Water change
- Thread starter colsoscar120
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StevenBell
Well-Known Member
There's going to be some who say yes and some who say no.I'm a no type of guy myself lol
Let your system mature itself. Meaning leave the bacteria alone while cycling. The more bacteria the better off your system will be when its finished.
Jordan berry
Active Member
There is a lot more we would need to know to give you the best answer. With common live rock fishless cycling where your live rock will have some die off to spike your ammonia it is best to not do a water change until your ammonia and nitrite reaches 0 to make sure your bacteria is doing it's part. Most people will do a water change to lower nitrates after nitrite and ammonia drops to 0 before adding fish or a cuc. If you are going to use a bacteria booster such as tetra safe start plus they don't want you to have a filter sock or skimmer running or do a water change. Adding the bacteria is supposed to keep your ammonia and nitrite levels low enough to do a fish in cycle. However if I was going this route I would monitor the levels to make sure it is safe for w/e live stock I had in there at all times and do a water change against there recomendations to save the live stock.
bobman
Well-Known Member
IMO it depends on your live rock. If you have lots of visible hitchhikers I would do water changes during the cycle to keep the amonia and nitrites as low as I can to keep the hitch hikers alive. This method will prolong your cycle in most cases and you also will not have as much abundant bacteria after the cycle. However if you slowly add livestock then you should not have a problem.
If you used dry rock or dont have any real hitch hikers to keep alive then by all means just sit back and save the salt. Also keep in mind though by doing a hard cycle you will have more available bacteria at the end of your cycle but if you add livestock slowly as is advised you may not have the bioload to keep the bacteria and it will die off as there is nothing to support it.
So in the end its all up to you. I personally do water changes but it really is not needed if there is nothing in the tank to keep alive.
If you used dry rock or dont have any real hitch hikers to keep alive then by all means just sit back and save the salt. Also keep in mind though by doing a hard cycle you will have more available bacteria at the end of your cycle but if you add livestock slowly as is advised you may not have the bioload to keep the bacteria and it will die off as there is nothing to support it.
So in the end its all up to you. I personally do water changes but it really is not needed if there is nothing in the tank to keep alive.
