waterchanges during cycle?

pottsburg · 03/12/2007, 08:46 AM

I've read to change out water as much as possible when cycling with live rock, and I've heard not to touch it and do a few good changes after ammonia is back down to 0. Which is the best way to go?

kau_cinta_ku · 03/12/2007, 08:56 AM

more water changes to keep ammonia down = more critters will survive the cycle

no water changes during the curing process = less critters will survive

either way in time most of the critters will repopulate and you'll have more than enough. either way will prob. take as long as the other to cure though

Dogfaced Puffer · 03/12/2007, 09:41 AM

How much (what %) does everyone change out and on what frequency?

pottsburg · 03/12/2007, 01:52 PM

yeah....

I started my tank with tap water so I'm going to be doing alot of waterchanges, 5 gallons at a time in a 46gallon tank

Medaka · 03/12/2007, 02:02 PM

Just go by how high the ammonia gets (off the charts)
Or how bad it smells. LOL.

Dogfaced Puffer · 03/12/2007, 02:08 PM

I mean, on a regular maintenance basis. I have a 72 with 150 total water volume. I change out about 10% (20 gal.) everyother week. I wondering if it is overkill. I never have any nitrates; it would be nice to only do it once a month.

Shagsbeard · 03/12/2007, 02:12 PM

I do 5 gals per week in my 75+30 gal system. I probably should do 10... but haven't seen any ill effects from only doing 5.

Frick-n-Frags · 03/12/2007, 02:21 PM

cycle the tank THEN do the water change

GoingPostal · 03/12/2007, 02:41 PM

I've heard anything over 1 for ammonia is toxic even to the bacteria you're trying to raise, they don't populate the water very much, just the rock and substrate so change as much water as you need to keep the ammonia down. One of my tanks spiked to 6 and above and I did massive water changes the whole time with no difference in cycling time than any previous tank with semicured rock.

Travis L. Stevens · 03/12/2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kau_cinta_ku
more water changes to keep ammonia down = more critters will survive the cycle

= less bacteria population to support a higher bioload. The introduction of a fish will cause a higher spike.

Quote:

no water changes during the curing process = less critters will survive

= more bacteria to support a higher bioload. The introduction of a fish will not show as much of a significant spike.

I personally don't recommend water changes during a cycle, but the choice is yours.

pottsburg · 03/12/2007, 04:10 PM

Thanks Travis, I didn't know that. Is it okay even though I started the tank w/ tap water? I guess I'll let it cycle and then go heavy on waterchanges over a month with RO/DI after it cycles?

bertoni · 03/12/2007, 06:38 PM

I have never believed that water changes during the cycle did any harm to the bacterial filtration. The extreme levels of ammonia during a cycle are far more nutrition than the tank will get as the ammonia drops, and bacteria die or go dormant very quickly without food. So I do changes when the ammonia is over, say, 1 ppm and I have the energy. No need to knock yourself out.

03/12/2007, 08:46 AM	#1
pottsburg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 179	waterchanges during cycle? I've read to change out water as much as possible when cycling with live rock, and I've heard not to touch it and do a few good changes after ammonia is back down to 0. Which is the best way to go?

03/12/2007, 01:52 PM	#4
pottsburg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 179	yeah.... I started my tank with tap water so I'm going to be doing alot of waterchanges, 5 gallons at a time in a 46gallon tank __________________ "All thinking men are atheists." Ernest Hemingway Current Tank Info: 20L with 20lbs of LR, 20lbs of sand, 192watts of PC lighting.

03/12/2007, 02:21 PM	#8
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	cycle the tank THEN do the water change __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

03/12/2007, 06:38 PM	#12
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I have never believed that water changes during the cycle did any harm to the bacterial filtration. The extreme levels of ammonia during a cycle are far more nutrition than the tank will get as the ammonia drops, and bacteria die or go dormant very quickly without food. So I do changes when the ammonia is over, say, 1 ppm and I have the energy. No need to knock yourself out. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/12/2007, 08:56 AM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	more water changes to keep ammonia down = more critters will survive the cycle no water changes during the curing process = less critters will survive either way in time most of the critters will repopulate and you'll have more than enough. either way will prob. take as long as the other to cure though

03/12/2007, 09:41 AM	#3
Dogfaced Puffer Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 30	How much (what %) does everyone change out and on what frequency?

03/12/2007, 02:02 PM	#5
Medaka Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Orange, calif Posts: 609	Just go by how high the ammonia gets (off the charts) Or how bad it smells. LOL.

03/12/2007, 02:08 PM	#6
Dogfaced Puffer Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 30	I mean, on a regular maintenance basis. I have a 72 with 150 total water volume. I change out about 10% (20 gal.) everyother week. I wondering if it is overkill. I never have any nitrates; it would be nice to only do it once a month.

03/12/2007, 02:12 PM	#7
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	I do 5 gals per week in my 75+30 gal system. I probably should do 10... but haven't seen any ill effects from only doing 5.

03/12/2007, 02:41 PM	#9
GoingPostal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,517	I've heard anything over 1 for ammonia is toxic even to the bacteria you're trying to raise, they don't populate the water very much, just the rock and substrate so change as much water as you need to keep the ammonia down. One of my tanks spiked to 6 and above and I did massive water changes the whole time with no difference in cycling time than any previous tank with semicured rock.

03/12/2007, 04:10 PM	#11
pottsburg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 179	Thanks Travis, I didn't know that. Is it okay even though I started the tank w/ tap water? I guess I'll let it cycle and then go heavy on waterchanges over a month with RO/DI after it cycles?