Change Of Water Time?

[dstyling]

I Started Up The Tank Yesterday And This Is What I Wrote Down After I Let It Run For About 8 Hrs Yesterday
Day 1:
Ammonia-.5
Ph-8.1
Alk-2.9-3.6 (couldnt Really Tell)
Trite-.1
Trate-2.5
Temp: 78
Day 2:
Ammonia-2.5
Ph-8.0
Alk-2.9-3.6 (couldnt Really Tell)
Trite-.2
Trate-10
Temp: 78
Salinity Was Good Both Days
Let Me Know What You Think Or Should I Just Leave It Alone And Cycle Longer
Thanks
D

 

[viper222]

I'm far from an expert, but on a new tank you will see your trite go up pretty high, then go back down ALL THE WAY to 0. Then you know it is done cycling. Depending on how much LR and LS it could take a week to a month for the most part. After your Nitrites go to 0 then do your first water change.

 

[cmaxwell39]

The only reason to do a water change in the middle of the cycle is to try to keep ammonia down to protect hitchhikers that may possibly be in the live rock. If you are cycling with live rock you may want to consider this, but if it were me I think that I would just let it run its course and do your first water change when ammonia and nitrites are both at 0. Your nitrates will probably be pretty high at that point.

 

[dstyling]

If The Trites And Ammonia Are 0 Y Change The Water?...will Changing The Water After The Nitrites Turn To Nitrate Lower The Trates After That Water Change?

 

[cmaxwell39]

You need to do a large water change at the end of the cycle to lower your nitrates in the system. That is one of the reasons to do regular water changes is to help keep the nitrates in check. There are others as well, such as replacing trace elements that are used up by the system.