conflicted

[lauremf2002]

My tank is nearing 5 weeks old and coming down from its spike. The ammonia has been at zero for a couple of weeks an Its been hovering for a while with trace amounts of nitrites and the nitrates are at almost 50. The LFS keeps telling me not to change the water AT ALL until the cycle is completely over, but I have heard conflicting statements saying you should. I feel like this is a really long time not to change the water and that it would help lower those nitrates. Please help because I am lost...

 

[darkfish]

do a water change.

 

[9supratt4]

With my cycle....I did not do a water change. The Nitrogen cycle should be allowed to complete it's course because that is how the "ggod" bacteria grows.
IMO and IME you should not change the water until both the ammonia and the nitrites are at 0. Then you should also allow the nitrates to decrease naturally before doing a water change.

 

[florida joe]

I am not sure if I have said this before, so I will say it again. Water changes dilute the amount of nitrates in your tank. Dilution is not a natural way of nitrate reduction. Allow sufficient time for denitrification bacteria to colonize then look into assimilation methods. This post was in no way meant to be rude or condescending

 

[olingerjccj]

I know you are ready to get going but it took me almost 2 months to cycle...

 

[lauremf2002]

Thanks for the info guys, I just kept hearing both sides and wasnt sure. I'll wait until it goes down by itself. I checked my levels last night and the nitrites are between 0-.3 and nitrates have gone down to 25 they almost look like they are below even that. So things are finally starting to come along! But I am having yet another diatom outbreak. Is it possible that the lfs' DI has phosphates in it?