How many water changes?

[Fish noob]

I just finished cycling my 60g cube after 5 weeks. Ammonia and trites are at 0, but nitrates are off the chart.

I did a 25g water change yesterday and another 25g water change today and the trites are still super high.

How many water changes must I do? I would do more than 25g at a time, but am getting the water from the LFS and I only have 5 buckets.

 

[Fishy Aston]

Get yourself a tap mate!

If you cannot rely on your LFS to do everything for you

Its YOUR fish tank and YOUR responsible for it.

It takes more than 5 days to cycle it mate.

Is fishless or with fish in the tank?

 

[Fish noob]

I'm assuming you replied to the wrong post??

 

[AquaRick]

After cycling with pure ammonia, I think I did a 90% water change. This was on my 125g + 40g sump. I have a RODI unit so it was a bit easier to save all the water in some large Rubbermaid containers.

Have you thought about getting your own RODI unit? It usually pays off for itself in a short time.

 

[Fish noob]

Yes, getting my own unit is on my to-do list.

 

[Terrance]

Your small water changes is not as good as one big water change. Good job finishing the cycle.

 

[mysticeel]

You need to do a large water change...the best way to save money in the long run is to get an RO unit...

I have a line from my RO unit hooked to a flow switch in a food grade barrel. I keep a pond pump in the barrel to circulate the water and mix the salt.