When to do a water change

[wheelsondown]

I am new to fish keeping. I am cycling my 36 gallon tank and the readings today were:

A: 0 ppm
Nite: 5 ppm
Nate: 10 ppm

So my question is when do I do a water change? Do I wait till the Nitrites are at zero? Do I wait till the nitrates are higher? Thanks!

 

[Fishperson]

If you are fishless cycling (that's what it sounds like) then you do a water change before you add fish, but not otherwise. If you have fish in now then your nitrite levels are really high so you would need to do a water change ASAP.

 

[wheelsondown]

I am doing a no fish cycle. Do I keep adding ammonia? with the Nitrite as high as it is?

If you are fishless cycling (that's what it sounds like) then you do a water change before you add fish, but not otherwise. If you have fish in now then your nitrite levels are really high so you would need to do a water change ASAP.

 

[Fishperson]

Yes I would dose ammonia up to 2 ppm from now on. If the nitrite stays up above 5 ppm after that then only dose up to 1 ppm every other day for ammonia.

What are you testing with?

 

[wheelsondown]

Yes I would dose ammonia up to 2 ppm from now on. If the nitrite stays up above 5 ppm after that then only dose up to 1 ppm every other day for ammonia.

What are you testing with?

I am testing with the API liquid test kit.

 

[cfosgate]

The only reason for doing a WC on a fishless cycle is if your PH drops to less than 6.4ish. The nitrification cycle can make the water acidic and below a PH of 6 the bacteria begin to die. Keep an eye on your PH and don't change the water unless your PH drops low. Before adding fish after the cycle do a massive water change to get your nitrates down to 20 ppm or less (may have to do 2 WCs).

 

[Fishperson]

I am testing with the API liquid test kit.

Ok that's good.