Water change or no?

[gemini9]

I have had my tank up for a month. At first, I added a mix of 14 pounds of dry and live rock, and I also added a shrimp to start a cycle. I never noticed my ammonia to go past .50ppm, but my nitrites and nitrates spiked. Eventually, my ammonia red 0 and nitrite 0, but nitrates were sky high. 14 pounds of rock wasn't enough so I ordered another 14 pounds of dry rock from brs and added to my tank. I also did a 20-30% water change. After adding the rock, my levels are back up agaion. amonia is about .50 ppm and my nitrites and nitrates are off the charts. No algae and no diatoms. I've been using spring water but I am buying a small affordable rodi today. No sump. Only a marineland 350 hob filter and a marineland 400 maxijet water circulator.

My question:

Since my tank is apparantly still cycling, should I be doing regular water changes or should I wait until the the nitrites read 0 again? Also, about the carbon filters in my hob filter, some have said they harvest good bacteria, to leave them alone. I've also read to change them every month.

 

[reepher]

Your HOB filter if not changed often will become a nitrate factory. In freshwater they harbor valuable bacteria but in this case it would keep debris in your water flow and not help the nitrate/ites. People use them but there are much better ways. Ive seen some pretty affordable HOB skimmers that work pretty well. I did 10% water changes towards the end of my cycle but not until.

 

[gemini9]

okay. thanks. I'll order some replacement cartridges and change out those filters asap. there are 2 in there and come in a pack of 3. I have one left over so I can change the one lol I'll just go ahead and take the other out until I can get a replacement cartridge. CAn I get more info on the hob skimmer?

I may set up a sump. I've been thinking about it. I may start a new thread for help with that.

 

[Reefing Madness]

You should clean those fitlers out weekly, just rinse them off with the hose. You don't want them collecting bacteria, because in time they will become a headache in time. Your Live Rock does your bacterial work for you, just make sure you rinse the filter media weekly.
No water changes needed, just wait til your Ammonia and Nitrites hit 0, then do a 50% WC to get your Nitrates to acceptable levels, then your off and running.

Aquarium Filtration & Water Quality: Maintaining a Healthy Saltwater Aquarium with Protein Skimmers
Reef Octopus BH1000 Hang-on-the-Back Protein Skimmer - Bulk Reef Supply

AquaMaxx HOB-1 Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer

 

[gemini9]

Ok thanks. I just ordered a 6 pack of filters to get me started. Goind to check out those linksm

 

[gemini9]

wow. $200 for one of those.

 

[gemini9]

After what I've spent on the tank already, I just can't do $200. I'm thinking $50 on ebay is about all I can handle. It's either a $50 ebay bargain or nothing at all. Hey, I'm a poor warehouse worker. Forklift drivers just don't make much money. lol I don't have reefs. This is going to start out as a FOWLR for now. The rest can come later. That said, do I really NEED one?

 

[Railcar79]

Watch the large water changes. Did one on my tank and it crashed.

 

[gemini9]

10% a good number? 20?

 

[Railcar79]

I wouldn't go past 20 unless it was a total tank crash.