Fishless Cycle

[kerberj]

I have a new tank (two weeks). I have been doing weekly water changes while I wait for it to cycle. But I have been reading that its actually a bad idea to do water changes during a fishless cycle? Can someone give me some solid answers haha! Thanks!

 

[geridoc]

The goal of cycling is to raise the ammonia levels up to the point that it encourages nitrifying bacteria to grow. By changing the water you are holding the ammonnia levels at an artificially low level, slowing the process. The only time a cycling tank should undergo water changes is when the ammonia levels rise too high, which will actually poison the establishment of the cycle.

 

[jay0705]

By fishless,do u mean just no fish or nothing in the tank at all? Specifically live rock. BC if u have good lr then your ammonia should spike relatively fast. Now by good I mean lots of life. Worms,clams,alage, ECT. I have a lfs that carries great rock. BC of that my tank ran fishless for a month but I did 2 water changes. During that time I saw the worms and amphipods in the tank fairly regularly. I put 3 fish in and haven't had an issue. I do add fish slowly tho prob a month between additions. So basically if u have good lr your h2o changes shouldn't hurt much

 

[kerberj]

Yea I have about 25 pounds of live rock, and 2 inchs of live sand. Its only been running about 2 weeks. and ive done one water change. Right now I beleive im coming down from my high ammonia spike. Cause few days ago it was about 3.0, and now its about .5

 

[jay0705]

Sounds rt. Lr helps a ton. Now your ammonia should drop to 0 and your nitrate and nitrites should start to rise. Another wk or 2 and should be fine. How big of a tank?

 

[spanko]

https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/386044/lets-talk-about-cycling
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/354564/cycling-for-life