07/04/2008, 01:51 PM

Thanks so much Playa, that sounds like a plan!

metweezer · 07/04/2008, 02:26 PM

IMO once your ammonia and trites are 0 and your trates are below 20 then you can do a 20% water change and you are good to go. Like I said IMO.

07/04/2008, 12:26 PM	#1
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	Cycle question When do I do a water change, have done one so far, tank cycling about 4 weeks now. Ammonia 0 Nitrites .25 Nitrates 10 I do a have a lot of livestock that came as amazing hitchhikers and throw ins on my TBS rock, so I want to do what's right by them also, but I don't want to prolong a cycle by doing water changes prematurely or too often. The highest the ammonia ever got was .5 and now it's solid 0. Nitrites did get down to 0 also but with my second part of "the package" they have been where they are now. So how often should I be doing water changes and how much to change? Thanks, I love this site!!

07/04/2008, 12:38 PM	#2
Victor1046 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delray Beach FL Posts: 427	My recommendation is not to do any water changes...as you do not have anything significant enough to produce the waste that water changes are used to dilute. Let your tank cycle is my opinion for approx 2 - 3 months before adding anything at all. Not even a clean up crew. It's boring looking at rock but it will pay off in the end. Patience is a must in this hobby. Good Luck __________________ Victoria Current Tank Info: 110Gl, 2X250 MH 2X96W ACT , PS, 2 Tom Clowns, bi-color blennie,flame angel, brain, colt, BTA, Xenia, Red & Yellow Zoe, Green Boniopora, Red Cynarina, Trumpet, Hammer Coral, mushrooms, leather,

07/04/2008, 02:26 PM	#6
metweezer Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 174	IMO once your ammonia and trites are 0 and your trates are below 20 then you can do a 20% water change and you are good to go. Like I said IMO. __________________ The only thing that happens fast in this hobby is a catastrophe. Current Tank Info: 29 Gal DT 10 Gal QT

07/04/2008, 01:19 PM	#3
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	I am fine being patient, no problem waiting. With TBS rock I have TONS of life in there to look at.

07/04/2008, 01:34 PM	#4
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	At this point I would wait until you nitrites are un-dectable and the nitrates are near undetectable. Then I would use a Turkey-Baster and get the loose stuff off the liverock and do a good water change (maybe 30 to 50 percent). Give it a few more days and double check all your water parameters to see where you are at.

07/04/2008, 01:51 PM	#5
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	Thanks so much Playa, that sounds like a plan!