Tank cycling - when to do water change?

[1Clown]

So I'm cycling my tank using ATM Colony. I'm on the 5th day, using a small Damsel to help cycle it. I didn't do any tests until today and I'm reading 0 for Nitrite, 0 for Nitrate and 0 or 0.15 for Ammonia (hard to tell color difference) using Salifert for all tests. So just wondering when do I go about my first water change and what % do I change? thanks.

 

[rob s.]

i did no water changes for the first 3 months and just let the tank do its thing

 

[RobB'z Reef]

If your nitrates and ammonia are under control, no need to change water. If your ammonia climbs over 1 or 2ppm use water changes as a control export method for the ammonia. Otherwise just observe and test.

*edit - I agree with other posters, no need to change water during cycle normally if you are doing a fishless cycle, but you're not. So in the interests of keeping that fish healthy you don't want to let your ammonia climb high enough to stress or kill it.

 

[piranhaman00]

You never do a water change during cycle. Its also unethical to cycle with a fish.

 

[FlexingFishSticks]

i did no water changes for the first 3 months and just let the tank do its thing

+1

 

[1Clown]

You never do a water change during cycle. Its also unethical to cycle with a fish.

If it helps I did let the Colony settle for a full day before adding the fish instead of adding it instantly as most people do.

 

[LeftyReefer]

Don't worry, you and your fish will likely be just fine.
You really should test your ammonia every day though... in order to determine a trend. Is the ammonia in your tank rising? or dropping? With only a single test result (data point), not much can be determined as to a trend yet.... keep testing ammonia every day. When it starts dropping, you'll know the cycle is progressing as it should.

 

[rob s.]

You never do a water change during cycle. Its also unethical to cycle with a fish.

your idea of unethical is not the same as some one elses. There are many ways and prefrences on what to do with a tank. Wish people would hold there judgements to themselves

 

[piranhaman00]

your idea of unethical is not the same as some one elses. There are many ways and prefrences on what to do with a tank. Wish people would hold there judgements to themselves

Its a fact that cycling a tank with a fish is unethical. There are other ways that work better and dont involve a suffering animal.

 

[rob s.]

Its a fact that cycling a tank with a fish is unethical. There are other ways that work better and dont involve a suffering animal.

 

[rob s.]

Its a fact that cycling a tank with a fish is unethical. There are other ways that work better and dont involve a suffering animal.

unethical to who? I don't think its unethical. I think its just another way some prefer to do this. Didn't realize there was an ethics committee that set the standard. Must have missed that session

 

[piranhaman00]

unethical to who? I don't think its unethical. I think its just another way some prefer to do this. Didn't realize there was an ethics committee that set the standard. Must have missed that session

Why would you prefer to make an animal suffer? This debate has been hammered, sorry I was just giving the OP advice, newbies tend to think you have to cycle with fish.

 

[rob s.]

Why would you prefer to make an animal suffer?

a lot of people think keeping animals in a tank is unethical, i guess your unethical as much as the person you passed your judgement on

 

[piranhaman00]

a lot of people think keeping animals in a tank is unethical, i guess your unethical as much as the person you passed your judgement on

Ohhh nice!

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Its a fact that cycling a tank with a fish is unethical. There are other ways that work better and dont involve a suffering animal.

It's a fact that ethics are subjective, let's just help him and leave it at that

 

[piranhaman00]

It's a fact that ethics are subjective, let's just help him and leave it at that

Ah yes I guess that is the correct answer

 

[1Clown]

Results after 7 days.

Ammonia: 0-0.15 hard to tell, Salifert.
Nitrite: 0 looking from top, 0.01 looking through side (higher sensitivity) Salifert.
Nitrate: 2 looking from top, 0.5 looking through side (higher sensitivity) Salifert.

What's my next step, add a skimmer, do a water change, continue as is?

 

[rob s.]

do nothing.....top offs is all i did for the first three months