Water change?

[Icemanzz]

Hi everyone I just tested my tank last night my ammonia was 0.45 and my nitrate was 20.5 also just had fish in it for about a week. I was planning on doing my first weekly water change on friday. Do you think I should do it sooner?

 

[AmazingYocool]

Hi everyone I just tested my tank last night my ammonia was 0.45 and my nitrate was 20.5 also just had fish in it for about a week. I was planning on doing my first weekly water change on friday. Do you think I should do it sooner?

What fish are in it? I'd add some bacteria to help with the ammonia first... If its something hardy such as a clown or damsel, then you can hold off on the water change for a little longer. (Since your tank is new). Usually waterchange scheduals are different for everyone. It just depends how fast your tank produces nitrates. Once youre around 20-30, then its a good time to do one.

 

[PharmrJohn]

What fish are in it? I'd add some bacteria to help with the ammonia first... If its something hardy such as a clown or damsel, then you can hold off on the water change for a little longer. (Since your tank is new). Usually waterchange scheduals are different for everyone. It just depends how fast your tank produces nitrates. Once youre around 20-30, then its a good time to do one.

+1. And ain't that the truth?! Water changes are VERY personal aren't they?! Now, its a little late for take-backsies, but I'd have waited on fish until the tank was cycled. From here forward, though, I'd wait before adding anymore. And no, you didn't mess up. There are two modes of thought (Team Jacob and Team Edward) with fish or fishless cycling.

Oh, and sorry about the Twilight reference. You don't have to forgive me for that one. And to think, when that movie came out, I was seriously expecting a gory vampire flick. But noooooo. Teenage angst was all I got! AND. NOT. ONE. FANG! I mean, seriously?!?!

 

[Icemanzz]

What fish are in it? I'd add some bacteria to help with the ammonia first... If its something hardy such as a clown or damsel, then you can hold off on the water change for a little longer. (Since your tank is new). Usually waterchange scheduals are different for everyone. It just depends how fast your tank produces nitrates. Once youre around 20-30, then its a good time to do one.

So right now i have 2 flurry clowns

 

[AmazingYocool]

So right now i have 2 flurry clowns

nice! They should hold well. Do you have bacteria to add for the ammonia?

 

[Jaden9933]

i personally waited until ammonia hit 0 in my tank before doing the first water change. nitrates were around 20 and the water cleared up from the first algae/bacterial/diatom blooms. tanks been very well off since then and is full of happy corals. and i mean FULL. a little over 1 month later and i’ve just barely done my second water change last night. if you have a refugium with macro algae, and especially if you’re dosing as well (i don’t dose, but have read a lot about it), water changes can typically but pushed off a bit.

I go until one of my Scolys starts to get a little less fat. if feeding doesn’t make it happy, water changes always do. that’s my indicator coral for my overall tank health so i don’t have to test so often. not typically a recommended approach but it’s always worked great for me!

adding copepods and live phyto is a good way to get a tank “maturing”. throw in live brine as more food for the copepods and you’ll have a steady healthy colony in no time! i have two dragonets in a 25 gallons and the glass is still covered copepods! copepods help regulate nutrients and keep rocks and macro algae clean!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Be careful with feeding for a while, looks like you cycled the tank with fish, so overfeeding will further increase the ammonia amount. Go very slowly in this hobby.

 

[get-salty]

"Weedoo weedoo wee...dooo" - fish police siren !

You are getting a RED card violation on this one buddy !
shouldnt have added anything until ammonia is ZERO, its not a long process and its not a hard process and most of all

Patience is the Key to Success in this hobby !​

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...sQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1DuQii8eTbvsSnx1ziDWSb
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...sQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1DuQii8eTbvsSnx1ziDWSb

 

[Icemanzz]

"Weedoo weedoo wee...dooo" - fish police siren !

You are getting a RED card violation on this one buddy !
shouldnt have added anything until ammonia is ZERO, its not a long process and its not a hard process and most of all

Patience is the Key to Success in this hobby !​

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...sQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1DuQii8eTbvsSnx1ziDWSb
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...sQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1DuQii8eTbvsSnx1ziDWSb

"Weedoo weedoo wee...dooo" - fish police siren !

You are getting a RED card violation on this one buddy !
shouldnt have added anything until ammonia is ZERO, its not a long process and its not a hard process and most of all

Patience is the Key to Success in this hobby !​

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...sQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1DuQii8eTbvsSnx1ziDWSb
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...sQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1DuQii8eTbvsSnx1ziDWSb

well the fish store people told me i was ready for fish and my water levels were good this is my first time doing a salt water tank

 

[get-salty]

well the fish store people told me i was ready for fish and my water levels were good this is my first time doing a salt water tank

I will let you go with a warning this time : )

lol just messing w/ya. We all are learning, that is why we have this forum..

Good luck and happy reefing !