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eric b 125
Guest
At what point do you guys start doing water changes during the initial setup of a tank? I was thinking I would when the nitrates hit 20.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric B 125 http:///t/395761/wc-during-tank-cycle#post_3524337
At what point do you guys start doing water changes during the initial setup of a tank? I was thinking I would when the nitrates hit 20.
Hi,
We don't do any water changes during the cycle (initial set up)...it interrupts it and it will cause it to take longer. If you have a live fish, you would need to do small water changes (called soft cycle) to keep it comfortable and alive as the tank cycles. A chunk of raw shrimp tossed in the tank will cause the cycle to hard and fast. Ghost feeding or using pour ammonia is another way to really kick start everything.
Once ammonia spikes and returns to a 0 reading, then wait for nitrites to drop to 0...once both of those are 0, you will have nitrates. Before adding fish you could do a small water change to remove some of the nitrates. A Quarantine tank (QT) would help you not only to keep your fish healthy, but would help you regulate how fast you stock your tank. Too many fish too fast is why most new hobbyists tanks crash.
Originally Posted by Eric B 125 http:///t/395761/wc-during-tank-cycle#post_3524337
At what point do you guys start doing water changes during the initial setup of a tank? I was thinking I would when the nitrates hit 20.
Hi,
We don't do any water changes during the cycle (initial set up)...it interrupts it and it will cause it to take longer. If you have a live fish, you would need to do small water changes (called soft cycle) to keep it comfortable and alive as the tank cycles. A chunk of raw shrimp tossed in the tank will cause the cycle to hard and fast. Ghost feeding or using pour ammonia is another way to really kick start everything.
Once ammonia spikes and returns to a 0 reading, then wait for nitrites to drop to 0...once both of those are 0, you will have nitrates. Before adding fish you could do a small water change to remove some of the nitrates. A Quarantine tank (QT) would help you not only to keep your fish healthy, but would help you regulate how fast you stock your tank. Too many fish too fast is why most new hobbyists tanks crash.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
A water change might be necessary if ammonia gets above 2.0ppm...
After that, if nitrates are above 20ppm initially, I would probably do a small water change before adding fish stock.
No telling what my nitrates are at the moment. I need new test basic test kits.
After that, if nitrates are above 20ppm initially, I would probably do a small water change before adding fish stock.
No telling what my nitrates are at the moment. I need new test basic test kits.
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eric b 125
Guest
Oh, I will definitely do a water change before putting livestock in. I never did them during the cycle, like Flower said, but thought I would check to see the opinions of others'. I do not want to become concrete in my practice's in reef keeping. I want to remain teachable so I can help other people.