when do i make my first water change

[Fatdaddy82]

Got my new tank started and dropped a shrimp in the tank to start cycle ammonia has spiked sky high at point when do i make my first water change

 

[Daniel Fishy]

When you have high nitrAtes and ammonia and nitrItes are zero.

 

[Fatdaddy82]

Ok thank you

 

[obscurereef]

Like the previous poster said, when your tank is cycled (meaning 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, some nitrates) is when you want to do water changes. Could be a month or 2 before that happens. Keep the shrimp in there until the cycle completes. Doing a water change before that would slow down the cycle. Make sure you're using a liquid test kit instead of test strips for more accuracy.

 

[Fatdaddy82]

What levels should i keep after cycle

 

[Bectan01]

Ph should be 8.2 and everything else should be 0. It is acceptable to have nitrates 5-10ppm but aim for as close to 0 as you can