New Tank w/ Nitromax attempting to cycle w/ fish. When do I do first water change?

[TheLuckyRoll]

Hello forum! I have gotten some nice advice and I look to get more from here. I started my second aquarium; a 6.6 gallon bookshelf aquarium with 3 pea puffers an otto and a few ghost shrimp. Per the advice of the knowledgeable pet store I bought Nitromax and began cycling with fish newly added to the aquarium and added Nitromax at the same time. I have been completing treatments as directed by the Nitromax and I wonder when I am supposed to do my first water change? I know a fungal bloom is supposed to happen; and I am getting a lot of the bacteria on the gravel bed (the cloudy white things) and I am not sure if I am supposed to suck those up with my first water change and keep adding Nitromax and water changing until levels are normal? My ammonia levels are a little high but my Nitro and Nitrite levels are getting safer. Any thoughts?

 

[HeatherW]

water are your readings? do you have a test kit? this will tell you when you need to change your water. how long has your tank been set up?

 

[TheLuckyRoll]

My Nitrate and Nitrite levels are becoming safer but my ammonia levels are high. So I presume I would just ignore the bacteria in the bottom of which I thought was to be beneficial and just do a partial change? Its a new tank.

 

[jlk]

Please read up on 'fish-in' cycling. I honestly dont even know what 'nitromax' is but if your ammonia and/or nitrite levels are .25ppm (or higher), you need to start doing water changes with temperature matched & conditioned water asap. Ammonia & nitrite are toxic to your fish & being exposed to these levels can permanently damage or even result in the demise of your fish. If you dont understand anything or are unsure, please ask & we will help!!

 

[jlk]

Do you have a test kit to measure your water parameters for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph?